"There is no difference between me and my picture. Therefore we should honor and keep pictures in that spirit. If we throw pictures this way and that way, that is offence. The name and picture are as good as the person in spiritual world. In the material world either picture or person, everything is illusion." (Srila Prabhupada letter, September 4, 1972)
Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna
Gopis performing Devotional Service to the Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna
 | |||
| |||
 | |||
Doodle
yāḿ manyate patiḿ mohān
man-māyām ṛṣabhāyatīm
strītvaḿ strī-sańgataḥ prāpto
vittāpatya-gṛha-pradam
SYNONYMS
yām — which; manyate — she thinks; patim — her husband; mohāt — due to illusion; mat-māyām — My māyā; ṛṣabha — in the form of a man; āyatīm — coming; strītvam — the state of being a woman; strī-sańgataḥ — from attachment to a woman; prāptaḥ — obtained; vitta — wealth; apatya — progeny; gṛha — house; pradam — bestowing.
TRANSLATION
A living entity who, as a result of attachment to a woman in his previous life, has been endowed with the form of a woman, foolishly looks upon māyā in the form of a man, her husband, as the bestower of wealth, progeny, house and other material assets.
PURPORT by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
From this verse it appears that a woman is also supposed to have been a man in his (her) previous life, and due to his attachment to his wife, he now has the body of a woman. Bhagavad-gītā confirms this; a man gets his next life's birth according to what he thinks of at the time of death. If someone is too attached to his wife, naturally he thinks of his wife at the time of death, and in his next life he takes the body of a woman. Similarly, if a woman thinks of her husband at the time of death, naturally she gets the body of a man in the next life. In the Hindu scriptures, therefore, woman's chastity and devotion to man is greatly emphasized. A woman's attachment to her husband may elevate her to the body of a man in her next life, but a man's attachment to a woman will degrade him, and in his next life he will get the body of a woman.
We should always remember, as it is stated in Bhagavad-gītā, that both the gross and subtle material bodies are dresses; they are the shirt and coat of the living entity. To be either a woman or a man only involves one's bodily dress. The soul in nature is actually the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. Every living entity, being classified as energy, is supposed to be originally a woman, or one who is enjoyed. In the body of a man there is a greater opportunity to get out of the material clutches; there is less opportunity in the body of a woman.
In this verse it is indicated that the body of a man should not be misused through forming an attachment to women and thus becoming too entangled in material enjoyment, which will result in getting the body of a woman in the next life. A woman is generally fond of household prosperity, ornaments, furniture and dresses. She is satisfied when the husband supplies all these things sufficiently. The relationship between man and woman is very complicated, but the substance is that one who aspires to ascend to the transcendental stage of spiritual realization should be very careful in accepting the association of a woman. In the stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, such restriction of association may be slackened because if a man's and woman's attachment is not to each other but to Kṛṣṇa, then both of them are equally eligible to get out of the material entanglement and reach the abode of Kṛṣṇa. As it is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, anyone who seriously takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness — whether in the lowest species of life or a woman or of the less intelligent classes, such as the mercantile or laborer class — will go back home, back to Godhead, and reach the abode of Kṛṣṇa. A man should not be attached to a woman, nor should a woman be attached to a man. Both man and woman should be attached to the service of the Lord. Then there is the possibility of liberation from material entanglement for both of them.
--Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.
This is a beautiful prayer by Queen Uttara when Ashwathama shoots the Brahmastra weapon to kill the the baby in her womb.
uttarovaaca
Uttara said: "O Lord of Lords, Lord of the universe! You are the greatest of mystics. Please protect me, for there is no one else who can save me from the clutches of death in this world of duality." Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.9.
paahi paahi mahaa-yogin / deva-deva jagat-pate
naanyam tvad abhayam pashye / yatra mrtyuh parasparam
In the above pastime we see how Lord at once took up His personal weapon to protect His devotees, who did not know anyone other than Him. In his wonderful purport to verse 1.8.13 His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada explains - "Ashwathama released the weapon just to finish all the male members of Pandu's family; therefore in one sense it was more dangerous than the atomic bombs because it could penetrate even the most protected place and would never miss the target. Knowing all this, Lord Sri Krishna at once took up His personal weapon to protect His devotees, who did not know anyone other than Krishna. In the Bhagavad-Gita the Lord has clearly promised that His devotees are never to be vanquished. And He behaves according to the quality or degree of the devotional service rendered by the devotees."
