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shreekant22
PRO - Pushtikul.com / P.E.M. January 2004
1853 Posts
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Posted - 22 July 2005 : 15:09:04
Jai Shree Krishna
Shree Naradji, while eloborating on Shreemad Bhagwatji to the Munis, says....
Upon traveling all over, and having paid respects at all the devine places including Tirupathi, Srirang, Puri etc, and having visited all the holy spots including Kashi, prayag etc, Shree Naradji finally came to Mathura, and there on the banks of Shree Yamune, he saw a Woman crying uncontrolably, lying next to her were the bodies of old men, and few ladies were trying to console the Lady.
Can Any one say who were these characters ????
Shree Vallabha dheesh ki jai
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jagdish
Mover & Shaker Member
379 Posts
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Posted - 22 July 2005 : 15:24:37
Jai Shri Krishna,
a small attempt, if i can recall the prasang vaguely..please excuse any misunderstandings and correct the flaws.
Bhakti, the mother, who appeared younger than her sons. They were Gyan and Vairagya, who appeared to be in a very weakened condition and much older than their mother.
Is this when Naradji made many attempts to revive the sons by various means such as chanting, etc., but did not succeed, until he was finally advised to recite Shrimad Bhagwatji, which he did and this revived all of them, the mother and her sons became youthful again. ?
- to show that without gyan and vairagya bhakti will still be young in this day and age though in a weakened condition and with gyan and vairagya both young, bhakti flourishes.
- however true gyan and vairagya are not total/pure in this day and age and hence contamination is introduced in the path of spiritual progress. Thus, there is the fear that one would fall from the path if they try to tred on the path only through gyan and vairagya, without bhakti.
Best Wishes
jagdish
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shreekant22
PRO - Pushtikul.com / P.E.M. January 2004
1853 Posts
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Posted - 23 July 2005 : 18:03:53
Jai Shree Krishna
Jagdish bhai, your vagueness had startling clarity.
Yes, the Lady crying and wailing was Bhakthi, her two sons in Vrudh avastha are Gyan and Vairagya, and the other ladies consloing Bhakthi are the various sacred rivers, Ganga, narmada etc.
Shree Vallabha dheesh ki jai
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jagdish
Mover & Shaker Member
379 Posts
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Posted - 02 August 2005 : 02:12:33
Jai Shri Krishna,
Shreekant bhai, thank you. You are too kind.
Also thank you for adding to the details, i had missed out / could not recall that the other ladies consoling Bhakti were actually all the other sacred rivers.
Also where did Naradji get the inspiration/advise to recite Bhagwatji for Bhakti, Gyan and Vairagya.
Whilst on the subject of Bhagwatji, can anyone expand on the meaning of each line of the following shloka, its origin, meaning, etc.
- please excuse and correct any mistakes in spelling etc.
Sachid-Anand Rupaya
Vishvot-Patyadi-Hetave
Tapatraya Vinashaya
Shri Krushnaya Vayam Namah.
Best Wishes
Jagdish
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shreekant22
PRO - Pushtikul.com / P.E.M. January 2004
1853 Posts
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Posted - 02 August 2005 : 20:08:33
Jai Shree Krishna
Shree Naradji sought clarification from all, rushis, munis, learned scholars but none could guide the learned sage, atlast, Saint Sanatkumar happened to meet Naradji, and when he too was confronted with the same query, the great saint advised Naradji to recite Shreemad Bhagwatji.
Hope I am correct.
Shree Vallabha dheesh ki jai
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kavita
Entry Level Member
2 Posts
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Posted - 03 August 2005 : 12:25:49
dear vasant punjabi, jai srikrishna. i have been reading your articles from last 2 months . i have known of these pushti sites lately and i am very much impressed an d amazed at the beautiful teachings of god an the way you have helped us in knowing detailed stories of god and gurus. i am really thankful to u . god bles u. i wish to know who u r . jaisrikrishna.
kavita
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jagdish
Mover & Shaker Member
379 Posts
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Posted - 03 August 2005 : 20:33:59
Jai Shri Krishna,
Shreekant bhai, very right.
