well v$instance should be enough

Code:
>startup nomount
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area   41764892 bytes
Fixed Size                    75804 bytes
Variable Size              33419264 bytes
Database Buffers            8192000 bytes
Redo Buffers                  77824 bytes
>select * from v$instance;

INSTANCE_NUMBER INSTANCE_NAME    HOST_NAME                                                        VERSION
--------------- ---------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
STARTUP_T STATUS  PAR    THREAD# ARCHIVE LOG_SWITCH_ LOGINS     SHU DATABASE_STATUS   INSTANCE_ROLE
--------- ------- --- ---------- ------- ----------- ---------- --- ----------------- ------------------
              1 dev817           PANDO                                                            8.1.7.0.0
2002-MAY- STARTED              0 STOPPED             ALLOWED    NO  ACTIVE            UNKNOWN


>alter database mount;

Database altered.

>select * from v$instance;

INSTANCE_NUMBER INSTANCE_NAME    HOST_NAME                                                        VERSION
--------------- ---------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
STARTUP_TIME         STATUS  PAR    THREAD# ARCHIVE LOG_SWITCH_ LOGINS     SHU DATABASE_STATUS   INSTANCE_ROLE
-------------------- ------- --- ---------- ------- ----------- ---------- --- ----------------- ------------------
              1 dev817           PANDO                                                            8.1.7.0.0
2002-MAY-06 22:32:46 MOUNTED NO           1 STOPPED             ALLOWED    NO  ACTIVE            PRIMARY_INSTANCE


>alter database open;

Database altered.

>
>select * from v$instance;

INSTANCE_NUMBER INSTANCE_NAME    HOST_NAME                                                        VERSION
--------------- ---------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
STARTUP_TIME         STATUS  PAR    THREAD# ARCHIVE LOG_SWITCH_ LOGINS     SHU DATABASE_STATUS   INSTANCE_ROLE
-------------------- ------- --- ---------- ------- ----------- ---------- --- ----------------- ------------------
              1 dev817           PANDO                                                            8.1.7.0.0
2002-MAY-06 22:32:46 OPEN    NO           1 STOPPED             ALLOWED    NO  ACTIVE            PRIMARY_INSTANCE
look status column and see the different values