Mayapur TV Archives: Vedic culture

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 H.G. Prithi Vardhana prabhu speaks on S.B. 4.3.4-7 - from a live broadcast on Mayapur TV ABOUT THE SPEAKER Prithi Vardhana Das Brahmacari Prabhu moved to Sridham Maypur in 1993 from Polland to study at the Vidya Pitha (Brahminical traditional gurukula) under H.H.Bhaktividya Purna Swami.He later took initiation from H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami. He is currently the vice principal at Bhaktivedanta Academy, an umbrella educational organization that includes the Vidya Pitha and other schools. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.3.4 tasmin brahmarṣayaḥ sarve devarṣi-pitṛ-devatāḥ āsan kṛta-svastyayanās tat-patnyaś ca sa-bhartṛkāḥ SYNONYMS tasmin — in that (sacrifice); brahma-ṛṣayaḥ — the brahmarṣis; sarve — all; devarṣi — the devarṣis; pitṛ — ancestors; devatāḥ — demigods; āsan — were; kṛta-svasti-ayanāḥ — were very nicely decorated with ornaments; tat-patnyaḥ — their wives; ca — and; sa-bhartṛkāḥ — along with their husbands. TRANSLATION While the sacrifice was being performed, many brahmarṣis, great sages, ancestral demigods and other demigods, their wives all very nicely decorated with ornaments, attended from different parts of the universe. PURPORT In any auspicious ceremony, such as a marriage ceremony, sacrificial ceremony or pūjā ceremony, it is auspicious for married women to decorate themselves very nicely with ornaments, fine clothing and cosmetics. These are auspicious signs. Many heavenly women assembled with their husbands, the devarṣis, demigods and rājarṣis, in that great sacrifice named bṛhaspati-sava. It is specifically mentioned in this verse that they approached with their husbands, for when a woman is decorated nicely, her husband becomes more cheerful. The nice decorations, ornaments and dress of the wives of the demigods and sages and the cheerfulness of the demigods and sages themselves were all auspicious signs for the ceremony. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.3.5-7 tad upaśrutya nabhasi khe-carāṇāḿ prajalpatām satī dākṣāyaṇī devī pitṛ-yajña-mahotsavam vrajantīḥ sarvato digbhya upadeva-vara-striyaḥ vimāna-yānāḥ sa-preṣṭhā niṣka-kaṇṭhīḥ suvāsasaḥ dṛṣṭvā sva-nilayābhyāśe lolākṣīr mṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalāḥ patiḿ bhūta-patiḿ devam autsukyād abhyabhāṣata SYNONYMS tat — then; upaśrutya — hearing; nabhasi — in the sky; khe-carāṇām — of those who were flying in the air (the Gandharvas); prajalpatām — the conversation; satī — Sati; dākṣāyaṇī — the daughter of Dakṣa; devī — the wife of Śiva; pitṛ-yajña-mahā-utsavam — the great festival of sacrifice performed by her father; vrajantīḥ — were going; sarvataḥ — from all; digbhyaḥ — directions; upadeva-vara-striyaḥ — the beautiful wives of the demigods; vimāna-yānāḥ — flying in their airplanes; sa-preṣṭhāḥ — along with their husbands; niṣka-kaṇṭhīḥ — having nice necklaces with lockets; su-vāsasaḥ — dressed in fine clothing; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; sva-nilaya-abhyāśe — near her residence; lola-akṣīḥ — having beautiful glittering eyes; mṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalāḥ — nice earrings; patim — her husband; bhūta-patim — the master of the bhūtas; devam — the demigod; autsukyāt — from great anxiety; abhyabhāṣata — she spoke. TRANSLATION The chaste lady Satī, the daughter of Dakṣa, heard the heavenly denizens flying in the sky conversing about the great sacrifice being performed by her father. When she saw that from all directions the beautiful wives of the heavenly denizens, their eyes very beautifully glittering, were near her residence and were going to the sacrifice dressed in fine clothing and ornamented with earrings and necklaces with lockets, she approached her husband, the master of the bhūtas, in great anxiety, and spoke as follows. PURPORT It appears that the residence of Lord Śiva was not on this planet but somewhere in outer space, otherwise how could Sati have seen the airplanes coming from different directions towards this planet and heard the passengers talking about the great sacrifice being performed by Dakṣa? Satī is described here as Dākṣāyaṇī because she was the daughter of Dakṣa. The mention of upadeva-vara refers to inferior demigods like the Gandharvas, Kinnaras and Uragas, who are not exactly demigods but between the demigods and human beings. They were also coming in planes. The word sva-nilayābhyāśe indicates that they were passing right near her residential quarters. The dresses and bodily features of the wives of the heavenly denizens are very nicely described here. Their eyes moved, their earrings and other ornaments glittered and glared, their dresses were the nicest possible, and all of them had special lockets on their necklaces. Each woman was accompanied by her husband. Thus they looked so beautiful that Satī, Dākṣāyaṇī, was impelled to dress similarly and go to the sacrifice with her husband. That is the natural inclination of a woman. VIDEO AUDIO Click here for audio Saturday, May 1, 2010 H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami speaks on S.B. 4.2. 