vsdprasad

Guestji(?*?ji),

 

ok ok. let me thank every one for their kind responses esp guest prabhu.

for some time I didnt look at this forum and was looking only in "spiritual discussions" and generally its difficult to see every post in every forum with the time schedule one normally has.

 

I feel some things need not be always explicitly expressed and they must be felt in the heart.

 

 

Disodium inosinate can be from an animal fish vegetable or fungal source.

You never know.

 

 

 

I searched for this in some websites and it doesn't say its from a fish vegetable or fungal source. It is a combination of chemicals and hence I think needn't be considered as a non veg item.

-Prasad.

I heard that while the bridge was being made, the marbles/stones etc were touched by the lord so that they wont sink (for some time ??).

 

Third, Lanka sank into the ocean and does not exist as an island anymore.

Ceylon of today was just a mountain in Tamil Nadu thousands of years ago. As the waters moved inland, it became submerged with the peak forming an island.

 

 

It appears that either the bridge might have mixed with one of the lands or it might also have sunk @ the end of that yuga along with old lanka.

 

-Prasad.

 

when is president Bush / PM TonyBlair / PM's of other countries going to get their prasad from krishna temples in their respective countries!

 

-vsdPrasad

Microsoft is R&Dng a virtual observatory wherein you can see the mysteries of the universe.

go to this site Sloan Digital Sky center (http://skyserver.sdss.org/en/) and use the skyserver tools to navigate across the universe !

 

And heres the link for Microsoft's Research on Virtual Observatory. (http://research.microsoft.com/barc/virtual_observatory.asp) Anyone wants to contribute to its research?? !

 

-Prasad.

As long as the soul is associated with the material body and the body entangled in the three modes of material nature, there'll be always some or other kind of mental aparadhas. these should not make us bog down in the spiritual journey. As we rise in the consciouness, these mental aparadhas gradually disappear. Till then we needn't worry too much about them. Simply observe the thoughts as if you are watching from a pure devotee's mind, but don't get immersed in those thoughts. It shows there is still a long way to go!

With sincere devotion and chanting, there wouldn't be even a whit of mental aparadha.

 

-Prasad.

when prabhupada used to initiate western devotees, how did he assign the varnas. when they do sandhavandanam or any other puja, how'd be their sankalpam? To which gotra do they belong to??

How does a ritvik classify himself? no offense reg this controversial issue. iam also sorry if this is hurting some western devotees, but just needed a clarification.

 

-Prasad.

---------------

I read this article "If Krishna Were With Us Today!" which appeared in timesofindia .

 

It says there'll be an

'<u>End of social hierarchy</u>'

 

What has happened to India and its caste system? And we blame Krishna for this present caste system because of what he said in Gita (4:13). Krishna is so clear in what he says. There are four types of individuals based on their work (what they do). The work is based on what their aptitude, interests, tendencies are. And that is what the universities of today are trying to find. A medical school wants to attract students who have the aptitude to be doctors. Every one does not have the same aptitude, attribute or an interest in becoming a doctor. A singer requires different attribute that an engineer.

 

Every one has to do his part. The engineers have to find new tools and new ways, doctors have to find new cures and the inventors have to dig their gray matters to come up with innovative products.

 

And no one should be refusing from taking up different roles in their life. A Brahman can also take up the cleaning job when that has to be done. He may be primarily an intellectual, but if the country needs him to fight he should be able to pick up the arms and go for it. It is so strange that when Bakhtiayr Khilji attacked Nalanda, he had instructions to kill the people with shaven heads. And they were the monks and the Brahmins.There is no need to expect compassion from a person like Khilji, but at the same time there was no resistance from theses monks and Brahmins either. They were willing to die, all in the name perhaps of, "Atman never dies." They were weak but fearless. Krishna will make sure we all become strong and fearless. And therein lies the beauty of Krishna

 

Krishna will not put up with this hierarchy. Brahmin for puja and ksatriya for fighting will not be exclusive. <u> A Brahmin should be able to clean if needed and fight when challenged. After all Krishna played different roles himself all through his life</u>. If you look at Krishna he is a Brahmin when Gita flows from him, he is a kshatriya when he fights with Kansa and he is a shudra when he becomes a charioteer and is ready to wash the horses for the next day drive.

