- 1. On what date was the Koneswaram shrine destroyed by the Portuguese?
A) 14 April 1622
B) 14 April 1963
C) 14 April 1624
D) 14 April 1639
- 2. Which Portuguese general was responsible for the destruction of the temple in 1622?
A) Filipe de Oliveira
B) Phillip II
C) Constantino de Sá de Noronha
D) António Bocarro
- 3. What name did the Portuguese general use to refer to the Koneswaram temple?
A) Pagoda Hill
B) Temple of a Thousand Pillars
C) Saraswathi Mahal
D) Ati Konanayakar
- 4. What structure was built using the stones and pillars of the destroyed temple?
A) Saraswathi Mahal Library
B) Fort Fredrick
C) Ati Konanayakar temple
D) A church
- 5. Where were some of the temple's statues hidden by priests during the destruction?
A) In the surrounding area
B) In the sea
C) In the fort
D) In the Saraswathi Mahal Library
- 6. Where is the Ati Konanayakar temple located?
A) Swami Rock
B) Jaffna
C) Thampalakamam
D) Lisbon
- 7. What is the name of the rock where the Koneswaram temple is situated?
A) Konesar Rock
B) Pagoda Rock
C) Swami Rock
D) Fort Rock
- 8. Who discovered underwater ruins of the temple in 1956?
A) V. Akilesapillai
B) Mike Wilson and Arthur C. Clarke
C) Masilamanipillai Muttucumaru
D) Constantino de Sá de Noronha
- 9. In what year were the original temple statues discovered while digging a water well?
A) 1622
B) 1963
C) 1956
D) 1950
- 10. What legendary object did Mike Wilson and Arthur C. Clarke retrieve from the ocean floor?
A) Swayambhu lingam
B) A gold statue of Parvati
C) A brass lamp
D) A stone elephant head
- 11. According to legend, who originally housed the Swayambhu lingam in Koneswaram?
A) Filipe de Oliveira
B) Jatavarman Veera Pandyan
C) Kulakottan
D) King Raavan
- 12. Which ancient dynasties left architectural influence on the temple?
A) Portuguese, Dutch, and British
B) Tamil, Pallava, and Chola
C) Jaffna, Vanniars, and European
D) Roman, Greek, and Persian
- 13. What year was the restored Koneswaram shrine opened?
A) 1963
B) 1950
C) 1957
D) 1956
- 14. What insignia is found on the stone inscription discovered by de Noronha?
A) Double-Fish
B) Elephant head
C) Brass lamp
D) Flower insignia
- 15. Where are some of the artefacts and the translation of the prophecy currently kept?
A) Saraswathi Mahal Library
B) Ati Konanayakar temple
C) Trincomalee museum
D) Ajuda Library of Lisbon
- 16. What is the title of the book published by Arthur C. Clarke regarding his findings?
A) Livro das plantas
B) The Reefs of Taprobane
C) Thirukonasala Vaipavam
D) Thirukonasala Puranam
- 17. Which author wrote Thirukonasala Vaipavam in 1889?
A) V. Akilesapillai
B) Arthur C. Clarke
C) Mike Wilson
D) Masilamanipillai Muttucumaru
- 18. The temple was destroyed two years after the 1622 attack in which year?
A) 1782
B) 1639
C) 1624
D) 1689
- 19. What does the prophetic inscription state regarding the destruction of the temple?
A) The Portuguese are the rightful owners
B) The Dutch shall rebuild it
C) The Franks shall break it down
D) It will never be destroyed
- 20. What was the name of the library destroyed by the Portuguese in the Tamil country?
A) Vanniars Library
B) Ajuda Library
C) Saraswathi Mahal Library
D) Thirukonasala Library
- 21. Who was the Chola royal responsible for restoring the Koneswaram temple?
A) Kulakkottan
B) Aggrabodhi I
C) King Manu Needhi Cholan
D) King Vara Rama Tevan
- 22. Which tank did Kulakkottan restore along with the temple?
A) Kantalai tank
B) Munneswaram tank
C) Tirukonamalai tank
D) Vannimai tank
- 23. Who was the father of Kulakkottan?
A) Vara Rama Tevan
B) Kavi Raja Virothayan
C) Manu Needhi Cholan
D) Tanniuna Popalen
- 24. Which king took steps to contain the Vanniars in 593?
A) Kulakkottan
B) Manu Needhi Cholan
C) Aggrabodhi I
D) Vara Rama Tevan
- 25. The 'great Island of Coliadis' is mentioned in the work of which poet?
