Questions from the Text
The soil of Punjab was flooded with the blood of people who died for:
a) Love
b) The land
c) The faith
d) Other peopleThe faith (correct answer, as the text mentions people dying for their beliefs in Punjab).
The word “other-worldliness” means:
a) Animal world
b) An other world
c) Relating to a world other than the actual world
d) A new worldRelating to a world other than the actual world (correct answer, as it refers to spiritual or divine thoughts beyond the physical world).
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) on "Amarnath" by Sister Nivedita
Where was the Swami when he announced he would go to Amarnath?
a) At a temple
b) In the Mogul Gardens at Achhabal
c) In Islamabad
d) At the Amarnath Cave
Answer: b) In the Mogul Gardens at AchhabalWho did the Swami decide to take with him to Amarnath?
a) His friend
b) His daughter
c) The narrator
d) The Tehsildar
Answer: b) His daughterHow did the group feel when the Swami announced his plan to go to Amarnath?
a) They were angry
b) They were delighted and congratulated the daughter
c) They were confused
d) They were sad
Answer: b) They were delighted and congratulated the daughterWho helped the group prepare for the Amarnath pilgrimage?
a) A local shopkeeper
b) The State officer in charge of the journey
c) A group of monks
d) The narrator’s family
Answer: b) The State officer in charge of the journeyWhere did the group return to make final arrangements for the pilgrimage?
a) Achhabal
b) Pawan
c) Islamabad
d) Pahalgam
Answer: c) IslamabadWhat was Kashmir full of during the time of the pilgrimage?
a) Tourists
b) Pilgrims
c) Soldiers
d) Merchants
Answer: b) PilgrimsHow did the pilgrims behave when they camped in fields?
a) They left a lot of mess
b) They were quiet, orderly, and left only ashes from cooking fires
c) They stayed for many days
d) They built permanent houses
Answer: b) They were quiet, orderly, and left only ashes from cooking firesWhat did the pilgrims carry with them during the journey?
a) A library
b) A bazaar (market)
c) A school
d) A hospital
Answer: b) A bazaar (market)What could you buy in the pilgrims’ camp bazaar?
a) Books and pens
b) Dried fruits, milk, dahl, and rice
c) Clothes and shoes
d) Toys and games
Answer: b) Dried fruits, milk, dahl, and riceWhere was the Swami’s tent usually placed in the camp?
a) Far from everyone
b) Near a spot good for lighting the evening fire
c) At the edge of the camp
d) Inside a shop
Answer: b) Near a spot good for lighting the evening fireWho was camped on either side of the Tehsildar’s tent?
a) The narrator and a monk
b) The Swami and the narrator
c) The Swami and a shopkeeper
d) The daughter and the Swami
Answer: b) The Swami and the narratorWhy did the Swami’s tent become a social center?
a) Because it was the biggest tent
b) Because it was near the campfire spot
c) Because it had the most food
d) Because it was near the shops
Answer: b) Because it was near the campfire spotWhat kind of tents did the monks have?
a) Large and colorful
b) Gerrua tents, some as small as umbrellas
c) Wooden tents
d) Tents made of stone
Answer: b) Gerrua tents, some as small as umbrellasWhy were the monks attracted to the Swami?
a) He gave them food
b) His influence was magnetic, and he was wise
c) He was a shopkeeper
d) He was the leader of the camp
Answer: b) His influence was magnetic, and he was wiseWhat did the monks talk about with the Swami?
a) Stories about kings
b) Lord Shiva
c) The weather
d) Their travels
Answer: b) Lord ShivaWhat did the monks dislike when the Swami talked about it?
a) The world around them
b) Lord Shiva
c) The pilgrimage rules
d) The camp organization
Answer: a) The world around themWhat did the monks say about Swadesh and Videsh?
a) They are different countries
b) They are the same in God’s eyes
c) They are enemies
d) They are places in Kashmir
Answer: b) They are the same in God’s eyesWhat did the monks not understand about the Swami?
a) His love for Mohammedanism (Islam)
b) His dislike for pilgrims
c) His dislike for nature
d) His fear of the cave
Answer: a) His love for Mohammedanism (Islam)What did the monks say about the soil of Punjab?
a) It was fertile for farming
b) It was drenched with the blood of those who died for faith
c) It was dry and rocky
d) It was full of gold
Answer: b) It was drenched with the blood of those who died for faithHow did the Swami respond to the monks’ arguments?
