Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 05 Chapter 17 Purports - The Descent of the River Ganges: Difference between revisions
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Latest revision as of 20:11, 3 December 2020
Pages in category "Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 05 Chapter 17 Purports - The Descent of the River Ganges"
The following 120 pages are in this category, out of 120 total.
A
- A devotee is never caught in the process of being promoted to the heavenly planets and again coming down
- A guru must be a direct representative of Krsna who distributes the instructions of Krsna without any change. Thus only the most fortunate persons come in contact with the guru
- A person who is equipoised in all circumstances is never bewildered. Prahlada Maharaja is a perfect example of a dhira
- A sane man surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus gets out of the clutches of the illusory energy, maya
- A summary of creation is given in this verse (SB 5.17.22-23). From Sankarsana, Maha-Visnu expands, and from Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu expands
- All conditioned souls working within the illusory energy of the Lord consider the body to be the self, and thus they continuously wander throughout the universe, taking birth in different species of life and creating more and more problems
- All these sages (beginning with Marici, Vasistha and Atri) regard devotional service as the highest perfection of life. Therefore they all carry the holy water of the Ganges on their heads
- Among all the living entities wandering throughout the universe, one who is most fortunate comes in contact with a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus gets the opportunity to execute devotional service
- Among these three classes of heavenly places (bhauma-svarga-pada-ni), the heavenly places on earth are the eight varsas other than Bharata-varsa
- Ananta has the bodily features of a snake with thousands of hoods & since His strength is unlimited, all the universes resting on His hoods feel no heavier than mustard seeds. We can just imagine how insignificant a mustard seed is on the hood of a snake
- Ananta's strength is so great that the innumerable universes rest on His hoods
- Anyone living on the land adjacent to these rivers (Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Kaveri, Krsna and Narmada) is naturally advanced in spiritual consciousness
- Anyone who remains unagitated, even in the presence of cause for agitation, is called dhira, or equipoised
- Anyone who wants to be secure from the influence of the modes of material nature must take shelter of Him - the Supreme Lord
- As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati: the living entity is struggling very hard against the six senses, which include the mind
- As confirmed in the Vedic literatures, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: one has to search out a guru to understand the affairs of the spiritual world
- As enjoined in the sastras, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matih: "No one should treat the Deity in the temple as stone or metal, nor should one think that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being"
- As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.19): "After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare"
- As soon as he (the devotee firmly fixed in devotional service) remembers Lord Visnu, his eyes fill with tears. This is a symptom of a maha-bhagavata
- As stated in Bhagavad-gita (BG 2.20), the living entity is never created (na jayate mriyate va kadacin). There are five gross material elements and three minor material elements (mind, intelligence and ego), and there are eternal living entities
- At Prayaga (Allahabad), many thousands of people gather during the month of January to bathe in the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna. Afterward, many of them go to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Ganges to take bath there
B
- Because destruction is in the mode of ignorance, Lord Siva and his worshipable Deity, Sankarsana, are technically called tamasi. Lord Siva is the incarnation of tamo-guna
- Because of His eternally transcendental position, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in this material world, the modes of material nature cannot affect Him. Therefore the Supreme Lord is called Transcendence
- Because their (Siva's and Sankarsana's) activities involve them with the mode of ignorance, they are sometimes called tamasi
- Brahmanas are supposed to acquire six kinds of auspicious qualifications: they become expert in worshiping the Lord or the demigods (yajana), and they teach others how to execute this worship (yajana)
- Brahmanas are supposed to acquire six kinds of auspicious qualifications: they become very learned scholars (pathana) and very qualified teachers (pathana)
- Brahmanas are supposed to acquire six kinds of auspicious qualifications: they qualify themselves as bona fide persons to receive alms from others (pratigraha), and they distribute the wealth in charity (dana)
- By avoiding offenses against the Deity and the spiritual master, one can advance in spiritual life, or Krsna consciousness
- By our calculation, a universe may be very, very heavy, but because the Lord is ananta (unlimited), He feels the weight to be no heavier than a mustard seed
