Vyasasana

Expressions researched:
"vyasasana"

SB Canto 1

SB 1.1.5, Purport:

Morning is the best time to hold spiritual services. The great sages offered the speaker of the Bhāgavatam an elevated seat of respect called the vyāsāsana, or the seat of Śrī Vyāsadeva. Śrī Vyāsadeva is the original spiritual preceptor for all men. And all other preceptors are considered to be his representatives.

SB 1.1.6, Purport:

A gosvāmī, or the bona fide representative of Śrī Vyāsadeva, must be free from all kinds of vices. The four major vices of Kali-yuga are (1) illicit connection with women, (2) animal slaughter, (3) intoxication, (4) speculative gambling of all sorts. A gosvāmī must be free from all these vices before he can dare sit on the vyāsāsana. No one should be allowed to sit on the vyāsāsana who is not spotless in character and who is not freed from the above-mentioned vices. He not only should be freed from all such vices, but must also be well versed in all revealed scriptures or in the Vedas.

SB 1.1.7, Purport:

One can sit on the vyāsāsana only after being conversant in all systems of philosophy so that one can present fully the theistic views of the Bhāgavatam in defiance of all other systems. Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī was the proper teacher, and therefore the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya elevated him to the vyāsāsana. Śrīla Vyāsadeva is designated herein as the Personality of Godhead because he is the authorized empowered incarnation.

CC Adi-lila

CC Adi 5.171, Purport:

A similar event occurred when Romaharṣaṇa-sūta was speaking to the great assembly of sages at Naimiṣāraṇya. Lord Baladeva entered that great assembly, but since Romaharṣaṇa-sūta was on the vyāsāsana, he did not get down to offer respect to Lord Baladeva. The behavior of Guṇārṇava Miśra indicated that he had no great respect for Lord Nityānanda, and this idea was not at all palatable to Mīnaketana Rāmadāsa. For this reason the mentality of Mīnaketana Rāmadāsa is never deprecated by devotees.

Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead

Krsna Book 78:

Unfortunately, after being worshiped and seated in His place, Lord Balarāma saw Romaharṣaṇa, the disciple of Vyāsadeva (the literary incarnation of Godhead), still sitting on the vyāsāsana. He had neither gotten up from his seat nor offered Him respects. Because he was seated on the vyāsāsana, he foolishly thought himself greater than the Lord; therefore he did not get down from his seat or bow down before the Lord.

Krsna Book 78:

When a person is seated on the vyāsāsana, he does not generally have to stand to receive a particular person entering the assembly, but in this case the situation was different because Lord Baladeva is not an ordinary human being. Therefore, although Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was voted to the vyāsāsana by all the brāhmaṇas, he should have followed the behavior of other learned sages and brāhmaṇas present and should have known that Lord Balarāma is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Krsna Book 78:

Dear Lord Yadunandana, we may inform You that we brāhmaṇas posted Romaharṣaṇa Sūta on that exalted position for the duration of this great sacrifice. He was seated on the vyāsāsana by our election, and when one is seated on the vyāsāsana, it is improper for him to stand up to receive a person. Moreover, we awarded Romaharṣaṇa Sūta an undisturbed duration of life. Under the circumstances, since Your Lordship has killed him without knowing all these facts, we think that Your action is equal to killing a brāhmaṇa.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Lecture on BG 2.16 -- London, August 22, 1973:

Vyāsadeva is the original ācārya. Therefore the birthday of guru is called vyāsa-pūjā. Vyāsa-pūjā means original guru. Guru is the representative of Vyāsadeva. This throne is called vyāsāsana, sitting place of Vyāsadeva. So one who is representative of Vyāsadeva, he can sit on this throne. So guru, by paramparā system, guru is seated on the vyāsāsana because he is the representative. Just like in the high-court, the bench, it is called bench. Actually, the bench is to be used by the head of the executive power, the king or the president. But the high-court judge is the representative of the head executive; therefore, he sits on that bench.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Lecture on SB 1.1.5-6 -- London, August 23, 1971:

So, munayaḥ ṛṣayaḥ, here it is said that ta ekadā tu munayaḥ. They were... Munayaḥ, generally, they're high-caste brāhmaṇas. So regularly this principle was being observed. And the speaker, Sūta Gosvāmī, was given his due respect, the vyāsāsana. Here it is said, sat-kṛtam. Sat-kṛtam means with due respects, the welcoming, receiving, sat-kṛtaṁ sūtam āsīnam. The speaker must sit very comfortably, sūtam āsīnam. Sukha means certainly he should not feel any inconvenience.

