- 1 - Bochasanwasi Shri Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Satsang Sikshan Parixa SATSANG PARICHAY-1 Time : 9.00 a.m. to 11.15 a.m. Total Marks : 75 Sunday, 6th March, 2011 Note : 1. Answer of the prescribed addition only will be accepted. Any other answer from different addition will not be accepted. 2. Numbers of the right side indicate marks of question number. 3. Numbers in the blanks on the right side of the answer indicate lesson number & page number. Important Note In the question paper the marks of the each sub-question should written in the box ( mark — 1 ) given on the right side and the marks of obtained by the candidate should be written in the adjacent box. If the answer is wrong than write ‘0’ (zero) in the given box. The sign or indication of true () or false () of each sub-question should be marked only on the left-side before the question starts. (SECTION-1: SAHAJANAND CHARITRA, 5th Edition, December - 2009) Q.1 In the sentences below, state who is speaking to whom and when. (Total Marks: 9) Note : Who is speaking 1 mark, to whom 1 mark and when 1 mark. 1. Kushalkunvarba - to Maharaj (14/96) Maharaj was honoured in a procession on an elephant and was accorded a warm welcome in the royal court of Dharampur that time Kushalkunvarba said to Maharaj. 2. Maharaj - to Kurji Dave (26/151) When Ramanand Swami had arrived in Piplana from Bhuj, Kurji Dave had brought a message of Ramanand Swami to Loj. At that time everyone had given him something as gift. That time Maharaj had told him “I will give you my Akshardham.” When Maharaj appointed Gunatitanand Swami as the Mahant of Junagadh, that time in the assembly Maharaj said so to Kurji Dave. 3. Ramanand Swami - to Muktanand Swami (2/17) When Muktanand Swami was returning from the forest of Khakhra trees, Ramanand Swami appeared to Muktanand Swami and narrated him about the divine form of Maharaj. Q.2 Give reasons for the following (two to three lines each). (Total Marks: 6) 1. Patalbhai's wife tearfully requested Maharaj to forgive her. (3/24 ) A. In village Bhader, Maharaj went to Patalbhai’s house with devotees. Patalbhai’s wife offered a cup of milk to Maharaj. Maharaj praised the milk and drank three cupfuls of milk. Patalbhai’s wife went inside to bring some buttermilk for the other devotees. When she opened the container she saw that it actualy contained milk. She realized that she had served Maharaj buttermilk instead of milk. So she requested Maharaj to forgive her. 2. Sunderji Suthar's ego was reduced to ashes. (7/47) A. The owner of up to five, twenty-five or fifty villages, Just by reading a letter from Maharaj, they have renounced everything and like pet doves have rushed Bhuj and became sadhu. When Sunderji Suthar could not check his tears when he heard this. His ego was reduced to ashes and he understood the significance of Maharaj’s words. He recalled his remark which he had made at Bandhiya and asked for forgiveness. 501 - 2 - 3. Within four days Shobharam lost his sight. (10/72 ) A. Satsangi named Baldevbhai persuaded him but Shobharam who was very proud of his scolarship, roared If your Swminarayan is worth the name, to make me blind within eight days. Within four days he lost his eyes. Q.3 Write short note on ‘Insult at Anand’ (17/106) (in 15 lines) (Total Marks: 5) Some devotees from Anand requested Maharaj twice with misty eyes to come to Anand. Maharaj agreed to their request and started for Anand in the company of brave Kathis and sadhus. When the holy cavalcade entered Anand, the devotees received them and accorded a ceremonial reception. But the opponents feared that their own interests were in jeopardy. When the group entered the market place the anti-social elements started hurling insults and abuses, but devotees remain calm, as Maharaj had instructed them. Then arrogant people started showering pebbles, dust, rubbish and dung on the procession. Bhaguji, Dada Khachar, and Naja Jogiya were on the point of drawing their swords, but Maharaj stopped them and asked them to restrain themselves. Maharaj and his followers halted under a huge banyan tree in the plot of Gusaiji on the outskirts of Anand. Maharaj had to return to Vartal via Bakrol without a meal. In the evening Maharaj said, What a great victory that was. We have endured. We have not opposed them. This has enhanced our reputation. Otherwise, there would have been a bloody skirmish and increased bitterness and enmity. The ugly incident stirred the conscience of the leading people and the businessmen of Anand. They apologized and promised to Maharaj that such ugly scenes would never be repeated. They opened the gates of Anand for Maharaj and devotees for ever. Q.4 Answer ALL of the following, using one sentence (not just one word) for each answer. (Total Marks: 5) Note : No marks for incomplete answer. 