VYASA PUJA OFFERING TO SRILA PRABHUPADA – 2022

All glories to Srila Prabhupāda

You have saved me from going to the darkest regions of hell, which I was destined to suffer on account of my extremely sinful activities. You came at the right time to rescue me. Your Divine Grace saved me from the word jugglery of the speculative scholars and delivered me the sublime essence of the Vedic literatures in a very simple and easy-to-understand language. Srila Prabhupada, this is Your USP – You present the highest knowledge effortlessly without any ostentatious show of scholarship. Though Your Divine Grace is the greatest scholar and the greatest devotee, You never claimed to be so and You have very mercifully associated with the fallen souls in order to deliver them. O Srila Prabhupāda, You are humility personified and a true example of “trnad api sunicena.”

I beg from you to bless me with a small fragment of your humility so that I may progress more on the path shown by you.

Your fallen servant,
Niraj

The Knot of Karma can be cut by the sword of Krishna-Kathā

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Karma means fruitive activities. I am doing something now, so I am creating another body. If I am acting like a dog, then I am creating another body, dog’s body, hog’s body, tree’s body, or even demigod’s body. If you act piously, then you create demigod’s body. Janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrī (SB 1.8.26). But that is also knot; that is not freedom. Just like you are American boys and girls. You are supposed to be born of rich nation, rich father, than us Indians. We are born of poor father. So… But that does not mean that you are free from this knot. That is there.

People are trying that “We shall be happy by becoming materially advanced.” That is called durāśayā. That is hope against hope. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum (SB 7.5.31). They do not know that destination of life is to attain Kṛṣṇa consciousness. No. They do not know. They think, “By increasing motorcars, we shall be happy.” This is called māyā. That will not help. This motorcar civilization will be finished within another hundred years. It has begun, say, for the last hundred years, and after a hundred years, when… The scientists say the petroleum will be finished within fifty years or like that, so, say hundred years, this motorcar will be finished.

So anything we manufacture, the so-called empire, so-called material civilization; it is finished, it will be finished. That is another knot only, that we become captivated. So “What is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement? We must have three dozen motorcar and three dozen wine bottles and this…” This is their civilization. So this is karma-bandhana. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings therefore,

sat-saṅga chāḍi’ kainu asate vilāsa

te-kāraṇe lāgila ye karma-bandha-phāṅsa

(Prārthanā)

This knot, karma-bandha-phāṅsa. Sat-saṅga: This is sat-saṅga – You are hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the front of Kṛṣṇa and practicing how to become pure. This is called sat-saṅga. And asat-saṅga means this intoxication, illicit sex and drinking, so many things, asat-saṅga. The advertisement, “Come on, here is cigarette, ‘Kool,’ make your brain cool.” (laughter) “By smoking?” (laughter) Rascal. They think that “I am smoking…” How it can be cool? But they purchase Kool. This is called māyā. (chuckles) He’s smoking fire, and he’s becoming cool! (laughter) And the advertisement is going on, and the rascals are captivated by these advertisement, and they smoke, “become cool.” Yes.

So this is called knot. In so many ways, they are tied up. So actually, if anyone is kovida… Kovida, here it is used. What is the meaning of kovida?

Devotee: Intelligent.

Prabhupāda: “Intelligent.” Kovida means intelligent. So intelligent persons should see to it. Just like it is a little…, little intelligent. Just like we can see when the advertisement, we can immediately understand, “What is this nonsense advertisement? He’s smoking, and it is cool?” So contradiction. You’ll find contradiction everywhere. Because they are not intelligent, they are thinking intelligent. But anyone who is intelligent, they can understand what is the trick.

So when actually one becomes intelligent, then the enquiry is, “Why? Why I am put into this miserable condition of life? I do not want this, and it is forced upon me. I do not want to die; death is there. I do not want disease; the disease is there. I do not want this; it is forced upon me. I don’t want war, but they, the draft board drags me to the war. Why these are?” This “why” question must be there. That is intelligence. That is Kenopaniṣad, Kena.

There is Upaniṣad, Kena. And Sanātana Gosvāmī, when he approached Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he also inquired this “Why?” Ke āmi, kene āmāya jāre tāpa-traya (CC Madhya 20.102). “Who am I? Why I am put into this miserable condition of life?” That is intelligence. He was minister. He could understand that “I am minister. People adore me as very learned man.”