Lecture on SB 1.1.5-6 -- London, August 23, 1971:

Pradyumna: "The great sages offered the speaker of the Bhāgavatam an elevated seat of respect called the vyāsāsana, or the seat of Śrī Vyāsadeva."

Prabhupāda: Vyāsāsana means... Vyāsa means guru, because he's our original guru. When spiritual master's birthday is observed, it is called vyāsa-pūjā. This vyāsa-pūjā means a spiritual master is representative of Vyāsa. Just as we are teaching this Bhāgavata-dharma, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—we are following the footsteps of Vyāsadeva. So actually, the preacher's seat is Vyāsadeva's āsana; it is the seat of Vyāsadeva. Just like in the high-court the seat of judgment, or what is called? That seat nobody else can sit there, in that seat. Only the high-court judge, representative of king for giving law to the citizens, he can sit down. Similarly, the vyāsāsana is occupied by the representative of Vyāsadeva, who can speak on behalf of Vyāsadeva. This is the system.

Lecture on SB 1.1.5-6 -- London, August 23, 1971:

Dharma-śāstra. In the Vedic civilization there are twenty big, big books, dharma-śāstra, for regulating life. Very difficult subject matter, dharma-śāstra. So Sūta Gosvāmī was offered the seat of vyāsāsana because he was aware of these things, itihāsa, history, Purāṇa, still older history, dharma-śāstra, the scriptures, everything. Therefore he's first of all addressing that "You have read... Not only you have read, but you have described." Description means... You read something. Unless you fully assimilate, understand, you cannot describe it.

Festival Lectures

Sri Vyasa-puja -- Hyderabad, August 19, 1976:

Śrīpada Sampatkumar Bhaṭṭācārya, ladies and gentlemen: I must thank you for your kindly coming here during this Vyāsa-pūjā ceremony. Vyāsa-pūjā...This āsana where they have seated me, it is called vyāsāsana. The guru is the representative of Vyāsadeva. Everyone of you have heard the name of Vyāsadeva, Veda Vyāsa. So anyone who represents the great ācārya, Vyāsadeva, he is allowed to sit on the vyāsāsana.

Initiation Lectures

Initiation Sri Ranga, Romaharsana, Sridhara Dasas -- Los Angeles, July 3, 1970:

It was an example that we should be always very careful about offering respects to the Supreme Lord. He was sitting on the vyāsāsana. Vyāsāsana, one who is sitting on the vyāsāsana, if somebody comes, he does not require to offer respect. That is the rule. But that is not applicable when God enters. No. (laughter) That was his offense. So exemplary. He was killed not with any weapon. One straw. He was immediately... Balarāma had some straw. So all the sages said that "Sir, we allowed him to sit on the vyāsāsana, and he was speaking. Now what is to be done? He's killed."

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation-Recent Mail -- July 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "One point," he says... "One point I would like to clear up in connection with our distribution of mūrtis. I have had many requests and inquiries about placing the form of Your Divine Grace on the vyāsāsana along with or instead of on the altar for worship. Is this permissible? In some temples the altar is too small and will not accommodate the present size of the..."

Prabhupāda: No. Vyāsāsana is good.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So either one is all right.

Prabhupāda: No. If there is picture in the middle and vyāsāsana.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So these mūrtis can be placed on the vyāsāsana.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Los Angeles 31 January, 1969:

First of all I am pleased to know that you are feeling comfortable in Hawaii and you are keeping yourself busily engaged. I am glad that you and Murari are working on my Vyasasana, and as soon as it is completed, you can call me there, and I shall go. I think that if I am to go to Hawaii, I must go there by March, because in April I have other engagements in Columbia and other places.

Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 13 August, 1969:

I think you have already got the design of the throne and the measurements also. It should be 40" x 40", and the height is 57", including the canopy. The front pillars are three on each side, and the whole throne is supported by four lion claws. I shall send you very soon a real photo of the Los Angeles throne, Jagannatha altar and Vyasasana. They have done it very nicely and perfectly. So I wish that in every center similar arrangements may be done.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 8 March, 1970:

So far taking away the shoes is concerned, you can make the following arrangement: just after the entrance door, arrange for a movable railing so that anyone willing to enter the Temple room, but who does not like to take of his shoes, may be allowed to enter the door but stand near the railing and see the Deity from that place. Anyone willing to go inside the railing boundary must have to get out of his shoes. And exactly by the side of the Altar another railing may be fixed up. This railing should stand between the Vyasasana and the Altar.