a) He ignored them
b) He made practical concessions and explained his views
c) He left the camp
d) He stopped talking to them
Answer: b) He made practical concessions and explained his viewsWho were some of the officials helping with the pilgrimage?
a) Only Hindus
b) Only monks
c) Muslims, including the Tehsildar
d) Foreigners
Answer: c) Muslims, including the TehsildarWhat did the Tehsildar do after the pilgrimage?
a) He left the group
b) He asked the Swami to accept him and his friends as disciples
c) He opened a shop
d) He stopped the pilgrimage
Answer: b) He asked the Swami to accept him and his friends as disciplesWhere did the group camp after leaving Islamabad?
a) Achhabal
b) Pawan
c) Pahalgam
d) The Amarnath Cave
Answer: b) PawanWhat was Pawan famous for?
a) Its mountains
b) Its holy springs
c) Its forests
d) Its shops
Answer: b) Its holy springsWhat did the narrator notice at Pawan in the evening?
a) The sound of music
b) The brilliance of lights reflected in the water
c) The snow falling
d) The pilgrims leaving
Answer: b) The brilliance of lights reflected in the waterWhat did the pilgrims do at Pawan?
a) They rested for a week
b) They visited small shrines
c) They built a temple
d) They held a dance
Answer: b) They visited small shrinesWhere did the group stop for a day to celebrate Chadasi?
a) Pawan
b) Islamabad
c) Pahalgam
d) The Amarnath Cave
Answer: c) PahalgamWhat was Pahalgam described as?
a) A busy city
b) A beautiful ravine with a river and pine trees
c) A desert
d) A snowy mountain
Answer: b) A beautiful ravine with a river and pine treesWhat did the landscape of Pahalgam remind the narrator of?
a) A jungle
b) Switzerland or Norway
c) A beach
d) A city
Answer: b) Switzerland or NorwayWhat was seen at sunset in Pahalgam?
a) The sun
b) The moon, not yet full
c) A rainbow
d) A storm
Answer: b) The moon, not yet fullWhat was the last sign of human dwellings seen at Pahalgam?
a) A temple
b) A bridge, a farmhouse, and saeter-huts
c) A school
d) A market
Answer: b) A bridge, a farmhouse, and saeter-hutsHow many pilgrims climbed toward the Amarnath Cave?
a) 100
b) 1,000
c) 3,000
d) 10,000
Answer: c) 3,000Where did the pilgrims camp on the first day of the climb?
a) In a pine-wood
b) Near a frozen river
c) In a village
d) At the cave
Answer: a) In a pine-woodWhat happened on the second day of the climb?
a) They reached the cave
b) They crossed the snow line and camped by a frozen river
c) They returned to Pahalgam
d) They stopped at Pawan
Answer: b) They crossed the snow line and camped by a frozen riverWhat fuel was used for the campfire on the second evening?
a) Pinewood
b) Juniper
c) Coal
d) Grass
Answer: b) JuniperWhy was it hard to find fuel on the third evening?
a) It was raining
b) They were at a high altitude
c) There was no wood in Kashmir
d) The pilgrims used it all
Answer: b) They were at a high altitudeWhat kind of paths did the pilgrims use near the Amarnath Cave?
a) Wide roads
b) Goat-paths on steep cliffs
c) Paved streets
d) Snowy trails
Answer: b) Goat-paths on steep cliffsWhere was the Amarnath Cave located?
a) In a forest
b) In a boulder-strewn gorge
c) On a flat plain
d) Near a lake
Answer: b) In a boulder-strewn gorgeWhat was inside the Amarnath Cave?
a) A golden statue
b) A great ice-lingam
c) A fire pit
d) A painting of Shiva
Answer: b) A great ice-lingamWhy did the ice-lingam never melt?
a) It was in a heated cave
b) It was in a niche never reached by sunlight
c) It was covered by cloth
d) It was made of stone
Answer: b) It was in a niche never reached by sunlightWhat rituals did the Swami follow during the pilgrimage?
a) Singing and dancing
b) Telling beads, fasting, and bathing in five streams
c) Building a temple
d) Cooking special food
Answer: b) Telling beads, fasting, and bathing in five streamsWhat did the Swami feel when he entered the cave?
a) He saw Lord Shiva made visible
b) He was scared
c) He felt hungry
d) He wanted to leave
Answer: a) He saw Lord Shiva made visibleHow many times did the Swami kneel and prostrate in the cave?
