The following is found in the Kauthumiya explanation of the Vedas: "The degree to which one engages in devotional activities in this world determines his status in the next world."

The Smrti-sastra also confirms: "The extent to which one is devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead determines the degree of his spiritual perfection."

Note : Smrti is wisdom that sages have passed on to their disciples from memory .

Killing of a Woman

Krsna showed the nature of a small baby and closed His eyes, as if to avoid the face of Putana. This closing of the eyes is interpreted and studied in different ways by the devotees. Some say that Krsna closed His eyes because He did not like to see the face of Putana, who had killed so many children and who had now come to kill Him. Others say that something extraordinary was being dictated to her, and in order to give her assurance, Krsna closed His eyes so that she would not be frightened. And yet others interpret in this way: Krsna appeared to kill the demons and give protection to the devotees, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam. The first demon to be killed was a woman. According to Vedic rules, the killing of a woman, a brahmana, cows or, of a child is forbidden. Krsna was obliged to kill the demon Putana, and because the killing of a woman is forbidden according to Vedic Sastra, He could not help but close His eyes. Another interpretation is that Krsna closed His eyes because He simply took Putana to be His nurse. Putana came to Krsna just to offer her breast for the Lord to suck. Krsna is so merciful that even though He knew Putana was there to kill Him, He took her as His nurse or mother.

There are seven kinds of mothers according to Vedic injunction: the real mother, the wife of a teacher or spiritual master, the wife of a king, the wife of a brahmana, the cow, the nurse and the mother earth. Because Putana came to take Krsna on her lap and offer her breast's milk to be sucked by Him, she was accepted by Krsna as one of His mothers. As Yasoda was given liberation from the material world, so Putana was also given liberation. When the baby Krsna closed His eyes, Putana took Him on her lap. She did not know that she was holding death personified. If a person mistakes a snake for a rope, he dies. Similarly, Putana killed so many babies before meeting Krsna, but now she was accepting the snake that would kill her immediately.- Krsna Book Ch-6 A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

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More to think about.

When Putana was called for by King Kamsa , he mentioned that he had a job for her. She had already been in the service of Kamsa for some time and was feeling very morose and ashamed of her sinful activities. When she was instructed to go to the house of Nanda and Yasoda to kill their child she refused. She was threatened again and again by Kamsa and finally submitted to his evil wishes. She smeared her breast with Arsenic and went to Gokul. When seeing baby Krsna for the first time, her maternal instincts overwhelmed her and milk began to flow profusely. She became so emotional that she forgot the instruction of Kamsa. Her only desire at that moment was to offer herself to Krsna. When Krsna was on her lap she thought to herself "my darling Krsna take from me what ever you like". She was completely surrendered to giving pleasure to Baby Krsna. The very next moment her life air passed. -AJD

ah bunch of Hot Air !

It appears to me that all the chatter about reducing green house gases, saving the environment etc. is just ah bunch of hot air. Even though it is very fashionable to talk about such things and one my appear (to a dummy) to be very educated and forth wright, the fact is they're not at all serious . If they were meat production and the addiction to it would cease.

Take some time do the research and weight the facts for yourself!

example: Chemicals used to grow the feed, the feed, the feed waste, transportation gases, oil, manure produced from animal consumption, the slaughter and transportation of the animal etc. produces massive amounts of green house gases and waste. Besides, eating meat is not really a very healthy way to live. It's rather barbaric and cruel. Not only to the animals but to the consumers body as well as to their neighbors and friends who must smell the dead flesh (gas) in the atmosphere.

Devotees of Krishna are far ahead of modern society in regards to environmental protection and reduction of the their carbon footprint. - AJD

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Animal Agriculture and Climate Change
The Mad Cowboy

Reduce the inflow

It is said in Vedic Literature, that 8,400,000 species of life can be found through-out God's Creation. The Padma Purana mentions that there are 900,000 species of life in the water, 2,000,000 species of plants, 1,100,000 species of insects and reptiles, 1,000,000 species of birds, 3,000,000 species of beasts, and only 400,000 species of human beings. So the humans are the least numerous species of all.