 

 

you might read the complete article from this page:<a href="http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?artid=20564468&sType=1">

href="http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?artid=20564468&sType=1" </a>.

Some more clarification:

birth may be unimportant in few cases like for eg., a brahmin person can adopt a child who may be born in a non-brahmin family and then the child gets brahminical qualities after his thread ceremony (its called second birth) and then his entire progeny will become a brahmin family even though he is not brahmin-born. Such type of cases may be few.

 

Eventhough it is said that a person with past good karma will be born in a brahmin families, still

A person who is born in a brahmin family need not have brahminical qualities. Ravana was brahmin born but he didn't have good virtues even though he was a good devotee of lord shiva.

 

There is a jocular saying that says: "Pandita putra parama sunta !"

I saw some brahmin pujaris who are not satisfied with the present day people. I heard one saying about the typical schedue of a brahmin boy (bridegroom):

Day 1: thread ceremony,

Day 2: marriage,

Day 3: honeymoon !.

Actually thread ceremony is supposed to be done before the child attains 9 yrs of age.

but nowadays brahmin parents are also not insistent. the generation that belonged to grandfathers did regular sandhyavandanam . this has slowly declined in the next generation. it is hard to find the custom in the current generation. although there are some good families esp in south india who regularly follow the custom.

and how'd be the situation in the coming generation and the next ones?? Easy to speculate!

 

-Prasad.

 

 

Tilak does not come from India but from Vrindavan. So wearing tilak cannot be considered Indian.

Now dhoti is the dress worn by Krishna Himself and it cannot be considered Indian.

Saree is worn by Lakshmi and cannot be considered Indian either.

However, if one is not able to wear these dresses in rememberance of the spiritual world, then one may wear western dress in rememberance of the Lord -

 

 

 

You might wear these dresses if you alone want to remember the spiritual world, but if one is going for preaching, then he should first identify what reaction he wants his dress to create, as jndas prabhu said. If we want to draw people's attention to the perfect ancient culture & religion of the far east, then priestly garb with tilaka will obviously be helpful.

 

<hr width="90%">

If we want to just do our work without drawing too much attention to ourselves, then regular pants/western dresses will be better. This dress might bring us devotion but definitely not for others.

Srila Prabhupada had a reason why he introduced the dress, markings and cultural aspects of vaishnavism, but they may not be applicable for most people.

 

<hr width="90%">

 

guest prabhu!,

 

I found this to be a bearably vegetarian! :

Ingredients of "Maruchan Ramen" Noodle soup <u>Mushroom Flavor</u>:

 

<u>RAMEN NOODLE INGREDIENTS</u>: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR(WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL(CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: CANOLA, COTTONSEED,PALM), SALT, SOY SAUCE (WATER, WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT), POTASSIUM CARBONATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM CARBONATE, TURMERIC.

<u>SOUP BASE INGREDIENTS</u>:

SALT,MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, SUGAR, DEHYDRATED VEGETABLES (MUSHROOMS, ONIONS, GARLIC), DEHYDRATED SOY SAUCE (WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALG, MALTODEXTRIN), HYDROLYZED SOY CORN AND WHEAT PROTEIN, NATURAL FLAVORS, SPICES, CARAMEL COLOR, DISODIUM INOSINATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE.

 

I feel the ingredients are bearably vegetarian 'cos I feel it doesn't have any meat products- so no acquiring of bad karma. As far as garlic, onion etc are concerned, I feel its bearable as its vvery difficult to get something without this also. By regular chanting, krsna might forgive for this offense.

 

Anybody who can tell about taking drinks like coke/sprite etc, and cheese pizza ??.

 

-Prasad.

