Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, originating in the Indus Valley civilization around 3300 BCE. With over 1 billion followers, Hinduism is the third largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is made up of a variety of different religious traditions and philosophies that have evolved over thousands of years.
Some key aspects of Hinduism include the belief in reincarnation, karma, dharma, moksha (liberation), ahimsa (non-violence), and the existence of the Atman (soul or true self). The primary scriptures of Hinduism include the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita. Major deities include Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesh, Krishna, Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
Riddles can be a fun way to learn more about the meanings and stories behind Hinduism. Below are 73 riddles about Hinduism with answers covering Hindu gods, scriptures, rituals, symbols, and more. Test your knowledge of Hinduism by seeing if you can solve these riddles!
1. I have four arms and an elephant head. I am the Remover of Obstacles. Who am I?
Answer: Lord Ganesha
2. My trident and third eye are my symbols. I am the god of destruction. Who am I?
Answer: Lord Shiva
3. I preserve and protect the universe. My consort is Lakshmi. Who am I?
Answer: Lord Vishnu
4. I am the mother goddess, the divine Shakti. My vehicle is a lion. Who am I?
Answer: Goddess Durga
5. I represent wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Who am I?
Answer: Goddess Lakshmi
6. I am the goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom and learning. Who am I?
Answer: Goddess Saraswati
7. I am Krishna’s favorite female companion. I am considered the epitome of spiritual love and devotion. Who am I?
Answer: Radha
8. I am Krishna’s brother and a powerful archer. Who am I?
Answer: Arjuna
9. I am a Sanskrit scripture that is part of the Hindu Itihasas. I describe the Kurukshetra War and contains Bhagavad Gita. What am I?
Answer: Mahabharata
10. I am a Hindu scripture containing hymns, mantras, rituals, and philosophies. What am I?
Answer: Rig Veda
11. I am the Hindu trinity god responsible for creation. Who am I?
Answer: Brahma
12. I am a Hindu ritual using fire as an offering to various deities. What am I?
Answer: Homa/Havan
13. I am a mark worn on the forehead by Hindus. What am I?
Answer: Tilaka or Bindi
14. I am a string of cotton threads worn across the body by Hindus. What am I?
Answer: Janeu or Yajnopavita
15. I am a Hindu funeral rite conducted at Varanasi. What am I?
Answer: Antyesti
16. I am the Hindu festival celebrating the victory of good over evil. When do I fall?
Answer: Dussehra or Vijayadashami, in September/October
17. I am the Hindu spring festival dedicated to Kamadeva and his wife Rati. What festival am I?
Answer: Vasant Panchami
18. I am a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna. When do I fall?
Answer: Janmashtami, in July/August
19. I am a Hindu festival celebrating the end of the harvest season. What festival am I?
Answer: Pongal
20. I am a Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring and dedicated to Madan Mohan and goddess Saraswati. What festival am I?
