SECTION 1: BRAHMANVIDYANU DARSHAN Q.1 From the given options, place a tick (✔) in the box next to the correct ones. (Total Marks: 6) Note: One or more options may be correct. Full marks will be awarded only if all the correct options are chosen, otherwise no marks will be awarded. March 2015 1. Jivanmukti: (1) Experience of liberation while alive and, in the brahmarup state, realization of Paramatma. (2) Does not perform any impure karmas which are contrary to the Sant’s wishes. (3) Even Kal, Karma and Maya are incapable of doing anything without the wish of God. (4) Through his divine vision, is able to have the constant darshan of Aksharbrahma everywhere. 2. Shriji Maharaj’s insistence for all to develop conviction in God’s supremacy: (1) I feel that it is not appropriate to discuss this in satsang, I shall tell you none the less. (2) Nityanand Swami did not falter in his conviction. (3) Prasadni dakshin dishmay, murti Harikrishna tani tahay. (4) If you do not spread knowledge of this supremacy, then I will keep you in this body for a hundred years. 3. Correct order of cosmic evolution: (1) Aksharbrahma ---> Mul Prakruti ---> Mul Purush ---> Pradhan Purush. (2) Kashyap Prajapati ---> Marichi and other Prajapatis ---> Virat Purush. (3) Pradhan Purush ---> Mahattattva ---> Virat Purush. (4) Marichi and other Prajapatis ---> Mahattattva ---> Kashyap Prajapati. March 2016 1. Aksharbrahma: Unique among all other tattvas (1) Purushottam is different from Akshar. He is the highest Purush, paramatma...... (2) Aksharbrahma is eternally bound in maya. (3) Aksharbrahma is a different tattva from Parabrahman and his divine light. (4) Transcending that Brahman is Parabrahman, Purushottam Narayan, who is distinct from Brahman. 2. The necessity of Parabrahman’s manifest form (1) Through the contact of the manifest God only, can one become calm. (2) Perfect knowledge is understanding the manifest God. (3) Perfect worship is worshipping the manifest Sant. (4) It is only through contemplating upon the divine incidents of the manifest God, that liberation is attained. 3. Bhagwan Swaminarayan Supreme: As expressed in the shastras of the sampradaya (1) Ati apar Aksharateet, thai tamare te sathe preet; (2) Chahe adi bahu avatar re, te to vaikunthpatina nirdhar re; (3) Jota na’ve jodyama, a sam anya avatar. (4) Pan sarve na karan jeha, te to Swami Gunatit eha. 4. Shriji Maharaj’s insistence for all to develop conviction in God’s supremacy: (1) I feel that it is not appropriate to discuss this in satsang, I shall tell you none the less. (2) Nityanand Swami did not falter in his conviction. (3) Prasadni dakshin dishmay, murti Harikrishna tani tahay. (4) If you do not spread knowledge of this supremacy, then I will keep you in this body for a hundred years. March 2017 1. Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s complete manifestation through the Sant. (1) One should seek the refuge of the Sant who has realized God. (2) Realize that the form amidst the divine light is Gunatitanand Swami before you. (3) When one has the darshan of such a Sant, one should realize, ‘I have had the darshan of God himself. (4) Such a great Sadhu is able to make all three – murtis, shastras and sadhus. 2. The form of bondage (1) The jiva is innately bound to its subtle body in the form of ignorance and maya. (2) Maya is nothing but my-ness towards anything related to the body. (3) As long as the maya that binds the jiva is not eradicated, the jiva has to take birth and die innumerable times. (4) It is only through contemplating upon the divine incidents of the manifest God, that liberation is attained. 3. Disadvantages of understanding Parabrahman as formless. (1) Does not ever acquire any spiritual powers from God. (2) Creates a great obstacle for himself on the path of devotion. (3) Does not acquire any spiritual powers from the Sant. (4) Creates a great obstacle for himself on the path of liberation. 4. Process of creation (1) Brahmand is borne out of Parabrahman’s compassion in order to provide an opportunity for the jivas to be liberated from maya. (2) Neither he nor Aksharbrahma need to directly engage in the process of creation. (3) Mul-Purush inspires Pradhan-Purush. (4) Infinite Pradhan-Prakruti pairs are formed from Mul-Prakruti (Mahamaya). March 2018 1. How does Parabrahman possess a form? (1) God possesses a definite form in his Akshardham. (2) God, who possesses an indefinite form, is always present in his abode, Brahmapur. (3) Shri Purushottam Bhagwan, whose form is forever divine, is seated in Akshardham. (4) The foolish are misled into the understanding that God is transitory. 2. Significance of the word ‘Tattvagnan’. (1) Tattvagnan is the science of the eternal entities. (2) In India, tattvagnan is not regarded simply as a scholarly pursuit. (3) The word ‘darshan’ is often used in place of tattvagnan. (4) Tattvagnan represents the constant effort to find the ultimate truth. 