He said that to Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Grāmya-vyavahāre paṇḍita, satya kari māni: “My dear Lord, these common people, my neighbors, because I am minister and I’m supposed to be educated, I know little Sanskrit, I know little Arabian language, they call me paṇḍita, learned man, very scholar and versed. I, to tell You frankly, I do not know what I am. So what is the value of my education? I do not know.” Ke āmi, kene āmāya jāre tāpa-traya. “What I am.”

KARMA IS NOT JUST “WORK AND EARN MONEY” – IT ENTAILS CERTAIN DUTIES AS WELL

By Niraj Bidawatka

In the Purport to Caitanya Caritamrta (Madhya 22.141), Prabhupada states as under:

“By offering oblations with ghee, one satisfies the demigods. By studying the Vedas, one performs brahma-yajña, which satisfies the great sages. Offering libations of water before one’s forefathers is called pitṛ-yajña. By offering tribute, one performs bhūta-yajña. By properly receiving guests, one performs nṛ-yajña.” These are the five yajñas that liquidate the five kinds of indebtedness—indebtedness to the demigods, great sages, forefathers, living entities and common men. Therefore one has to perform these five kinds of yajñas. But when one takes to the saṅkīrtana-yajña (the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra), one does not have to perform any other yajña.”

Thus, from Srila Prabhupada’s Purport, we can understand that these five types of yagñā are mandatory for karmīs. But, for devotees, they are not necessary. Saṅkīrtana yagña, i.e. the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is enough.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FAVOURS ENTRY FOR EVERYONE INTO THE JAGANNATH TEMPLE AT PURI

By Niraj Bidawatka

Day before yesterday the Supreme Court of India asked the Jagannath Temple authorities to consider allowing entry to everyone. After this interim observation, there is hope of a favourable order from the Apex Court when it hears the matter finally next month.

Lord Jagannath’s Temple at Puri, India

Since the temple authorities of Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri did not allow Prabhupada’s American and European disciples to enter the temple, Srila Prabhupada also decided not to enter the temple. His Divine Grace spoke to the authorities that this type of a stricture is against the Vedic principles and urged them to abolish this practice. But the authorities did not relent. Therefore Prabhupada also never entered Lord Jagannath temple.

A FOOLISH MAN CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS OPERATING THIS MACHINE

In conversation with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Prabhupada: There is an operator. A child cannot think. Motor car is running. Child will think the motor car is running automatically. But a sane man will understand that there is a driver. So persons who deny the existence of God are like that. They see the machine. Nature is the machine. But behind the machine there is an operator. These rascals cannot understand. Nābhijānāti, mām ebhyah paramam, tribhir gunamayair bhāvair. Machine is working, nature is working, that much they can see. And behind the machine there is operator. That they cannot see. What is your answer? What the atheist will say? Has the atheist any experience that any machine works without operator? Has he got any experience?

Srila Prabhupada speaking to His disciples on a morning walk

Paramahamsa: No.

Prabhupada: Then why does he say?

Paramahamsa: But this whole universe—we cannot compare the whole universe with any machine created by man.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Why you bring man? This machine is created and being operated by God.

Paramahamsa: Well, we don’t have any experience of such a machine.

Prabhupada: Huh? What do you mean by machine. First of all define what is your idea of machine. Just like the other day we saw, we saw the Thompson place, being printed, being collected, and so many things are being done. It is like this. By machine the seasonal changes are going on, the sun is rising, the moon is rising, the water in the ocean, the waves are there. Everything, machine working. It is machine. Everything being systematically done. Such a big ocean, vast water, it is just on the brink, no more. It is so organized. The sun is rising exactly in time, astronomically. The astronomical watch is one ten-thousandth part of a second. It is so accurate. You’ll find everything is going on. Today is ekādaśī, eleventh day of the moon, the moon shall be like this. There one can see the moon and he can calculate. “Today is ekādaśī.” This is not machine? It is exactly, machine.

Paramahamsa: But the thing is this machine is so wonderful that it goes on without an operator.

By the Mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Even an Ignorant Child can Understand the Absolute Truth

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chaitanya Charitamrita

Adi Lila- Chapter 2 – Verse 1

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, by whose mercy even an ignorant child can swim across the ocean of conclusions about the ultimate truth, which is full of the crocodiles of various theories.