For some time, I used to prepare noodles which had oriental flavor in the accompanying packet. All other flavors were explicitly non-veg like "chicken flavor" etc, etc.

After eating for quite few days, I recently learnt that it has a non-veg flavor.

These are the ingredients in "SMACK RAMEN NOODLES", Oriental Flavor:

 

NOODLES: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NICACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN), PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OILS (SOYBEAN AND/OR PALM AND/OR COTTONSEED), SALT, GUAR GUM, SODIUM CARBONATED, SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CARBONATE.

SEASONING: SALT, SUGAR, SOY SAUCE POWDER, MALTODEXTRIN, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN, CARAMEL COLOR, <U>ONION POWDER</U>, <U>GARLIC POWDER</U>, BEEF FLAVOR, SPICES, DEHYDRATED PARSLEY, CITRIC ACID, YEAST, DISODIUM IOSINATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, NATURAL FLAVORINGS.

 

So I feel I might've acquired some bad karma if the flavor came directly from beef and not if its a mix of some chemicals.

But I could not find any other pure veg item from wal-mart n other stores.

Anybody who can suggest some good pure veg fast-food items that are acceptable for krsna devotees? Instant mixes etc etc.

another thing: Are french fries (from mcdonalds) acceptable in the regulative principles?? This also has beef flavor.

And how about coke??

 

Being far from home n missing home food is definitely a problem for veggy students.

 

-Prasad.

 

The vedic concept of hell is somewhat different than the Christian concept. It is a place of education through punishment for extremely sinful people. It helps them to burn of their negative karma by providing them special bodies that can handle severe hardships. Once they have burned off their heavy karma, they are again born in a regular realm of existence.

 

You can find more information about it in the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.

 

 

 

 

After the death of a person with loads of bad karma, his soul goes to hell for getting punishment. But how will the soul suffer without a physical body? The pain is not associated to anything without a physical body.

I still haven't read the canto in Srimad Bhagavatam for this one.

 

-Prasad.

Stonehearted:

 

From what I remember, neck beads weren't worn by devotees who hadn't received initation. I remember hearing or reading (I maybe wrong) that Bhaktivinoda was criticized for lecturing on Bhagavat philosophy withour wearing neck beads. His reply was that he had not yet received the mercy of a bonafide spiritual master and so was not qualified to wear them.

 

The transcendental devotees strive to establish a competitionless society with God in the center.

 

 

 

 

Is is forbidden to wear NeckBeads without initiation? I feel I've seen some wearing it without having initiation. Should those who are wearing it without initiation remove it?

And another thing..

Is there anything wrong if the sacred thread (yajnopavita) is changed after Sravana Paurnami day if we miss it?

Any website that gives the procedure.

 

-Prasad.

What makes some times inauspicious for some activities?

Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam filed his nomination for President of India on a so-called inauspicious day (Amavasya) but was still able to get elected as the President with a huge majority.

I learnt some times are influenced by the planetary positions in the sky.

But scientifically how are these formidable inauspicious times related to specific activities? Many believe that success is not guaranteed without proper preparation even if the activity is done on an auspicious day.

Dr. Abdul Kalam says as long as Sun, Moon, Stars etc stay in this Universe, every moment is auspicious for him.

Any website(s) that give specific significance and the reasons??

 

-Prasad.

 

Yes. You will catch disease due to infection.

 

 

you will catch the disease due to infection if u you are stepping bare footed.

I want to know the philosophy behind this ritual. How can the karma be transfered indirectly in this fashion to a pure person ?

 

 

One more reason to watch where we step and to keep the Name on our lips.

 

 

If devotees who keep name on their lips unknowingly step on this, will they still catch the karma?

 

-Prasad.

Can we believe in 'nazar utarna', a famous custom in India.

In the middle of some roads in India (esp rural areas, towns and even in parts of some cities) we find some lemons, chillies, small pieces of cloth, etc with vermillion & turmeric.

I heard these are very dangerous and one shud avoid stepping on these materials. Is there any philosophy behind such things?