a) One time
b) Two or three times
c) Five times
d) Ten times
Answer: b) Two or three timesWhy did the Swami leave the cave quickly?
a) He was cold
b) He was afraid emotion might overcome him
c) He was late for dinner
d) He was called outside
Answer: b) He was afraid emotion might overcome himWhat blessing did the Swami believe he received in the cave?
a) Wealth
b) Amar (not to die until he willed it)
c) Strength
d) Knowledge
Answer: b) Amar (not to die until he willed it)What fear did the Swami have from childhood?
a) Fear of heights
b) Fear of dying in a Shiva temple
c) Fear of water
d) Fear of crowds
Answer: b) Fear of dying in a Shiva templeWhat festival did the pilgrims celebrate at the cave?
a) Diwali
b) Rakhi Bandhan
c) Holi
d) Chadasi
Answer: b) Rakhi BandhanWhat did the pilgrims do during Rakhi Bandhan?
a) They sang songs
b) They tied red and yellow threads on their wrists
c) They lit a bonfire
d) They danced
Answer: b) They tied red and yellow threads on their wristsWhat did the Swami imagine about the cave’s discovery?
a) It was found by kings
b) Shepherds found it while looking for their lost sheep
c) Monks built it
d) It was made by pilgrims
Answer: b) Shepherds found it while looking for their lost sheepHow did the Swami feel about the Amarnath Cave for the rest of his life?
a) He forgot about it
b) He cherished the memory as a meeting with Lord Shiva
c) He was disappointed
d) He was afraid of it
Answer: b) He cherished the memory as a meeting with Lord Shiva
What kind of meal was the group having when the Swami announced his plan to go to Amarnath?
a) A formal dinner
b) An open-air meal
c) A temple feast
d) A picnic by the river
Answer: b) An open-air mealWhat was the reaction of the group to the Swami’s daughter joining the pilgrimage?
a) They were jealous
b) They felt delighted and congratulated her
c) They were uninterested
d) They argued against it
Answer: b) They felt delighted and congratulated herWhat did the State officer do to help the group?
a) Provided food for the journey
b) Helped with preparations for the pilgrimage
c) Guided them to the cave
d) Gave them money
Answer: b) Helped with preparations for the pilgrimageWhat did the pilgrims leave behind in the fields where they camped?
a) Tents and shops
b) Only the ashes of their cooking fires
c) Clothes and bags
d) Food scraps
Answer: b) Only the ashes of their cooking firesHow did the pilgrims set up their camps?
a) Slowly and messily
b) With incredible speed and organization
c) Without any planning
d) Only at night
Answer: b) With incredible speed and organizationWhat ran through the middle of part of the pilgrims’ camp?
a) A river
b) A broad street
c) A forest path
d) A mountain trail
Answer: b) A broad streetWhat made the Swami’s neighborhood a social center in the camp?
a) His tent’s size
b) Its location near the evening fire spot
c) His loud speeches
d) His food offerings
Answer: b) Its location near the evening fire spotHow many monks were part of the pilgrimage?
a) A few
b) Hundreds
c) Thousands
d) None
Answer: b) HundredsWhat was the size of some monks’ tents described as?
a) As large as houses
b) No larger than a good-sized umbrella
c) As big as a shop
d) As small as a box
Answer: b) No larger than a good-sized umbrellaWhat did the monks do when they visited the Swami’s tent?
a) They ate meals together
b) They discussed spiritual topics for hours
c) They played games
d) They planned the journey
Answer: b) They discussed spiritual topics for hoursWhat was the main topic of the monks’ conversations with the Swami?
a) The beauty of Kashmir
b) Lord Shiva
c) The pilgrimage route
d) The camp organization
Answer: b) Lord ShivaWhat did the monks urge the Swami to avoid talking about?
a) Lord Shiva
b) The world around them
c) The cave
d) The pilgrims
Answer: b) The world around themWhat did the monks mean by “Swadesh and Videsh”?
a) Two rivers in Kashmir
b) India and foreign lands
c) Two types of tents
d) Two gods
Answer: b) India and foreign landsWhy did the monks argue that Swadesh and Videsh were the same?
a) Because they are both in Kashmir
b) Because all people are equal in God’s eyes
c) Because they are both dangerous
d) Because they are both holy
Answer: b) Because all people are equal in God’s eyesWhat did the monks not understand about the Swami’s attitude?
