Letters to the editor

Dear Guru Mahārāja,

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I would like to share an understanding and also a confusion that has been coming to me while reading some purports in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and I would be grateful for your guidance.

In one purport (SB 1.15.10), Śrīla Prabhupāda writes that after Draupadī fell at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord decided that all the wives of Duḥśāsana and his associates would have their hair loosened as a result of the Battle of Kurukṣetra, and that, in other words, all the wives of the Kuru family became widows because of Duḥśāsana’s insulting a great devotee of the Lord.

In another purport (SB 1.15.15), Śrīla Prabhupāda states:

“…the Lord conducted the Battle of Kurukṣetra according to His own plan. He wanted that battle to establish Yudhiṣṭhira as the Emperor of this planet, and to facilitate this transcendental business He killed all who were on the opposite party by His omnipotent will.”

I do not have a problem with what is said in the purports themselves. My difficulty is understanding the relationship between such explanations. At times, it appears that one specific cause is presented as the reason for the Lord’s actions, while elsewhere another distinct purpose is emphasized.

From my limited understanding, it seems natural that Kṛṣṇa’s actions would have multiple motives simultaneously—protecting devotees, fulfilling vows and prayers, establishing dharma, and arranging His own līlā. Yet when a purport presents one reason in a very exclusive way, and another purport elsewhere presents a different reason, I find it difficult to reconcile them without feeling some tension.

This sometimes gives me the impression—though I may be mistaken—that the descriptions are very sharp and singular, rather than balanced, even though the reality of Kṛṣṇa’s will must be multifaceted.

I am not questioning the authority of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s purports. Rather, I am trying to understand how to read them properly. Should such statements be understood as emphasizing one dominant aspect within a particular narrative or devotional context, rather than as an exhaustive explanation of all causes? Or is there another way I should be approaching these passages so that this apparent exclusivity does not disturb my clarity?

Moreover, I am sharing this as it is something I have encountered not only here but also occasionally in other contexts/purports, although I do not have further references at hand.

Thank you very much for your patience and guidance.

Your servant,

Namacarya Das

HpS ASA - AgtSP! Paoho...

Second seems like a general action that includes the specific action in first?

Battery of chaste women just one reason for two.

Okay?🙂

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble Obeisances at your divine lotus feet.

HpS - AgtSP!!!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to the most auspicious appearance day of your Holiness.

Guru Maharaja, by your merciful glance this insignificant soul has got a chance to begin its spiritual life and been a part of monkey family. In this 3 years of my Krsna Consciousness life, i have achieved a lot and realized a lot. All the auspicious moment what has come to my life it has come by your causeless mercy.

On this most auspicious day i humbly beg you to continue to shower your blessings on me to make me instrument in serving Srila Prabhupada's mission. Please forgive my offences and give me intelligence to carry

on my spiritual life under your Holiness's shelter.

Aspiring to be your humble servant

Vanara-rani Anjana DD

HpS - Hare Krsna!!! AgtSP. Where are you all now?????

Srila Prabhupada is like any great sage mentioned in Chinese history. He lives in a different world, no?

Hare Krishna Maharaja

Please accept my obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you.

Thank you for your reply.

The truth is, I don't feel well because my sadhana is in such a bad state, since Srila Prabhupada instructs us to get up at 4:00 AM and do Manga Arati and finish the rounds. It's very difficult for me to get up at that hour, but 95% of the time I chant all my rounds in the morning.

On the other hand, I don't adhere to the principle of cleanliness, since I find it difficult to maintain celibacy. I try hard, but I slip up from time to time.

I await your good advice.

Thank you.

Your servant, Rama Krishna Devi Dasi

HpS - In, agtSP, BG Krsna says that one who does good is never overcome by evil.

A dog went to Puri with the Nadiya vasis.

He was not chanting on beads.

Lord understood his sincerity and limitations and gave him prasad and I think sent him to better body!

Hare Krishna Gurudev. Pamho. AgtSP. Agtyou.

How are you, Gurudev? This is Deva-Vrata das, currently living in Córdoba, Argentina (we don't know about tomorrow).

Today, November 30th, my mind is focused on trying to have a good distribution of books during this marathon. With a clear conscience, for my own spiritual benefit, the benefit of others, and to please you and Srila Prabhupāda with this transcendental activity.

Today on the "Japa Joe" program, I asked for your blessings for this endeavor, because without your blessings and those of the paramparā, I am powerless in every aspect.

A year ago, I was with you, Gurudev, in Spain... what a privilege and undeserved gift of life... thank you for everything once again...

What else can I do in life besides distribute Srila Prabhupāda's books? I'm useless, I'm not even good at it, I have no talent, but I do have a bit of stubbornness...

Besides, my faith is weak... but, I ask again, what else can I do?

I know your way of thinking a little... this isn't about selling books... It's about trying to give Krishna to people and encouraging others to do this... And I know you're not interested in numbers... but I need to motivate myself, haha.

I'm recording Vaisesika das's book, "Our Family Business," to motivate myself and the devotees... https://t.me/SankirtanaSrilaPrabhupada

We'll be together in December in the streets of Traslasierra, Córdoba—you, me, and Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna Gurudev

HpS/ASA - Hare Krsna. AgtSP. Paoho. Thank you for this news. Numbers aren't bad. Our only Karma is to think about how to distribute books in anyway possible, but especially by making people into book distibutors.