I heard that people who step on these things will catch the disease of the person on whom the ritual is taken and the remnants are placed in the middle of the roads. What is the plight of a person who unknowingly steps on these things?

 

-Prasad.

This new version is soo good with lots of new useful options.

I noticed this:

In the profile of users, it is not showing correct email ID.

for ex. for the user 'avinash', it shows 'avinash_sahay@_removemefirst_hotmail.com'

why 'removemefirst' is coming in between?

 

-Prasad.

According to some vedic sites, the reason why lord has created the material world is that once people in spiritual world wanted to enjoy separately without krsna. and hence to satisfy their desires, lord krishna has created material world and allowed them to suffer in the clutches of material world. One thing that haunts the mind is why did the lord create such a place for his devotees.

When a medicine needs to be given to a child and the child denies it because it is not sweet, does the mother yield to the child's request? no. she will make sure the medicine is given to the child for the child's benefit.

since the material world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world, the lord shud also have done a similar thing by not creating a separate world. what is the reason for his creating this world for the people to suffer? because the lord wants to satisfy his devotees desires, does it mean that he shud not consider the denouements of their desires?

 

-Prasad.

 

We see so much increase in the human population that even living has become a difficulty/challenge. The basic property of kaliyuga is increase of tamo guna i.e mode of ignorance. This shud make humans in this mode of ignorance go into lower planets/species of life in their next births. But why there is so much increase in the human population? Does this mean that those belonging to lower species (among the 84 lac species of life) are rising in their modes of nature & coming to human form OR shud we mean that lord krishna is giving humans a chance to come out of these material modes and get self realisation ?

In previous yugas people were in higher modes of nature and hence there shud be more humans in previous yugas compared to kali yuga.

 

-Prasad.

 

 

 

And I think the previous vimanas of yore were not as susceptible as today's aeroplanes to terrorist attacks !.

I forgot to post the exact page where I got the article (@ the start of this page). Here it is : http://www.acharyaonline.com/aeronautics.htm

 

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

I once saw what was purported to be a sanskrit translation of a scripture detailing how these Vimanas flew, their fuel source etc... The book itself wasn't so large, and now I wish I had asked to photocopy it. I don't recall its name, or many of the details. Anyone know of such a publication?

You might contact the author of that article (Sri Indaram Srinivas Rao). I studied my +2 in a junior college and he was a sanskrit lecturer there.

 

-Prasad.

 

[This message has been edited by vsdprasad (edited 05-30-2002).]

Originally posted by Avinash:

To

Sri Yamaraj,

Yamaloka.

 

<U>SUB: REQUEST FOR GRANTING THE JOB OF YAMADUTA</U>

 

Sir,

With respect I wish to state that I am interested in getting the job of an yamaduta in your esteemed organization.

I have absolutely no hesitation in torturing the sinners (except myself) by forcing them to be in different kinds of hells. In fact, on Earth, I have been making lives of many people as hell. I have been doing so since my birth. I do not remember anything from my previous life. But, I am pretty sure that even in my previous lives, I must have been giving hardships to all those who came in contact with me. So, I have many years of experience in this field. I have also done PhD in how to torture people. My papers have been published in leading journals the world over. Some of the ideas given in these papers are so gruesome that even you will be frightened to read those.

My resume is enclosed herewith. Please give me a chance to serve your prestigious organization.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours sincerely,

Avinash

 

[This message has been edited by Avinash (edited 05-27-2002).]

-----------

 

Sometime ago my friends fwded this message while the news in the air was about sept11 attacks.

So, Avinash can have a better chance if he gets adm into a terror school. he shud get reco something like this :-

<font color="#800000">

 

To

Dear Osama,

 

I take great pleasure in recommending Mr VenkatKhan (venky) for admission into ur esteemed terrorist grad sch, Al Quedeera. I have knoem him right from childhood & taught him theory classes of neck throttling, silent murders, aircraft driving etc. Venky has participated in many communal riots, murders, border terrorist actv etc. He has lot of research skills in using his gun efficiently.

