Friday, September 29, 2023

Why did not Jaya and Vijaya recognize the Kumāras’ greatness?

 


Okay, here is a final question from Mahimārnava.

She says,

 Jaya and Vijaya could not realize how elevated the Kumāras were, and so they prevented them from entering the gates of Vaikuṇṭha. What could they represent and what can we take from them in our own lives?

Well, the spiritual perspective is that Jaya and Vijaya were not at fault. Brahma-saṁhitā talks about how Brahmavādīs, Māyāvādīs and others can not enter into Vaikuṇṭha and there are these śūlaiḥ, I forget, those three ponged spears, tridents. There are tridents in all the directions keeping away any unauthorized person who tries to get into Vaikuṇṭha. So, this is in the very beginning of Brahma-saṁhitā. (BS 5.5)

So, Jaya and Vijaya were right. Kumāras were not devotees, they did not have prema, they were Brahmavādīs, they knew about the Lord and that is why they wanted to see him, but they really were not qualified. And moreover, spiritually speaking, Jaya and Vijaya were more elevated, they were associates of the Lord, they were residents of Vaikuṇṭha, they had love for Lord Nārāyaṇa.

However, Jaya and Vijaya were kṣatriyas and the Kumāras were pure brāhmaṇas. So here there was a transgression, there was a social transgression, although spiritually the Jaya and Vijaya were correct, socially they were not.

Now that is an interesting paradigm, because, sometimes we would expect that the spiritual is higher than the social. It is, but that does not necessarily mean that you do not get any reaction for social misbehaviour.

And of course, ultimately Lord Nārāyaṇa, when he comes out, he said, that, all this was done by my arrangement.

So, when he asked, well what can we learn from that, one thing that you certainly can learn is, that regardless of the spiritual position, even if you are in a more spiritually elevated state, if you offend someone who is in a higher state, especially pure brāhmaṇas, then you will still get the reaction for that.

And of course, Jaya and Vijaya got that reaction, that they had to take birth as demons three times, which was not really a very pleasant thing. So, reaction will be there. And the Kumāras, well, of course anybody who is also looking for liberation, they should learn, that with liberation you are not going to get into Vaikuṇṭha.

The Kumāras became devotees when Lord Nārāyaṇa appeared and they bowed down before him and by smelling the Tulsi leaves on his load of feet they became devotees, so very famous list one that does not come to mind immediately. So, it was only then that they actually got the qualification.

So an interesting situation, spiritually you may be right, but if you are socially wrong you are still going to get a reaction. So best thing is to be both - spiritually right and socially right.

But of course, Jaya and Vijaya slipped up on the social position. They were though quite, can I say, arrogant in terms of the way they dealt with the Kumāras. They could have spoken much sweeter language and being much more considerate. And that is where really the Lord's arrangement comes in. And the result of that is that taking this position of becoming antagonistic, because he does not want to fight with a non-devotee, what does that mean?

Well, if you are fighting, you are really at close quarters and you are constantly having bodily contact. But demons can not have bodily contact with Kṛṣṇa. So that means that if you wanted to have devotees who were actually pure, although interestingly, they commit so many atrocities and sinful activities, stopping all sacrifices, killing brāhmaṇas and they do really far out things.

On the other hand, they are getting a certain spiritual benefit. What is the spiritual benefit to Jaya and Vijaya get? Well, their absorption in Lord Nārāyaṇa or Lord Viṣṇu is deeper as a demon, than as they are as a devotee. Nārada Muni speaks about that in the seventh canto that I am envious of the demons who so absorbed in thought. Of course, they are not absorbed in thought favourably, but nonetheless, they are very deeply absorbed and it is a very powerful type of meditation.

So, very interesting questions, interesting situation.

Hare Kṛṣṇa.


Thursday, September 28, 2023

Bhāva-grāhī janārdana


 

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (2.40), svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt: "Even a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear." The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana because He takes only the essence of a devotee's attitude. If a devotee sincerely surrenders, the Lord, as the Supersoul in everyone's heart, immediately understands this. Thus even though, externally, a devotee may not render full service, if he is internally sincere and serious the Lord welcomes his service nonetheless. Thus the Lord is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana because He takes the essence of one's devotional mentality.

 VedaBase, SB 8.23.2В 

«Бхагавад-гите» (2.40) сказано: свалпам апй асйа дхармасйа тра̄йате махато бхайа̄т — «Даже небольшое продвижение по этому пути ограждает человека от величайшей опасности». Верховного Господа называют бха̄ва- гра̄хӣ джана̄рдана, ибо Он принимает в расчет только суть настроения преданного. Если преданный искренне вручает себя Верховной Личности Бога, Господь, будучи Сверхдушой в сердце каждого, сразу же понимает это. И даже если внешне преданный не полностью занят служением Господу, но внутренне искренен и серьезен, Господь с радостью принимает его служение. Вот почему Господа называют бха̄ва-гра̄хӣ джана̄рдана: Он принимает самую суть преданности человека.


Friday, September 8, 2023

Śrī Vilāpa kusumāñjali of Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī - Volume Two

 


Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Almost one year has passed and volume two of ŚRĪ VILĀPA-KUSUMĀNJALI has arrived and available for all devotees. Summary is available here

I am currently looking for kind devotees, who could sponsor some amount to cover purchase and shipment to VIHE, Vrindavan.




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Hare Kṛṣṇa!