Here are five more general categories of embodied souls.

1. Those with five senses: heavenly beings, men, residents of the hellish planets and higher animals such as monkeys, elephants, snakes, horses, etc., come under this category. These beings possess manas which gives them varying degrees of intelligence and rationality.

2. Those with four senses: In this category the beings do not possess the sense of hearing. Many insects fall into this category.

3. Those with three senses: In this category, the beings do not possess the sense of hearing and the sense of sight. Many insects are placed under this category including the moths, because of their tendency to move towards light and fire and destroying themselves.

4. Those with two senses. In this category the beings possess only the sense of taste and the sense of touch. Many worms, leeches, shell fish fall into this category.

5. Those with only one sense: In this category the beings possess only the sense of touch. These are again divided into five sub categories: i) the plant bodies containing only one soul or a cluster of souls such as the tubers and roots, ii) earth bodies made of earth material such as coals, minerals, stones and so on, iii) water bodies made up of water such rivers, lakes, water falls, lakes, ponds and even a drop of water, iv) fire bodies made up of fire such lightning, a lamp or candle light, or the fire in the kitchen stove, and finally v) the air bodies made of wind and gases such as a breeze or a storm wind.

The entire world is an aggregate of living souls hidden in every form and every object.

The souls undergo continuous change because of the operation of the law of karma, which binds the soul to the matter and keeps it chained to the cycle of births and deaths. True liberation is when the jiva is freed from all types of association with matter. It happens only when the jiva tries to reduce the inflow of karma and purifies his heart by the process of pure devotion. The concept of non violence is therefore not just a matter of ethical value , but a real necessity for the jivas to become free. Non violence is a way of life, because injury to other jivas especially those jivas with higher number of senses attracts the worst form of bad karma into ones heart and makes liberation extremely difficult.

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Why is Sri Radha's name
not mentioned in the
Srimad Bhagavatam ?

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Sri Radha's name is not mentioned directly in Srimad Bhagavatam because Sri Sukadev Goswami, being the topmost rasika bhakta, would enter samadhi by just once hearing the divine name of Sri Radha. Such a state of unconscious bliss would last for many days. Parikshit Maharaj had just seven days before his death, thus Sukadev Goswami avoided directly uttering the name of Radha, and instead hinted about Her by the word "aradhana".

In other Puranas the descriptions of Sri Radha are given directy, especially in Sri Brahma-vaivarta Purana. The circumstances involving the recitation of these Puranas did not limit Sukadev Goswami to seven days, and thus the Rishis of Naimisharanya were able to accommodate Sri Sukadev Goswami's loosing external consciousness and entering samadhi.

Examples - Part III

Dramatic Qualities

With Examples From Vedic Literature

Part III

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Manipulative

Definition - manage to one’s own advantage, especially unfairly.

An example is found in the Toll Pastimes by Rupa Goswami.

The gopis bring milk products to be offered to the gods. Krishna and the cowherd boys block the path and demand that the gopis pay a toll in order to pass.

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Deception

Definition - to make a person believe what is false; to mislead purposely.

An example is found in Sri Vidagha-Madhava, Act three, text 46.

Mukhara: Rascal Lalita! I see Krishna tugging the edge of Radha’s clothing. Why do you try to fool me?

Lalita: (aside) At night, the old lady is almost blind. I will trick her. Blind old lady, you worry without reason. That is a tamal tree by the Jamuna. That is a golden bench by the tree roots. Moving in the wind, the branches tug at the girl’s bodice.

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Delusion

Definition - false belief or impression.

An example is found in Krishna Book Volume 2, Chapter 35.

The palaces of Dwaraka are being described. There are lakes, lotus flowers, swans, ducks cranes. “Lord Sri Krishna sometimes entered those lakes with His wives and enjoyed swimming pastimes with them in full jubilation.”

“The impersonalists would not dare to believe that in the spiritual world there are such varieties of enjoyment.”

