Anjana Suta Academy
SB 7.1-4
Module Review
(rev. 170925)
As we remember Śrīman Upendra Das pushed us to have Module Reviews. We study Srimad Bhagavatam systematically. Naturally the Chapters group themselves into different topical modules of about four each. Take them to heart.
A MR should include a Summary of the chapters, specific Cogent Points and Essay Topics. How does this all relate to our focus of book distribution? What points can we make for the teacher and future revisions? Under what circumstances was this MR made?
Example: Canto Seven Chapters 1-4, The Advent of Hiranyakasipu.
We are writing this Module Review as the first for our Anjana Suta Academy (WWW.JayaRama.US) Bhaktivedanta Curriculum Development Team. To our perspective we are faced with fundamental problems in developing Sastric Studies in ISKCON and we are involved in the politic of the matter as is delightful for a Sannyasi of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
Module Summary:
(Mostly we just edited the first paragraph of the Chapter Summary)
In Chapter One, in response to a question by Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Śukadeva Gosvāmī gives his conclusions concerning how the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although the Supersoul and friend of everyone, killed the demons for the sake of Indra. He totally refutes the argumentthat the Lord is partial. A second question raised by Parīkṣit Mahārāja concerns how Śiśupāla, although always blaspheming Kṛṣṇa from his childhood, attained salvation when Kṛṣṇa killed him.
As described in the next chapter, after the annihilation of Hiraṇyākṣa, his relatives were very much aggrieved. Hiraṇyakaśipu as his brother reacted trying to diminish the religious activities of people in general and instructed his nephews about a history just to diminish their aggrievement.
Chapter Three describes how Hiraṇyakaśipu performed a severe type of austerity causing great distress throughout the universe. Even Lord Brahmā became somewhat disturbed and personally went to see Hiraṇyakaśipu.
Finally, Chapter Four describes how Hiraṇyakaśipu obtained power from Lord Brahmā and misused it by harassing all the living entities within this universe. It finishes as Nārada Muni describes the characteristics of Prahlāda Mahārāja and how his father envied his own qualified son.
Cogent Points:
(Of course these can be basis for Short Answer Questions)
Chapters 1-3 ASA we ask ASA team member Candramukhi Devi Dasi to do them as part of her Module Review presentation at the Saturday Morning ASA ABC Workshop.
Chapter Four:
From the Summary - “…he began enjoying life in great luxury and thus became mad.” … All the brāhmaṇas… they cursed him with determination.
7.4.2 – “If one possesses more and more, a benediction itself may become a curse, for just as achieving material opulence in this material world requires great strength and endeavor, maintaining it also requires great endeavor.”
“…one should not take benedictions one cannot enjoy peacefully.”
SB 7.4.5-7 – NDX – Sankirtan; science.
SB 7.4.8 - Therefore the upper planets cannot be appraised by imperfect men using imperfect man-made instruments.
12 – “No one in the three worlds can live in peace and prosperity without disturbance.”
13 – “There are three [ndx – cosmology] kinds of demigods — the Ādityas, the Vasus and the Rudras — beneath whom are the other demigods, like the Maruts and Sādhyas
14 - I myself [brahma] . . . offered prayers to him again and again just to glorify him.” [Devotees accept these arrangements as Krsna plan to annhiliate the demons]
19 – “In spite of achieving the power to control in all directions and in spite of enjoying all types of dear sense gratification as much as possible, Hiraṇyakaśipu was dissatisfied because instead of controlling his senses he remained their servant.”
21 – “If from the very beginning [of any endeavor] we seek shelter of the supreme friend, there will be no cause of danger.
30 – “Hiraṇyakaśipu had four wonderful, well-qualified sons,…”
32 – “…and he considered his teachers, spiritual masters and older Godbrothers to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
33 – “Prahlāda Mahārāja . . . was neither directly nor indirectly interested in the fruitive activities…” [Siksastakam: Fruitive activities described in flowery language. Na janam na dhanam]
37 – “For a small boy to give up playing is impossible…”
44 – “Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.25), satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ” [Refresh it!]
Essay Topics:
(Others can add these during the meeting Saturday, CMDD can edit them in and send everything to Srivasa-pandita Das’s administrative team for archiving, no?)
- Why can we say that Krsna is equal to everyone if he killed Vrtasura and gave liberation to Sisupala?
- How do you see Srila Prabhupada adopted these principles to his preaching?
- Is Hiryanyakasipu’s cremation ground lecture correct?
- Discuss some of the technical aspects of Hiranyapasiku’s austerities and relevance to ISKCON yoga.
