Bhagvatam: HOW INDRA, THE KING OF HEAVEN, WAS VICTORIOUS OVER THE SOLDIERS OF THE DEMONS, USING THE SHIELD OF THE VISHNU MANTRA,11th Aug

Bhagvatam: HOW INDRA, THE KING OF HEAVEN, WAS VICTORIOUS OVER THE SOLDIERS OF THE DEMONS, USING THE SHIELD OF THE VISHNU MANTRA.

This chapter describes how Indra, the King of heaven, was victorious over the soldiers of the demons, and it also describes the shield of the Vishnu mantra.

To take protection from this shield, one must first touch kusha grass and wash one's mouth with ächamana-mantras. One should observe silence and then place the eight-syllable Vishnu mantra on the parts of his body and place the twelve-syllable mantra on his hands. 

The eight-syllable mantra is om namo näräyanäya. This mantra should be distributed all over the front and back of the body. The twelve-syllable mantra, which begins with the pranava, omkära, is om namo bhagavate väsudeväya. One syllable should be placed on each of the fingers and should be preceded by the pranava, omkära. 

Thereafter, one must chant om vishnave namam, which is a six-syllable mantra. One must progressively place the syllables of the mantra on the heart, the head, between the two eyebrows, on the shikhä and between the eyes, and then one should chant mam asträya phat and with this mantra protect himself from all directions. Nädevo devam archayet: one who has not risen to the level of a deva cannot chant this mantra. According to this direction of the shästra, one must think himself qualitatively nondifferent from the Supreme.

After finishing this dedication, one must offer a prayer to the eight-armed Lord Vishnu, who sits on the shoulders of Garudadeva. One also has to think of the fish incarnation, Vämana, Kürma, Nrsimha, Varäha, Parashuräma, Räma Chandra (the elder brother of Lakshmana). Nara-Näräyana, Dattätreya (an empowered incarnation), Kapila, Sanat-kumära, Hayagriva, Näradadeva (the incarnation of a devotee). Dhanvantari, Rshabhadeva, Yajna, Balaräma, Vyäsadeva, Buddhadeva and Keshava. 

One should also think of Govinda, the master of Vrndävana, and one should think of Näräyana, the master of the spiritual sky. One should think of Madhusüdana, Tridhämä, Mädhava, Hrshikesha, Padmanäbha, Janärdana, Dämodara and Vishveshvara, as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krshna Himself. 

After offering prayers to the Lord's personal expansions known as the svämsha and shaktyävesha-avatäras, one should pray to the weapons of Lord Näräyana, such as the Sudarshana, gadä, shankha, khadga and bow.

After explaining this process, Sukadeva Gosvämi told Mahäräja Parikshit how Vishvarüpa, the brother of Vrträsura, described the glories of the Näräyana-kavacha to Indra.

GITA SHLOKA 4.27 soul which is attached to sense enjoyment, it is called parag-atma BUT pratyag atma is the ultimate goal. This pratyag atma is a withdrawal from activities in matter,9th Aug

GITA SHLOKA 4.27 soul which is attached to sense enjoyment, it is called parag-atma BUT pratyag atma is the ultimate goal. This pratyag atma is a withdrawal from activities in matter.

TRANSLATION

Those who are interested in self-realization, in terms of mind and sense control, offer the functions of all the senses, as well as the vital force [breath], as oblations into the fire of the controlled mind.

PURPORT

The yoga system conceived by Patanjali is referred to herein.

In the Yoga-sutra of Patanjali, the soul is called pratyag-atma and parag-atma.

As long as the soul is attached to sense enjoyment, it is called parag-atma.

The soul is subjected to the functions of ten kinds of air at work within the body, and this is perceived through the breathing system.

The Patanjala system of yoga instructs one on how to control the functions of the body's air in a technical manner so that ultimately all the functions of the air within become favorable for purifying the soul of material attachment.

According to this yoga system, pratyag atma is the ultimate goal.

This pratyag atma is a withdrawal from activities in matter.

The senses interact with the sense objects, like the ear for hearing, eyes for seeing, nose for smelling, tongue for tasting, hand for touching, and all of them are thus engaged in activities outside the self.

They are called the functions of the prana-vayu.

The apana-vayu goes downwards, vyana-vayu acts to shrink and expand, samana-vayu adjusts equilibrium, udana-vayu goes upwards—and when one is enlightened, one engages all these in searching for self-realization.

Bhagvatam: IF ONE IS ADVANCED IN THE SCIENCE OF KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, REGARDLESS OF HIS POSITION IN HUMAN SOCIETY, HE MAY BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER, 10th Aug

Bhagvatam: IF ONE IS ADVANCED IN THE SCIENCE OF KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, REGARDLESS OF HIS POSITION IN HUMAN SOCIETY, HE MAY BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER

TRANSLATION

The demigods continued: Do not fear criticism for being younger than us. Such etiquette does not apply in regard to Vedic mantras. Except in relationship to Vedic mantras, seniority is determined by age, but one may offer respectful obeisances even to a younger person who is advanced in chanting Vedic mantras. Therefore although you are junior in relationship to us, you may become our priest without hesitation.

PURPORT

It is said, vrddhatvam vayasä vinä: one may be senior without being advanced in age. Even if one is not old, one gains seniority if he is senior in knowledge. Vishvarüpa was junior in relationship to the demigods because he was their nephew, but the demigods wanted to accept him as their priest, and therefore he would have to accept obeisances from them. 