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Arrogance

Definition - aggressively assertive or presumptions.

An example is found in Ujvala Nilamani.

One of the groups of gopis is called prakara (harsh) who speak arrogantly. One time Krishna chastised a certain gopi for picking flowers in Vrindavan forest. When that gopi became very frightened by His words, one of the yuthesvaris said to her : Do you not have a friend by your side? Why do you tremble at heart? Is it because of this Krishna? My dear friend, I am accompanied by many intelligent gopis and strength is very formidable. I shall now stand before you, and raise my arms to defend you from this Krishna.

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Vanity

Definition - conceit about one’s appearance or attainments.

An example is found in Ujvala Nilamani

Syama gopi to Krsna: My dear Krsna, whose limbs are dark like a tamala tree, why do you throw these charming sidelong glances at us? I am Syama, famous as the guru of all pious, chaste girls in all three worlds. If you try to even lightly bind these doe-like gopis with Your sidelong glance, they will become furious, surround You, and violently attack You from all directions.

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Harer Nama das (ACBSP)
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Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V

Soul Travel

As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change. - Krishna to Arjuna

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The idea here is that the spark of life (individual soul) within the material body travels from one form to the next ....birth after birth. When the soul makes an honest effort to understand the meaning of life he, by the grace of the lord (super soul) situated within his own heart, may realize his spiritual form and return back to Godhead. -AJD

Narada Muni Said:

* * *
Sri Brahma Vaivarta Puran

Text 50

yan-mano hari-padabje
svapne janam- diva-nisam purva-karmopabhogam- ca
bahir bhunkte sa vaisnavah

yat - whose; manah - heart; hari-padabje - at Lord Hari's lotus feet; svapne - in dreams; janam - knowledge; diva-nisam - day and night; purva- karma-upabhogam - reactions to all past karma ; ca - also; bahih - outside; bhunkte - enjoys; sa - he; vaisnavah - a devotee.

A person who day and night and even in his dreams serves Lord Hari's lotus feet has burned up all his past bad samskars and is said to be a genuine sadhu.

Text 51
guru-vaktrad visnu-mantro
yasya karne visaty atha tam- vaisnavam- maha-putam
pravadanti manisinah

guru - of the guru; vaktrat - from the mouth; visnu - of Lord Visnu; mantrah - a mantra; yasya - of whom; karne - in the ear; visaty - enters; atha - then; tam - him; vaisnavam - servant of Vishnu; maha- putam - very pure; pravadanti - say; manisinah - of those who possess real knowledge.

Those that know the conclusion of the Vedas have said that a person into whose ear a Visnu-mantra has entered from his gurus mouth, is now qualified to become a very pure devotee.

Text 52
purvan sapta paran sapta
sapta matamahadikan sodaram uddhared bhaktah
sva-prasum- ca prasu-prasum

purvan - previous; sapta - seven; paran - after; sapta - seven; sapta - seven; matamaha-adikan - - beginning with grandmothers; sodaram - brothers and sisters; uddharet - delivers; bhaktah - a devotee; sva-prasum - own children; ca - and; prasu-prasum - grandchildren.

A servant of Vishnu delivers his Family Clan. He delivers seven generations before and seven generations after. Seven generations of grandparents, children, grandchildren and other relatives.

Text 53
kalatram- kanyakam- bandhum
sisyam- dauhitram atmanah kinkaram- kinkarim- putram
uddhared vaisnavah sada

kalatram - wife; kanyakam - daughter; bandhum - friend; sisyam - disciple; dauhitram - granddaughter; atmanah - own; kinkaram - servant; kinkarim - maidservant; putram - son; uddharet - delivers; vaisnavah - a devotee; sada - always.

A devotee always delivers (from hellish condition) his wife, son, daughter, friend, disciple, granddaughter, servant and maidservant.

Having fallen in love

The Nature of True Devotees

by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Devotion to God is attained by associating with those who serve both Him and His devotees. They have made service to God the very essence of their life. They have made the narrations of the names, appearance, attributes and sports of God the mainstay of their existence and they are always engaged in discoursing about them.

