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raga

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Posts posted by raga


  1.  

    Raga has a web site - raganuga.com. He thinks he is practicing real raganuga bhakti.

     

    But...

    Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura says:::::

    My having a domain called raganuga.com has nothing to do with what I think of myself as practicing.

     

    Sarasvati Thakur makes many good points in his booklet. I should add that people often quote his words therefrom to slam others over the heads, identifying "hit passages" with keywords such as "raga" or "rasa" while missing the theological point Sarasvati Thakur was making. I would imagine the author would feel embarrassed by the way his followers sometimes quote him.

     

    Should you have any interest in my views on raga-marga, please read:

     

    - Raga-marga and following the scriptures

    - The difference between vidhi-marga and raga-marga

     

    In particular, the last post in the second thread. I have adapted the relevant section as my latest blog entry, see below.


  2. The word "sahajiya" in its normal usage outside IGM circles, generally indicates the acceptance of a monistic theology aside the ritual sexual practices. Its usage within IGM hardly merits discussion, as everyone there has an opinion of what the word means, and we know how opinions are like a certain body part, everyone has one. Understand the standard usage of the word if you want to use it in a meaningful way.


  3. diCrunch is a diacritic conversion utility produced by Madhavananda and Gaudiya Kutir. The tool converts text between all common transliteration conventions and some Indic scripts. Version 2.0 is currently in the beta development phase, and we're inviting the community to test and give feedback on the tool.

     

    Online at:

     

    * http://www.bhasa.net/diCrunch.php (Tool)

    * http://wiki.gaudiyakutir.com/gkWiki:DiCrunch (Project page)

     

    For related discussions, please see:

     

    * http://www.bhasa.net/viewforum.php?f=59

    * http://www.vilasakunja.com/index.php?showtopic=534

     

    #####################

    # LIST OF NEW FEATURES

    #####################

     

    Added in Beta 1:

     

    * Style brushed up on

    * File input and output

    * Switches to modify output

    * Devanagari debugged

    * Oriya (experimental - Windows XP doesn't support it that well...)

    * Saving preferences

    * Help-page and license

     

    #####################

     

    Added in Beta 2:

     

    * Swap Y -preference

    * Saving "more options" choices as default under preferences

    * Added conversions: Shakti Mac (partial) and X-Sanskrit (old BBT)

    * Implemented new XHK extensions

    * Completed Velthuis and ITRANS character arrays

    * Updated Help area texts

    * Moved Preferences and Help links to top

    * Changed processing time to 5 seconds

     

    #####################

     

    Added in Beta 3:

     

    * A Tools section featuring a Macro Producer.

     

    Supporting:

     

    * Creation of MS Word macros for any of the supported diacritics conversions.

    * Creation of custom macros from templates.

     

    #####################


  4. diCrunch is a diacritic conversion utility produced by Madhavananda and Gaudiya Kutir. The tool converts text between all common transliteration conventions and some Indic scripts. Version 2.0 is currently in the beta development phase, and we're inviting the community to test and give feedback on the tool.

     

    Online at:

     

    * http://www.bhasa.net/diCrunch.php (Tool)

    * http://wiki.gaudiyakutir.com/gkWiki:DiCrunch (Project page)

     

    For related discussions, please see:

     

    * http://www.bhasa.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=78

    * http://www.vilasakunja.com/index.php?showtopic=534

     

    #####################

    # LIST OF NEW FEATURES

    #####################

     

    Added in Beta 1:

     

    * Style brushed up on

    * File input and output

    * Switches to modify output

    * Devanagari debugged

    * Oriya (experimental - Windows XP doesn't support it that well...)

    * Saving preferences

    * Help-page and license

     

    #####################

     

    Added in Beta 2:

     

    * Swap Y -preference

    * Saving "more options" choices as default under preferences

    * Added conversions: Shakti Mac (partial) and X-Sanskrit (old BBT)

    * Implemented new XHK extensions

    * Completed Velthuis and ITRANS character arrays

    * Updated Help area texts

    * Moved Preferences and Help links to top

    * Changed processing time to 5 seconds

     

    #####################

     

    Added in Beta 3:

     

    * A Tools section featuring a Macro Producer.

     

    Supporting:

     

    * Creation of MS Word macros for any of the supported diacritics conversions.

    * Creation of custom macros from templates.

     

    #####################


  5.  