a) His love for Mohammedanism (Islam)
b) His dislike for the pilgrimage
c) His fear of the cave
d) His anger toward the monks
Answer: a) His love for Mohammedanism (Islam)What did the monks say about the history of Punjab?
a) It was a peaceful land
b) Its soil was drenched with blood from those who died for faith
c) It was a place of trade
d) It was a new land
Answer: b) Its soil was drenched with blood from those who died for faithHow did the Swami handle the monks’ arguments?
a) He agreed with everything they said
b) He made concessions and explained his views strongly
c) He ignored them completely
d) He left the pilgrimage
Answer: b) He made concessions and explained his views stronglyWhat was surprising about the officials in the pilgrimage?
a) They were all foreigners
b) Many, like the Tehsildar, were Muslims
c) They were all monks
d) They were all women
Answer: b) Many, like the Tehsildar, were MuslimsWhat did no one object to at the Amarnath Cave?
a) The monks praying loudly
b) Muslims entering the cave with Hindu worshippers
c) The Swami leading the group
d) The pilgrims camping inside
Answer: b) Muslims entering the cave with Hindu worshippersWhat did the Tehsildar and his friends ask the Swami after the pilgrimage?
a) To give them money
b) To accept them as disciples
c) To lead another pilgrimage
d) To visit their village
Answer: b) To accept them as disciplesWhat was the first major stop after leaving Islamabad?
a) The Amarnath Cave
b) Pawan
c) Pahalgam
d) Achhabal
Answer: b) PawanWhat made Pawan a special place for the pilgrims?
a) Its large temples
b) Its holy springs
c) Its markets
d) Its forests
Answer: b) Its holy springsWhat did the narrator see at Pawan in the evening?
a) Snow falling
b) Lights reflected in the black waters of the tank
c) A large festival
d) A group of dancers
Answer: b) Lights reflected in the black waters of the tankWhat did the pilgrims do at Pawan?
a) They built a bridge
b) They visited small shrines in groups
c) They rested for a week
d) They held a market fair
Answer: b) They visited small shrines in groupsWhat festival did the pilgrims celebrate at Pahalgam?
a) Rakhi Bandhan
b) Chadasi
c) Diwali
d) Holi
Answer: b) ChadasiHow was Pahalgam described in the story?
a) A crowded city
b) A ravine with a river, pine trees, and mountains
c) A flat desert
d) A snowy plain
Answer: b) A ravine with a river, pine trees, and mountainsWhat did the slopes around Pahalgam have?
a) Sandy beaches
b) Dark pine trees
c) Rocky cliffs
d) Flower gardens
Answer: b) Dark pine treesWhat was seen over the mountain at Pahalgam during sunset?
a) A star
b) The moon, not yet full
c) A cloud
d) A rainbow
Answer: b) The moon, not yet fullWhat was the last sign of human dwellings at Pahalgam?
a) A school and a shop
b) A bridge, a farmhouse, and saeter-huts
c) A temple and a market
d) A road and a village
Answer: b) A bridge, a farmhouse, and saeter-hutsWhere did the group leave the rest of their party before the final climb?
a) On a grassy knoll in Pahalgam
b) In Islamabad
c) At Pawan
d) At the cave entrance
Answer: a) On a grassy knoll in PahalgamHow many pilgrims began the final climb to the Amarnath Cave?
a) 500
b) 1,000
c) 3,000
d) 5,000
Answer: c) 3,000Where did the pilgrims camp on the first day of the climb?
a) In a village
b) In a pine-wood
c) By a lake
d) At the snow line
Answer: b) In a pine-woodWhat did the pilgrims cross on the second day of the climb?
a) A desert
b) The snow line
c) A wide river
d) A city
Answer: b) The snow lineWhere did the pilgrims camp after crossing the snow line?
a) In a forest
b) Beside a frozen river
c) In a village
d) At the cave
Answer: b) Beside a frozen riverWhat type of wood was used for the campfire on the second evening of the climb?
a) Oak
b) Juniper
c) Pine
d) Cedar
Answer: b) JuniperWhy was it difficult to find fuel for the campfire at higher altitudes?
a) It was too cold
b) Fuel was scarce at great heights
c) The pilgrims forgot to bring wood
d) It was raining
Answer: b) Fuel was scarce at great heightsWhat kind of paths did the pilgrims use when the regular pathway ended?
