Question thread on Vaisnava philosophy

[jayaisvara 0]

I am making this thread so that my answers/doubts can hopefully be answered by you guys. This is not in any way a challenge but a learning opportunity that I hope will help me and others.

 

Here are some questions that I need answers to...

 

1) What is the difference between Vaisnava philosophy and other philosophies?

 

2) Vaisnava philosophy is mainly centered around Lord Krsna and the Vaisnavas say Lord Krsna is God. Saivite philosophy is centered around Lord Siva and they say Siva is God. It appears that there is no difference between the two philosphies in one sense because they are saying someone is God. Which philosophy is right and why?

 

3) It is said that spiritual world has variegatedness. Then why is there need for KC to be propogated all over the world and not Saivite philosophy? It appears that the reason that this world has these varied philosophies is to only bring people somehow in connection with God.

 

 

4) If someone is already a devotee of a "demigod" from the viewpoint of Vaisnava philosophy, is there need to reform them to worship Krsna? Are not the demigods devotees of Krsna and thus Swami Prabhupada has said that association with devotees will lift a person to the spiritual platform so then by worshipping the "demigods" as God, will they not still achieve perfection?

 

5) I feel very sad against the idea that everyone must follow KC because for people who are already pious and religious, and they worship ie Lord Siva as God, will it not be a bad thing to tell them Lord Siva is just a "demigod"? Throughout their life they might have worshipped someone other than Lord Krsna with faith and devotion and is it not sinful to tell them, "According to Vaisnava Philosophy, Lord Visnu/Lord Krna is the Supreme". If they already have faith in GOD, then what difference does it make that they follow Lord Siva, Lord Krsna, or some other deity as God? Why is there need to spread KC to such areas when it can be spread to areas where there is no conception of God? This saves money and time would it not?

 

 

5) KC and Saivite philosophy believe in God so the mayavadis can be defeated using both philosophies, is it not?

 

6) Why do you think we have so many different philosophies(about God) in the world? What makes Saivite philosophy more authorized than KC or KC more authorized than Saivite?

 

 

 

[Avinash 0]

It is possible that some of doubts that arise in your mind may already have been answered in some thread(s) in this forum.

[Guest guest]

 

1) What is the difference between Vaisnava philosophy and other philosophies?

 

 

We teach the conclusions of the vedanta, specifically the Bhagavata school, i.e Vishnu is the supreme.

 

We teach specifically in the Gaudiya vaisnava tradition that Sri Krishna Caitanya is an incarnation of Krishna in the mood of his shakti Sri Radha.

 

 

2) Vaisnava philosophy is mainly centered around Lord Krsna and the Vaisnavas say Lord Krsna is God. Saivite philosophy is centered around Lord Siva and they say Siva is God. It appears that there is no difference between the two philosphies in one sense because they are saying someone is God. Which philosophy is right and why?

 

 

Our Vaisnava tradition is centered around Sri Krishna, there are others centered around Narayana or Ramachandra.

 

The difference is extensive, you would have to study the Vaisnava literature to comprehend all the differences if you are Shiva bhakta.

 

 

3) It is said that spiritual world has variegatedness. Then why is there need for KC to be propogated all over the world and not Saivite philosophy? It appears that the reason that this world has these varied philosophies is to only bring people somehow in connection with God.

 

 

If you want to spread Saivism around the world feel free to do so, our mission is to spread the teachings of Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

 

 

4) If someone is already a devotee of a "demigod" from the viewpoint of Vaisnava philosophy, is there need to reform them to worship Krsna? Are not the demigods devotees of Krsna and thus Swami Prabhupada has said that association with devotees will lift a person to the spiritual platform so then by worshipping the "demigods" as God, will they not still achieve perfection?

 

 

People can do as they please, the Christians teach about jesus,the muslims teach about Allah, the Advaitins teach about Brahman, the Saivites teach about Shiva, We teach about Sri Radha Krishna, we don't tell people they have to accept our way, we simply present our philosophy as an option.

 

In Vedic society Shiva worship is there as well as other demigod worship, that is acceptable, our role is to present the Bhagavata Dharma, people can accept or reject, our role is to give out the Bhagavata concept.

 

 

5) I feel very sad against the idea that everyone must follow KC because for people who are already pious and religious, and they worship ie Lord Siva as God, will it not be a bad thing to tell them Lord Siva is just a "demigod"? Throughout their life they might have worshipped someone other than Lord Krsna with faith and devotion and is it not sinful to tell them, "According to Vaisnava Philosophy, Lord Visnu/Lord Krna is the Supreme". If they already have faith in GOD, then what difference does it make that they follow Lord Siva, Lord Krsna, or some other deity as God? Why is there need to spread KC to such areas when it can be spread to areas where there is no conception of God? This saves money and time would it not?

 

 

Everything is under the control of God, God is making these decisions, Every religion is presenting their vision as supreme, otherwise why would anyone accept their version ?

 

 

 

5) KC and Saivite philosophy believe in God so the mayavadis can be defeated using both philosophies, is it not?

 

 

The Bhagavata states that Shiva is not the supreme lord, although the supreme lord sometimes takes the position of

Shiva, there is no need to compromise your teachings in the name of "defeating mayavadis".

 

They are also under the control of God's plan for them, why change your Religious scriptures in the name of expediency to convert someone with another belief system ?

 

 

6) Why do you think we have so many different philosophies(about God) in the world? What makes Saivite philosophy more authorized than KC or KC more authorized than Saivite?

 

 

This is a personal choice, everyone has their destiny and that is in God's hands, as is everything else.

 

 

 

 

[jayaisvara 0]

"Regarding the demons' tilak: There is no necessity of putting Saivite tilaka on their foreheads, although most of the demons are like that. When there is particular mention that a demon is the devotee of Lord Siva, in that case the Saivite tilaka may be marked."

 

Letter to Satsvarupa

70-01-30

 

I do not understand why Swami Srila Prabhupada indirectly says here that Saivites are demons. Why is that?

[Guest guest]

It is described in vedic literature that Mahadeva is easily pleased and gives material benedictions to those who please him, so it is standard practice among many asuras in the Vedic literature to worship Mahadeva in order to gain material opulence or mystic siddhis, It is well documented how many asuras (demons) are therefore Shiva bhaktas in order to take advantage of Shiva's generosity.

 

So you took the quote out of context, It is not that Shiva bhaktas are considered demons rather that demons are generally Shiva bhaktas, this is found throughout the vedic literature, Ravana for example.

 

 

[Tarun 6]

Easily visible in any close-up foto.

[Guest guest]

Well said, prabhu.