I still remember the day when Venky got up at 3 AM and took 2 AK39's and shot dead 4 inspectors, not to mention his success 'coz of his strong fundamental concetps in gun usage. His research abilities r commendable. He was once asked to crash a plane into a big tower & he shoot up with a parachute instead of commiting suicide.

Venky is luscivious, libidinious, skeptical, arrogant and lustful that adds to his character. He has participated in many smoking and drinking competitions and won

laurels to our group, AL jazeera. He has also done a project in killing a president with a embedded system of 2mm pistol.

 

Venky is an active member of the Al jazeera and gives international seminars on diligent terrorism. He has also submitted paper to the Al-ul-haq terrorist meet, on "militancy and terrorism". Seeing his motivation & commitment to the ISLAMIC group, I sincerely feel that Venky will turn into an desparado to ur sch & and come up with flying suicide

bombers.I strongly recommend his admission into ur graduate school with full financial support.

 

sincerely yours

Al-huq.

----

</font>

<u>And this was the reply from Al-Queda!!:</u>

<font color="#800000">

Dear applicant,

 

We are glad to recieve a request from u.

Its been ages since we joined such a violent rebel as u. As u have satisfied the basic requirements to join us, we r sending u the admission details.

 

U have to initially take the general test of

GRE (greatest ruthless expectent). The competition is high for admission into our school and u shud obtain fairly high scores to get admission into this school. If ur native language is not urdu then u'll have to take TOUNL(test of urdu as a native language)OR TOANL(test of arabic as a native language)and score a minimum of 299/300.

 

U'll have to submit transcripts from all the terror schools previously attended. As we have already recieved ur reco....please send ur SOP giving details about why u wish to enroll in our prestigious institution.

 

The application packet maybe sent to the following address,from where there is free delivery to our place:

 

The White House,

Washington DC,

USA

 

we look forward to ur enthusiasm and help u reach ur career terroristic goals.

regards,

 

hail Osama!!!

 

signed(------)

director ,

admission of bakras,

kandahar.

 

</font>

----

 

GoodLuck

 

-Prasad

 

 

 

[This message has been edited by vsdprasad (edited 05-29-2002).]

Hai, I came across this one, thought of sharing:

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India is not only a homeland for culture and tradition but also for science and technology. Many great sages authored vast literature of which the sage Bharadwaja’s <u>Vaimaanika Shaastra </u>(Ancient Indian Aeronautics) is one of the most renowned and relevant even for the current days. There is mention of the usage of aircraft in the Epics-Ramayana and Mahabharata. According to Ramayana, Ravana used pushpakavimaana, which was captured from Kubera. However, Rama took charge of this aircraft, after killing Ravana and used it to reach Ayodhya along with Lakshmana, Seeta and his others. Gayopakhyaana, in Mahabharata, also talks of using aircraft.

 

Western science estimates the life of this aeronautical science to be of about 5000 years. The Indian scientists and critics have a different opinion about adjudging the number of years. They say that the aircraft was used extensively during Ramayana and Mahabharata time indicating that the aeronautics was a much developed branch by that time. This clearly indicates that the aircraft was developed much before.

 

Aeronautics or Vaimaanikashastra is a part of Yantra Sarvasva of Bharadwaja. This is also known as Brihadvimaana Shastra.

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Vaimaanikashastra deals about aeronautics, including the design of aircraft, the way they can be used for transportation and other applications, in detail. The knowledge of aeronautics is described in sanskrit in 100 sections, eight chapters, 500 principles and 3000 slokas. Great sage Bharadwaja explained the construction of aircraft and way to fly it in air, on land, on water and use the same aircraft like a sub-marine. He also described the construction of war planes and fighter aircraft.

 

Vaimaanikashastra explains the metals and alloys and other required material, which can be make an aircraft imperishable in any condition.

