renuka

This is amazing. The Vedas have provision to accomodate everything.

Try to serve the devotees. you will please the Lord as welll as get many devotee freinds

sumthing in the Vedic religion I do not understand, that i cannot comprehend:

1. why have God (Krsna) created or allowed creation of alcohol, if one drinks it u will go to hell?

First of all we need to understand that God is a person. He is the Supreme Person and is dealing with persons like us. God doesnot expect anything material from us. Infact we dont own anything to give Him.

He only expects devotion from us. Devotion is a higher form of love and affection. If someone was to ask you to love him at gun point would you be able to love him? No one can love by force. It has to come on its own accord springing from attraction.

Same way God is giving us the freedom to choose by providing facilities according to our desires.It is up to us to choose God or Sense enjoyment. This is His way of respecting our individuality. If this choice was not provided He would be a mere dictator.

Life is depressing and that is the truth. Krishna calls this world 'dukalayam', -place of misery. This gives more reason to go back to Godhead. No point in suicidal thoughts as it will only increase the miserable condition.

Tolerence and patience are two golden qualities. Take up to chanting of Hare Krishna, read Srila Prabhupada's books, associate with devotees and try to talk about Krishna to others. This will make you happy. Have patience, one who has faith in Krishna is never let down. There is no doubt about that.

Our actions are influenced by two factors:

1. Our previous karma

2. Our free will

According to our karma we are put into a particular situation. We then excercise our free will and make good or bad use of our situation.

For example, a cow is tied to a pole with 6 m rope. Inside this 6 m the cow can graze peacefully or entangle itself with the rope and reduce the its mobility. The 6m circumference is karma whereas the entanglement is our own doing.

Now by karma we are in our respective situations. But we can excercise our free will and go back to Godhead by taking to devotional practices. Simple!

Try reading Srila Prabhupada's Biography 'Lilamritha'

It is a must read for those who want to know about Srila Prabhupada

I can tell you what is the state of chocolates in India. I heard that in order to reduce production cost the chocolate manufactures use discarded hair from temples like Tirupathi and Palani to extract Karatin, the protein used to make chocolates. Acquiring the same from milk would make the bar too expensive.

Such food, in my opinion is tamasic in nature. Better avoid it.

You must see this in the light of the Bible story. What happened when the first people disobeyed God's command and thought that their eyes opened? they felt ashamed and got dressed. Qr,sna wanted to show the way back to the paradise of immortality: undo what your ancestors did. They were made to get dressed; i make you undress, hide no more your true feelings, cover no more your truth. Your own body shows you are made for joining, admit that. As a naked person shows the need to join to the opposite sex, so a naked soul shows the supreme desire, to be united with the supreme soul. I suggest that all people be naked in the temples, including Christian and Muslim temples, to show they wish to vomit the fruit that our forefathers ate.

Why speculate and complicate like this. This is a beautiful pastime with the Gopis who are His transcendental girl friends. The very fact that we are not able to partake in this mellow is the indication of our immaturity.

Anartha nivriti (getting rid of offenses) should come first. Think about higher levels later. Meanwhile study more about His devotees. It can help.

In this connection there is a pastime of Sripada Ramanuja Acharya.

Once he was with his diciples near a pond. He served some puffed rice to the fish in the pond. The fish accepted the maha prasadam and got liberated instantly assuming the four handed eternal form.The diciples were shocked at the instant tranformation and inquired as to why they were not liberated inspite of accepting the acarya's mahaprasadam everyday. Sripada Ramanuja said that the fish were not offensive and speculative.

Similarly due to our offenses and inadequate faith we need to follow all the nine process of devotional service even though chanting alone is more that enough for liberation.

Srila Prabhupada once said that our aim should not be to see the Lord rather our activities should be such that the Lord would want to see us. So kindly Chant Hare Krishna, read Srila Prabhupada's books, eat prasadam associate with devotees. By doing this sincerely the Lord will want to see you.

'Vaishnavanam yatha Sambhu'- Lord Shiva is the greatest of all Vaishnavas. Isn't that enough to make him attractive. Please don't try to judge a vaishnava by his external appearance.

In my view Lord Shiva is very attractive and unique. His appearance is an embodiment of mercy. He is called 'Ashutosh' which means 'one who is easily pleased'. He extends his mercy not only to humans but also to ghosts and goblins. The ash on his body is from the graveyard and he wears animal skin as dress. His ornament is the snake around his neck. For a devotee of Lord Shiva his appearance signifies his merciful nature. These unique features infact add to his glories. Finally what to speak of his dancing which is glorified by all.

Hare Krishna,

This is very beautiful. When I went to Vrindavan last year I bought a book with this painting in the front cover. so when ever i see this painting i am reminded of Vrindavan and its glories. I really like the gopis peeping. One has to look at it carefully to identify the gopies.

The MAnipuri dance enacting Radha Krishna pastime is befitting in the poise and grace of the divine couple.No other classicaldance comes to meet this sophitication.