A) François Valentijn
B) Dionysius Periegetes
C) Rufius Festus Avienius
D) Eustathius of Thessalonica
- 26. What is the name of the Mother-Goddess shrine in the temple compound?
A) Kantalai
B) Tirukkamakkottam
C) Coliadis
D) Vanniar
- 27. According to François Valentijn, which king built a major temple to the God Videmal?
A) Vara Rama Tevan
B) Ellalan Chola
C) Kulakkottan
D) Manica Raja
- 28. Who translated the Tamil poem by Kavi Raja Virothayan into English in 1831?
A) C. Rasanayagam
B) De Quieroz
C) François Valentijn
D) Simon Cassie Chitty
- 29. Which historical figure is sometimes considered to be the potential inspiration for the mythical Kulakkottan?
A) Kalinga Magha
B) Tanniuna Popalen
C) Manu Needhi Cholan
D) Dionysius Periegetes
- 30. What is the estimated date of origin for Koneswaram according to the Konesar Kalvettu?
A) 300 CE
B) 543 BCE
C) 1000 CE
D) 1580 BCE
- 31. How many 'Iswarams' of Shiva are recognized in Lanka?
A) Ten
B) Three
C) Seven
D) Five
- 32. Which prince is credited with renovating the Koneswaram temple and the Kantalai Tank?
A) Kaviraja
B) Pandyan
C) Kulakottan
D) Vijaya
- 33. Which text mentions Koneswaram in 300 CE?
A) Yalpana Vaipava Malai
B) Vayu Purana
C) Konesar Kalvettu
D) Encyclopædia Britannica
- 34. What is the name of the 18th-century Tamil chronicle that mentions Vijaya?
A) Konesar Kalvettu
B) Yalpana Vaipava Malai
C) Mahavamsa
D) Vayu Purana
- 35. According to the text, which group of people likely established the temple according to Pathmanathan?
A) Ancient Pandyan soldiers
B) Mercantile communities
C) Kalinga migrants
D) Chola royalty
- 36. In which epic is Koneswaram venerated as one of the three foremost Shiva abodes?
A) Nilaveli Inscription
B) Kanda Puranam
C) Dakshina Kailasa Puranam
D) Thirukonasala Puranam
- 37. Who is the author of the Kanda Puranam?
A) Kullakottan Chola
B) George Turnour
C) Charles Pridham
D) Kachiyappa Sivachariar
- 38. Which of these is mentioned as a Shiva abode alongside Koneswaram in the Kanda Puranam?
A) Mount Kailash
B) Nilaveli
C) Trincomalee
D) The promontory
- 39. What is the Tamil rendering of the Sanskrit name Matsyakesvara?
A) Thillai Chidambaram
B) Kona-Ishvara
C) Macchakeswaram
D) Aayiram Kaal
- 40. In which century was the Nilaveli inscription written?
A) 9th century
B) 10th century
C) 12th century
D) 11th century
- 41. What is the term for the 'Thousand Columns' hall at the temple?
A) Kona-Ishvara Mandapam
B) Aayiram Kaal Mandapam
C) Dakshina Kailasa Hall
D) Matsyakesvara Hall
- 42. To which deity is the rocky promontory originally dedicated?
A) Thirumal
B) Vishnu
C) Matsya
D) Siva
- 43. Which ancient form of Siva is worshipped on the promontory?
A) Thillai-Ishvara
B) Thirukonasala
C) Kona-Ishvara
D) Matsyakesvara
- 44. Who stated that worship of Ishvara is likely the most ancient form of worship on the island?
A) Charles Pridham
B) Kullakottan Chola
C) Kachiyappa Sivachariar
D) The author of Kanda Puranam
- 45. Which text expounds on the significance of the Matsya shrine and the goddess's pagoda?
A) Nilaveli Inscription
B) Thirukonasala Puranam
C) Kanda Puranam
D) Dakshina Kailasa Puranam
- 46. According to Professor S. Pathmanathan, what Sanskrit expression is the name Kōnesvaram derived from?
A) Gokarnesvara
B) Thirukonamalai
C) Konesar-Malai
D) Gokarnasvamin
- 47. How many other important Shaiva shrines named Gokarna exist in India?
A) Three
B) Four
C) Five
D) Two
- 48. In which modern-day Indian state is the Gokarna Shiva temple mentioned in the text located?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Kerala
C) Orissa
D) Karnataka
- 49. What is the name of the deity enshrined on the Mahendra mountain in Kalinga?
