Q 01/05

Ashwagandha's Sanskrit name describes the strong odour of its root as resembling which animal?

A) Goat

B) Horse

C) Dog

D) Cow

Answer · why

B) Horse

Horse: ashva is Sanskrit for horse and gandha for smell, after the root's horsey reek. Tradition adds a second reading, that taking the root lends a h...

Q 02/05

Formal Ayurveda study at Indian public institutions leads to a BAMS degree; the final S stands for what?

A) Science

B) Studies

C) Surgery

D) Siddha

Answer · why

C) Surgery

Surgery: the degree is the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, and two of Ayurveda's classical branches are surgical. Its ancient surgeon Sush...

Q 03/05

In Ayurvedic legend, Dhanvantari rose from the churned Ocean of Milk carrying a pot of what?

A) Amrita

B) Honey

C) Ghee

D) Ganges water

Answer · why

A) Amrita

Amrita, the nectar of immortality, was what gods and demons churned the ocean to win. The demons grabbed for it first, and Vishnu, disguised as the en...

Q 04/05

In southern India, chewed twigs of which tree serve as a disposable toothbrush?

A) Rubber tree

B) Teak

C) Sandalwood

D) Neem

Answer · why

D) Neem

Neem twigs are a traditional chew stick in southern India. At Ugadi, the new year in Karnataka, neem flowers are eaten with jaggery, the bitter and th...

Q 05/05

Which spice, nicknamed 'Indian saffron', is smeared on bride and groom before many Hindu weddings?

A) Ginger

B) Turmeric

C) Cumin

D) Cardamom

Answer · why

B) Turmeric

Turmeric paste is rubbed on the couple at the haldi, a rite Bengal calls gaye holud, 'yellow on the body'. The nickname fits: cooks still use it to co...