Srimanta

Mayaji, there can be different type of relationship with Krsna also. Like Father-Son, Mother-Son, Bother-Sister etc etc

Just answer the question simply, don't go into all this cut and paste lark or write esseys about what you like to talk about. I can't answer the question because I don't have the knowledge, otherwise I would. But I'm sure we don't need a long explanation.

My cutting means I cut your point which is not worth for consideration of sincere Vaisanava

I'm careful where I step, yes. As far as microorganisms, that can't be helped.

I'm familiar with all of this philosophy...What's your point?

My point is that there is still something you can not help. But Prabhupada can help you to get milk in Heaven if you sincerely follow instructions given by Prabhupada about celestial cow and adhere preaching what Prabhupada preached whom ever you see, whom ever you meet.

Is it clear to you?

Hare Krsna!

I have been blessed with the opportunity to return to Vrndavan Dhama this October coming. I have not been since 25 years now, and then i was young and under the supervision of my father.

 

He is old now, and has not been back since our time together. And from what i have heard Vrndavan and the rest of India has changed a lot.

 

I am asking for advice.

 

How to carry money there?

Do debit cards work?

Should one use strickly the amex travelers checks?

I know to avoid eating anything out of the Krsna Balarama temple, and only having bottled water, but is there more advice about eating/drinking?

Is there a site for Vrndavan's Holy Places with downloadable maps?

Help!

 

Thank you very much in advance, yours, Bhakta Chris

Gopa Hari Vrindavana

Gopila Nachate

Jaya Krsna Jaya Krsna

Krsna Bolo Re

Vrindavana is such a location where full of Gopa (cowherd boys) and where all cowherd girls dances in ecastic love of Krsna. Only chant Krsna Krsna, you will arrive at Vrindavan

Gaite Gaite Hari Asilen Seshe

Basilen Vrindavane Amari To Veshe

By singing the name of Hari, the Lord came atlast. Lord came and sat in Vrindavan in my form

Purport:

Lord Chitannya Mohaprabhu who is incarnation of Lord Hari, came atlast to Vrindavan by singing His own name. Lord came and sat for a while in His own original form of Krsna in Vrindavan but no one could see Him in that form. So it is very difficult to understand Krsna. Only by mercy of Krsna one can see Him in His original form. Only way to see Lord is by chanting holy name of Krsna. In this golden era Lord Chitannya Mohaprbhu is only supreme. If one get mercy of Lord Chitannya Mohaprabhu, he will automatically get mercy of Lord Krsna and Radharani. So that's why this sankirtan movement is for. All glory to lotus feet of Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu and all His associates including Prabhupada

Those who knows me I am here. Those who don't know me, I am nowhere

Prabhupada

Or how do you know which guru to trust or whether to trust any guru? And what if that trust is betrayed in some form later after you've become a disciple? For instance, what if he succumbs to lust, or you find out he's not as perfect as you thought he was?

 

What would you do then? How would you feel?

If you are Bull then look for a Guru like Lord Shiva. Otherwise Prabhupada is fine for you

Yes, it's a dark period; but sincere souls are trying to shine a little light in the darkness, as best they can.

Prabhupada is not dead. He is always alive among you. He is the real master, follow Him

All glory to Lord Chaitannya Mohaorabhu Supreme Personality of Godhead

I won't kill even a tiny bug unnecessarily...pick them up, carry them outside.

 

But, for aggressive and unsanitary insects, it's us or them... roaches and are carriers of disease and in certain climates are impossible to control with any measures short of exterminating them. Same with mosquitoes and houseflies...disease carriers. Wasps and fire ants...painful stings can and do cause allergic reactions and death.

 

I put my own and my family's health above the lives of bugs...it's common sense.

How do you know that ants or small insects are not killed when you walk? Do you look everywhere and watch your every steps that any body is not getting killed whatever small it could be? It is impossible such a life when you are not sitting and only meditating in a seclude location like yogis allowed ant hills on their body. That is not possible in this Kali yuga.

In this Kali yuga everybody is sudra, one is better sudra and other is not so good. But all are sudras and only working hard like sudra to maintain body.

So only chant and be happy. Follow those 4 Pillars led down by Prabhupada which is 4 legs of the holly cow and body is only chanting of Hare Krsna.

That is the 5 aspect of Hare Krsna movement only chanting. That will be the celestial cow and fetch milk to you in heaven with association of Krsna.