A) Konesar
B) Mathumai Amman
C) Gokarnasvamin
D) Ishvara
- 50. In the Tamil language, what is the word for a temple?
A) Malai
B) Kona
C) Thiru
D) Kovil
- 51. What is the goddess consort of Konesar called?
A) Mathumai Amman
B) Gokarna Devi
C) Koneswari
D) Malai Amman
- 52. What is the Anglicized form of the old Tamil word 'Thiru-kona-malai'?
A) Koneswaram
B) Trincomalee
C) Kona-ma-malai
D) Swami Rock
- 53. Which seventh-century poet referenced the town of Trincomalee in the Tevaram?
A) Sampandar
B) Onesicritus
C) Eratosthenes
D) Strabo
- 54. What does the word 'Malai' mean in the context of the temple's name?
A) Mountain or hill
B) Coastal town
C) God
D) Sacred place
- 55. Which Greek writer quotes Eratosthenes and Onesicritus regarding the island's geography?
A) Sampandar
B) Strabo
C) Konesar
D) Pathmanathan
- 56. How high is the cliff (Swami Rock) where the temple is constructed?
A) 400 feet
B) 200 feet
C) 600 feet
D) 800 feet
- 57. In which province of Sri Lanka is the Koneswaram Temple located?
A) Southern Province
B) Eastern Province
C) Western Province
D) Northern Province
- 58. By what other name is Koneswaram Temple known?
A) Ketheeswaram
B) Dakshina-Then Kailasam
C) Pancha Ishwaram
D) Thillai Chidambaram
- 59. What material was primarily used for the megalith that featured elaborate sculptural bas-reliefs?
A) Limestone
B) Sandstone
C) Black granite
D) Marble
- 60. Who was the Sinhalese king described as a benefactor of the temple in the Konesar Kalvettu?
A) Dutugamunu
B) Vijaya Bahu
C) Gajabahu II
D) Parakramabahu I
- 61. What is the term for the five sacred Shiva temples in Sri Lanka, of which Koneswaram is the most sacred?
A) Pancha Ishwarams
B) Paadal Petra Sthalam
C) Dakshina Kailasam
D) Konesar Kalvettu
- 62. Which location is known as the 'west coast Ishwaram counterpart' to Koneswaram?
A) Kudalimalai
B) Ketheeswaram
C) Gokarna
D) Kantalai
- 63. Which holy well is involved in the annual Koneswaram Temple Ther Thiruvilah festival?
A) Gokarna Well
B) Papanasuchunai
C) Konesar Well
D) Bhadrakali Well
- 64. What is the Sanskrit name for the Trincomalee Harbour?
A) Malaya
B) Konesar
C) Gokarna
D) Bhadrakali
- 65. What does the name Gokarna mean?
A) Cow's Ear
B) Gold River
C) Southern Kailash
D) Mountain Peak
- 66. Which ethnographer wrote about the island in his work titled Indica?
A) Megasthenes
B) Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan
C) Tirumular
D) Pliny
- 67. The inhabitants described by Megasthenes were called what?
A) Pandyans
B) Kullakottan
C) Gonardiya
D) Paleogoni
- 68. Which deity is the Bhadrakali Amman Temple of Trincomalee dedicated to?
A) Nandhi
B) Hercules
C) Shiva
D) Bhadrakali
- 69. Who wrote the Dakshina Kailasa Puranam in 1380?
A) Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan
B) Tirumular
C) Patañjali
D) Megasthenes
- 70. What is the ancient Sanskrit name for the shrine mentioned in the Puranas?
A) Thiru-Gona-Malai
B) Then Kailasam
C) Gokarneswara
D) Koneiswara Parwatia
- 71. Patañjali is identified as hailing from which region in his self-description?
A) Gonarda
B) Karnataka
C) Chidambaram
D) Malaya
- 72. Patañjali and Tirumular were both disciples of whom?
A) Shiva
B) Hercules
C) Bacchus
D) Nandhi
- 73. Which work did Patañjali write while visiting the Thillai Nataraja Temple?
A) Charana Shrungarahita Stotram
B) Dakshina Kailasa Puranam
C) Tirumandhiram
D) Yoga Sutras
- 74. Which Hindu epic mentions Koneswaram is located at Gokarna bay?
A) Ramayana
B) Mahabharata
C) Bhagavad Gita
D) Upanishads
- 75. According to the Mahabharata, what is the pilgrimage spot located before Koneswaram when traveling south?