The demigods explained that this should not be a cause for hesitation; he could become their priest because he was advanced in Vedic knowledge. Similarly, Chänakya Pandita advises, nichäd apy uttamam jnänam: one may accept education from a member of a lower social order. The brähmanas, the members of the most elevated varna, are teachers, but a person in a lower family, such as a family of kshatriyas, vaishyas or even shüdras, may be accepted as a teacher if he has knowledge. Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu approved of this when He expressed this opinion before Rämänanda Räya (Cc. Madhya 8.128):

It does not matter whether one is a brähmana, shüdra, grhastha or sannyäsi. These are all material designations. A spiritually advanced person has nothing to do with such designations. Therefore, if one is advanced in the science of Krshna consciousness, regardless of his position in human society, he may become a spiritual master.

GOD IS LOVE and LOVE SHOWS THE WAY #Blog0074

GOD IS LOVE & LOVE SHOWS THE WAY

"चिर जीवो भूतल ये जोड़ी"

The saints / pure devotees have such a pure love that they bless even the Lord couple (Radhe Krishna)

In fact pure love does not care for self but only for the comfort of the beloved.

Whereas in the world there is no pure love - hence though it is "love" but because it is "not pure", there is a lot of selfishness - "what would I get" - and therefore this love is extremely short lived but this same worldly love, if converted towards Lord & therefore the welfare of all His beings, becomes pure & surely attracts Lord who then pulls devotee out of this worldly birth death cycle,old age & disease & takes him/her back to Godhead.

Getting to such a pure love, which automatically attracts God, is the purpose of human life.    

"इबादत बेशक एक मकाम तक ले जाती है मगर आगे मोहब्बत रास्ता दिखाती है"

Prayer can take you only upto a certain point - beyond which only love can take you.

"जितना प्यार पाया है तुमसे 

उससे और अधिक पाने को जी चाहता है 

और जाने क्या खूबी है तुममे सनम 

कि हर रिश्ता तुमसे निभाने को जी चाहता है"

"न मेहनत से ,न अदब से  

न किसी पुरुषार्थ से मिलती है  

मोहब्बत वो दौलत है, जो सिर्फ तेरी रहमत से मिलती है"

HOW CAN ANYONE WHO LOVES GOD HATE ANY OF HIS CHILDREN ?

Bhagvatam: IF A GOVERNMENT WORSHIPS THE BRÄHMANAS, THE COWS AND KRSHNA, IT IS NEVER DEFEATED ANYWHERE; OTHERWISE IT MUST ALWAYS BE DEFEATED AND CONDEMNED EVERYWHERE,9th Aug

Bhagvatam: IF A GOVERNMENT WORSHIPS THE BRÄHMANAS, THE COWS AND KRSHNA, IT IS NEVER DEFEATED ANYWHERE; OTHERWISE IT MUST ALWAYS BE DEFEATED AND CONDEMNED EVERYWHERE.

TRANSLATION

Because of their firm determination to follow the instructions of Sukrächärya, his disciples, the demons, are now unconcerned about the demigods. In fact, kings or others who have determined faith in the mercy of brähmanas, cows and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krshna, and who always worship these three are always strong in their position.

PURPORT

From the instructions of Lord Brahmä it is understood that everyone should very faithfully worship the brähmanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the cows.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is go-brähmana-hitäya ca: He is always very kind to cows and brähmanas.

Therefore one who worships Govinda must satisfy Him by worshiping the brähmanas and cows.

If a government worships the brähmanas, the cows and Krshna, Govinda, it is never defeated anywhere; otherwise it must always be defeated and condemned everywhere.

At the present moment, all over the world, governments have no respect for brähmanas, cows and Govinda, and consequently there are chaotic conditions all over the world.

In summary, although the demigods were very powerful in material opulence, the demons defeated them in battle because the demigods had behaved disrespectfully toward a brähmana, Brhaspati, who was their spiritual master.

TRANSLATION

O demigods, I (Lord Brahma) instruct you to approach Vishvarüpa, the son of Tvashtä, and accept him as your guru. He is a pure and very powerful brähmana undergoing austerity and penances. Pleased by your worship, he will fulfill your desires, provided that you tolerate his being inclined to side with the demons.

PURPORT

Lord Brahmä advised the demigods to accept the son of Tvashtä as their spiritual master although he was always inclined toward the benefit of the asuras.

Srila Sukadeva Gosvämi continued: Thus advised by Lord Brahmä and relieved of their anxiety, all the demigods went to the sage Vishvarüpa, the son of Tvashtä. My dear King, they embraced him and spoke as follows.

The demigods said: Beloved Vishvarüpa, may there be all good fortune for you. We, the demigods, have come to your äshrama as your guests. Please try to fulfill our desires according to the time, since we are on the level of your parents.

O brähmana, the highest duty of a son, even though he has sons of his own, is to serve his parents, and what to speak of a son who is a brahmachäri?

TRANSLATION

The ächärya, the spiritual master who teaches all the Vedic knowledge and gives initiation by offering the sacred thread, is the personification of all the Vedas. Similarly, a father personifies Lord Brahmä; a brother, King Indra; a mother, the planet earth; and a sister, mercy. A guest personifies religious principles, an invited guest personifies the demigod Agni, and all living entities personify Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

PURPORT

According to the moral instructions of Chänakya Pandita, ätmavat sarva-bhüteshu: one should observe all living entities to be on the same level as oneself. This means that no one should be neglected as inferior; because Paramätmä is seated in everyone's body, everyone should be respected as a temple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This verse describes the different ways in which one should respect a guru, a father, a brother, a sister, a guest and so on.