So follow those 5 primary principles, No Intoxication, No Meat eating, No Illicit Sex , No gambling and constantly chanting Hare Krsna.

In this lecture (purebhakti.com/lectures/lecture20061003.shtml re. the disappearance of Sripad Svarupa Damodara Maharaja) Srila Narayana Maharaja says "He was really a Vaisnava, even from his home-life. I have seen this in Sripad Gour Govinda Maharaja, and he was like this also. They are real Vaisnavas. They followed the principles of their Guru in the real sense. They never accepted what ISKCON is now propagating."

 

What does he mean when he says that "they never accepted what ISKCON is now propagating"? What is ISKCON now propagating?

 

Is he saying that devotees in ISKCON are not "real Vaisnavas"?

In every institution few students brings higher marks called 1st class student. Some brings more than average they are 2nd class student. Again some brings lower marks they are 3rd class student. Sripad Svarupa Damodara Maharaja is 1st class student in ISKCON.

Hi, this is all very nice but i have to be honest, I can't do it. its not possible for me to be so strong as to not even feel sad when I have problems, nor am I capable to stay detached from joy if something good happens in my life. I can't help but think that its my fault if something does not work out, and I can't help but feel powerful when something works out in my favor. I think I am being completely honest when I say God wants the impossible from us.

That's why Lord Gournaga Mohaprbhu is so merciful. Take Hari <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place>Nam</st1:place></st1:country-region> and chant always, if you are busy then allow other to chant and you listen. Without Hari <st1:country-region><st1:place>Nam</st1:place></st1:country-region> everything is impossible. That's why Prabhupada said Hari <st1:country-region><st1:place>Nam</st1:place></st1:country-region> kebolom.

I am having a debate with someone about meat eating. Now i'm not here to convince them really but I want to further explore possible arguments that staunch meat-eaters can come up with and try to defeat them. Here is a meat-eater's reply to my original argument. The lines with a ">" before them is what I originally wrote and below that is the meat eater's rebuttal. Please take a look at this and see if you can counter their statements.

 

> Eating meat is illogical just as harming other humans is illogical.

 

the one has nothing to do with the other.

 

> Both cause unnecessary suffering in the world to living beings.

 

as does eating 20 vegetables instead of one lamb.

 

> This sort of violence nurtures hate and ignorance in the individuals who commit such acts.

 

you are reacting emotionally. calm yourself. remove emotion from your thought process, and the logic can easily be seen.

 

1) you are putting more value on the life of an

animal than you are on the life of a plant.

both are alive.

 

2) to eat 2000 calories a day, which is "more or

less" the normal caloric intake of an average

human being, requires either 20 oz of meat,

or about 50 tomatos.

 

3) by saying that the life of an animal is more

important than the life of a plant, you are

assigning an arbitrary value - your subjective

value system - to the "food chain". this is

illogical.

 

my previous statements stand. you have not proven my logic to be faulty.

 

> First, it is logical to want to limit the amount of harm that is done to living beings.

 

agreed.

 

> To this extent, stopping animal slaughter while still maintaining ourselves with a healthy vegetarian diet minimizes suffering and violence to the greatest extent possible while still remaining in full health.

 

in your subjective opinion. what if i were to say, "stopping the vegetable slaughter minimizes plant and fruit suffering"?

 

> Second, ecologically it is much more efficient to use land to raise crops than to use it to raise animals for slaughter.

 

perhaps. perhaps not. the science is not in on that as of this time.

 

also note that the Native Peoples of the world were carnivores, and the land lasted just fine during their reign. the real culprit here is overpopulation.

 

> According to the idea of the "consumption pyramid" (in ecology) less and less caloric energy is transferred from trophic level to the next trophic level of consumption. So only a fraction of energy provided in plants make it to the animals that eat them (the rest is given off as heat etc.).

 

which is why you must eat so many more plants to obtain your daily caloric requirements.

 

have you factored that into your "vegetarian" argument? doesn't sound like it.

 

> Furthermore, animals require food and water to support them for a limited amount of calories, which is in fact wasteful.

 

animals are so much more calorie laden, the result is that it is the plants that are consuming more of the soil, not the animals.

 

and no animal has ever been accused of topsoil removal. farmers are, due to their excessive production of plants.

 

> So ultimately, raising animals for slaughter contributes to the wasting of land, and resources and the increase of food prices all in the name of satisfying the illogical lust of meat-eating.

