Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, extra MCQs, PDF for Sister Nivedita’s The Swami and Mother-Worship: WBCHSE Class 11 English Literature textbook A Realm of English (B) Selection, which is part of the Semester I syllabus for students studying under WBBSE (West Bengal Board-Uccha Madhyamik). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
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Summary
Sister Nivedita writes about Swami Vivekananda’s spiritual life. She saw two sides to him. One side was a great thinker who believed in Brahman, the one, formless God. The other side was his deep love for the Divine Mother. In India, the word “Mother” was always on his lips. He thought of Her all the time. He felt that everything that happened to him, good or bad, came from Her. He taught that even Her curse was a blessing, meaning that difficult things from Her are also for our good.
The Swami taught people to worship the Mother in all her forms, even the scary ones. He spoke of Kali, who holds a sword. He said people should not be afraid of pain or terror, but see the Mother in them too. He did not like it when people prayed to God only to ask for things, as if they were in a shop. He believed God is present in everything, including difficult things like earthquakes and volcanoes.
The Swami shared a personal story. He said that for six years, he fought against accepting the Mother. But his teacher, Sri Ramakrishna, guided him. After facing great troubles in his life, he finally accepted Her. He then felt that the Mother guided his every action.
Sister Nivedita learned that for the Swami, believing in the formless Brahman and the personal Mother were not opposite ideas. She explains that worshipping the Mother is like reading a “book of experience.” This means that by living through all of life’s joys and sorrows, a person learns many lessons. At the end of this journey, they can reach the final truth of Brahman. They understand that their whole life was a path to this great knowledge, almost like a dream.
Textbook MCQ solutions
1. What is the Swami’s attitude towards Mother worship, according to Sister Nivedita?
a) He advocates for the worship of all deities equally
b) He emphasises the importance of Mother worship in spiritual life
c) He considers it a primitive form of religious expression
d) He discourages devotees from practicing Mother worship
Answer: b) He emphasises the importance of Mother worship in spiritual life
2. How does Mother worship play the role in Hinduism, as mentioned in the text?
a) It is an outdated tradition that the modern Hindus no longer follow.
b) It’s a superstitious practice rooted in ancient mythology
c) It’s a means of seeking material blessings and prosperity
d) It serves a bridge between the individual Soul and the individual Spirit
Answer: d) It serves a bridge between the individual Soul and the individual Spirit
Additional MCQs
1. At what age did Swami Vivekananda reportedly develop the power to enter Samadhi?
A. Eight years old
B. Twelve years old
C. Sixteen years old
D. Twenty years old
Answer: A. Eight years old
2. Which socio-religious movement did Swami Vivekananda formally join in his youth?
A. Arya Samaj
B. Theosophical Society
C. Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
D. Ramakrishna Mission
Answer: C. Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
3. What were considered the sole scriptural authority for Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in England and America?
A. The Puranas
B. The Bhagavad Gita
C. The Ramayana
D. The Vedas and Upanishads
Answer: D. The Vedas and Upanishads
4. What was Swami Vivekananda’s instruction regarding prayer to the Mother?
A. To pray with humility and submission
B. To avoid prayer and focus on philosophy
C. To be assertive and not cringe
D. To use specific, ancient chants only
Answer: C. To be assertive and not cringe
5. In a description of the Mother, what is said to be in her left hand?
A. A lotus flower
B. A conch shell
C. The sword
D. A book of scriptures
Answer: C. The sword
6. What did Swami Vivekananda advocate for worshipping, in addition to that which brings pleasure and joy?
A. Wealth and prosperity
B. The Terror for its own sake
C. Ancestral spirits
D. Philosophical abstraction only
Answer: B. The Terror for its own sake
7. What term did Swami Vivekananda use to describe worship that is devoted only to a kind, consoling Divinity?
A. Idolatry
B. Shop-keeping
C. Superstition
D. True devotion
Answer: B. Shop-keeping
8. Who did Swami Vivekananda say dedicated him to the Mother?
A. His own mother
B. A guru from the Himalayas
C. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
D. He was self-dedicated from birth
Answer: C. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
9. For how long did Swami Vivekananda say he fought against accepting the Mother?
A. Two years
B. Four years
C. Six years
D. Ten years
Answer: C. Six years
10. What did Swami Vivekananda reveal about the specific reason for his final acceptance of the Mother?
A. It was a vision during meditation
B. It was a direct command from his guru
C. It was a secret that would die with him
D. It was the result of philosophical study
Answer: C. It was a secret that would die with him
46. (I) The Swami was described as a born Brahmajnani, inclined towards abstract philosophy.
(II) While abroad, he preached only the realisation of Brahman, based on the Vedas and Upanishads.
A. I is a contradiction of II.
B. II is an example of I.
C. I is independent of II.
D. II is the cause of I.
Answer: B. II is an example of I.
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