D
- Devotees consider such goals (kaivalya and promotion to the heavenly planets) to be worthless phantasmagoria
- Dhruva Maharaja maintained himself in that devotional ecstasy, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also gave us a practical example of transcendental ecstasy when He lived at Jagannatha Puri. His pastimes there are fully narrated in Caitanya-caritamrta
- During the first yuga, Satya-yuga, people were very pious. Everyone practiced the mystic yoga system for spiritual understanding and realization of God. Because everyone was always absorbed in samadhi, no one was interested in material sense enjoyment
- During Treta-yuga, people enjoyed sense pleasure without tribulations. Material miseries began in Dvapara-yuga, but they were not very stringent. Stringent material miseries really began from the advent of Kali-yuga
F
- For the devotee of the Lord, the highest perfection of the Mayavadis, kaivalya, or becoming one with the Supreme, is considered hellish to say nothing of the karmis' aspiration to be promoted to the heavenly planets
- For those who bathe in the Ganges at any time, the results of great sacrifices like the Asvamedha and Rajasuya yajnas are not at all difficult to achieve
- From all angles of vision the word guru is especially meant for the bona fide representative of Krsna and no one else
- From Mount Meru the water of the Ganges finally reaches the lower planets and the peaks of the Himalayas, and from there it flows through Hardwar and throughout the plains of India, purifying the entire land
I
- If they were actually capable scientists, they could personally go by airplane to other planets, but this they are unable to do. Having now given up their moon excursions, they are attempting to go to other planets, but without success
- In all eight of these heavenly varsas, although men and women enjoy sex pleasure, there is no pregnancy. Pregnancy takes place only in lower-grade life
- In all the activities of creation and annihilation, the living entity is entangled in fruitive activities, which are executed by the illusory energy, maya. He is exactly like a computer handled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- In Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.21) Krsna says, ksine punye martya-lokam visanti: when the persons living in the heavenly planets exhaust the results of their pious activities, they return to this earth
- In Dvaraka-puri, Pradyumna is the predominator. On the island known as Svetadvipa, there is an ocean of milk, and in the midst of that ocean is a place called Airavati-pura, where Aniruddha lies on Ananta
- In grades of life higher than ours, pregnancy occurs once in a lifetime. People still have sex life, but there is no pregnancy
- In some of the satvata-tantras, there is a description of the nine varsas and the predominating Deity worshiped in each: (1) Vasudeva, (2) Sankarsana, (3) Pradyumna, (4) Aniruddha, (5) Narayana, (6) Nrsimha, (7) Hayagriva, (8) Mahavaraha, and (9) Brahma
- In that atmosphere (the lower heavenly planets) they enjoy life with their very beautiful wives, who are always sexually stimulated. Nonetheless, they are all devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as will be explained in subsequent verses
- In the heavenly planets, although the residents enjoy superior sense gratification, they never forget their positions as eternal servants of the Supreme Being
- In the material world, the Lord is always worshiped as the arca-vigraha, or Deity in the temple
- In the Padma Purana it is said that in the spiritual world the Lord personally expands in all directions and is worshiped as Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha
- In the spiritual world, people are not very attracted to sex life, due to their exalted devotional attitude
- In the upper planetary system, the topmost planet is Dhruvaloka, and beneath Dhruvaloka are the seven planets occupied by the great sages, beginning with Marici, Vasistha & Atri. All these sages regard devotional service as the highest perfection of life
- In this region (bhauma-svarga, or Kashmir) there are certainly good facilities for material sense enjoyment, but this is not the business of a pure transcendentalist
- In this sinful age of Kali, people have even taken to the process of killing the child in the womb. This is the most degraded practice; it can only perpetuate the miserable material conditions of those who perform it
- In this verse (SB 5.17.1), Sukadeva Gosvami describes the glories of the Ganges River. The water of the Ganges is called patita-pavani, the deliverer of all sinful living beings
- It is a proven fact that a person who regularly bathes in the Ganges is purified both externally & internally. Externally his body becomes immune to all kinds of disease, and internally he gradually develops a devotional attitude toward the SP of Godhead
- It is a special facility for all the people of India that they can bathe in the water of the Ganges at so many places of pilgrimage
L
- Lord Brahma creates the material world, Lord Visnu maintains it, and Lord Siva destroys it
- Lord Brahma is born from the mahat-tattva. Brahma creates the entire universe, Lord Visnu maintains it, and Lord Siva annihilates it