A) Ravana Vettu
B) Tamiraparni island
C) Gokarna bay
D) Naga Nadu
- 76. What object did Shiva make King Ravana drop while he was heaving the rock?
A) His crown
B) His shield
C) His scepter
D) His sword
- 77. What is the meaning of 'Ravana Vettu'?
A) Ravana's Sword
B) Ravana's Temple
C) Ravana's Cleft
D) Ravana's Rock
- 78. What is another name for Tamiraparni island mentioned in the text?
A) Kudiramalai
B) Kanyakumari
C) Naga Nadu
D) Gokarna
- 79. Which literature mentions the Koneswaram temple in the late 6th century?
A) Konesar Kalvettu
B) Tevaram
C) Skanda Puranam
D) Kanda Puranam
- 80. Who was the Nayanar Saint that praised the Koneswaram temple in the 8th century?
A) Thirugnana Sambandar
B) Kachiyappa Sivachariar
C) Raja Raja Chola I
D) Sundarar
- 81. How many Shiva Sthalams are there in total according to the Tevarams?
A) 1710
B) 100
C) 275
D) 500
- 82. How much land was granted to Koneswaram according to the 10th-century Nilaveli inscriptions?
A) 275 acres
B) 1,710 acres
C) 100 acres
D) 254 acres
- 83. Who was the architect that aided construction activities at the temple during the Chola period?
A) Ilankeshvarar Devar
B) Muventavelan Kanavati
C) Kachiyappa Sivachariar
D) Chodaganga Deva
- 84. Which military group protected the shrines and was associated with King Ilankeshvarar Devar?
A) Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu
B) Velaikkarar
C) Pallava armies
D) Manigramam
- 85. In what year did King Chodaganga Deva visit Konamamalai?
A) 1131 CE
B) 993 CE
C) 1033 CE
D) 1223 CE
- 86. When was the millennium-old Tamil inscription of the Chola Vatteluttu alphabet discovered?
A) 1223 CE
B) October 2010
C) 1970s
D) 6th century CE
- 87. What insignia was implanted at Konamalai by the Pandyan forces?
A) Lotus emblem
B) Lion emblem
C) Tiger emblem
D) Double Fish emblem
- 88. How many fish are sculpted on the ceilings of completed Pandyan temple gopurams?
A) Four
B) One
C) Three
D) Two
- 89. What does a single fish on a Pandyan gopuram ceiling indicate?
A) A transition of power
B) Royal approval
C) A sacred offering
D) Incomplete construction
- 90. What did King Sundara Pandyan use to renovate the temple gopurams?
A) Bronze casting
B) Gold plating
C) Silver plating
D) Marble inlay
- 91. What was installed atop the gopurams by Sundara Pandyan?
A) Gold gilded Kalasam
B) Stone statues
C) Copper spires
D) Wooden flags
- 92. What style of architecture is reflected in the work done by Sundara Pandyan?
A) Dravidian architecture
B) Indo-Saracenic architecture
C) Vesara architecture
D) Nagara architecture
- 93. What is the alternative name mentioned for Swami Rock in the text?
A) Jaffna Hill
B) Kona ma-malai
C) Vannimai Mountain
D) Pandyan Peak
- 94. Where is the 13th-century Tamil stone inscription recorded?
A) Jaffna city
B) Pandyan capital
C) Tambralinga coast
D) Kankuveli village
- 95. The income mentioned in the Kankuveli inscription came from which districts?
A) Gopuram districts
B) Pandyan districts
C) Tambralinga districts
D) Vannimai districts
- 96. Which dynasty kings paid homage to the Koneswaram shrine and offered gifts of gold and silver?
A) Pandya
B) Vijayanagara
C) Aryacakravarti
D) Chola
- 97. Which river generated from Shiva's footprint flows towards Trincomalee?
A) Manikka-Kankai
B) Kavary-Kankai
C) Cauvery-Kankai
D) Mavillie-Kankai
- 98. Which river flows towards the East and passes the temple of Kadirkamam?
A) Ganga-Kankai
B) Manikka-Kankai
C) Kavary-Kankai
D) Mavillie-Kankai
- 99. Where does the Kavary-Kankai river pass into?
A) Rameswaram
B) Koneswaram
C) Thiruketheecharam
D) Nallur
- 100. To which temple did Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan ship stone blocks for renovation?
A) Rameswaram
B) Thiruketheecharam
C) Tenavarai
D) Kadirkamam
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