Katyayani Vrata Nov 25--Dec 24

It is a custom and vow among the unmarried cowherd girls to worship goddess Katyayani (Durga) on the banks of Yamuna after bathing in the river. Each one beseeches Durga that she gets Krishna as her husband. While they are bathing in the River, Krishna steals their garments and stays perched on the Kadamba tree with beautiful yellow blossoms on the bank. When they find out that their clothes were stolen, they ask him to give them back their clothes. Krishna points to them that they committed an infraction against the Devatas by bathing in the river naked. To atone their sins, they have to come out and get their clothes from him, which they do. He promises them that he would be the husband for each one of them.

One gopi said: ‘When I think of Krishna, I see His beautiful face and His lips touching the flute. I see His eyes bent lovingly on His friends and the cows and trees.’

The Power of Meditation

A grass worm confined in a hole of a wall by a bee always thinks of that bee in fear and enmity and later becomes a bee simply because of such remembrance.

With that in mind consider what krsna has to say to Arjuna:

“Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krsna and at the same time continue your prescribed duty. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.” (Bg. 8.7)

The Modes ................ BG 14 . 15

Sometimes the mode of goodness becomes prominent, defeating the modes of passion and ignorance, O son of Bharata. Sometimes the mode of passion defeats goodness and ignorance, and at other times ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy.

PURPORT

By AC Bhaktivedanta Swami

When the mode of passion is prominent, the modes of goodness and ignorance are defeated. When the mode of goodness is prominent, passion and ignorance are defeated. And when the mode of ignorance is prominent, passion and goodness are defeated. This competition is always going on. Therefore, one who is actually intent on advancing in krsna consciousness has to transcend these three modes. The prominence of some certain mode of nature is manifested in one’s dealings, in his activities, in eating, etc. All this will be explained in later chapters. But if one wants, he can develop, by practice, the mode of goodness and thus defeat the modes of ignorance and passion. One can similarly develop the mode of passion and defeat goodness and ignorance. Or one can develop the mode of ignorance and defeat goodness and passion. Although there are these three modes of material nature, if one is determined he can be blessed by the mode of goodness, and by transcending the mode of goodness he can be situated in pure goodness, which is called the vasudeva state, a state in which one can understand the science of God. By the manifestation of particular activities, it can be understood in what mode of nature one is situated.

Karma Defined

Material nature itself is constituted by three qualities: the mode of goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of ignorance. Above these modes there is eternal time, and by a combination of these modes of nature and under the control and purview of eternal time there are activities, which are called karma. These activities are being carried out from time immemorial, and we are suffering or enjoying the fruits of our activities. For instance, suppose I am a businessman and have worked very hard with intelligence and have amassed a great bank balance. Then I am an enjoyer. But then say I have lost all my money in business; then I am a sufferer. Similarly, in every field of life we enjoy the results of our work, or we suffer the results. This is called karma.

Duty of Destruction

When Lord Brahma completes the one hundred celestial years of his life, Lord Siva again performs this duty of destruction. At that time all the spirit souls enter into the body of Karanodakasayi Visnu or Maha Visnu. At the end of each day of Lord Brahma, all souls enter Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and at the end of Brahma’s life, even the millions of manifestations of Garbhodakasayi Visnu enter Karanodakasayi Visnu along with the spirit souls. At the time of creation, Karanodakasayi Visnu generates innumerable manifestations of Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and at the time of complete annihilation, they enter back into his body.

krishna wants only loving service and nothing more.

Krishna accepts even a little flower from His pure devotee.

One person

"If we can induce even one person to understand that our real home is in the spiritual world, if we can convince this philosophy to even a single person, that is the success of our missionary activities."

AC Bhaktivedanta Swami

Thousands of Explanations

Krishna to Arjuna quoting the book of Yajna: "Brahma said: Well, I shall now tell you something more. With even a thousand (explanations), one that has mixed desires succeeds not in acquiring knowledge. One, however, that is resolute with pure intelligence succeeds in attaining happiness, through only a fourth share (of explanations)."

Note: Persons who hear from anybody and everybody will surely get bewildered, the teachings of the sages will remain ambiguous and abstract, however if the same persons hear from proper authorities ( parampara - the bonified spiritual master ) they will easily understand and can apply their teaching in everyday life.

ACBSP used to always say: "Just chant the holy name and be happy." - AJD