1. Thematic Quiz 1 – Surrender

In the Gita Vahini, Swami talks about three stages of self-surrender, each being a step in the rising series and the last is the highest step of all.

In the first stage (I am Thine), the Lord is fully free and the devotee is fully bound. It is like the cat and the kitten; the cat shifts the kitten about as it wills, and the kitten just mews and accepts whatever happens. This attitude is very gentle and is within easy reach of all.

In the second stage (Thou art mine), the devotee binds the Lord, who is to that extent “not free”! Surdas is a good example of this attitude.

“Krishna! You may escape from my hold, from the clasp of these arms; but You cannot escape from my heart, where I have bound You,” challenged Surdas. The Lord just smiled and assented; for, “I am bound by My devotees,” He asserts, without any loss of self-respect. The devotee can tie up the Lord with love, by devotion that overwhelms and overpowers egotism. When one is full of this type of devotion, the Lord Himself will bless one with everything one needs; His grace will fulfil all one’s wants. Remind yourself here of the promise made by the Lord in the Gita: “I carry the burden of his welfare (Yogakshemam vahaamyaham)”.

What do you think is the last stage?

2. Thematic Quiz 2 – Madhuram Madhuram

Who am I? 

I bear the sign of the conch and the wheel. I am adored by all devotees.

Once mother Yashoda caught hold of Krishna as He was running away and took Him to task for stealing butter from other houses. Using my speed Krishna escaped from her. She searched for Him in vain from house to house. Taking pity on her, Krishna dipped me in milk so that I could leave a trail for mother Yashoda to follow.

I once guided two sadhakas by blessing them with a vision of me and led them to the Chitravathi river and later to the Mandir where Swami was waiting for them.

Who Am I?

3. Thematic Quiz 3 – The Vinayaka Principle

Ekadantha – Single tusked Lord

Swami says: “When Vinayaka was writing the Mahabharata to the dictation of Sage Vyasa, the latter laid down the condition that Vinayaka should go on writing non-stop whatever Vyasa said. But Vinayaka also stipulated a condition that Vyasa should never stop his dictation and go on without a break. While he was writing, Vinayaka's pen broke and he did not hesitate to break one of his tusks to use it as a pen. That is why he is called Ekadantha or one with a single tusk.”

This act of Vinayaka highlights many qualities of Vinayaka, especially the one quality that is required for attaining immortality. Which quality is this?

4. Thematic Quiz 4 – Maya

The Sun and the shadow

Using the example of the sun and the shadow, Swami compares the individual to the jiva tatwa and the shadow to Maya.

Swami says: In the morning time, the sun rises. If at that time you face the sun and look at it, you will notice that you have a long shadow but it is behind you. If, on the other hand, you do not direct your sight towards the sun but turn towards your shadow, you will notice that your own shadow, a long one at that, is leading you and it will appear as if this long shadow is showing you the path. In this example, you are the Jiva tatwa and your shadow is the maya (illusion).

If it is your desire to overcome maya and leave it behind you, however fast you may walk, you will never get rid of maya if it is in front of you. On the other hand, you turn your sight towards the sun, you can overcome maya even as the shadow is behind you.

What do you think is the sun that Swami means in this example?

5. Thematic Quiz 5 – The Lotus Feet of the Lord

Pada darshanam Papa nashanam – Darshan of the Lord’s Feet Destroys Sin

A popular bhajan (Kausalyatmaja Rama charan) about the Lotus Feet of Lord Rama mentions the names of five persons who were dearest to the Lord. One of these is the name of a devotee who was redeemed by the mere touch of the Lord’s feet. What is the name of this devotee whose very name brings out the power of the Lotus Feet?

6. Thematic Quiz 6 – Sacrifice

Need for Sacrifice of Bestial Feelings

Swami has given us a simple formula: Ego (facet of Atma) + Aakaram (form full of attributes) = Ahamkaram (Egoism)

Remove the attributes, and what remains is the purified ego which is ready to merge and lose its identity in the Atma.