a) Paved roads
b) Goat-paths on steep cliffs
c) Wide trails
d) Snowy slopes
Answer: b) Goat-paths on steep cliffsWhat was the Amarnath Cave surrounded by?
a) A forest
b) A boulder-strewn gorge
c) A lake
d) A village
Answer: b) A boulder-strewn gorgeWhat did the snow peaks near the cave look like?
a) Covered with trees
b) Covered with a white veil of new snow
c) Bare and rocky
d) Covered with ice statues
Answer: b) Covered with a white veil of new snowWhat was the ice-lingam in the cave described as?
a) A small statue
b) A great ice formation in a niche
c) A painted rock
d) A glowing light
Answer: b) A great ice formation in a nicheWhy did the ice-lingam seem like the “Presence of God” to pilgrims?
a) It was brightly lit
b) It was a natural wonder that never melted
c) It was carved by monks
d) It was covered in gold
Answer: b) It was a natural wonder that never meltedWhat rituals did the Swami perform during the journey?
a) Singing and dancing
b) Telling beads, fasting, and bathing in five streams
c) Building a fire
d) Cooking food
Answer: b) Telling beads, fasting, and bathing in five streamsWhat did the Swami see in the cave that overwhelmed him?
a) A vision of Lord Shiva
b) A group of monks
c) A bright light
d) A hidden treasure
Answer: a) A vision of Lord ShivaWhat sounds were heard in the Amarnath Cave?
a) Music and singing
b) Buzzing of pilgrims and fluttering of pigeons
c) Silence
d) Running water
Answer: b) Buzzing of pilgrims and fluttering of pigeonsWhy did the Swami withdraw from the cave quickly?
a) He was tired
b) He was afraid of being overcome by emotion
c) He was called outside
d) He didn’t like the cave
Answer: b) He was afraid of being overcome by emotionWhat gift did the Swami believe he received from Lord Shiva?
a) Wealth
b) Amar (not to die until he willed it)
c) Wisdom
d) Strength
Answer: b) Amar (not to die until he willed it)What childhood fear did the Swami overcome in the cave?
a) Fear of heights
b) Fear of dying in a Shiva temple
c) Fear of crowds
d) Fear of water
Answer: b) Fear of dying in a Shiva templeWhat was special about the Amarnath pilgrimage compared to others?
a) It was very expensive
b) It was simple and close to nature
c) It was only for monks
d) It was held indoors
Answer: b) It was simple and close to natureWhat did the pilgrims do after visiting the cave?
a) They stayed inside
b) They rested and ate on boulders by the stream
c) They built a temple
d) They left immediately
Answer: b) They rested and ate on boulders by the streamHow did the Swami describe the discovery of the Amarnath Cave?
a) It was built by kings
b) Shepherds found it while looking for lost sheep
c) Monks created it
d) Pilgrims carved it
Answer: b) Shepherds found it while looking for lost sheep
What festival marked the culmination of the Amarnath pilgrimage?
a) Diwali
b) Rakhi Bandhan
c) Holi
d) Chadasi
Answer: b) Rakhi BandhanWhat did the pilgrims tie on their wrists during Rakhi Bandhan?
a) Blue and green threads
b) Red and yellow threads
c) Black and white threads
d) Gold and silver threads
Answer: b) Red and yellow threadsWhat did the red and yellow threads symbolize during Rakhi Bandhan?
a) Wealth and prosperity
b) Love and protection
c) Strength and courage
d) Wisdom and knowledge
Answer: b) Love and protectionWhere did the pilgrims rest after visiting the Amarnath Cave?
a) Inside the cave
b) On high boulders beside the stream
c) In a nearby village
d) In a pine forest
Answer: b) On high boulders beside the streamWhat did the pilgrims do after resting by the stream?
a) They returned to their tents
b) They built a new camp
c) They continued climbing
d) They visited another shrine
Answer: a) They returned to their tentsHow did the Swami feel about the Amarnath Cave?
a) He thought it was ordinary
b) He felt it was the most beautiful place he had seen
c) He was scared of it
d) He disliked it
Answer: b) He felt it was the most beautiful place he had seenWhat did the Swami do when he spoke about the cave?
a) He spoke loudly
b) He sat silently and spoke dreamily
c) He wrote a letter
d) He sang a song
Answer: b) He sat silently and spoke dreamilyWhat did the Swami imagine about how the cave was first discovered?