- Naradji was advised by akashvaani to do some pious deed... but he was not sure what he was supposed to do. In this dilema he visited Badrikashram where he met Sanat kumars (who are 5 yrs old and are always listening to Hari Katha sung/recited by Sheshji, with all his mouths).
- They advised naradji that the pious deed he should perform is gyan-yagya (knowledge sacrifice) recite and do bhagwat katha of Srimad Bhagwatam in order to establish bhakti gyan and vairagya in people.
Best Wishes
jagdish
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jagdish
Mover & Shaker Member
379 Posts
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Posted - 03 August 2005 : 20:50:25
continuation...
CHAPTER - 10 - ORIGIN OF THE GANGES
Narad says: "O brother! You narrated a wonderful tale. Now, kindly relate to me, how did the Ganges originate?"
Sanatkumar says: O Narad! Pleased with the severe penance of Aditi, Lord Vishnu appeared before her and asked her to seek a boon. Feeling elated with exhilaration, Aditi fell flat at the Lord’s feet. She intimated the Lord about the plight of her sons and sought that He should help them to regain the heaven without killing the demons for they were also her sons though step. Pleased by her indiscrimination for her stepsons, Lord Vishnu assured Aditi that soon He would arrive as her son and salve the gods from their miseries. Then, the Lord presented Aditi with His garland and disappeared. In due course of time, Aditi gave birth to a son who was holding a conch, a wheel, a mace and a lotus in each of his four hands. The child was named as Vaaman. Even his father, sage Kashyap greeted him with respect.
By the time, when the thread ceremony was about to be carried out for Vaaman, king Bali organized a grand Ashwamedha Yagya in the auspices of his teacher Shukracharya. Lord Vishnu Himself had been invoked in the Yagya along with Lakshmi. Taking his parent’s permission, Vaaman too arrived at the sight of the Yagya. With their divine sight, all the sages who were present there recognized Lord Vishnu and felt extreme joy and greeted Him with respect. Even Shukracharya understood the motive of Vaaman’s coming there. He cautioned Bali in isolation not to grant any demand of Vaaman. He also advised Bali to abide by his dictate or he would have to face severe consequences.
But illumined by the destiny, king Bali did not pay heed to Shukracharya’s advice and welcomed Vaaman warmly and asked him to seek anything he wished. Vaaman said: "O king! If you want to give me something, kindly grant me three steps of land so that I may carry out my Yagyas smoothly. King Bali tried to dissuade Vaaman with temptations of heavenly comforts and other luxuries. But Vaaman stayed to his demand that he needed nothing else but three steps of land for carrying out Yagyas. At last Bali agreed to grant his demand. He requested Vaaman to pour some water from the Kamandalu on his palm so that he could take a vow. As the last attempt to prevent Bali from making a vow, Shukracharya assumed a miniature appearance and clogged the snout of the kamandalu. The omniscient Lord pricked the snout with a sharp stem and pricked Shukracharya’s one eye.
Thereafter, taking some water on his palm, king Bali proceeded to grant Vaaman three steps of land. As soon as Bali granted the demand, Vaaman assumed a gigantic appearance and measured the entire earth and heaven in his two steps. While Lord Vishnu was measuring the universe, it broke into two pieces with the impact of His toe. With the tearing of the universe, millions of streams sprang out. In the course of their flow, these streams merged into a single mightier stream and, sanctifying Brahma and other deities, fell on the mighty Sumeru Mountain (Himalayas). As there was no other room left for the Lord to put His third step, Bali presented his own head for the purpose. Vaaman put his third step on Bali’s head and pressed him down into the hades.
Narad says: "O great sage! How did the Lord arrange for Bali’s food in the nether world?"
Sanatkumar says: "Oblations offered without hymns and alms given to undeserving person constitute the food for Bali. Thus, the Lord snatched the kingdom of heaven from Bali without any bloodshed and returned it to the gods."