- Lord Brahma, who was born of Garbhodakasayi Visnu, fathers Lord Siva, from whom all the other demigods gradually evolve. Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu are incarnations of the different material qualities
- Lord Siva is the incarnation of tamo-guna. Since both Lord Siva and Sankarsana are always enlightened and situated in the transcendental position, they have nothing to do with the modes of material nature - goodness, passion and ignorance
- Lord Visnu is actually above all material qualities, but He accepts control of sattva-guna (the mode of goodness) to maintain the universe
O
- Of the three divisions of heavenly planets (svarga-loka), bhauma-svarga is sometimes accepted as the tract of land in Bharata-varsa known as Kashmir
- On Makara-sankranti, in the month of January-February, thousands of people still go there (Ganga-sagara) to bathe, hoping to be liberated. That they can actually be liberated in this way is confirmed herein - SB 5.17.9
- On the planet earth human beings do become pregnant, although the tendency is to avoid having children
- One who is very interested in understanding the activities in the spiritual world must search out a guru - a bona fide representative of Krsna
- Only by achieving pure devotional service of the Lord can one give up all other engagements as insignificant
P
- Padma Purana states, avaisnavo gurur na syat: one who is not a Vaisnava, or who is not a representative of Krsna, cannot be a guru. Even the most qualified brahmana cannot become a guru if he is not a representative of Krsna
- Practically speaking, there is no sex life in the spiritual world, but even if sometimes it does occur, there is no pregnancy at all
- Pregnancy takes place only in lower-grade life. Animals like dogs and hogs become pregnant twice a year, and each time they beget at least half a dozen offspring. Even lower species of life such as snakes give birth to hundreds of young at one time
S
- So-called advanced scientists of the modern age are trying to go to the higher planets, but at the same time they are experiencing a power shortage on earth
- So-called scientists and advanced research scholars are ludicrously trying to find the cause of life. They take no notice of the fact that life is already being produced
- Sometimes they (conditioned souls) become disgusted with the problems and seek out a process by which they can get out of this entanglement
- Sometimes we see a picture of Lord Siva engaged in meditation. This verse (SB 5.17.16) explains that Lord Siva is always meditating upon Lord Sankarsana in trance. Lord Siva is in charge of the destruction of the material world
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has perfectly enunciated and broadcast the process of bhakti-yoga
- Standing on His right foot and extending His left to the edge of the universe, Lord Vamana became known as Trivikrama, the incarnation who performed three heroic deeds
T
- The Ganges River comes from the Causal Ocean. After the water of the Causal Ocean leaks through the hole created by Lord Vamanadeva, it flows down to Dhruvaloka (the polestar) and then to the seven planets beneath Dhruvaloka
- The Ganges River is carried to the moon by innumerable celestial airplanes, and then it falls to the top of Mount Meru, which is known as Sumeru-parvata
- The heavenly places of enjoyment are divided into three groups: the celestial heavenly planets, the heavenly places on earth, and the bila heavenly places, which are found in the lower regions
- The impersonalists do not accept spiritual varieties of life. They want to merge into the existence of the Supreme Lord in His Brahman feature (the brahmajyoti). The devotees, however, desire to take part in the transcendental activities of the Lord
- The incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Sesa or Ananta has unlimited strength, fame, wealth, knowledge, beauty and renunciation
- The inhabitants of this earth also desire heavenly enjoyment, but when they somehow or other achieve imitation pleasures like sex and intoxication, they completely forget the service of the Supreme Lord
- The inhabitants of those (Heavenly) planets enjoy life in a pleasing atmosphere of clear lakes filled with newly grown lotus flowers and gardens filled with fruits, flowers, various kinds of birds and humming bees
- The living entity desires a certain type of body, and by the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that body is created from material nature, which is nothing but a kind of machine handled by the Supreme Lord
- The living entity is seated on a machine (the body), and according to the order of the Supreme Lord, he operates the machine. This is the secret of transmigration of the soul from one body to another
- The living entity thus becomes entangled in fruitive activities in this material world - by operating the machine of the body
- The Lord Brahma mentioned in this connection is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When there is no fit human being to empower as Lord Brahma, the Lord Himself takes the position of Lord Brahma. That Brahma mentioned here (SB 5.17.14) is Hari Himself
- The Lord gives the living entity a particular type of mechanical body, and the living entity must work with it according to the law of fruitive activities. Fruitive activities are described in this verse (SB 5.17.24): karma-pamanim mayam