a) Monks built it for worship
b) Shepherds found it while searching for lost sheep
c) Kings created it as a temple
d) Pilgrims carved it out
Answer: b) Shepherds found it while searching for lost sheepWhat did the shepherds likely tell others after finding the cave?
a) They found a treasure
b) They came upon Mahadev (Lord Shiva)
c) They saw a river
d) They found a village
Answer: b) They came upon Mahadev (Lord Shiva)How did the Swami describe his experience in the cave?
a) It was disappointing
b) It startled and enwrapped him
c) It was boring
d) It was confusing
Answer: b) It startled and enwrapped himWhat did the Swami compare the Amarnath Cave to?
a) A city temple
b) The secret of Kailas
c) A forest shrine
d) A mountain village
Answer: b) The secret of KailasHow long did the Swami cherish the memory of the cave?
a) For a few days
b) For a year
c) For the rest of his life
d) For a month
Answer: c) For the rest of his lifeWhat did the Swami feel he came face to face with in the cave?
a) A monk
b) Lord Shiva himself
c) A shepherd
d) The Tehsildar
Answer: b) Lord Shiva himselfWhat made the Amarnath pilgrimage unique compared to others?
a) It was very expensive
b) It was simple and close to nature
c) It was only for monks
d) It was indoors
Answer: b) It was simple and close to natureWhat was absent outside the Amarnath Cave?
a) Pilgrims
b) Brahminic exploitation of the people
c) Snow
d) Tents
Answer: b) Brahminic exploitation of the peopleWhat was the ice-lingam in the cave a symbol of?
a) Lord Vishnu
b) Lord Shiva
c) Lord Brahma
d) Lord Krishna
Answer: b) Lord ShivaWhat was the narrator’s role in the pilgrimage?
a) She led the group
b) She was a pilgrim and observer
c) She was a shopkeeper
d) She was a guide
Answer: b) She was a pilgrim and observerWhat was the name of the author of the story?
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Sister Nivedita
c) The Tehsildar
d) The Swami
Answer: b) Sister NiveditaWhat was the Swami’s attitude toward Mohammedanism (Islam)?
a) He disliked it
b) He was indifferent to it
c) He showed love and sympathy for it
d) He ignored it
Answer: c) He showed love and sympathy for itWhat did the monks find hard to understand about the Swami?
a) His love for all religions, including Islam
b) His dislike for the pilgrimage
c) His fear of the cave
d) His lack of faith
Answer: a) His love for all religions, including IslamWhat did the monks urge the Swami to practice in Punjab?
a) A narrow orthodoxy
b) A new religion
c) Complete silence
d) A different route
Answer: a) A narrow orthodoxyWhat was the Swami described as in the text?
a) A king of the future
b) An anchorinism of the future
c) A merchant of the future
d) A pilgrim of the past
Answer: b) An anchorinism of the futureWhat did the Swami’s concessions to the monks show?
a) His anger toward them
b) His love for the brethren
c) His dislike for discussion
d) His fear of the monks
Answer: b) His love for the brethrenWhat was the setting of the camp at Pahalgam like?
a) A sandy desert
b) A ravine with sandy islands and a mountain stream
c) A crowded city
d) A snowy plain
Answer: b) A ravine with sandy islands and a mountain streamWhat was the final destination of the pilgrimage?
a) Pawan
b) Pahalgam
c) The Amarnath Cave
d) Islamabad
Answer: c) The Amarnath CaveWhat was the condition of the snow peaks near the cave?
a) They were melting
b) They were covered with new snow
c) They were bare
d) They were covered with trees
Answer: b) They were covered with new snowWhat made the ice-lingam in the cave special?
a) It was carved by hand
b) It never melted due to being in a dark niche
c) It was painted
d) It was lit by lamps
Answer: b) It never melted due to being in a dark nicheWhat did the pilgrims hear in the Amarnath Cave?
a) Complete silence
b) Buzzing of the crowd and fluttering of pigeons
c) Music from monks
d) Water flowing
Answer: b) Buzzing of the crowd and fluttering of pigeonsWhat did the Swami do to avoid being noticed in the cave?
a) He spoke loudly
b) He knelt and prostrated quietly
c) He left immediately
d) He sang a song
Answer: b) He knelt and prostrated quietlyWhat was the Swami’s emotional state in the cave?