35 - from a live broadcast on Mayapur TV Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.2.35 āplutyāvabhṛthaḿ yatra gańgā yamunayānvitā virajenātmanā sarve svaḿ svaḿ dhāma yayus tataḥ SYNONYMS āplutya — taking a bath; avabhṛtham — the bath which is taken after performing sacrifices; yatra — where; gańgā — the River Ganges; yamunayā — by the River Yamunā; anvitā — mixed; virajena — without infection; ātmanā — by the mind; sarve — all; svam svam — their respective; dhāma — abodes; yayuḥ — went; tataḥ — from there. TRANSLATION My dear Vidura, carrier of bows and arrows, all the demigods who were performing the sacrifice took their bath at the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamunā after completing the yajña performance. Such a bath is called avabhṛtha-snāna. After thus becoming purified in heart, they departed for their respective abodes. PURPORT After Lord Śiva and, previously, Dakṣa, left the arena of sacrifice, the sacrifice was not stopped; the sages went on for many years in order to satisfy the Supreme Lord. The sacrifice was not destroyed for want of Śiva and Dakṣa, and the sages went on with their activities. In other words, it may be assumed that if one does not worship the demigods, even up to Lord Śiva and Brahmā, one can nevertheless satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.20). Kāmais tais tair hṛta jñānāḥ prapadyante 'nya-devatāḥ. Persons who are impelled by lust and desire go to the demigods to derive some material benefit. Bhagavad-gītā uses the very specific words nāsti buddhiḥ, meaning "persons who have lost their sense or intelligence." Only such persons care for demigods and want to derive material benefit from them. Of course, this does not mean that one should not show respect to the demigods; but there is no need to worship them. One who is honest may be faithful to the government, but he does not need to bribe the government servants. Bribery is illegal; one does not bribe a government servant, but that does not mean that one does not show him respect. Similarly, one who engages in the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Lord does not need to worship any demigod, nor does he have any tendency to show disrespect to the demigods. Elsewhere in Bhagavad-gītā (9.23) it is stated, ye 'py anya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ. The Lord says that anyone who worships the demigods is also worshiping Him, but he is worshiping avidhi-pūrvakam, which means "without following the regulative principles." The regulative principle is to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Worship of demigods may indirectly be worship of the Personality of Godhead, but it is not regulated. By worshiping the Supreme Lord, one automatically serves all the demigods because they are parts and parcels of the whole. If one supplies water to the root of a tree, all the parts of the tree, such as the leaves and branches, are automatically satisfied, and if one supplies food to the stomach, all the limbs of the body — the hands, legs, fingers, etc. — are nourished. Thus by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead one can satisfy all the demigods, but by worshiping all the demigods one does not completely worship the Supreme Lord. Therefore worship of the demigods is irregular, and it is disrespectful to the scriptural injunctions. In this age of Kali it is practically impossible to perform the deva-yajña, or sacrifices to the demigods. As such, in this age Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam recommends sańkīrtana-yajña. Yajñaiḥ sańkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ (Bhāg. 11.5.32). "In this age the intelligent person completes the performances of all kinds of yajñas simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare." Tasmin tuṣṭe jagat tuṣṭaḥ: "When Lord Viṣṇu is satisfied, all the demigods, who are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, are satisfied." Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Second Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled "Dakṣa Curses Lord Śiva." VIDEO Questions and Answers AUDIO Class Questions and answers Part 1 Questions and answers Part 2 ABOUT THE SPEAKER His Holiness Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami has been living in Sridham Mayapur for many years overseeing the training of students in vaisnava brahminical traditions. He is often referred to as Gurukula Maharaj. He generously shares his broad knowledge of culture and vaisnavas behaviors in all his classes. (I invite a more detailed bio for Maharaj. It can be posted as a comment below.) Monday, April 26, 2010 H.G. Pankajanghri Prabhu speaks on S.B. 4.2.30 - from a live broadcast on Mayapur TV Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.2.30 brahma ca brāhmaṇāḿś caiva yad yūyaḿ parinindatha setuḿ vidhāraṇaḿ puḿsām ataḥ pāṣaṇḍam āśritāḥ SYNONYMS brahma — the Vedas; ca — and; brāhmaṇān — the brāhmaṇas; ca — and; eva — certainly; yat — because; yūyam — you; parinindatha — blaspheme; setum — Vedic principles; vidhāraṇam — holding; puḿsām — of mankind; ataḥ — therefore; pāṣaṇḍam — atheism; āśritāḥ — have taken shelter. TRANSLATION Bhṛgu Muni continued: Since you blaspheme the Vedas and the brāhmaṇas, who are followers of the Vedic principles, it is understood that you have already taken shelter of the doctrine of atheism. PURPORT Bhṛgu Muni, in cursing Nandīśvara, said that not only would they be degraded as atheists because of this curse, but they had already fallen to the standard of atheism because they had blasphemed the Vedas, which are the source of human civilization. Human civilization is based on the qualitative divisions of social order, namely the intelligent class, the martial class, the productive class and the laborer class. The Vedas provide the right direction for advancing in spiritual cultivation and economic development and regulating the principle of sense gratification, so that ultimately one may be liberated from material contamination to his real state of spiritual identification (ahaḿ brahmāsmi). As long as one is in the contamination of material existence, one changes bodies from the aquatics up to the position of Brahmā, but the human form of life is the highest perfectional life in the material world. The Vedas give directions by which to elevate oneself in the next life. The Vedas are the mother for such instructions, and the brāhmaṇas, or persons who are in knowledge of the Vedas, are the father. Thus if one blasphemes the Vedas and brāhmaṇas, naturally one goes down to the status of atheism. The exact word used in Sanskrit is nāstika, which refers to one who does not believe in the Vedas but manufactures some concocted system of religion. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said that the followers of the Buddhist system of religion are nāstikas. ln order to establish his doctrine of nonviolence, Lord Buddha flatly refused to believe in the Vedas, and thus, later on, Śańkarācārya stopped this system of religion in India and forced it to go outside India. Here it is stated, brahma ca brāhmaṇān. Brahma means the Vedas. Ahaḿ brahmāsmi means "I am in full knowledge." The Vedic assertion is that one should think that he is Brahman, for actually he is Brahman. If brahma, or the Vedic spiritual science, is condemned, and the masters of the spiritual science, the brāhmaṇas, are condemned, then where does human civilization stand? Bhṛgu Muni said, "It is not due to my cursing that you shall become atheists; you are already situated in the principle of atheism. Therefore you are condemned." VIDEO AUDIO Click here for audio ABOUT THE SPEAKER His Grace Pankajanghri das Brahmacari Prabhu has been serving Sri Sri Radha Madhava from the early Iskcon Mayapur days. He resides in Mayapur. Pankajanghri prabhu is the devotees' link to Lord Nrsinghadev in Mayapur as he offers prayers to him on our behalf. (A more detailed bio is welcome, please post in comment section) Saturday, April 24, 2010 H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami speaks on S.B. 4.2. 28 - from a live broadcast on Mayapur TV Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.2.28 bhava-vrata-dharā ye ca ye ca tān samanuvratāḥ pāṣaṇḍinas te bhavantu sac-chāstra-paripanthinaḥ SYNONYMS bhava-vrata-dharāḥ — taking a vow to satisfy Lord Śiva; ye — who; ca — and; ye — who; ca — and; tān — such principles; samanuvratāḥ — following; pāṣaṇḍinaḥ — atheists; te — they; bhavantu — let them become; sat-śāstra-paripanthinaḥ — diverted from transcendental scriptural injunctions. TRANSLATION One who takes a vow to satisfy Lord Śiva or who follows such principles will certainly become an atheist and be diverted from transcendental scriptural injunctions. PURPORT It is sometimes seen that devotees of Lord Śiva imitate the characteristics of Lord Śiva. For example, Lord Śiva drank an ocean of poison, so some of the followers