Answer: Basanta Utsav
21. I am a Hindu festival marking Shiva and Parvati’s marriage. What festival am I?
Answer: Mahashivratri
22. I am a Hindu festival celebrating the victory of Rama over Ravana. When do I fall?
Answer: Dussehra or Vijayadashami, in September/October
23. I am a Hindu festival celebrating Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill. When do I fall?
Answer: Govardhan Puja, a day after Diwali in October/November
24. I am a Hindu festival celebrating the harvest. What festival am I?
Answer: Makar Sankranti or Pongal
25. I am a Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Shiva. When do I fall?
Answer: Maha Shivaratri, in February/March
26. I am made of 3 horizontal lines typically drawn with vermilion or turmeric. What am I?
Answer: Tripundra
27. I am a three-pronged fork weapon associated with Shiva. What am I?
Answer: Trishula
28. I am a ceremonial ablution ritual often performed by Hindus before prayer. What am I?
Answer: Achamana
29. I am a Hindu philosophical concept referring to one’s righteous duty. What am I?
Answer: Dharma
30. I refer to the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth in Hinduism. What am I?
Answer: Samsara
31. I am the Hindu concept of the ultimate spiritual goal. What am I?
Answer: Moksha
32. I am a Hindu philosophy based on compassion towards all living beings. What word am I?
Answer: Ahimsa
33. I am the Hindu sacred syllable representing absolute reality. What am I?
Answer: Om
34. I am the Hindu concept of energy or power associated with divinity. What am I?
Answer: Shakti
35. I refer to the Hindu belief that all living beings have a soul. What am I?
Answer: Atman
36. I am a Hindu philosophical school emphasizing spiritual knowledge and reality. What am I?
Answer: Vedanta
37. I refer to Hindu cosmological time cycles spanning millions of years. What am I?
Answer: Yugas
38. I am a symbolic Hindu diagram used in rituals and meditations. What am I?
Answer: Mandala or Yantra
39. I refer to the Hindu warrior caste. What am I?
Answer: Kshatriya
40. I refer to the Hindu priestly caste. What am I?
Answer: Brahmin
41. I refer to the Hindu merchant and farming caste. What am I?
Answer: Vaishya
42. I refer to the Hindu service caste. What am I?
Answer: Shudra
43. I refer to the lowest Hindu caste once termed “untouchables.” What am I?
Answer: Dalit
44. I am a Hindu devotional song or verse, often dedicated to a deity. What am I?
Answer: Bhajan
45. I am a Hindu temple or shrine containing sacred images and idols. What am I?
Answer: Mandir
46. I am a Hindu place of pilgrimage, sacred site or holy city. What am I?
Answer: Tirtha
47. I am a Hindu monk often living an ascetic lifestyle. What am I?
Answer: Sadhu
48. I am a Hindu spiritual teacher or master. What am I?
Answer: Guru
49. I refer to the Hindu stages of life. What am I?
Answer: Ashramas
50. I refer to selfless service performed without desire for reward. What word am I?
Answer: Seva
51. I refer to a Hindu ritual cleansing bath in holy waters such as the Ganges. What am I?
Answer: Snan or Snanam
52. I refer to the Hindu practice of closing the eyes and fixing one’s mind on spiritual ideas. What am I?
Answer: Dhyana
53. I refer to a Hindu devotional practice involving repetition of mantras and names of gods. What am I?
Answer: Japa
54. I refer to Hindu sacred texts written in Sanskrit. What am I?
Answer: Shastra
55. I refer to an enlightened Hindu spiritual teacher, master or saint. Who am I?
Answer: Rishi or Maharishi
56. I refer to the Hindu rebirth or reincarnation of a deity, often Vishnu. What am I?
Answer: Avatar
57. I refer to a Hindu object, symbol, action, place or thought imbued with spiritual meaning. What am I?
Answer: Puja
58. I refer to the Hindu freeing or liberation of the soul from rebirth. What am I?
Answer: Moksha
59. I refer to a Hindu ascetic who has renounced worldly life. Who am I?
Answer: Sanyasi
60. I refer to the Hindu idea that how you live your current life impacts your next rebirth. What am I?
Answer: Karma
61. I refer to a Hindu saintly or holy man. Who am I?
Answer: Rishi, Sadhu or Swami
62. I refer to the Hindu supreme being or absolute reality. Who am I?
Answer: Brahman
63. I refer to the Hindu concept of illusion or maya that conceals true reality. What am I?
Answer: Maya
64. I am a Hindu ceremonial fire ritual performed at weddings and holy festivals. What am I?
Answer: Homa or Havan
65. I refer to a Hindu ritual marking a child’s rite of passage. What am I?
Answer: Upanayana
66. I am a Hindu ceremony celebrating a baby’s first solid food. What am I?
Answer: Annaprashana
67. I refer to a Hindu public festival procession of deities. What am I?
Answer: Jatra
68. I refer to offerings given to Hindu deities, priests or gurus. What am I?
Answer: Dakshina
69. I refer to a Hindu public festival procession of deities. What am I?
Answer: Ratha Yatra
70. I refer to a Hindu public festival procession of deities. What am I?
Answer: Prabhat Pheri
71. I refer to a Hindu public festival procession of deities. What am I?
Answer: Shobha Yatra
72. I refer to a Hindu public festival procession of deities. What am I?
Answer: Palaki utsavam
73. I refer to a Hindu public festival procession of deities. What am I?
Answer: Ther Thiruvizha
Conclusion
Those were 73 riddles covering a wide range of topics related to Hinduism. How many were you able to get right? Riddles can be a fun and engaging way to learn more about a religion as complex and rich as Hinduism. Let us know if you have any other Hinduism riddles you’d like explained! Hinduism has evolved over thousands of years and has diverse traditions, philosophies, rituals, festivals and more to explore. Learning more can provide a window into the history, culture, stories, meanings and practices behind the world’s oldest religion.