PURPORT

By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, even an inexperienced boy with no educational culture can be saved from the ocean of nescience, which is full of various types of philosophical doctrines that are like dangerous aquatic animals. The philosophy of the Buddha, the argumentative presentations of the jnanis, the yoga systems of Patanjali and Gautama, and the systems of philosophers like Kanāda, Kapila and Dattātreya are dangerous creatures in the ocean of nescience. By the grace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu one can have real understanding of the essence of knowledge by avoiding these sectarian views and accepting the lotus feet of Krishna as the ultimate goal of life. Let us all worship Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for His gracious mercy to the conditioned souls.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Incarnation

Adi Lila- Chapter 2 – Verse 2

TRANSLATION

O my merciful Lord Chaitanya, may the nectarean Ganges waters of Your transcendental activities flow on the surface of my desertlike tongue. Beautifying these waters are the lotus flowers of singing, dancing and loud chanting of Krishna’s holy name, which are the pleasure abodes of unalloyed devotees. These devotees are compared to swans, ducks and bees. The river’s flowing produces a melodious sound that gladdens their ears.

PURPORT

Our tongues always engage in vibrating useless sounds that do not help us realize transcendental peace. The tongue is compared to a desert because a desert needs a constant supply of refreshing water to make it fertile and fruitful. Water is the substance most needed in the desert. The transient pleasure derived from

The Shastric process is the lowest stage of Devotional Service: We have to rise above it

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda

You cannot enjoy with covered senses. Suppose I cover your tongue with some cloth and then I give you one rasagulla (a rich Bengali sweet). Can you taste it? If you cover the the real senses, and try to enjoy with that covering, what will you enjoy? That is not enjoyment. The tongue has to be uncovered. Then you’ll enjoy. That is indicated: sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. These upādhis (designations) … Because I am in bodily concept of life, therefore I am thinking, “I am American,” “I am Indian,” “I am Hindu,” “I am Muslim,” “I am black,” “I am white,” “I am man,” “I am woman,” “I am tree,” “I am this,” “I am that.” This is called covering. How can you enjoy with these covered senses?

So you have to uncover. You have to discover. That discovering process is devotional service. The more you are engaged in devotional service, the more your senses become pure or uncovered and when it is completely uncovered, without any designation, then you are capable to serve Krishna.

This is apprenticeship, or vaidhī-bhakti. Real bhakti, parā-bhakti, is rāgānugā-bhakti, or sponaneous loving devotion. This rāgānugā-bhakti is reached after

DOES THE BODY BELONG TO THE WOMAN OR TO THE SOUL?

By Niraj Bidawatka

There was a headline in today’s newspaper which read, “Body of a Woman Found in Guesthouse.” There is syntax error in this headline. Since our aim is to discuss about the soul, I have specifically chosen this story. Those who are not interested in matters pertaining to the soul will find this post very boring and taxing. They might even dose off, if they were to be forcibly made to hear this discussion. But thankfully, since one has the liberty to close this webpage, there is no danger of falling asleep.

Warning: This blogpost may strain and spin the brain of a person who has no interest in understanding the science of the soul

What happens after we die? Where does our soul go?

Answer by Niraj Bidawatka

After death, the soul leaves the present body to occupy a new body. The body is like a car and the soul is its driver. Generally, an auto-mobile has a life of eight to ten years. When the car wears out, you buy a new car. Similarly, when the body gets old and is no longer fit and healthy, the soul leaves the body and assumes a new body.

Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita, gives the example of a shirt, vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya. When your shirt gets worn out, you remove your old shirt and wear a new one. Similarly this body is like an outer covering of the soul. When the body gets old, the soul discards the old body to assume a new body.

So the answer to the first part of your question, “What happens after we die”, is that we take up a new body after death.

Now the second part of your question – Where does the soul go? – The soul remains in the material world and keeps transmigrating within the 84 lakh (8.4 million) species of life. This is called the cycle of birth and death. Please follow this link to get exact details about the transmigration of the soul within the 8.4 million species of life.

However, if one devotes ones life to Krishna and completely surrenders himself to the will of Krishna, such a pure soul is transferred to

How do I revive my spirituality?

Answer by Niraj Bidawatka:

You can revive your spirituality by using your tongue in the service of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The tongue should be used for chanting the holy names of God, i.e. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

The tongue should be engaged twenty fours in the service of the Lord by chanting His holy names. Once you do that, your spirituality will be revived. The tongue should also be subjected to Krishna prasadam, divine food which is first offered to Krishna. So make it a habit to offer your food first to Krishna, or God before you eat it. Before eating your food, you must first thank Krishna for giving you the wonderful prasadam, which has the potency to revive your spirituality.

If you want to make quick progress in spiritual life, then you should associate with the devotees of Krishna. One such exalted devotee Acharya is His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of the Hare Krishna movement. You must read his literatures and listen to his audio lectures, which are available on the Hare Krishna Revolution

How do I revive my spirituality?