 

there is no lust for meat-eating. i think you're hung up emotionally on slaughtering animals.

 

next time you go pick your vegetables (you *do* pick your own vegetables, don't you? i mean, you don't let the farmers slaughter the plants for you, do you?), think of each plant as a living being.

 

and next time you write me, try to be a bit more objective, and not use words like "lust".

Those Vaisanava who are holding lotus feet of Prabhupada and don’t want to fall from spiritual sky of Lord Hari should not eat meat and should follow 4 pillars Prabhupada had mentioned in His lectures.

No Meat eating, No illicit Sex, No Gambling, No Intoxication.

Only by following Vasinava’s 4 pillars which is 4 feet of holy cows of Vrindavan and worshipping Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu as Supreme Personality of Godhead one will achieve the highest spiritual sky of Vrindavan.

Becoming true vaisanava is ultimate goal of every soul.

There is an online copy of this book on the internet plus you can buy it direct from Himalayan Academy [just google search Himalayan Academy]:

 

TITLE: DAncing With Shiva

AUTHOR: Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

PUBLISHER: Himalayan Academy

 

pages 607 - 647

Bharata Kalachakra: Hindu Timeline

 

It covers time period from 2.5 million BCE to 21st century

Answers aplenty for your question. You could write a doctorial dissertation from it. Plus its easy to read.

Sanatan means eternal. Which is eternally exists through out universe is sanatan. The eternally existing and all pervading is Hari. So who ever attains Hari, they attain sanatan. So it is not a sect or belongs to any single group of people.

If you follow the methods which is prescribed by Prabhupada "As it is" no doubt you will attain sanatan and lotus feet of Lord Jaganntha. The highest manifestation of sanatan eternally is Moha Vabha that is Lord Jaganatha. That is the highest bliss which is manifested in this material world so far by mercy of Lord Hari.

So preach Prabhupada and talk Prabhupada. And by mercy of Prabhupada attain Lord Jaganntha, Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is only intelligence.

Just received this sad news about the passing of Sila Sripada Swami Maharaja early this morning at Calcutta. I offer my most respectful and heartfelt pranams at his lotus feet.

 

 

With great regret I would like to inform devotees around the world that our most beloved HH. Bhakti Swarupa Damodara Swami maharaj has left his body last night in Kolkata at his BI office.

 

After mid night Maharaja felt pain then very soon he left his body. There were four of his disciples with him. Every thing was OK . Maharaja was normal . This incident happened all at sudden.

 

This has not been decided where Maharaja's body will be given samadhi. Maharaja will be in Kolkata until after noon .

 

Kolkata Vice president Barada Krishna along with other devotees are with Maharaja by now.

 

Thank you very much.

Bhakti Swarupa Damodara Swami Maharaj attained Lord Hari who is one of the Astha Sakhi of Lord Hari. He was also intimate company of Lord Hari in His Chaittanya Avatar. He also enjoyed His pastime along with Prabhupada in this current time. May this great soul enjoys with His spiritual master Prabhupada by serving Lord Jaganntha

> Dear Sunanda Prabhu

> Please accept my humble obaisences

> All glories to Srila Prabhupada

> I just talked to Brajanath Prabhu the secretary to H,D.G Narayana

> Maharaja and if we have any question from ISKCON side about vaisnava

> calendar, we are also welcome to question them personally I will follow

> closely both calendars of

> ISKCON and Gaudiya Math and if there is any questions on dates I will

> surely ask, to make sure there is no difference, but so far comparing both

> the dates seems the same, so this double checking I personally like,

> I do not want to fast on dasami and invoke inauspiciousness. If even Sita

> can be separated from Lord Rama for fasting on dasami I have millions of

> times more to fear. But now I feel more comfortable about this,I can

> double check.

> Your servant

> Payonidhi das

 

This difference of date of ovserving ekadashi is not somthing new. In

scripture it has been said that ,"If there is difference opinion about the

date to ovserve ekadashi then follow the second one or last one." That means

if some say ekadashi is on 1st jan and others say ekadashi is on 2nd jan ,

then observe ekadashi on 2nd. Jan. From this we can see that there must have

instances in past where there were different opinion of dates for observing

ekadashi. That's why this solution have been providede by sastra.