    Putting a pure devotee's instructions to all Westeners into question.

    Jumping over Jagat-guru's head to instructions that were meant for a specific time and place.

    The presumption cannot possibly inspire. It is pretentious and dangerous.

    His instruction was not for all Westerners and for all time. He is also not a jagat-guru that everyone must follow or else. He is the guru for you and for his followers. If I am not connected to him via a disciplic line, I am not jumping anywhere by observing the teachings of the acaryas as they have come down to me through parampara. We all respect Prabhupada no doubt, but his followers should have a broader sense of the tradition and respect that, too.

     

    If you feel that the teachings of the acaryas contradict or compromize Prabhupada's teachings, it may be advisable to re-assess the way you approach Prabhupada and adjust your views to something more workable -- like many of his followers who have embraced the 64 rounds way seem to have done.


  6.  

    What I read is 100000 names as a requirement.

     

    Let's see 1000000/108 (one round)/ 16 (names in the mantra) = 57.87037..

    Where does the 64 come from?

    64 is one of the traditional "round figures", like 108. One reaches 64 by making multiples of 2: 2-4-8-16-32-64. There's a bit more (six malas) atop the 58 to make up for goofs made on the way. Traditionally the saksi-mala (counter-beads) comes as a set of 4 and 16 beads on two sides. This adds up to 64 rounds.

     

    If you feel the addition of six rounds is unfair or unscriptural, you are also welcome to do 57.87037 rounds, or 57 rounds and 14 mantras for ease of calculation. Stop the 58th round after the 14th bead to ensure you don't over-chant.

     

     

     

    Was Prabhupada misleading us with the 16 rounds which would be by my calculation 27648 names?

    I have no interest in commenting what he did or didn't do, though I've heard he initially did wish that all his disciples would chant 64 rounds. He wasn't misleading in giving a lower quota to those who couldn't do the full amount; something is more than nothing, with every name there is benefit. He did, however, also refer (in his Upadesamrita-vyakhya) to his guru's advice on the quantity of names to be chanted, noting that a quota short of 64 rounds counts as "fallen".


  7. bhasa-biblio-jiva.jpg

     

    Vaisnava Bibliography

     

    Commemorating Srila Jiva Gosvami's disappearance day on the sukla-tritiya of the month of Pausa, Gaudiya Kutir and Bhasa.Net have the privilege of offering the global assembly of Vaisnavas a new online resource: An online bibliography database of Vaisnava literature.

     

    Srila Jiva Gosvami, the master of philosophers and the scholar of scholars, established a large reference library at the premises of the Radha-Damodara temple in Vrindavana – a resource that is said to have at one point hosted over 2000 manuscripts of works modern and ancient.

     

    Following in the wake of his inspiration to preserve Vaisnava literature for access for all students of Vaisnava theology, the Bhasa.Net Bibliography project was conceived as an aid in locating texts of interests. The steadily growing bibliography, currently hosting substantial notes for well over a hundred titles from 85 authors and 45 publishers, features works in English and many Indic languages as printed books, e-texts and manuscripts.

     

    The resource is available online at: http://www.bhasa.net/bibliography

     

    In the spirit of service to Srila Jiva Gosvami and the Vaisnava acaryas, we would like to extend our cordial invitation to all readers of this news release for both taking advantage of this unique resource as well as contributing bibliographical data from your own collections of Vaisnava literature. Adding new entries is easy and requires no special skills.

     

    With great joy,

    Madhavananda Das

    Bhasa.Net project director


  8. In moving from doubt to certainty, you'll need to establish a criteria for valid evidence. A hundred voices singing in chorus doth not evidence make.

     

    If the writings of the Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas are valid evidence in your philosophical framework, I can assure you that what I've said is an accurate representation of their views.

     

    Let me give you contemporary second opinions, however.

     

     

    B.V. Narayana Maharaja:

     

    "In the maha-mantra, Rama does not refer to Dasaratha's son Rama, nor to Parasurama, nor to Balarama. The meaning of Rama here is Krishna - Radha-Raman Krishna who engages in 'ramana' with Radha. Ramana means to play. He plays with Radharani, and so He is called Ramana or Rama."

     

    http://www.purebhakti.com/lectures/lecture20000305.shtml

     

    A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

     

    "The word Hara is a form of addressing the energy of the Lord, and the words Krishna and Rama (which mean "the highest pleasure eternal") are forms of addressing the Lord Himself. Hara is the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord, and when addressed as Hare in the vocative, She helps us to reach the Supreme Lord."