3. Extraordinary works: Shastras about him written. (1) Many worshipped Shriji Maharaj as God during his lifetime. (2) Gunatitanand Swami composed Shikshapatri (3) He had the Satsangijivan composed. (4) Installed his own murti under the name of ‘Harikrishna Maharaj’ in Ahmedabad. 4. Jiva: Unborn, ageless and immortal. (1) Jiva is not created but destroyed. (2) The jivas, which are eternal, arise from within Pradhan-Prakriti. (3) Their existence is permanent. (4) Jiva never merges into Brahman or Parabrahman to lose its own individuality. March 2019 1. The features of Maya. (prakruti) (1) Nirvishesh (2) Vismaykarini (3) Form of tamas (darkness) (4) Kshetragya 2. Jiva: The size of an Atom. (1) Omnipresent size. (2) Lowest size. (3) Highest size. (4) Jiva as an atom 3. The other names of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. (1) Nilkanth (2) Krishna (3) Sarjudas (4) Ghanshyam 4. Who are the Ishwars from the below? (1) Vairaj Purush. (2) Virat-Purush. (3) The deities of the indriyas and antahkaran. (4) Swaminarayan. Q.2 Answer ALL of the following, using one sentence (not just one word) for each answer. (Total Marks: 5) March 2015 1. Which are the three bodies of Ishwar? The three bodies of Ishwar are virat, sutratma and avyakrut. 2. In the Moksha dharma, what, compared to the Akshardham of God, is said to be like hell? The realms of the other deities are like hell compared to the Akshardham of God. 3. What happen to jivas until Ishwars achieve ultimate liberation? Just like jivas, Ishwars are born and die in this creation until they achieve ultimate liberation. 4. According to Gadhada I 56, without what can nothing be accomplished? According to Gadhada I-56, without upasana, nothing can be accomplished. 5. Which size for the jiva has Shriji Maharaj accepted and propounded? Shriji Maharaj in some places has clearly said that the jiva is as subtle as an atom, while in other places he has described the jiva itself as being atomic. March 2016 1. What are the three states of Ishwar? The three states of Ishwars are: 1. Sthiti 2. Utpati 3. Pralay 2. According to Vachanamrut Loya 6, what is the root cause of all defects? All flaws reside in the flaw of identifying one’s self with the body. 3. What is attained in videha mukti? Videha mukti is to attain the highest state of enlightenment after leaving the mortal body. 4. Name the four anthakarans. The four antahkarans (inner faculties) are man, buddhi, chitta and ahamkar. 5. From what is maya disturbed when Akshar-Purush inspires Mul-Prakruti? When Akshar-Purush inspires Mul-Prakruti, she is moved from her dormant state of complete tranquility and equilibrium (a peaceful state of equal balance of all three gunas-sattva, rajas, tamas) into activity. 6. According to Gadhada I 56, without what can nothing be accomplished? According to Gadhada I-56, without upasana nothing can be accomplished. March 2017 1. Why is maya described as trigunatmak? Maya (karanrup maya) and the entities evolved from maya (karyarup maya) possess the three inherent qualities (gunas) – sattva, rajas and tamas. Hence maya is described as trigunatmak 2. According to Shriji Maharaj in Shikshapatri, how does the jiva pervade the entire body? The jiva, which is as subtle as an atom,1 resides in the heart. By virtue of its capacity to know, it pervades the entire body from head to toe. 3. What did Shriji Maharaj explicitly command Muktanand Swami? Shriji Maharaj explicitly commanded Muktanand Swami to write shastras relating to his teachings and incidents for as long as he lived (G II 58). 4. In shloka 116 of the Shikshapatri, how does Shriji Maharaj command to offer bhakti? Shriji Maharaj says, “Identify oneself with Brahman, separate from the three bodies (gross, subtle and causal), and eternally offer devotion to God”. 5. What did Nityanand Swami understand about Shriji Maharaj? Nityanand Swami firmly maintained that Shriji Maharaj, who is distinct, above all, the source of all avatars, and supreme God, should be described as greater than Shri Krishna. 6. What kind of tattva is Ishwar? Each Ishwar is neither created nor destroyed, meaning that it is eternal. March 2018 1. According to Vachanamrut Gadhada I 57, which are the two extraordinary means to attain liberation? The knowledge of God’s form and the knowledge of God’s greatness are the two extraordinary means to attain liberation. 2. What did Bhagatji ask Swamishri Yagnapurushdasji on the occasion of the murti-pratishtha of Ghanshyam Maharaj? Bhagatji Maharaj said to Swamishri Yagnapurushdas, “Sadhuram, you have become a sadhu, but do you have total understanding of and faith in Swaminarayan?” 3. What is not able to influence Parabrahman and Aksharbrahma? Maya cannot overcome Parabrahman or Aksharbrahma in any way or at any time.