CHAPTER - 11 - DEFINITION OF DHARMA
Narad says:"O great sage! I have just heard the tale of sacred Ganges. Now kindly describe about the people who deserve to take donations."
Sanatkumar says: O Narad! Brahmin is considered as the excellent among all the four castes. Hence, to make the donation fruitful, one should donate to the Brahmins only. A Brahmin can accept donation candidly but not a Vaishya or a Kshatriya. Even among Brahmins, there are many categories who do not deserve to accept donation.
These are- Brahmins who practice astrology, act against the religion, who are greedy, who sell scriptures and other religious materials, who have relations with other women than their wives, who are envious, ungrateful, singer, who have characterless wife, who are soldiers, priests, harbinger, cook, poet, doctor, who eat meat and cereals given by a Shudra, who carry out cremation and the Brahmins who consume the food given by prostitutes. Donation given to all these types of Brahmins go futile. Besides these, Brahmins who habitually enjoy sensual pleasures during siesta, who dine during the dusk, who have been boycotted by their brothers and society, who have taken birth illegitimately or after the death of their real father because of dubious relations of their mother, whose younger brother have married earlier and those who are always controlled by lusty women, who act as pimps or remain indulged in mean activities also do not deserve donation.
Donation, spending to meet necessities and wasting in useless activities are the three fates of wealth. A donation made selflessly to a deserving person on a request is excellent among all kinds of donations. A donation made with some desire is mediocre while donation given as sacrifice is of the lowest category.
Sanatkumar then narrated the tale of Bhagirath and Dharmaraaj.
Once, Dharmaraaj visited the kingdom of king Sagar. Dharmaraaj praised Sagar overtly. With folded hands, king Sagar requested Dharmaraaj to preach him about religion and non-religion and tell him something about divine worlds and hell. Dharmaraaj says:"O king! Providing a Brahmin family or a Vedapathi Brahmin with a means of sustenance is the most virtuous donation. Inspiring others to make donation to such a Brahmin is also equally fruitful. Apart from these, digging out reservoirs and maintaining them and inspiring others to do the same thing also bears unending fruits." To corroborate his point, Dharmaraaj narrated the tale of king Veerbhadrak and his minister Buddhiraaj.
CHAPTER - 12 - DESCRIPTION OF RELIGIOUS ACTION
Dharmaraaj says: "O king! Those who build temples with earth stay in the abode of Vishnu for three kalpas. Then they attain Brahmaloka. One receives double virtues if he builds a temple with wood. Building a temple with bricks and stones gives four-fold virtue while with the precious stones one gets ten-fold virtues. Building of temple with copper and gold gives hundred fold and crore fold virtues. Those who preserve temples and reservoirs receive hundred times more virtues than the builders do. Virtues of a rich man donating whole estate and a poor person donating a yard of land are equal."
"O virtuous one! Those who develop gardens and parks also receive same virtues. Those who preserve them receive more virtues than the developers. One who plants a basil sapling salves his crores of ancestors. Similarly, those who bathe the Lord’s idol with milk on Dwadashi and Poornamaasi salve millions of their ancestors. Those who bathe Lord’s idol with Panchamrit on Ekadashi receive everlasting joy and salvation. Similarly, those who bathe Lord’s idol with coconut milk, sugarcane juice, and water containing flowers or filtered water get free from all their sins. Similarly, those who bathe Lord Vishnu’s idol during eclipses or on auspicious dates and conjugations receive the virtue of all the Yagyas. Those who bathe Lord Vishnu’s and Shiva’s idols with coconut milk, ghee, honey and sesame oil on auspicious dates assume respective appearances of these gods."