     

    http://www.krishna.com/main.php?id=316

    You can find more with a Google search for maha-mantra "Rama means".

     

    And then some extensive references for you to study.

     

    http://www.granthamandira.org/details.php?image_id=712 (Sanskrit)

    http://www.granthamandira.org/details.php?image_id=718 (Translation)


  9. Gopala Guru was Caitanya Mahaprabhu's companion. The same meaning of Rama is noted in Jiva Gosvami's vyakhya on the maha-mantra.

     

    This is actually common knowledge among Gaudiya Vaisnavas, I don't know why ISKCON has missed the point.

     

    Ekanta-bhakti means worship of one ista-devata, not many -- even if they be different aspects of Visnu.

     

    The meaning of Rama as either Balarama or Ramacandra is impossible when Hare is read as the vocative for Harā, or Rādhā -- neither are together with her by her side.

     

    Of course devotees of other sampradayas may take Hare to mean Hari and Rama to mean Ramacandra, Balarama, Parasurama or whomsoever else they wish.


  10. Rama, according to the Gaudiya Vaisnava understanding, refers to Krishna who is the carefree enjoyer of pastimes.

     

    --

     

    Sri Gopala Guru Goswami has explained the names in the mantra as follows:

     

    vijJApya bhagavat-tattvaM cid-ghanAnanda-vigraham |

    haraty avidyAM tat-kAryam ato harir iti smRtaH ||

     

    “By causing realization of bhagavat-tattva, which is concentrated spiritual bliss personified, he destroys ignorance and its effects; for this reason, he is known as Hari.”

     

    harati zrI-kRSNa-manaH kRSNAhlAda-svarUpinI |

    ato harety anenaiva zrI-rAdhA parikIrtitA ||

     

    “She steals away Sri Krishna’s mind and is the intrinsic form of Krishna’s delight; Sri Radha is therefore praised as Hare.”

     

    Anandaika-sukhaH zrImAn zyAmaH kamala-locanaH |

    gokulAnando zrI-nanda-nandanaH kRSNa Iryate ||

     

    “The sole source of joyful bliss, the beautiful, dark Shyama with lotus-eyes, the bliss of Gokula, the son of Nanda – he is known as Krishna.”

     

    vaidagdhI-sAra-sarvasvaM mUrta-lIlAdhidaivatam |

    zrI-rAdhAM ramayan nityaM rAma ity abhidIyate ||

     

    “In whom cunning beauty is the all-in-all, the presiding deity of pastimes incarnate who always enjoys with Sri Radha; this is how Rama is understood.”


  11. gk.png

     

    gkWiki opens for public editing!

     

    gkWiki, the online Vaisnava encyclopedia brought to you by Gaudiya Kutir, has now opened for public editing! Anyone feeling they have a bit of spare time and energy to participate is cordially invited to join the endeavor and contribute according to their capacity.

     

    You can create a new account by clicking on the "Log in / Create account" link at the top right corner of each page. Having registered, please be sure to read the "About gkWiki" and "Help index" sections to familiarize yourself with the style and the technicalities of the project.

     

    It's only so much a few editors can do in their spare time. The project needs you! Hop onboard and browse to:

     

    http://wiki.gaudiyakutir.com


  12. The sentiment behind offering beads is indeed good, for it is said:

     

     

    haraye nArpayed yas tu tulasI-kASTha-sambhavAm |

    mAlAM dhatte svayaM mUDhaH sa yAti narakaM dhruvam || HBV 4.310

    ”That fool, who accepts the mala made of tulasi-wood without offering it to Hari, will attain a permanent hell.”

    There is a whole vidhi prescribed for offering beads in Hari-bhakti-vilasa. Bottom line is that the beads should be offered. Just as we wouldn't eat Tulasi leaves straight out the bush, so we wouldn't take beads made of Tulasi wood for ourselves without offering them to the Lord first.

     

    Having offered them to the Lord, one will of course offer them to all of his companions and to all of one's guru-varga, accepting the beads as their prasadi (gift of grace). However, they are best offered to their hands, for a japa-mala is an item to be held in the hand. The offered beads blessed with the Lord's touch can be offered by touching them to the hands or the foreheads of his companions, but not the feet. Tulasi is given only at Bhagavan's feet.

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