Not only is there a great difference between how the common man deliberates upon God and how the devotee deliberates upon Him, but the very natures of these two kinds of deliberation are quite opposite. Among the common people, many are inclined to worship God, whom they know to be the giver of mundane and celestial pleasure and happiness. Those who are more intelligent however – that is, those who outwardly present themselves as renunciants but remain the topmost enjoyers at heart – pretend to worship God with the purpose of becoming equal to God, who is the Supreme Enjoyer, and merging in Him.

Those situated midway between these two classes worship God with the intention of acquiring the eight modes of supernatural power, such as the power to become smaller than an atom and the power to become weightless, in order to fulfil their own desires. Although they pretentiously show themselves to be worshippers of God, they never admit the eternality of God’s names, appearance and so forth. They regard the Supreme Master of all to be governed by karma. These so-called worshippers do not serve God with the particular aim of serving and pleasing Him. On the contrary, they make the Lord serve them.

The nature of true devotees is different from theirs. They do not expect, nor do they regard as necessary, the attainment of pleasure for the body and home in this world or in the next. Nor do they regard as important the attainment of emancipation, which is so highly praised as the ultimate attainment for man. True devotees serve God by their very nature, by every thought and by every sentiment of their heart. This strong propensity in them does not yield to any obstruction but runs with impetuosity, forcibly removing all the obstacles before it. It is just like the swift and turbulent current of the river Ganga, which rapidly runs towards the sea inundating all high and low resistance, undergoing no disaster and never abating, at any point, to take rest.

The devotees are ever engaged in the service of God. No tendency towards anything else, no other thought or deed besides that service, finds any opportunity to cast its shadow over the souls of those bhakti-yogis, who are incessantly communing with God and are entirely dedicated to Him. Out of pure love, the devoted servitors of God are ever engaged in offering service to Him and to His devotees. They have no vitality to devote to their bodies; to those who are related to their bodies like their wives or sons; to their home; to all those who are related to these; to domestic beasts and birds; or to their occupation, class and so forth.

Having fallen in love with the Lord of their life, who is the very life of their lives and the life of all, they have surrendered themselves to Him, with all their energy. Such devotees, dedicating their very selves to God, have made Him alone the quintessence of all their ambitions. And He, too, having been arrested by their devotion, has made them His essential companions, even though He Himself is the most essential Being for all.

Yearning to See

Standing at the gate, with unblinking eyes the demigods gazed first at these gopis and then at Sri Radha’s very wonderful abode, which was splendid with two courtyards paved with precious jewels, set with sapphire pillars, decorated with rubies and networks of parijata flowers, and fragrant with scented breezes. After speaking to these gopis, the demigods, their hearts yearning to see Lord Krsna’s lotus feet, the hairs of their bodies erect, their necks bowed, and their eyes filled with tears of love, entered Sri Radha’s abode. -Sri Brahma-Vaivarta Purana

Line of Sight

Realising that the mind follows the line of sight, the arrow (‘kanda’) should be shot to the target upon which the gaze is fixed. An archer who undertakes regular and hard practice never misses his target. - DhanuraVeda

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Similarly, if our goal is to attain the spiritual atmosphere (Goloka) and associate with Sri Krishna we must always keep His pleasure in mind. Every minute of the day and night we should remain focused. We must continue taking good advice from our divine mentors.

Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.

Always practicing the do's and don'ts (Do remember Krishna and Don't forget Krishna) we must; see the target, engage in constant practice and detachment, then realization will follow.

Examples - Part II

Figures of Speech

With Examples From Vedic Literature
Part II

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Alliteration

Definition - occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Examples of alliteration are : Radha-Raman, Kala-Krishna, all glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

* * *

Synecdoche

Definition - A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or visa versa.

An example is the lotus feet of Krishna which can sometimes indicate the form of Lord Krishna. In Srimad Bhagawatam Canto 7, Chapter 5 text 24 purport, it is said: Being intensely attracted to thinking of the Lord's lotus feet is called pada-sevana. This process gradually includes other processes such as serving the form of the Lord, etc.