a) He was calm and unaffected
b) He was overwhelmed and emotional
c) He was angry
d) He was bored
Answer: b) He was overwhelmed and emotionalWhat did the Swami believe the cave revealed to him?
a) A hidden treasure
b) The secret of Kailas
c) A new path
d) A lost village
Answer: b) The secret of KailasWhat did the Swami’s experience in the cave defeat or fulfill?
a) His dream of becoming a king
b) His childhood fear of dying in a Shiva temple
c) His fear of heights
d) His desire to leave the pilgrimage
Answer: b) His childhood fear of dying in a Shiva templeWhat was the name of the village where the pilgrims stopped for Chadasi?
a) Pawan
b) Pahalgam
c) Islamabad
d) Achhabal
Answer: b) PahalgamWhat was the landscape of Pahalgam compared to?
a) A desert
b) Switzerland or Norway
c) A jungle
d) A city
Answer: b) Switzerland or NorwayWhat was the main activity of the pilgrims at Pawan?
a) Building tents
b) Visiting holy springs and shrines
c) Cooking large meals
d) Climbing mountains
Answer: b) Visiting holy springs and shrinesWhat was the Swami’s reaction to the beauty of the cave?
a) He said it was average
b) He said he had never seen anything so beautiful
c) He ignored it
d) He criticized it
Answer: b) He said he had never seen anything so beautifulWhat was the purpose of the pilgrimage to Amarnath?
a) To find treasure
b) To worship Lord Shiva
c) To explore Kashmir
d) To build a temple
Answer: b) To worship Lord ShivaWhat was the narrator’s impression of the pilgrimage’s organization?
a) It was chaotic
b) It was instinctive and rapid
c) It was slow and unplanned
d) It was expensive
Answer: b) It was instinctive and rapidWhat did the Swami’s blessing of “Amar” mean?
a) To become rich
b) Not to die until he willed it
c) To become a monk
d) To find peace
Answer: b) Not to die until he willed itWhat was the final activity of the pilgrims before returning to their tents?
a) They climbed another mountain
b) They rested and ate by the stream
c) They built a shrine
d) They sang songs
Answer: b) They rested and ate by the streamWhat was the main theme of the monks’ discussions with the Swami?
a) Nature
b) Lord Shiva and spirituality
c) The pilgrimage route
d) The history of Kashmir
Answer: b) Lord Shiva and spiritualityWhat did the Swami’s love for all people show?
a) His dislike for the monks
b) His belief in unity across religions
c) His fear of the pilgrimage
d) His desire to leave
Answer: b) His belief in unity across religionsWhat was the role of the Tehsildar in the pilgrimage?
a) He was a pilgrim
b) He was an official helping with the journey
c) He was a monk
d) He was a shopkeeper
Answer: b) He was an official helping with the journeyWhat was the significance of the ice-lingam for the pilgrims?
a) It was a source of water
b) It was a symbol of Lord Shiva’s presence
c) It was a decoration
d) It was a gift from the monks
Answer: b) It was a symbol of Lord Shiva’s presenceWhat did the Swami imagine the shepherds felt when they found the cave?
a) They were scared
b) They felt they had found Mahadev (Lord Shiva)
c) They were confused
d) They were angry
Answer: b) They felt they had found Mahadev (Lord Shiva)What was the main reason the Swami withdrew from the cave?
a) He was tired
b) To avoid being overcome by emotion
c) He was called by the monks
d) He didn’t like the cave
Answer: b) To avoid being overcome by emotionWhat was the setting of the final climb to the cave like?
a) A flat road
b) A boulder-strewn gorge with snow peaks
c) A forest path
d) A sandy beach
Answer: b) A boulder-strewn gorge with snow peaksWhat was the Swami’s lifelong memory of the cave?
a) A scary experience
b) A meeting with Lord Shiva
c) A boring trip
d) A difficult climb
Answer: b) A meeting with Lord ShivaWhat did the text say about the soil of Punjab?
a) It was fertile for crops
b) It was drenched with the blood of those who died for faith
c) It was rocky and dry
d) It was covered with forests
Answer: b) It was drenched with the blood of those who died for faithWhat does the term “other-worldliness” mean in the text?
a) A new world
b) Relating to a world other than the actual world
c) An animal world
d) A different country
Answer: b) Relating to a world other than the actual world
