1. A Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage should begin from...
A. Gangotri temple
B. Yamunotri temple
C. Kedarnath shrine
D. Badrinath shrine
B. Yamunotri temple
(The Hindu tradition of parikrama suggests that the yatra should move from left to right. The pilgrimage commences from Yamunotri Temple, the westernmost shrine dedicated to the goddess Yamuna. It proceeds to Gangotri temple, then further moves to Kedarnath temple, and finally concludes at Badrinath temple.)
2. Which of the four temples has the holy Tapt Kund?
A. Kedarnath
B. Badrinath
C. Gangotri
D. Yamunotri
B. Badrinath
(Located just below the Badrinath temple, Tapt Kund is a natural hot water spring where devotees take a dip before visiting the temple.)
3. Which river flows near the Badrinath shrine?
A. Alaknanda
B. Pindari
C. Manadakini
D. Jadh Ganga
A. Alaknanda
(Badrinath temple is located on the left bank of Alaknanda river, which is one of the two -- Alaknanda and Bhagirathi -- major headstreams of the Ganga.)
4. Where is Jalamagna Shivling located?
A. Near Yamunotri temple
B. Near Kedarnath shrine
C. Near Gangotri temple
D. Near Badrinath shrine
C. Near Gangotri temple
(Located near Gangotri temple, Jalamagna Shivling is a natural rock Shivling which is said to be visible only during the winter months. According to Hindu texts, it is the same place where lord Shiva held Ganga in his dreadlocks.)
5. Badrinath temple is believed to have also been a Buddhist shrine.
A. True
(It is believed that during Ashoka’s rule in India in the 8th century, the Badrinath temple was worshipped as a Buddhist shrine too. The discernible Buddhist architecture of the temple indicates this.)
6. Who built the temple of Kedarnath?
A. The Pandavas
B. Ashwatthama
C. The Kauravas
D. Adi Shankara
A. The Pandavas
(According to religious texts, the original temple of Kedarnath was built by the Pandavas after they won the battle of Mahabharata.)
7. Who discovered the murti at Badrinath?
A. Govinda Bhagavatpada
B. Valmiki
C. Parashara Maharshi
D. Adi Shankaracharya
D. Adi Shankaracharya
(According to Hindu scriptures, the Badrinath murti was discovered by Adi Shankaracharya at Alaknanda river. The original temple was built in the Garud Caves, near Tapt Kund.)
8. The Badrinath Dham is dedicated to which god?
A. Shiva
B. Vishnu
C. Brahma
D. Kavir Dev
B. Vishnu
(The Badrinath Dham is dedicated to lord Vishnu, who is considered as the protector and preserver of the divine Hindu Trinity -- Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.)
9. It is prohibited to blow a conch/shankh in Badrinath temple.
A. True, in case the sound of the conch summons a demon of that area, it is believed.
10. Kedarnath shrine is the highest Shiva temple in the world.
B. False
(At 12,106 ft, Tungnath is one of the highest Shiva temples in the world. Kedarnath temple, by comparison, is located at 11,755 ft. Tungnath is one of the five Panch Kedar temples located in Uttarakhand.)
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