We have heard many pastimes wherein the Lord personally comes and helps immediately as soon as His devotees call. He immediately came to help King Gajendra, Draupadi, Kunti Maharani, Uttara, the Gopis, etc. The quality of all the devotees in the above pastimes is that all of them cried to the Lord and believed only Him to be the sole protector. They completely surrendered to the Lord 100%. So as and how we surrender unto Him, the all merciful Lord reciprocates according to the level of surrender. Lord loves all of us and He would definitely help us if we call Him devotionally. He is our only savior.
Following is one more instance which occured few hundred years ago in the life of a great devotee called Poonthanam. He was ardent devotee of Lord Guruvaayurappan (Lord Krishna). He led his life of 90 odd years reading the Bhagavatam and singing the Lord's glories in simple Malayalam, just to please the Lord. He used to walk about 100 kilometers to take darshan of Guruvaayurappan every month. The route to the temple was very dense and it was very unsafe to walk through that way even in the day light. Once on his way, in the forest he was attacked by some robbers. He gave them everything he had the money and his ring, still they were at him. They were after the small packet he was clinging to. It was his whole treasure the Bhagavatam book, which he did not want to part with. When Poonthanam said it was only a book, the thieves were not convinced. He closed his eyes and cried out for Lord's help. That lonely place was filled with the roars of the robbers and the loud Narayana chanting of Poonthanam.
Hearing the noise a man came on the horse and fought with those dacoits and got the money and the ring back for Poonthanam. He introduced himself as the minister of the Zamorin Raja who happened to be passing by. Poonthanam was very happy; he thanked the young man and offered him his ring as a gift. The minister accepted the gift and guided him up to the temple and disappeared. The same night, the head priest of the Guruvayur temple had a dream wherein he was told, "You will find a ring on the Deity. Give it to Poonthanam, who will come tomorrow." Quite miraculously, next morning when the head priest went to the temple to do the puja he saw a ring on Deity's finger. Poonthanam was promptly there at Guruvayur temple for darshan. Head priest came out from the Deity's room and gave Poonthanam the ring and told him what happened. Poonthanam was flabbergasted to see that the ring was his own, which he had presented to minister, the day before. He then realised that indeed it was his beloved Lord Guruvayurappan Himself, who came personally in the guise of a minister to rescue him.
Just like how Uddhava prays in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.19.9 'pashyaami naanyac charanam tavaanghri/ dvandvaatapatraad amrtaabhivarshaat', "I do not see any possible shelter other than Your two lotus feet, which are just like a refreshing umbrella that pours down showers of delicious nectar", we need to firmly trust that the Lord is the only shelter unconditionally.
Yashodanandana Balagopal ki jai, Srila Prabhupada ki jai, Srila Gurudeva ki jai.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sharadha Devi Dasi,
Bangalore.
Yours Servant
Dr. Satish Chander Gosain
--
| |||||
 | |||||
Visitors
Get updates through feeds!
Popular Posts
-
A patient should not pretend or lie to the doctor, for the doctor might prescribe different medicine than he would have actually given for t...
-
Krishna Tava Punya Habe Bhai Text : A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swâmî Prabhupâda Krishna Tava Punya Habe Bh...
-
Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader: Awakening that original hope! via kksblog.com by hina on 1/10/12 (Kadamba Kanana Sw...
-
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dr Satish Gosain (Sri Krishna Hari Das) < sri.krishna.hari@gmail.com > ---------- For...
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
