Q 01/05

Within the Hindu Trimurti, Shiva is known by which title?

A) The Destroyer

B) The Creator

C) The Preserver

D) The Messenger

Answer · why

A) The Destroyer

Brahma creates and Vishnu preserves; Shaivas see Shiva as all three at once.

Q 02/05

What does the Sanskrit name Shiva literally mean?

A) The Auspicious One

B) The Dark One

C) The Dancer

D) The Great Bull

Answer · why

A) The Auspicious One

The word is used as an adjective in the Rig Veda for several gods, including Rudra.

Q 03/05

Who is Shiva's wife?

A) Parvati

B) Lakshmi

C) Saraswati

D) Radha

Answer · why

A) Parvati

His epithet Umapati, 'husband of Uma', uses another of her names.

Q 04/05

What happens when Shiva opens the third eye on his forehead?

A) Everything before it burns to ash

B) Time itself stands still

C) The dead rise from the ground

D) Rain falls for a full year

Answer · why

A) Everything before it burns to ash

He famously used it on the god of desire who disturbed his meditation.

Q 05/05

Which sacred river flows from Shiva's matted hair?

A) The Ganga

B) The Yamuna

C) The Indus

D) The Godavari

Answer · why

A) The Ganga

The epithet Gangadhara means 'bearer of the Ganga'; he broke the river's fall from heaven with his locks.