 

This is just for some information.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Your humble servant

 

Bhakti Purusottama Swami

 

For more informations about Mayapur

Please visit : WWW.mayapur.com

Residence phone - +91 3472 245481

Mobile : +91 9434506434

Fax : +91 3472 245238

The only key is that all the lamps to be lit at same time to offer maximum spiritual penance to Lord Hari. So irrespective of places or location all devotees of Krsna should observe ekadashi same time. That will generate more spiritual energy ekadashi which will awake Lord Hari to kill demons that are troubling Lord's devotees anywhere in the spiritual universe

Text 44

 

dépenäpi hi yaträsau

préyate harir éçvaraù

su-gétaà ca dadäty eva

para-dépa-prabodhanät

dépena-with a lamp; api-even; hi-indeed; yatra-where; asau-He; priyate-is

pleased; hariù-Lord Hari; éçvaraù-the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

su-gétam-glorified; ca-and; dadäti-gives; eva-indeed;

para-dépa-prabodhanät-from

liughting another's lamp.

 

"Lord Kåñëa is pleased by the offering of a single lamp during the month of

Kärttika. Lord Kåñëa glorifies anyone who lights a lamp for someone else to

offer."

Hari Nama MohaJyoti

Sarva Loke Prachudayat

Hari Nama Janna Jyoti

Sarva Hridaya Prachudayat

Name of Lord Hari is only the Supreme light through out this universe. May this Supreme light appear everywhere through out universe. Name of Lord Hari is supreme wisdom. May this name is established in every heart

My "crow" is posted as part of my profile on israelmilitary.net under the profile name of SirChristopherAlanGreen.

 

Teach that crow to sing the holy name, the name of Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabu who is Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna

SB 11.11.18: If through meticulous study one becomes expert in reading Vedic literature but makes no endeavor to fix one's mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then one's endeavor is certainly like that of a man who works very hard to take care of a cow that gives no milk. In other words, the fruit of one's laborious study of Vedic knowledge will simply be the labor itself. There will be no other tangible result.

SB 11.11.19: My dear Uddhava, that man is certainly most miserable who takes care of a cow that gives no milk, an unchaste wife, a body totally dependent on others, useless children or wealth not utilized for the right purpose. Similarly, one who studies Vedic knowledge devoid of My glories is also most miserable.

SB 11.11.20: My dear Uddhava, an intelligent person should never take to literatures that do not contain descriptions of My activities, which purify the whole universe. Indeed, I create, maintain and annihilate the entire material manifestation. Among all My pastime incarnations, the most beloved are Krishna and Balarama. Any so-called knowledge that does not recognize these activities of Mine is simply barren and is not acceptable to those who are actually intelligent.

Hari Rupe Jaganntha Asila Jagate

Krsna Nam Mukhe Laya Apani Gaite

Lord Hari appered as Lord Jaganntha in this material world. He appered taking name of Krsna in His own voices and singing everywhere

Haribol!

 

I'm a 24 year old writer and I'm self-publishing my first novel 'Follow the Cowherd Boy'. It's based on the life story of Mirabai, as told by the acharyas and what I could find in the historical records.

 

I wrote this book because Mirabai is a hero of mine and I wanted to spread her legend in the western world as she is not very well known here. Another reason was that I wanted to explain things about Sanatan Dharma that most westerners don't know, so that they can understand it more and not confuse it with the things they see in the media.

 

I hope and pray that Krishna is pleased with my efforts.

 

The book is out on October 25th, 2006 and is available to order from trafford.com and amazon.com. The ISBN number is 1-4120-8626-4.

 

Thanks,

 

J A Joshi

Hari Kore Katha Taba

Priya Hari Hari Priya

Jaya Jaya Mohaprabhu

Chitannya Jaganntha

Lord Hari is talking about you, you are dearer to Hari and Hari is dearer to you. All glory to Lord Chitannya Mohaprabhu who is Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Jagannatha

Jay ShreeRaadhe Govinda

Jay Shree KrshnaChaitanya Prabhu Nityaananda

Jay Shree Bhaktra Vrunda

 

I would like to avail a hard copy (even soft copy would be oK) of the Gaudiya Commentary on the Vedaant Sutr, known as Gaudiya Bhaashya, by Shrila Baladeva Vidyaabhushanajee.

 

I do have a soft copy but that doesn't have a large part of first Adhyaay and the whole of Second Adhyaay. (at least 28%)

 

I would highly recomment this totally theistic interpretation of Vedaanta Sutr, unlike many others in the market that, in one way or other, are non devotional if not 100 % impersonalistic.