Offer people five books instead of one. Ask them if they think these might be really useful for some of their friends. Then they are in the Sankirtan mood. Buy a book to learn, is like Jnana, no? Most people cannot do Jnana yoga in Kali yuga. Yet, joining the Sankirtan movement. Learning to teach. Is the Yuga dharma.

Then we have our technique.

SP said, Every salesman has his own technique.

We are worse than you, but we also try.

We bought books, got books from the library. Read books mentioned in other books we had read.

Bought a KRSNA book. Big hardcover from maybe Buddhimanta Das when we was in a dhoti and kirta at the Whole Earth Day festival at our university campus.

Best of wishes for a very pure Marathon!

Hare Krsna Gurudev. Pamho. AgtSP. Agtyou.

¿Cómo está Gurudev?

Aquí Deva-Vrata das, actualmemte viviendo en Córdoba, Argentina (mañana no sabemos)

Hoy 30 de noviembre tengo mi mente enfocada en tratar de tener una buena distribución de libros esta maratón. Con buena conciencia, para beneficio espiritual personal, beneficio de la gente y para complacerte a ti y a Srila Prabhupāda, con esta actividad trascendental.

Hoy en el programa "Japa Joe" pedía tus bendiciones para esta empresa, ya que sin tus bendiciones y las del paramparā soy impotente en todo aspecto.

Hace un año estaba contigo Gurudev, en España... qué privilegio y regalo de la vida inmerecido... gracias por todo una vez más...

¿qué otra cosa puedo hacer en la vida que no sea distribuir libros de Śrīla Prabhupāda? Soy un inútil, ni siquiera soy bueno haciéndolo, no tengo talento, pero si un poco de obstinación...

Además, mi fe es endeble... pero, vuelvo a decir ¿qué otra cosa puedo hacer?

Conozco un poco tu pensamiento... esto no se trata de vender libros...

Sino de tratar de dar a Krishna a la gente y de incentivar que otros hagan esta actividad...

Y sé a tí los números no te interesan... pero necesito motivarme jajaja

Estoy grabando el libro de Vaisesika das "Nuestra empresa familiar", para incentivarme a mi mismo y a los devotos...

https://t.me/SankirtanaSrilaPrabhupada

Estaremos juntos en diciembre en la calles de Traslasierra Córdoba, tú yo y Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Hare Krsna Gurudev

Hare Krishna, Maharaja

Please accept my obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you

I had a somewhat intriguing experience and I want to clarify this situation that is causing me a lot of confusion.

While dancing before the deity, I visualized myself as a gopi or girl in the spirit world.

One night, while thinking that perhaps I was a gopi, I felt as if “Krishna” came and wanted to have physical relations with me.

This “entity,” I don’t know what kind of entity it is, had such relations with me, just as if it were a person. My body was agitated but now that I remember it, I feel disgusted by this situation. It’s like a kind of rape, I don’t know.

This was a real thing, not a dream. In fact, I was writing while it was happening, as if this being were speaking to me through my mind.

I didn't see anything, I didn't hear anything, but I felt it.

Now I'm stable, back to normal, but it's still there, bothering me sometimes. But I no longer believe in "that gopi who has physical relations with Krishna."

Do you think this was a ghost or some other kind of entity?

Thank you.

Your servant, Rama Krishna Dasi

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. I do not know. The material energy is unlimited.

When we are engaged in Sankirtan with Srila Prabhupada, in the company of his nice, disciples, then we have a good perspective on reality and can make some practical judgement about our subtle and gross experiences.

Adjust your life so that you can have such Kirtan association morning and evening daily.

There are Bhutas, Pretas, Yaska, Rakshasa, Vininayaksas, so many subtle beings.

It is just like a rat trying to understand the variety of people, cats, dogs, horses, pythons etc that there are in the world and then having experiences with them.

There is not limit to how much your can become fixed in your original K. C. experience.

Learn who you are now, build your character and preach.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Here I am again :-) I hope I’m not bothering you.

HpS/ASA - No, agtSP, Hare Krsna! We find your association spiritually mature and scholarly. We hope under Lord Caitanya's order you become Guru and deliver your land!

I wanted to ask — what is the meaning of offering the lamp to Lord Dāmodara? Why specifically the lamp, and not a flower, water, earth, or other items?

HpS - I have had the same question and have not found any details where Srila Prabhupada explains it in any of his BBT books, or even other resources.

I do see that he says one should be initiated and learn the songs and rituals for devotional service, worship Krsna in the Temple from the authorized books.

As far as I know, Krsna ksetra Swami and other approached Srila Prabhupada with the standard diety worship book base upon our Acharya's and he approved the work they had done and the direction they were headed.

As I understand from Sridhara Swami, Prabhupada's Godbrother, the lamp is to illuminate the body of the Lord in general and detail.

Normally the Deity is situated in the Temple and there is not so much light from the direct sunlight so lamps are necessary.

I tried to find a direct reference — a verse, a purport from Śrīla Prabhupāda, or something from the writings of our ācāryas — but so far I’ve only come across symbolic explanations or injunctions without clear scriptural sources.

As we (or at least I) try to follow śāstra and our ācāryas in whatever we do, I feel there must be a meaning and explanation for almost everything in our practice. For example, we have scriptural reasoning for chanting the holy name. Without such grounding, it seems easy to drift toward smārta-like ritualism.

Have you read the ISKCON Deity worship book?

If you wish to share something about this topic, I would be very grateful.

Thank you very much for your kindness and guidance.

Your servant,

Nāmacārya Dās

HpS - Thank you!!! They seem like nice things to offer when you are receiving a guest!!