"Those who worship Lord Vishnu and Shiva offering them flowers of lotus, Pandanus, and particularly offer Dhatura to Lord Shiva attain their respective abodes. Similarly, donation of Guggul (scented raisin), lamp, water and cereal bears inexhaustible fruits. Virtues of donating land and milch cow to a Brahmin cannot be described in words. It is the case with the donation of knowledge, Shaligram, Shivalinga, horse, buffalo, elephant or any other vehicle. Those who arrange for the cremation of an orphaned Brahmin receive virtues equal to thousands of Ashwamedha Yagyas. Those who serve the Brahmin deities or cow, those who play instruments, bell, and blow conch or clap in the temple enjoy intimacy with divine beauties in the heaven for five Kalpas. Blowing of conch helps one attain the abode of Vishnu. Even the remembrance of Lord Vishnu’s name does away with the imminent crises."
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Vasant Punjabi
Vice-President & Pushtikul Elite Member - May 2003
1047 Posts
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Posted - 22 August 2005 : 01:17:04
Dear Kavitabhen,
Jai Shri KRishna,
Thanks for your blessings.
I am just a small vaishnav living in Los Angeles USA and trying to learn about pushtimarg and vaishnavism.
Good to know you are enjoying the articles and if God permits will post in more.
Once again thanking you for your support.
Vasant
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Vasant Punjabi
Vice-President & Pushtikul Elite Member - May 2003
1047 Posts
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Posted - 22 August 2005 : 01:58:42
Jai Shri Krishna,
social living and spiritual living... and
Social living is the life in which like-minded people get-together and
engage in activities which they all like. Spiritual living is the same
as well the only difference being that in the normal social living
Shri Krishna is not the centre of discussion where as in the spiritual
living Krishna-kathaa (Stories of and by Krishna) is discussed
continuously.
Shri NARAD MUNI has described in Shrimad-Bhagavatam that there are two
kinds of people - Swan-like who are always interested in discussing
Krishna-katha and crow-like people who are interested in discussing
everything except Krishna-katha. Swan and crow are used because swan
always likes clean, fragrant, peaceful and beautiful places where as
crows prefer to go to dirty and filthy places and gather there.
The two verses in which Narada Muni says this is as follows:
[ Na Tad Vacas Chitra Padam Harer Yasha
Jagat Pavitram Pragrnita Karhichit
Tad Vaaysam Tirtha Ushanti Maanaasa
Na Yatra Hamsa Nirmanry Ushikshayah
"Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone
can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by
saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since
the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode,
they do not derive any pleasure there." - SB 1.5.10 -
[ Tad Vaag Visargo Janataagha Viplavo
Yasmin Prati Shlokam Abaddhavati Api
Naamaani Anantasya Yasho Ankitaani Yat
Shrnvanti Gaayanti Grananti Saadhavah
"On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of
the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc.,
of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of
transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in
the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilization. Such
transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are
heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest." -
SB 1.5.11 -
why there is a change in the style of
living in the past and the present?
Change is the law of nature. As Shri Krishna uses the words "Anityam [BG
9.33 - and "Ashaashvatam" meaning
'temporary'. So the nature of the material world is this change. Hence
Shri Krishna says that we should not be happy staying in this ever-changing
material world but attain the Supreme abode of Krishna
[ Maam Upetya Punar Janmam Duhkhaalayam Ashaashvatam
Naapnuvanti Mahaatmaanah Samsiddhim Paramaam Gatah
"After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never
return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because
they have attained the highest perfection." - BG 8.15 -
[ Mayaadhyakshena Prakrtir Suyate Sa Charaacharam
Hetunaanena Kaunteya Jagad Viparivartate
"This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti,
and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this
manifestation is created and annihilated again and again." - BG 9.10 -
But if someone surrenders to Shri Krishna fully then Shri Krishna helps that
person to come out of this miserable world which is temporary as
stated by Shri Krishna:
[ Daivi Hyesha Gunamayi Mama Maayaa Duratyayaa
Maam Eva Ye Prapadyante Maayaam Etaam Taranti Te
"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material
nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto
Me can easily cross beyond it." - BG 7.14 -
Vasant
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