 

If anyone has a soft/hard copy and knows from where to avail (Except Shree Krishna or His peraphernalia ), then just reply to this post.

 

Jay Jay Shree Gauraang Mahaaprabhave namah

One needs to be careful if they see crows or vultures. There many animals even cats and dogs that are moving in material world, try to misguide vaisanavs by imposing Mayawadi philosophy. Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu has lots of tigers and lions ready to serve Supreme Personality of Godhead to kill all demonic animals trying to impose Mayawadi Philosophy on Vaisanavs. Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu is supreme personality of Godhead and incarnation of Lord Jagannatha.

Be careful for Mayawadi Philosophers in this site. If you are really followers of Vaisanava path and want to serve Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu then stop discussing any Mayawadi Philosophy. Those who follow the Vaisanava religion as instructed by Prabhupada, they will be the highest enjoyer in heaven and will be engaged in loving services with Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu. Only Vaisanavas can serve lotus feet of Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabu.

Now this golden era presently started and I am seeing this golden light in the whole spiritual sky. In this golden era of Kali yuge, Lord Jagannatha is only supreme deity will be worshipped everywhere. In this golden era only Vaisanavs rules over complete spiritual sky.

All glory to Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu and Prabhupada

<!-- / message -->

"I Have Returned!"

Your crow is dead now. Take Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu's name. Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu is supreme personality of Godhead. Everybody should worship Lord Chaittanya Mohaprabhu and follow all instructions as given by Prabhupada. Becareful for Mayawadi Philosophers in this site.

Dear Nimai Nitai Prabhu

Please accept my humble obaisences

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

you wrote:

Were the Gosvamis guilty of fasting when They should have feasted, or

feasting when They should have fasted, because Their calculations were probably

less

accurate than today's computer-generated outputs?

that is foolish arguments, the Goswamis are freed from the modes of material

nature and knows when to fast , there is no need of computer, their

calculation was perfect

 

you wrote:

 

There is NO exact calculation possible, anywhere in the material world. Every

calculation is just an approximation. Among such inexact calculations, we

choose to accept that approximation received in disciplic succession, rather

than

the most current computer-generated astrological data, which will inevitably

be "improved" and "corrected" at some future point in time --just like

toothpaste or shampoo, or so many other consumer products.

 

my response

 

The Navadvipa Pankaji is very detailed to when to observe fast and when to

break them

 

you wrote:

 

.. Furthermore, this determination is in strict agreement with the practice

established by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada for His worldwide movement

during His entire manifest pastimes. ISKCON's GBC, in its RESOLUTION #53 of

February 20, 1988, confirmed this practice as authoritative:

 

53. That the GBC accepts the Yoga Pitha Gaudiya Panjika calendar as

authoritative for ISKCON on the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. It is also

Srila

Prabhupada's instructions that the Panjika be followed in any time zone of the

world according to the same Calendar date as observed in Mayapur.

 

 

yes it is understood, I suggest this be changes in favor of a more correct

standard, that will prevent leaders like yourself to force other devotees under

 

their leadership to fast on dasami

 

NA UPOSYA DASAMI-VIDHA SADAIVA EKADASI TITHIH

SAMUPOSYA NARO JAHYAT PUNYAM VARSA SATODBHAVAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/205 from NARADA PURANA)

One should never fast on the days when Ekadasi is overlapped with Dasami. If

one does so, looses whatever merit he had accumulated for one hundred years.

DASAMI SESA SAMYUKTAM YAH KAROTI VIMUDHADHIH

EKADASI PHALAM TASYA NA SYAD DVADASA VARSIKAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/218 from KURMA PURANA, NARADA PURANA AND VISNU

RAHASYA)

Those foolish persons who fast on Ekadasi which is mixed with Dasami, do not

receive any result for performing Ekadasi fast for the past twelve years.

DASAMY EKADASI YATRA TATRA SANNIHITO'SURAH

DVADASY EKADASI YATRA TATRA SANNIHITO HARIH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/230 from SKANDA PURANA)

The demons reside in any Ekadasi which is overlapped with Dasami and whoever

fasts on this day achieves negative results. Lord Hari resides in any Ekadasi

which is overlapped with Dvadasi. If someone observes fasting on this day, he

receives complete results, which is proper.