Letter to Bahulasva -- Los Angeles 18 April, 1970:

I am very glad to learn how you are improving the temple with new altar, proper Vyasasana, etc. I have already ordered Radha Krsna Deities for you, and when they arrive they will be installed.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 21 April, 1970:

I am glad to know that you are about to enlarge your altar and throne to accommodate the new Deities. However, you should not put the Vyasasana in the rear as they are doing in L.A. L.A. has got a different arrangement than you have got in Boston temple. So you can put the Vyasasana along the side of the Temple room and that will be nice. I also think that you cannot make the same arrangement as L.A. for separate doors for each of the three altars, so simply expand your present altars to fit the new Deities on the basis of the old style.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 15 May, 1970:

Regarding the means of worship, our Vaisnava process is first offer respects to the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Lord Krsna. Vyasa is the Spiritual Master, therefore the Spiritual Master is the representative of Vyasa. Therefore the Spiritual Master's seat is called "Vyasasana."

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 16 May, 1970:

With reference to your letter dated 14th May, I am surprised how you allowed Mr. Parikh to sit on the Vyasasana. You know that Vyasasana is meant for the representative of Vyasadeva, the Spiritual Master, but Mr. Parikh does not come in the Parampara to become the representative of Vyasa, neither he has any sound knowledge of Vaisnava principles. I understand from your letter that sometimes discussions on Aurobindo philosophy are done by Mr. Parikh from the Vyasasana, so I am a little surprised how did you allow like this. I think you should rectify immediately all these mistakes as stated by you in the last two lines of your letter, "I think the best thing to do is stop his class. Nonsense ought not to be tolerated."

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 4 June, 1970:

So I was sure that you could not allow anyone to sit on the Vyasasana, and therefore when I read your statement I was little surprised. Anyway, that is alright.

I hope your arrangements for Rathayatra festival are going on and Yamuna devi is taking nice care of the Deities. I can understand from the record album that your devotional feelings have improved. So keep this standard intact. In India the "Kalyana" magazine has published a nice description of our movement, and they have very much appreciated about my regulative principles.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo 25 August, 1970:

The ripened fruit is received hand to hand through disciplic succession and anyone who does this work in disciplic succession from Srila Vyasadeva is considered as representative of Vyasadeva and as such the bona fide Spiritual Master's Appearance Day is worshiped as Vyasa Puja. Not only that, the exalted seat on which the Spiritual Master sits is also called Vyasasana.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Jadurani -- Bombay 8 June, 1971:

Yes, it will be easier for me to answer your questions if I can see a sketch of the painting. So far as the sacrificial fire at Naimisaranya, it was a big pit, say four feet square surrounded by raised walls 8 inches high and within the pit was the fire. That is the system. Our sacrificial fire arenas are temporary only. Yes, it was near Suta Goswami's vyasasana.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Delhi 10 December, 1971:

Our Delhi pandal was also very much well-received by everyone. From early morning, 6 am, to late at night, sometimes past midnight, thousands of persons came there to see and listen. One very popular feature was our "Question and Answer booth," wherein one of our elderly devotees would sit on a very high vyasasana and answer questions put by the visitors. This item became so controversial and popular that it was open at least until midnight daily to accommodate all the curious public. Everyone delights in lively debates and discussions of philosophy.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Aksayananda -- Honolulu 6 May, 1976:

This Krishna Kaliya Temple will be in many respects similar to the Vrindaban Temple as regarding the architectural work. Therefore, I am requesting you to make photos of the altars, and give detailed dimensions of the same, as well as the Vyasasana. Also take photos of the area outside the altar from where people will view the Deities. These items and others requested by the devotees in Fiji should be sent to them directly so that they can go ahead unimpeded in the construction of the new temple.

Letter to Aksayananda -- New Vrindaban 24 June, 1976:

I had written to you about sending dimensions of the altar and vyasasana, etc. to Fiji where we are presently constructing the Krsna-Kaliya temple, but I have received word from Fiji that as yet they have not received this information from you. Please try to do the needful as they are nearly ready to begin work on that portion of the temple.

Letter to Aksayananda -- New Vrindaban 24 June, 1976:

N.b. also send photos of the altars and Vyasasana to Fiji as they will need these for making the designs.

Letter to Vasudeva -- New Vrindaban 24 June, 1976:

N.b. I have also sent a reminder to Aksayananda Swami in Vrindaban to send the dimensions of the altar and Vyasasana of the Krishna Balarama Temple. I trust that you will receive this shortly.