 

Bharadwaja, in Brihadvimaana Shastra, mentions Narayanamuni, the author of Vimanachandrika, Shaunaka, the author of Vyomayana Tantra, Garga, the author of Yantra Kalpa, Vachaspati, the author of Yana Vindu, Chaakraayani, the author of Kheta Yaana Pradeepika, Dundi Natha, the author of Vyomayaanarka Prakasha and Lalla, the author of Yantra Kalpataru as the aeronautical scientists of ancient India.

 

The first principle of Vaimaanikashastra defines an aircraft.

 

Vegasaamyaat Vimaano Andajaanaam,which means Vimaana is the one which can fly in air like a bird. Subsequent principles explain the requirements for being a Vimaanaadhikari or pilot.

 

According to Bharadwaja, there are 32 secret techniques to fly an aircraft. They are Maantrika, Taantrika, Kritaka, Antaraala, Gooda, Drishya, Adrishya, Paroksha, Aparoksha, Sankocha, Vistrita, Viroopakarana, Roopantara, Suroopa, Jyotirbhava, Tamomaya, Pralaya, Vimukha, Taara, Mahashabda vimochana, Langhana, Saarpagamana, Chaapala, Sarvatomukha, Parashabda graahaka, Roopaakarshana, Kriyaa rahasya grahana, Dikpradarshana, Aakaashaakara rachana, Jaladaruja, Stabdaka and Karshana.

 

In jatyadhikarana, which classified aircraft says, Jaatitrividyam Yugabhedath Vimaanaanaam

 

The aircraft is classified in to three types- Mantrika, Tantrika and Kritaka, to suit different yugas or eras.

 

In kritayuga, it is said, Dharma was well established. The people of that time had the devinity to reach any place using their Ashtasiddhis.

 

The aircraft used in Tretayuga are called Mantrikavimana, flown by the power of Hymns(mantras). Twenty-five varieties of aircraft including Pushpakavimana belong to this era.

 

The aircraft used in Dwaparayuga were called Tantrikavimana, flown by the power of tantras. Fiftysix varieties of aircraft including Bhairava and Nandaka belong to this era.

 

The aircraft used in Kaliyuga, the on-going yuga, are called Kritakavimana, flown by the power of engines. Twenty-five varieties of aircraft including Shakuna, Sundara and Rukmavimana belong to this era.

 

According to Bharadwaja, Angaanyekaatrimshat, which means there were thirty one instruments to fly an aircraft, including Vishwakriyaadarpana, to see the surroundings from the aircraft and Shaktyaa karshanadarpana , to absorb Solar energy. Manufacture of different types of instruments and putting them together to form an aircraft are also described.

 

In Vastraadhikarana, the chapter describing the dress and other wear required while flying, talks in detail about the wear for both the pilot and the passenger separately.

 

Ahaaraadhikarana is yet another section exclusively dealing with the food habits of a pilot. This has a variety of guidelines for pilots to keep their health through strict diet.

 

According to the available historical evidences, Shivashankara Bapuji Tatpade designed the first aircraft. He designed an aircraft called Marutsaki in 1895, completely following the Vedic concept and flown it at Chaupati Maidan in Mumbai. Evan Koshtka, a historian, described Tatpade as the first creator of an aircraft in Times Weekly. The chronology clearly says <u>Tatpade developed the aircraft much before Wright brothers could do it</u>.

 

However, Bharadwaja’s Vaimanikashaastra is not as popular as Vaastu or Ayurveda due to various reasons. Vaimaanikashastra was never considered to be of much use in day to day life during ancient days and experimenting with the concepts was difficult due to the technicality and scientific nature. It was also considered that the Vaimaanikashastra would be misused if it was put to common man’s knowledge. Historians also quote yet another interesting reason of theft of the shaastra during invasions.

 

Today it is difficult to lay hands on the complete text of Bharadwaja’s work. However, this author (Sri Indaram Srinivas Rao ) could procure a part of the shastra in the form of a book, from which the above material has been summarised.