YE SAMSANTI DINAM VISNOR DASAMI VEDHA DUSITAM

JNEYAS TE PAPA PURUSAH SUKRAMAYA-VIMOHITAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/234 from SKANDA PURANA conversation between Lord Siva

and Uma devi)

Any person who fasts on Ekadasi which is contaminated by Dasami or makes

somebody else fast, has been controlled and bewildered by Sukracarya, the

spiritual master of the demons. This should be understood properly.

 

Fasting on ekadasi is not like fasting for "christmas" it is not symbolical

fasting the timeperiod, and anyone that agrees with you is obviously missing

the whole point,according to Hari bhakti Vilasa is bewildered by Sukracarya,

and is becoming empowered by asuras that preside on ekadasis mixed with

dasami.Srila Vyasadeva says he is willing to reject even Lord Brahma if he

states

otherwise on the result

of fasting on mixed ekadasis,Sorry it seems you have no faith in Hari Bhakti

Vilasa

Prabhu.

your servant

Payonidhi das

When your target to reside spiritual planets of Mayapur, at the birth place of Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu, follow all times as it is from Mayapur

In a message dated 10/20/2006 2:31:43 PM Pacific Standard Time,

nimai.nitaidas writes:

 

Dear Nimai Nitai Prabhu

Please accept my humble obaisences

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

you wrote:

Were the Gosvamis guilty of fasting when They should have feasted, or

feasting when They should have fasted, because Their calculations were probably

less

accurate than today's computer-generated outputs?

that is foolish arguments, the Goswamis are freed from the modes of material

nature and knows when to fast , there is no need of computer, their

calculation was perfect

 

you wrote:

 

There is NO exact calculation possible, anywhere in the material world. Every

calculation is just an approximation. Among such inexact calculations, we

choose to accept that approximation received in disciplic succession, rather

than

the most current computer-generated astrological data, which will inevitably

be "improved" and "corrected" at some future point in time --just like

toothpaste or shampoo, or so many other consumer products.

 

my response

 

The Navadvipa Pankaji is very detailed to when to observe fast and when to

break them

 

you wrote:

 

.. Furthermore, this determination is in strict agreement with the practice

established by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada for His worldwide movement

during His entire manifest pastimes. ISKCON's GBC, in its RESOLUTION #53 of

February 20, 1988, confirmed this practice as authoritative:

 

53. That the GBC accepts the Yoga Pitha Gaudiya Panjika calendar as

authoritative for ISKCON on the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. It is also

Srila

Prabhupada's instructions that the Panjika be followed in any time zone of the

world according to the same Calendar date as observed in Mayapur.

 

yes it is understood, I suggest this be changes in favor of a more correct

standard, that will prevent leaders like yourself to force other devotees under

 

their leadership to fast on dasami

 

NA UPOSYA DASAMI-VIDHA SADAIVA EKADASI TITHIH

SAMUPOSYA NARO JAHYAT PUNYAM VARSA SATODBHAVAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/205 from NARADA PURANA)

One should never fast on the days when Ekadasi is overlapped with Dasami. If

one does so, looses whatever merit he had accumulated for one hundred years.

DASAMI SESA SAMYUKTAM YAH KAROTI VIMUDHADHIH

EKADASI PHALAM TASYA NA SYAD DVADASA VARSIKAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/218 from KURMA PURANA, NARADA PURANA AND VISNU

RAHASYA)

Those foolish persons who fast on Ekadasi which is mixed with Dasami, do not

receive any result for performing Ekadasi fast for the past twelve years.

DASAMY EKADASI YATRA TATRA SANNIHITO'SURAH

DVADASY EKADASI YATRA TATRA SANNIHITO HARIH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/230 from SKANDA PURANA)

The demons reside in any Ekadasi which is overlapped with Dasami and whoever

fasts on this day achieves negative results. Lord Hari resides in any Ekadasi

which is overlapped with Dvadasi. If someone observes fasting on this day, he

receives complete results, which is proper.

YE SAMSANTI DINAM VISNOR DASAMI VEDHA DUSITAM

JNEYAS TE PAPA PURUSAH SUKRAMAYA-VIMOHITAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/234 from SKANDA PURANA conversation between Lord Siva

and Uma devi)

Any person who fasts on Ekadasi which is contaminated by Dasami or makes

somebody else fast, has been controlled and bewildered by Sukracarya, the

spiritual master of the demons. This should be understood properly.