of Lord Śiva imitate him and try to take intoxicants like gāñjā (marijuana). Here the curse is that if someone follows such principles he must become an infidel and turn against the principles of Vedic regulation. It is said that such devotees of Lord Śiva will be sacchāstra-paripanthinaḥ, which means "opposed to the conclusion of śāstra, or scripture." This is confirmed in the Padma Purāṇa also. Lord Śiva was ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to preach the impersonal, or Māyāvāda, philosophy for a particular purpose, just as Lord Buddha preached the philosophy of voidness for particular purposes mentioned in the śāstras. Sometimes it is necessary to preach a philosophical doctrine which is against the Vedic conclusion. ln the Śiva Purāṇa it is stated that Lord Śiva said to Pārvatī that in the Kali-yuga, in the body of a brāhmaṇa, he would preach the Māyāvāda philosophy. Thus it is generally found that the worshipers of Lord Śiva are Māyāvādī followers. Lord Śiva himself says, māyāvādam asac-chāstram. Asat-śāstra, as explained here, means the doctrine of Māyāvāda impersonalism, or becoming one with the Supreme. Bhṛgu Muni cursed that persons who worshiped Lord Śiva would become followers of this Māyāvāda asat-śāstra, which attempts to establish that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is impersonal. Besides that, among the worshipers of Lord Śiva there is a section who live a devilish life. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Nārada-pañcarātra are authorized scriptures that are considered sat-śāstra, or scriptures which lead one to the path of God realization. Asat-śāstras are just the opposite. VIDEO Questions and Answers AUDIO Class Audio Questions & Answers Audio ABOUT THE SPEAKER His Holiness Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami has been living in Sridham Mayapur for many years overseeing the training of students in vaisnava brahminical traditions. He is often referred to as Gurukula Maharaj. He generously shares his broad knowledge of culture and vaisnavas behaviors in all his classes. (I invite a more detailed bio for Maharaj. It can be posted as a comment below.) Saturday, March 20, 2010 Srimad Bhagavatam 3.33.31-34 - class given by H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami Maharaj - from a live broadcast on Mayapur TV tad vīrāsīt puṇyatamaḿ kṣetraḿ trailokya-viśrutam nāmnā siddha-padaḿ yatra sā saḿsiddhim upeyuṣī SYNONYMS tat — that; vīra — O brave Vidura; āsīt — was; puṇya-tamam — most sacred; kṣetram — place; trai-lokya — in the three worlds; viśrutam — known; nāmnā — by the name; siddha-padam — Siddhapada; yatra — where; sā — she (Devahūti); saḿsiddhim — perfection; upeyuṣī — achieved. TRANSLATION The palace where Devahūti achieved her perfection, my dear Vidura, is understood to be a most sacred spot. It is known all over the three worlds as Siddhapada. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.33.32 tasyās tad yoga-vidhuta- mārtyaḿ martyam abhūt sarit srotasāḿ pravarā saumya siddhidā siddha-sevitā SYNONYMS tasyāḥ — of Devahūti; tat — that; yoga — by yoga practice; vidhuta — relinquished; mārtyam — material elements; martyam — her mortal body; abhūt — became; sarit — a river; srotasām — of all rivers; pravarā — the foremost; saumya — O gentle Vidura; siddhi-dā — conferring perfection; siddha — by persons desiring perfection; sevitā — resorted to. TRANSLATION Dear Vidura, the material elements of her body have melted into water and are now a flowing river, which is the most sacred of all rivers. Anyone who bathes in that river also attains perfection, and therefore all persons who desire perfection go bathe there. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.33.33 kapilo 'pi mahā-yogī bhagavān pitur āśramāt mātaraḿ samanujñāpya prāg-udīcīḿ diśaḿ yayau SYNONYMS kapilaḥ — Lord Kapila; api — surely; mahā-yogī — the great sage; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pituḥ — of His father; āśramāt — from the hermitage; mātaram — from His mother; samanujñāpya — having asked permission; prāk-udīcīm — northeast; diśam — direction; yayau — He went. TRANSLATION My dear Vidura, the great sage Kapila, the Personality of Godhead, left His father's hermitage with the permission of His mother and went towards the northeast. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.33.34 siddha-cāraṇa-gandharvair munibhiś cāpsaro-gaṇaiḥ stūyamānaḥ samudreṇa dattārhaṇa-niketanaḥ SYNONYMS siddha — by the Siddhas; cāraṇa — by the Cāraṇas; gandharvaiḥ — by the Gandharvas; munibhiḥ — by the munis; ca — and; apsaraḥ-gaṇaiḥ — by the Apsarās (damsels of the heavenly planets); stūyamānaḥ — being extolled; samudreṇa — by the ocean; datta — given; arhaṇa — oblations; niketanaḥ — place of residence. TRANSLATION While He was passing in the northern direction, all the celestial denizens known as Cāraṇas and Gandharvas, as well as the munis and the damsels of the heavenly planets, prayed and offered Him all respects. The ocean offered Him oblations and a place of residence. PURPORT It is understood that Kapila Muni first went towards the Himalayas and traced the course of the River Ganges, and He again came to the delta of the Ganges at the sea now known as the Bay of Bengal. The ocean gave Him residence at a place still known as Gańgā-sāgara, where the River Ganges meets the sea. That place is called Gańgā-sāgara-tīrtha, and even today people gather there to offer respects to Kapiladeva, the original author of the Sāńkhya system of philosophy. Unfortunately, this Sāńkhya system has been misrepresented by an imposter who is also named Kapila, but that other system of philosophy does not tally with anything described in the Sāńkhya of Kapila in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. VIDEO AUDIO Click here for audio Q&A VIDEO WITH MAHARAJ Click here for audio ABOUT THE SPEAKER His Holiness Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami has been living in Sridham Mayapur for many years overseeing the training of students in vaisnava brahminical traditions. He is often referred to as Gurukula Maharaj. (I invite a more detailed bio for Maharaj. It can be posted as a comment below.) Saturday, March 13, 2010 Srimad Bhagavatam 3.33.21 - class given by H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami Maharaj - from a live broadcast on Mayapur TV Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.33.21 vanaḿ pravrajite patyāv apatya-virahāturā jñāta-tattvāpy abhūn naṣṭe vatse gaur iva vatsalā SYNONYMS vanam — to the forest; pravrajite patyau — when her husband left home; apatya-viraha — by separation from her son; āturā — very sorry; jñāta-tattvā — knowing the truth; api — although; abhūt — she became; naṣṭe vatse — when her calf is lost; gauḥ — a cow; iva — like; vatsalā — affectionate. TRANSLATION Devahūti's husband had already left home and accepted the renounced order of life, and then her only son, Kapila, left home. Although she knew all the truths of life and death, and although her heart was cleansed of all dirt, she was very aggrieved at the loss of her son, just as a cow is affected when her calf dies. PURPORT A woman whose husband is away from home or has taken the renounced order of life should not be very sorry, because she still has the presence of her husband's representative, her son. It is said in the Vedic scriptures, ātmaiva putro jāyate: the husband's body is represented by the son. Strictly speaking, a woman is never widowed if she has a grown son. Devahūti was not very much affected while Kapila Muni was there, but upon His departure she was very afflicted. She grieved not because of her worldly relationship with Kardama Muni but because of her sincere love for the Personality of Godhead. The example given here is that Devahūti became just like a cow who has lost her calf. A cow bereft of her calf cries day and night. Similarly, Devahūti was aggrieved, and she always cried and requested her friends and relatives, "Please bring my son home so that I may live. Otherwise, I shall die." This intense affection for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although manifested as affection for one's son, is spiritually beneficial. Attachment for a material son obliges one to remain in material existence, but the same attachment, when transferred to the Supreme Lord, brings one elevation to the spiritual world in the association of the Lord. Every woman can qualify herself as much as Devahūti and then can also have the Supreme Godhead as her son. If the Supreme Personality of Godhead can appear as the son of Devahūti, He can also appear as the son of any other woman, provided that woman is qualified. If one gets the Supreme Lord as a son, one can have the benefit of bringing up a nice son in this world and at the same time get promotion to the spiritual world to become the face-to-face associate of the Personality of Godhead. VIDEO AUDIO PODCAST You can now subscribe to our RSS feeds, simply click on the RSS symbol in your browser's address field. or click here for iTunes podcast. ABOUT THE SPEAKER His Holiness Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami has been living in Sridham Mayapur for many years overseeing the training of students in vaisnava brahminical traditions. He is often referred to as Gurukula Maharaj. (I invite a more detailed bio for Maharaj. It can be posted as a comment below.)