“Mothers are highly noble and virtuous. Their nobility cannot be described in words. It does not matter if you do not acquire worldly wealth, but try to win the wealth of your mother's grace. Only then your life will be sanctified,” said Bhagavan Baba in a discourse delivered a few years ago. In fact, in His almost every address to the students of His schools and colleges Baba stresses on the supreme value of respecting one’s parents and satisfying them in all respects.

The month of May celebrates the death anniversary of the Mother of the Avatar, Mother Easwaramma. It is also the month when millions world over celebrate Mother’s day. Marking these sacred events, here is a quiz based on the discourses of Bhagavan over the years on this sacred theme: The Glory of Motherhood.

1. During a Divine Discourse in 1998, Swami reminds us as to why we must always remember that we owe our existence to our mother: “It is not only the kings that protect the nation, but also women of great chastity. It is because of noble men and women that the country has been able to achieve peace and prosperity. All the prosperity and the good that we find in this land of Bharat is due to the strength of women of virtue. Mother is the very foundation for the entire world.

“Divinity is immanent in every being. But who is responsible for this divinity within? The mother who has borne you for nine months with many difficulties and is even ready to sacrifice her life for your welfare! You owe your existence to your mother.”

To set as an ideal, which sacred activity does Swami do to show His love for His Divine Parents?

A. By not eating anything on Easwaramma Day
B. By visiting their sacred samadhis (burial place)
C. By arranging for a special ceremony at all His relatives’ houses every year
D. By privately chanting Mother Easwaramma’s favourite mantra every day

2. “Mother is truly your first god. How many are there today who give due respect and love to this embodiment of divinity? Let alone giving love or respect to their mother, how many behave in a proper manner so as to deserve the love of their mother?

“Be one a great scholar or an officer having high authority, one is but a child to one’s mother. But due to the influence of Kali Age, modern boys and girls are forgetting their duty toward their mother. This is a grave error. Those who forget their duty toward their mother are sure to lose themselves in wilderness…you are boys today; tomorrow you will be men. If your children cause you worry how will you feel? Will you be happy? Not at all. All that happens to you in future will be in accordance with your conduct today.

“Everything is reaction, reflection and resound. Today’s good deeds will blossom into good results in the coming time. If you do bad deeds today, you cannot expect to be rewarded with good results in future. If you do evil today, you cannot escape its consequences later. You may become a powerful officer or an employer. But the results of your past bad deeds will always keep haunting you. Keeping these facts in mind, make your parents happy and serve them to your utmost capability. Only then will you find fulfillment in life.”

According to Swami, what supreme quality of Mother Easwaramma made her an ideal mother?

A. She kept a close watch on the conduct of her children
B. She made sure everyone was well-fed
C. None of her children ever got sick
D. She inculcated the importance of spiritual practices from the very beginning

3. During a Divine Discourse in 1999, Swami explains why women should be given the highest regard in society: “In this world, there are many types of relationships, but none equals the relationship that exists between the mother and the child. It is because of this intimate relationship with the mother that one’s own country is called motherland. Similarly, one’s own language is called mother tongue, not father tongue. Among the parents, the first place is given to the mother; next comes the father. Not only in day-to-day life but also in the field of spirituality, mothers and women are given the highest regard.

“For example, when we mention the names of Divine couples such as Sita Rama, Radha Krishna, Lakshmi Narayana, etc., the names of the goddesses come first. What is the inner significance of this? Mother represents __________.”

A. Strength
B. Purity
C. Nature
D. Perseverance

34.During a Divine Discourse in 2001, Swami lays stress on the importance of a mother’s role in character development while raising children: “Mother plays a very important role in shaping the character of the child. The contemporary education is largely responsible for the gradual deterioration of children’s behaviour.

“In olden days mothers initiated their children into studies by chanting sacred words like ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ or ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’. Thus at a very early age, these sacred words got imprinted in the hearts of children.  But today’s parents initiate their children into education, not by chanting holy or sacred names of God, but by rhymes like ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’. Nowadays children are being taught all types of wrong terminology.

“Today’s children aspire for wealth, power and friendship but not for character. What is the use of wealth, power and friendship bereft of character? Money comes and goes but one must teach them morality and righteousness. Earlier, children were taught such sacred values.”

According to Swami, the reason for chaos in the world today is because _________.

A. The leaders are corrupt
B. There are no ideal parents
C. Lack of time involvement of parents
D. Lack of energy spent in raising children

5. During a Divine Discourse in 1998, Swami reveals the difference in raising good vs. great children: “In those days, what the mother declared proved prophetic. Whenever a mother conferred her blessings on her son, the Divine was present there to declare, ‘May it happen so’. Besides the mother's blessing, divine grace is also necessary. Hence, every son should make every effort to please his mother. Without keeping his mother pleased, the son cannot achieve anything in the world. The son should have those qualities that enable him to please his mother. At the same time, the son should also strive to win the Lord's grace. Without earning God's grace, the mother's blessings alone will be of no avail.

“There are mothers who are worried when their children take to the spiritual path. They hardly realize that it is the fruit of many past lives that accounts for children taking to the spiritual path. Mothers should rejoice over such a development rather than worry about it.”