- The place where the Ganges flows into the salt water of the Bay of Bengal is still known as Ganga-sagara, or the meeting place of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal
- The same God is represented by the Deity in this material world, which is only one quarter of His creation
- The senses are compared to poisonous snakes, but the senses of a bhakta engaged in the service of the Lord are like snakes with their poisonous fangs removed
- The so-called scientists say that nature acts independently, but they cannot explain what nature is. Nature is nothing but a machine operated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When one understands the operator, his problems of life are solved
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead controls all the most important demigods - especially Lord Brahma and Lord Siva - exactly as the owner of a bird controls it by binding it with a rope. Sometimes vultures are controlled in this way
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always equipped with inconceivable potencies. Although creation takes place by His glancing over the material energy, He is not affected by the modes of material nature
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being always in a transcendental position, is never agitated by anything. Therefore someone who wants to become dhira must take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord
- The yogi tries to suppress his senses, but even great mystics like Visvamitra fail in the attempt
- There (in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Five, verses 117-125) it is stated that Lord Visnu's incarnation as the serpentine Ananta Sesa Naga supports all the universes on His hoods
- There are also yogis, who try to control their senses, but they can never succeed without coming to the stage of devotional service
- There are four yugas: Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga and Kali-yuga
- There is a Vaikunthaloka covered with water in this material world, and on that planet is a place called Vedavati, where Vasudeva is located. Another planet known as Visnuloka is situated above Satyaloka, and there Sankarsana is present
- There is no difference between the arca-vigraha and the original person
- They (persons living in the heavenly planets) are elevated to the heavenly planets, and then they again fall to the earthly planets. This process is known as brahmanda bhramana, wandering up and down throughout the universes
- They (those) who are intelligent take to the devotional service of the Lord so that they can ultimately penetrate the covering of this universe and enter the spiritual kingdom
- This verse (SB 5.17.3) proves that for one who has achieved the platform of pure devotional service, nothing else is important, even so-called liberation - kaivalya
- Those who are engaged in worshiping the Deity in the temple in full opulence, even on this planet, should be understood to be directly in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead without a doubt
- Those who are intelligent - in other words, those who have not lost their intelligence - do not involve themselves in this process of wandering up and down
- Those who are sincerely seeking the favor of Krsna come in contact with a guru, a bona fide representative of Krsna
- Those who fully engage in devotional service to Krsna just to please Him are not interested in the three divisions of heavenly places, namely, divya-svarga, bhauma-svarga and bila-svarga
- Transcendentalists are divided into two primary groups: the nirvisesa-vadis, or impersonalists, and the bhaktas, or devotees
V
- Vaisnavah sva-paco guruh: but a Vaisnava, a bona fide representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, can become a guru, even if he is sva-paca, a member of a family of dog-eaters
- Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha are also present in the four directions of this material world
- Visvamitra was conquered by his senses when he was captivated by Menaka during his meditation. She later gave birth to Sakuntala. The wisest persons in the world, therefore, are the bhakti-yogis
- Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura informs us that the demigods worship the Supreme Lord in His various Deity forms (arca-vigraha) because except in the spiritual world, the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be directly worshiped in person
W
- What will be their (the so-called scientists and advanced research scholars) credit if they find out the chemical composition of life? All their chemicals are nothing but different transformations of the five elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether
- When a person is firmly fixed in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is described as vira-vrata, fully determined. Such a devotee increases his ecstasy in devotional service more and more
- When devotees ultimately penetrate the coverings of this universe, then they are situated on one of the planets known as Vaikunthaloka or, still higher. Krsnaloka - Goloka Vrndavana
- When the fierce form of Nrsimha-deva appeared in order to kill Hiranyakasipu, Prahlada was unagitated. He remained calm and quiet, whereas others, including even Lord Brahma, were frightened by the features of the Lord