He says: The Aham or the Ego is an appearance on the Atma as the foam on the edge of the wave, which is but the ocean itself. The Atma can well be devoid of Ego, but the Ego cannot exist without the Atma as the reality underneath. However, man validates the Ego (Aham), giving it a form (akaram) full of attributes and so, it gets polluted as Egoism (Aham-karam). When the Ego is free from the status of 'ism', it is a facet or factor of the Atma. Attributes, modes, gunas, etc. drag it into the tangle of dualities and so, it gets malefic and sheds its positive, purifying role. The oblation that is done here in the sacred fire is symbolic of the evil adhering to the Ego, the animal urges that still animate it.

The 'ism' or mould in which the Ego has hardened tantalises man and blinds him to the Truth. Shankaracharya has described the harm it inflicts and prescribes the recitation of the name of God to defuse the consequence. The pure ego will then merge and lose its identity in the Atma, which has no birth and no death.

Therefore, what is the immediate purpose of the Sacrifice of the bestial qualities in us?

To …............ oneself.

7. Thematic Quiz 7 – The Sun

Sun and Moon Principles

Swami says: The lunar world (chandra loka) is not to be confused with the physical moon, which astronauts from America and Russia have set foot on! From His mind emerged the moon and from His eyes, the sun (Chadrama manaso jatah, chakshoh suryo ajayata). When I speak of chandra (moon) and surya (sun) principles, students should not confuse them with the physical sun and moon.

The moon is a representation of the mind, meaning that with thoughts pertaining to the world, one attains the chandra loka - a plane of existence where mental delights are experienced. The sun represents the light of the eyes. When our vision (drishti) is merged with creation (srishti), we perceive the truth of the scriptures. Therefore, the term scripture (sastra) does not refer only to certain books. The command (sasana) of the eyes is sastra, meaning, direct proof available through a clarified vision is the real scripture.

For direct proof (pratyaksha pramana) the sun is the basis. For proof by inference (anumana pramana), the mind or moon is the basis. For proof by sound (sabda pramana), speech is the basis. Therefore, humanness is transformed into Divinity only when we have unity and purity in ____ , ______ , and ________.

What are the three that should have purity and unity in order to reach Divinity?

8. Thematic Quiz 8 – Pasupathi

Lessons Taught by Animals
Swami says:

Indifference, bad company, disrespect, arrogance and jealousy - these five tendencies reduce man to the level of the animal. No one with these vices can be called an educated person.

To get rid of these vices, it is necessary to take note of some of the good qualities in animals and birds. Man can learn any number of good qualities from animals, birds, insects and worms.

Given below are a few humble animals/ birds/ insects. Can you guess what lessons Swami would like us to learn from these?

9. Thematic Quiz 9 – Ramayana

Swami says: Nobody can estimate the infinite power of Rama. It can only be experienced in the heart. Love is the only yardstick to measure the power of Divinity. Hence, we have to develop love to experience Divinity. Hanuman could jump across the vast ocean because he chanted the Name of Rama always. With the power of Rama's Name, he could lift mighty mountains.

How could the monkeys build a bridge across the ocean? In the beginning, the boulders were getting drowned in the ocean and the monkeys were frustrated. Then Hanuman thought of a plan. He inscribed the letter 'Ra' on one boulder and 'ma' on another and threw them in the ocean one after the other. They stuck together to make the Name 'Rama'. With the help of many such boulders bearing the letters 'Ra' and 'ma', a bridge was constructed. The boulders became light and floated on water only due to the power of Rama's Name.

Swami gives us a precious hint about the secret to liberation in the present age. Unscramble the words to unlock the secret:

God’s Royal Name Age Liberation Path In To The Is Kali Chanting

10. Thematic quiz 10 – Noble Mothers

Nurturing the Future

When our fourth child was growing in my womb, my husband, a demon, left in order to propitiate Lord Brahma for boons. When the Devas attacked the kingdom, I was rescued by Sage Narada and stayed in his ashram. The growing foetus in my womb absorbed the teachings of the great Sage even as I listened to his discourses on Lord Narayana.

My husband, on his return after securing boons from Lord Brahma, took our newly born son and me back to the palace from the hermitage, and tried unsuccessfully to make our son adore him and despise Lord Narayana, and subjected him to several ordeals.

My son later grew to be known as one of the greatest devotees of the Lord as well as a great ruler.

Who am I?