1. When and where did Shriji Maharaj write the Shikshapatri? (25/146) A. Shikshapatri was completed in Vartal, on the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami (Maha Sud 5), Samvat 1882 (12 February 1826 CE). 2. Whom did Shriji Maharaj command to empty the pits of hell? (1/5) A. Shriji Maharaj commanded to Swarupanand Swami to empty the pits of hell. 3. What did Gangaba say to Sonbai? (14/94) A. Gangaba told Sonbai, “You have not got rice and pulses of good quality. Your food stuff is inferior to mine, so you cook and serve the sadhus and I shall prepare a special dish for Maharaj with my superior grains and I shall bring it to your house and serve it to Maharaj.’ 4. Who were jealous of Muktanand Swami's victory in Baroda? (18/110) A. Haryanand and Nirvikalpanand were jealous of Muktanand Swami’s victory in Baroda. 5. What respectful title did Shriji Maharaj give to widows? (6/42) A. Shriji Maharaj gave respectful title ‘sankhya yogi women’ to widows. Q.5 From the given options, place a tick () in the box next to the correct ones. (Total Marks: 4) Note : One or more of the options may be correct. Full marks will be awarded only if all the correct options are chosen, otherwise no marks will be awarded. 1. 2, 4 (5/35) 2. 1, 3 (27/153) Q.6 Fill in the blanks. (Total Marks: 4) 1. heart (9/67) 2. Ardeshar Kotwal (24/136) 3. Umreth (7/54) 4. Kakabhai (29/167) 501 - 3 - (SECTION-2: SATSANG READER PART-2, 4th Edition February - 2009) Q.7 In the sentences below, state who is speaking to whom and when. (Total Marks: 9) Note : Who is speaking 1 mark, to whom 1 mark and when 1 mark. 1. Maharaj - to Paramhansas (1/5) While the Satsangijivan scripture was being written at Vartal, Nityanand Swami’s firm that How can we say he is like other incarnations? When other sadhus and Shriji Maharaj himself opposed Nityanand Swami. Shriji Maharaj called him an obstinate person and excommunicated him but he was as firm as a mountain in his conviction. On the eighth day Shriji Maharaj invited him to the assembly, perfomed puja and offered his garland him as a token of love that time Maharaj said so. 2. Acharya Maharaj (Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj) - to The attendants (4/33) Once Acharya Maharaj was performing mansi puja, a scorpion crawled on his back and stung him. But he was not disturbed. He continued to meditate. When he woke up from the mansi puja he asked his attendants, “What has happened to my back?” The attendants said that an area of his back had become swollen and red. They also spotted a scorpion hidden in a corner. That time Acharya Maharaj said so. 3. Krishnaji Ada - Gnanji Swami (Yogiji Maharaj) (8/74) In accordance with Krishnaji Ada’s wish during his final illness, a seven-day recitation of the scriptures was arranged. On that occasion Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj and Nirgundasji were invited. On their arrival, he called Gnanji Swami near, and said so. Q.8 Give reasons for the following (two to three lines each). (Total Marks: 4) 1. Premanand Swami composed a song 'Mankiye chadhya re Mohan Vanmali......nathi jati darbarmathi ghodi.' (6/50) A. Once, Laduba, Jivuba and other women prepared to accompany Maharaj, but Maharaj refused to take them along. He mounted on his mare and set off with some Kathi devotees but the mare brought Maharaj back to the darbar from the outskirts of the town and stood still. So Maharaj commented,” These women devotees are influencing the mare.” Only when Maharaj permitted the women devotees to accompany him, the mare left Gadhada for Vartal. Therefore Premanand Swami composed a song to describe this incident. 2. Acharya Raghuvirji Maharaj gave footprints on Jaga Bhakta's chest. (7/57) A. While introducing Jaga Bhakta to Raghuvirji Maharaj, Swami said, ‘This Jaga Bhakta obeyed my command and resisted the temptation of attending the festival and stayed for seventeen days to protect the mandir’s hay. Acharya Maharaj was greatly pleased to hear this. He embraced him and gave footprints on his chest. Q.9 Write short notes on ‘The spread of Akshar-Purushottam upasana by Krishnaji Ada’ (8/67) (in 15 lines). (Total Marks: 5) Karsanjibhai used to conduct religious discourses in the Rajkot mandir every morning and evening. People were greatly impressed by his enlightening talks. This made him popular with even the eminent sadgurus of Junagadh mandir and they used to invite him to talk to the congregation there.