Indian History

  Name of Birendra Krishna Bhadra is inseparably linked with Mahalaya which marks the transition from Pitru Paksha , traditionally devoted to remembering ancestors, to Devi Paksha , associated with the worship of the Goddess Durga.  The dawn programme Mahishasuramardini, broadcast on Mahalaya morning, and the recitation of the Chandi in Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s voice have become virtually synonymous with each other. For many Bengali households, listening to Mahishasuramardini before dawn is an annual ritual. Birendra Krishna Bhadra was born in 1905 in Ahiritola, in what is now North Kolkata. His father, Rai Bahadur Kalikrishna Bhadra, was a linguist by profession, and his mother was Sarala Devi. Birendra Krishna Bhadra received his early education in Sanskrit from his grandmother, Yogamaya Devi. Blessed with an exceptional memory, Birendra Krishna astonished everyone by reciting the Chandi at just eight years of age. He attended Scottish Church College but completed his Ba...

Image credit Contesting Candidates for Rejinagar Bye Election 2026    Party Candidates Votes   BJP Shankharavh Sarkar  129914   Won AJUP Golam Nabi Azad 54098   Congress Abdullahil Kafi 6168   Mamata All India Trinamool Congress Rabiul Alam Chowdhury  3847   CPI(M) Md Sayeed  3797   Background  Rejinagar is one of the 22 Assembly constituencies in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. It comprises the entire Beldanga-II Community Development Block and the Kapasdanga, Begunbari and Mirjapur-I gram panchayats of Beldanga-I Community Development Block. Established in 2011 following delimitation, Rejinagar is one of the seven Assembly segments of the Baharampur (Berhampore) Lok Sabha constitu...

  Set amid the spectacular landscapes of the Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath is a destination of immense religious significance for Hindu pilgrims and spiritual seekers. Surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks, the sacred town is home to the Kedarnath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of approximately 3,580 metres above sea level, Kedarnath forms one of the four pilgrimage destinations of Uttarakhand's Char Dham circuit, along with Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.  The temple at Badrinath enshrines a black stone image of Lord Vishnu, worshipped as Badrinath. Located at an elevation of about 3,133 metres (10,279 ft) on the banks of the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand, Badrinath is one of the four major pilgrimage sites of the Char Dham, attracting large numbers of pilgrims every year. The other three sites are Rameswaram in the south, Dwarka in the west and Puri in the east. Dhari Devi...

Kuruma Archaeological Site / Image Credit About 8 km from the famed Sun Temple at Konark, the ancient Buddhist archaeological site of Kuruma  in the Puri district is located in the sleepy village of Jama Dharma in Odisha.  Kuruma Archaeological Site 1 / Image credit Among the most interesting discoveries from Kuruma is an image of a crowned Buddha seated in the Bhumisparsha Mudra, known as the " Earth Witness Gesture ".  In this famous gesture, the Buddha touches the ground with his right hand, calling upon the Earth to witness his triumph over the temptations and distractions of the supernatural Mara , the demon of illusion. Mara is best known for his temptation of the historical Buddha.

  Manasa Devi / Image credit One of the distinctive traditional festivals of Bishnupur in the Bankura district of West Bengal is Jhapan , a festival associated with the worship of Goddess Manasa , the serpent deity. Traditionally regarded in Bengal as the goddess of snakes, Manasa is also associated with protection from snakebites, fertility, rainfall and agricultural prosperity. Jhapan therefore reflects both the religious traditions surrounding Manasa worship and the agrarian culture of western Bengal. Observed during the month of Shravan, the festival features prayers and songs in praise of Manasa as well as performances by traditional snake handlers. They display live snakes, including cobras and pythons, often carrying them in traditional bamboo baskets known as jhapis . The festival is particularly noted for its snake-handling demonstrations and attracts visitors to Bishnupur. Jhapan has a long association with the cultural traditions of the former Malla kingdom of Mallab...

Madhukeshwar temple at  Banavasi / Image Credit   1. Who was the founder of the Kadamba dynasty? A. Mayurasharma B. Krishnavarma I C. Kakusthavarma D. Ravivarma 2. Which of the following was the capital of Kadambas? A. Badami B. Banavasi C. Kalyani D. Talakad 3. Which inscription is important for information about Mayurasharma and the early Kadamba dynasty? A. Talagunda inscription B. Aihole inscription C. Hathigumpha inscription D. Besanagar inscription 4. Which of the following is home to the famous Madhukeshwara temple? A. Banavasi  B. Badami C. Manyakheta D. Kalyani 5. The Gudnapur inscription, mentioning a temple for Manmatha, is associated with which Kadamba ruler? A. Mayurasharma B. Krishnavarma I C. Kakusthavarma D. Ravivarma Satavahana Empire Quiz Satavahana Empire Quiz