* * *
Pun

Definition - humorous use of a word to suggest different meanings. Includes a play or words, double entendre , word play.

An example of pun is found in Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 21, qualities of Sri Krishna, quality of genius, in connection with a conversation between Radha and Krishna. The Sanskrit word vasa has three different meanings : residence, fragrance and dress. Radha asks about Krishna’s dress but Krishna takes it to mean residence and says, “My dear captivated one, at the present moment My residence is in Your beautiful eyes.”

* * *
Nuance

Definition - subtle shade of meaning, feeling color etc.

An example of nuance is found is Srihdar Maharaj’s purports to the four principal verses of the Bhagavad-Gita which are verses 8 - 11 of chapter 10. Sridhar Maharaj draws out the Vrindavan mood contained in these verses. In the purport to verse 9, he writes about ramanti ca: “Just as a wife enjoys a conjugal relationship with her husband the devotees similarly feel such ecstasy in my intimate company when speaking about Me.”

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Symbol

Definition - a thing conventionally regarded as typifying, representing or recalling something else.

An example of symbol is found in Caitanya- Siksamrita, by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur. The demon killed by Krishna in Vrindavan represent different anarthas or symbols. Putana represents the pseudo-guru Sakatagura (cart demon) represents carrying the burden of old and new bad habits. Trinivarta represents false pride from material scholarship.

* * *
Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis

Definition - Thesis is a proposition to be maintained, Antithesis is the direct opposite. Synthesis is combining of elements into a whole.

An example of thesis would be bhakti yoga. Antithesis would be material attachments Synthesis would be pure bhakti without material attachments.

* * *
Inference

Definition - to deduce or conclude.

An example of inference is found in Sri Vidhagha-Madhava, Act 5, text 18. Radha has stolen Krishna’s flute. She places it in the wind. Jatila enters and infers “The flute was played. Is it not true that Krishna must be here?

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Implication

Definition - a strong suggestion of the truth or existence of a thing not expressly asserted.

An example of implication is found in Srimad Bhagawatam, Canto 1, Chapter 12, verses 44, where Yudishir enquires from his brother Arjuna, who feels morose. “ Is it not so that you are feeling yourself void for all the time being devoid of your most intimate friend Lord Krishna whom you might have lost oh my brother Arjuna? I do not find any other reason for your becoming so much dejected.

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Harer Nama das (ACBSP)
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Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V

Graffiti

YasodaNandana
Pet Cows and the Milkmaids of Braj

Graffiti is sometimes regarded as a form of art and at other times regarded as unsightly damage or an unwanted eyesore. Actually Graffiti has been around since time immemorial.

In this case, Graffiti is certainly welcomed. This wonderful display of YasodaNandana, his pet cows and the milkmaids of Braj are on a wall, located in the transcendental village of Vrindavan.

The Life

After glancing through the Dhanura Veda, I came across these instructions:

"The life of an archer is more precious than that of a bow. An archer, who is overburdened by his bow, never hits the target".


I was immediately reminded of the depth of poetic wisdom possessed by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev Goswami. One day when a group of young and inexperienced devotees approached Sridhar Maharaj, complaining about the injustices they he had faced and the misery they were feeling. Sridhar Maharaj said compassionately, " a bad workman quarrels with his own tools".more

vAH Sudeva Krishna

Vasudeva Krishna and Arjuna
* * *

During the time when Vedic culture was predominate, out of respect, a man of position was addressed by a slight change in his fathers name or in the name of his family. Sri Krishna being the son of Vasudeva was called vAsudeva Krishna, which ultimately, when he was apotheosized, came to be identified with the name of the personality of Godhead. Sri Krishna was also addressed as Yadava and Madhava from the names of his forefathers. Even though he has hundreds and millions of names, he is commonly addressed as Govinda , Gopal, Muraildhara etc when referring to his childhood pastimes as a cowherd boy