According to Swami, a great man sees the human even in God. What did He say is a sign of a good man?

A. He trusts all good people
B. He encourages and promotes goodness
C. He shares his experiences of the rewards of being good
D. He sees divinity in all human beings

6.During a Divine Discourse in 1995, Swami narrates a very beautiful example to explain why parents should be esteemed as God: “Your father and mother have together given you your body and brought you up. It is, therefore, your duty to make your parents happy. If you don't please them, or if you ignore them, you cannot be happy. You must develop love for your parents, study well, imbibe the sacred culture of Bharat and lead noble lives as ideal sons of your parents.

“Once when Seeta was teaching how to worship God, Rama intervened and said: ‘Oh simple-minded one! Who is greater in the world than the mother and the father? They know our difficulties and needs. They are able to understand our feelings. They are able to fulfill all our wants. Having such known entities who take interest in your welfare, why should you go after unknown entities?’”

Swami then said: “The mother can be compared to _________ and father to seed. Unless the seed is sown, the plant will not sprout.”

A. Water
B. Sun
C. Earth
D. Tree

7. During a Divine Discourse in 2005, Swami narrates a powerful story to drive home the message of how it pleases God when one makes serving parents the first priority:

“Pundarika was a great devotee of Lord Panduranga. He always held the view that service to the parents was of paramount importance.

“One day, he was serving his parents by massaging their feet. In order to test his love towards his parents, Lord Panduraga appeared before him. But, Pundarika did not want to be distracted from his duty and continued to serve his parents. Then Lord Panduranga enquired of him, ‘My dear son! I appeared before you to give you My darshan; but you are not looking at Me. Whom are you serving with such single-minded devotion?’ Pundarika replied that he was serving his parents.

“Then, Lord Panduranga queried, ‘Is not God greater than the parents? Won’t you have My darshan at least for one second?’”

With regards to his parents, what was Pundarika’s reply to Lord Panduranga?

A. “Yes indeed, God is greater, I am sorry I got carried away!”
B. “God is great, but my parents are greater!”
C. “My parents are living divinities for me”
D. “Please come tomorrow, they are going to go out of town”

8. During a Divine Discourse in 2000, Swami glorifies the virtues of good women: “Women of nobility and character are least perturbed by the criticism of the evil-minded people. They do not give scope for any doubts. Their pure heart is their witness and their sacred feelings are their dharma. They follow their conscience and adhere to truth and righteousness. This is the teaching of the culture of Bharat: Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara (speak the truth and follow righteousness).

“When you lose the love and affection of your mother, your life will lose its direction like a rudderless boat. Mother is the source of all your strength. So, respect your mother and obey her command. If your mother is happy with you, the whole world will be happy with you. If the mother is not pleased with you, you will become cheap in the eyes of the world.

“Do not be proud of your youth, beauty and physical power. Realize that very soon you will have to pass through old age. If you neglect your parents now, your children will neglect you.”

According to Swami, women are the repositories of the five virtues of respect, dignity, sacrifice, contentment and ____________.

A. Bliss
B. Prosperity
C. Compassion
D. Generosity

9. During a Divine Discourse in 1998, Swami enlightens us all by teaching how educated and modern both men and women can help the world improve: “Questions are raised like who will look after the home if women go to offices and who will teach her children if the mother goes to school to teach other children, and so on.

“Some say that though the woman goes to work to solve the financial problem, bigger problems may have to be confronted by her going to work. But, in the modern world, it is necessary for the women to share the burden of maintaining the family with their husbands, so the women should also pursue studies as much as possible and take up suitable jobs to share the burden of the family. It would smack of selfishness if the males prevent them from going to work for which they have acquired the requisite qualifications.

“Women can control the whole world by themselves by virtue of their inherent qualities of love and spirit of sacrifice (prema bhava and thyaga bhava). Anger is alien to women, and it is more rampant in men. Though there may be instances when a woman may give vent to anger, such occasions are few and far between while in men the reverse in the case.”

According to Swami, what supreme virtues can men imbibe to follow as an example from the women, to prosper?

A. Sacred and Sacrificial qualities
B. Patience and perseverance
C. Devotion and Dedication
D. Humbleness and Sincerity

10. During a Divine Discourse in 1998, Swami explains how a woman can have the power to rule a nation: “Women have hidden power immanent in them. You have to encourage them to exhibit their talents. An army commander, who makes all sepoys in the army shiver before him, shivers before his wife when she confronts him after he reaches home. Similarly, the principal of an institution, before whom the students may shiver with fear, may himself feel shiver going down his spine when confronted by his wife for an explanation as to why he came late.

“Generally, the term Purusha is taken to mean only males, basing on physical form. It is not true. Purusha represents the Atma or Chaitanya in all, which is in the body from top to toe. Purusharthas (prime goals of life) are four, namely, dharma, artha, kama, and moksha (right conduct, wealth, desire, and liberation). This does not apply only to males. It is common to both males and females.”

According to Swami, of the four primary goals of one’s life, which one of these can be designated to a strong woman to lead a nation to prosperity?

A. Dharma
B. Artha
C. Kama
D. Moksha

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- Heart2Heart Team