Responding to Janardana Dasa: on Salagram Sila puja

[Guest guest]

Solid response, prabhu, I appreciate that! Especially where you said: "I guess that IS true to some degree about being somewhat of a decent devotee, as THAKUR JI only comes to those people he wants to be served by, PERIOD."

That's the bottom line isn't it...that HE comes to you? Attracted as I am to how gracious and auspicious these naturally-occurring Aspects of Bhagavan are for us, which are surely NON-different from Him, I could never presume to just go out and "choose one" for myself (let alone ORDER one from the Internet vendor who just contacted me through this site!). Humble example perhaps, but the most potent Darshan within my home has been by way of a spontaneous GIFTING to me of a beautiful though materially inexpensive Mother Lakshmi!

Sure, I'm attracted by particular Aspects...such as Hers and Sesa Ananda's for instance, but should I just presume to go out and obtain one that is said to be "their" Shalagram? OF COURSE, I know you're not recommending that!! There has to be proper mentorship of this, and devotees have their spiritual master. (I was also once attracted in passing to Sri Tota Gopinath from the temple in Puri. But as I'm neither a pure nor exclusively "KRSNA" devotee I just returned my thanks for His lovely mellow, and continued with the daily offerings and bodhisattva vow I am already committed to!)

Which you confirm in your last statement: "In my view, I feel that every devotee of Lord Vishnu (i.e. Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, Vitthala Panduranga, Venkateshwar, etc.) should attempt to worship a salagram sila as it gives one more fixity in devotional life." I'm sure it DOES and if Lord Vishnu provides clear indication of how He'd like one to come to me and interphase with my sadhana, as happened for me with Ma Lakshmi (mentioned above), I will humbly do my best!

 

Janardana Dasa <lightdweller > wrote:

Dear Sir, I would like to add my 2 cents if you don't mind. I guess that IS true to some degree about being somewhat of a decent devotee, as THAKUR JI only comes to those people he wants to be served by, PERIOD. But, by having the attitude of being afraid of this type of worship, i have seen many well qualified, longtime devotees unecessarily cheat themselves out of a closer, more intimate relationship with the LORD.

In short, Salagram Sila puja is made available to mankind because it is less strict than SRI MURTHY worship, but just as potent; and yet strict enough to increase one's fixity in worship, vows, regulative principles, etc. Nevertheless, one is not expected to be totally perfect when that worship is taken up, as BHAGAVAN knows our limitations. I hope i don't sound sanctimonious by saying this, but In my view, I feel that every devotee of Lord Vishnu (i.e. Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, Vitthala Panduranga, Venkateshwar, etc.) should attempt to worship a salagram sila as it gives one more fixity in devotional life.

JANARDANA DASA

 

_,_._,___