 

fasting on ekadasi is not like fasting for "christmas" it is not symbolical

fasting the timeperiod, and anyone that agrees with you is obviously missing

the whole point

your servant

Payonidhi das

Since Lord Chaitannya Mohaprbhu choose to take birth in Mayapur, that time is always divine in spiritual world. All the spiritual planets reside in that time. If one chooses to reside in those spiritual planets they have to follow Mayapur time.

Can you enlighten us with a little more information on these kannada and deshasta madhwas and why you feel they should stay away from say, udupi mutt?

In south India, there are many incarnations of Krsna are coming nowadays though it is not supported by Bhagavatam. They are not either servant of Krsna nor servent of Vishnu. They are all Mayawadi incarnations and creating lots of confusion to Vaisanavs.

To fight those incarnations perhaps those mutts had taken some kind of safe guards to protect real devotees coming to visit Vishnu. If you are real devotee of Krsna, definitely Krsna will see you and allow you to enter irrespective of your garments. Nobody can make fool Krsna that is for sure.

Dear Prabhuji:

 

A samskara is not necessarily demigod worship, if I am not mistaken. A samskara is simply a rite of passage. It is a ceremony. It provides some variety which is the spice of life.

 

For example in Gaudiya Vaisnava temples they chant HK mantra and they also perform various ceremonies, do they not? They perform arotik, do they not? They perform abhisekha do they not?

 

They perform death rites, do they not? Marriage ceremonies too, isn't that correct? Initiation ceremonies also, is that not correct?

 

Or do they just stand around chanting Hare Krishna all day long? Maybe it seems like it to you but last time I checked, the head pujari at my local temple was using a Gaudiya Vaisnava text called "The Book of Samskaras".

 

So what is the problem with performing samskaras? They are doing it at the Hare Krishna temple. Are you saying that they are in maya or something? The Book of Samskaras explains that impressions or vrittis are created on our minds. Therefore samskaras are performed to penetrate deeply into our

sub of the subconscious mind.

 

So there are beautiful rituals like performance art or rites of passage. They provide variety to standing around chanting HK mantra all day long. If you are happy only chanting HK all day long then I am happy for you.

 

But some people like variety. Therefore we have an educated class of priests who are trained how to do these samskaras. They enjoy performing them, for it is a very rewarding experience, as it brings happiness and solace into people's lives.

 

For example when a person dies, then yes maybe some people perhaps all they do is chant Hare Krishna and their life is sublime and whoopdee doo hip hip hurrah I'm dead, that's it, and he's dead haribol, and that satisfies them.

 

Well if you enjoy that pastime and that is your cup of tea then fine and dandy for you. However why did AC Bhaktivedanta Swami ask Srila Narayana Maharaja to do his death rituals for him, the antyestha samskara? Why did he not just tell his followers "Chant and be happy! I'm not the body, I am going back to Krishna, no worries mate!"

 

Well why, hmm? Why did a Guru in the Lineage of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ask a senior Vaisnava to perform a samskara for him at the time of death? Was he worshipping the demigods or something? I have never heard of Narayana Maharaja asking people to do demigod worship, in fact he is quite against it

from what I have read.

 

So why did Swami Maharaja ask for Antyestha Samskara? Because everybody likes a rite of passage that is why. It is human nature. Hinduism has very beautiful rites of passage. If you don't enjoy them, that is okay with me. Different strokes for different folks.

 

But I personally think that they are very beautiful. I have never heard of any Vaisnava guru passing and did not want the final rites or Antyestha Samskara.

So why is that? Are they all in maya worshipping the demigods at the time of

death? No because it is very soothing and benefic to the mind, it helps those

left behind to have closure.

 

And similarly the other samskaras in Hinduism are to soothe people's minds, create a nice impression, like a "snapshot" moment. That is what a samskara is, a very beautiful type of performance art so elegant and refined and aristocratic in my opinion. I don't feel that it is particularly helpful to make people feel afraid of samskaras or like samskaras are some nonsense not practiced by even the greatest acharyas in the Gaudiya Vaisnava lineage.

Perform samskaras to satisfy Krsna which is recommended to Vaisanavs. Don't perform samskaras which is not recommended for Vaisanavas to satisfy demigods.

If Krsna satisfied other have to be satisfied. Otherwise there is no Supreme Personality of Godhead which is against Vaisanav's philosophy and not recommended by Supreme Personality Incarnate of Krsna, Lord Chaitannya Mohaprabhu.