 

G R Josyar, director of the International Academy of Sanskrit Research, Mysore brought a part of the Shastra in the form of book. Subbaraya Shastri helped him in propounding the available Shastra to make it more understandable. <u>Every Indian and believer of ancient literature should be thankful to both of them</u>.

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And Iam thankful to all of them !

Source: www.acharyaonline.com

 

-Prasad.

 

 

Originally posted by theist:

There was some flap in Australia a while back when iskcon threatened to sue Narayana's group for using the term Hare Krsna festival.Seems they obtained a copywrite or trade mark on the names Hare Krsna.

 

Isn't trying to restrict the flow of the Holy Names something that the demon's do?

 

You are exactly right in your comment.

This is what SrilaPrabhupada wrote in one of his letters to his disciples, <u>"Hare Krishna's Cannot be Copyrighted" </u>:

------------------

New Vrindaban

10 June, 1969

69-06-10

 

My Dear Dinesh,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June, 6, 1969 and the copy of the agreement which you sent. The first thing is that I have already given you my word, so there is no need of an agreement with me. My word is final agreement, but if you want it for business reasons, I have no objections to sign it. But the wordings are not always clear. Another thing is although I have brought this Sankirtana Movement to the Western World we cannot make it copyrighted. <u>The Sankirtana Movement is not my invention. So how can it be copyrighted? </u>Besides that, as you will find in the album of my previous recording, <u>the chanting of Hare Krishna is going on since time immemorial. So Hare Krishna cannot be copyrighted</u>, although the tune in which I sing with my disciples, that may be made copyrighted. I have no objection to sign this agreement, but don't be misled that the chanting of Hare Krishna or Lord Caitanya's Movement can be made copyrighted.

 

There are some points in the contract which are not very clear, so you may explain them to me further by post. The points are as follows: ''ISKCON shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to collect preserve and distribute all tangible expressions of said sound vibrations.'' ''Said sound vibrations shall be fixed in a tangible form solely by ISKCON'' ''ISKCON shall have the exclusive right to any existing sound recordings contained in any medium of fixation that have been previously recorded by the SWAMI'' ''ISKCON shall have the sole and exclusive right to use the name and likeness of the SWAMI for all purposes and activities encompassed by this agreement.''

 

So upon hearing from you on these points I shall send you back the agreement duly signed by me. I am very much encouraged by the statement of your letter, but I must let you know the pros and cons of this agreement.

 

Please convey my blessings to Krishna Devi. I hope this will meet you in good health.

 

Your ever well-wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

 

 

------------------

 

So it'd be stupid act if anyone is attemping to copyright it.

 

-Prasad

Originally posted by jndas:

Right now the distribution is done four times a month (on Sundays), but we have plans to make it a daily distribution within one or two months. The main limiting problem is the amount of work the volunteers have to do to setup in the villages. They have to transport all of the pots, grains, etc., 10 to 15 km by bicycle push cart, then stand in the hot sun next to a huge wood fire to cook the food (prasadam). Then after serving, in the evening, they have to clean up the entire area (without any lights, since these villages have no electricity), and finally bring all pots back, 10 to 15 km by bicycle push-cart. The entire procedure is very difficult and tiring for them, making it impossible for them to do it except on Sundays (most of them work 6 days a week in regular jobs as well).

 

This month we are trying to buy a small used van, which will remove around 70% of the difficulty involved, and subsequently enable us to conduct the distribution daily instead of just on Sundays. We will cook all of the food at our ashram (instead of at the village), transport it by van, distribute it, and return by van. The clean up can then be done at our ashram by other volunteers. Since the work involved will be much less, it will be possible to conduct it daily.

Hare Krisna !!, JNDas prabhu,

 

You are all fortunate souls who r serving the people with krishna prasadam (inspite of the material hardships u r facing) and so too are those people who are getting Krishna Prasadam.

This is the perfect service to mankind, unlike the imperfect services of people like Mother Teresa, etc who served people with meat.

 

Hari bol!

 

-Prasad.

 

 

 

[This message has been edited by vsdprasad (edited 05-17-2002).]