Author: Purushottam Nitai Das

My Prayer to Lord Balarama on Balarama Jayanti

Today is Balarama Jayanti, the day of Lord Balaram.  It is on this day that Lord Balarama appeared in this material world. Son of Rohini, the darling of braja, Lord Balaram came to this world for people like us. He appeared as elder brother of Lord Krishna. On this auspicious day I pray at the lotus feet of Lord Balaram to give me intelligence and determination so that I can become sincere in my spiritual practice.

Balarama serves Krishna in five rasas

Lord Balarama, you are the first plenary expansion of Krishna. You are always with Krishna. You live to serve Krishna. You serve Krishna in all the five rasas – shanta rasa, dasya rasa, sakhya rasa, vatsalya rasa and madhurya rasa.

To serve Krishna in shanta rasa you expand through your energy as Goloka Vrindavan where Krishna performs so many wonderful pastimes. To serve Krishna you become Krishna’s crown, flute, slipper, clothes, ornaments, umbrella, bed, clothes.

You always try to serve Krishna as menial servant in dasya rasa and assist him in his pastime. Srila Prabhupada writes, “Although Lord Baladeva appeared before the birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa and is therefore Kṛṣṇa’s worshipable elder brother, He used to act as Kṛṣṇa’s eternal servitor.” Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi Lila 6.76

In sakhya rasa, you play, wrestle, argue, fight, dance and eat with Krishna.

In vatsalaya rasa you are always concerned about Krishna’s well-being. You make sure that Krishna has eaten properly. When it is late you ask Krishna to return home. In the forest when it is dark you become very protective for Krishna.

To serve Krishna in madhurya rasa, you expand as Ananga Manjari and become the younger sister of Radharani. You then assist Radha and Krishna in their conjugal pastime.

You are always engaged in serving Krishna, the Supreme Lord.

Also Read: Damodar Lila: Why Balaram could not untie Krishna

Balarama always accompanies Krishna

When Krishna expands as Lord Vishnu, you become Ananta Sesa. As Anant Sesa you become the bed of Lord Vishnu, you become the crown of Lord Vishnu. You have innumerable hoods and uncountable mouth. From each of your mouth you continuously glorify the Supreme Lord.

When Krishna appeared as Lord Rama you appeared as his younger brother Lakshman. Because you cannot live without a moment away from Rama, you accompanied Lord Rama and mother Sita in the forest. For the 14 years when you lived in forest you decided not to sleep even for a moment so that you can serve Lord Rama and his consort mother Sita every moment.

Balarama teaches us to always serve Krishna

With these examples you teach us that every moment of our life should be utilized in serving the Lord.  My life should be only for the service of the Lord. When will I get the determination and desire to follow your instructions and serve you constantly? Even after hearing again and again that the purpose of life is to serve you and Krishna, I still prefer to serve my sensual desires.

Dear Balarama I pray for your mercy

Instead of developing attraction for the Supreme Lord Krishna I still remain attracted towards the flickering pleasures of this material world.  Instead of developing deep attachment for Krishna I still remain attached to this ephemeral world.  Although I know that this world is temporary still I live as if I have to live here forever. In spite of knowing that this body is perishable I am always busy trying to satisfy the never-ending demands of my body. Instead of utilizing my senses in serving you, I am busy serving my senses and mind.  Instead of accepting you as my master, I have become slave of my mind and senses.  Most of the time, I find myself busy serving the unholy demands of my senses.

Because of being in this material world for many lifetimes my material disease has become too severe. As a terribly sick person becomes insane and forgets what is good for him or bad. My material disease is so severe that I fail to understand what is good for me and what is bad for me.

An expert doctor can cure a seriously patient. You are the Supreme doctor, so please consider my plea and cure me of all material diseases.

You are my only shelter

Other than you, I do not have any shelter. If you leave me, where will I go.

Although I know the importance of taking your shelter but still I fail to take your shelter. My mind is not in my control. My senses refuse to listen to me.

Just like a child caught up in the middle of the ocean surrounded by blood sucking crocodile cries desperately for help. I am also caught up in this material world surrounded by the poisonous senses. I seek your help. I am helpless in front of my powerful senses. Again and again I try to serve you but again and again my senses do not allow me to serve you.

Other than you, no one can rescue me. No one is as merciful like you. A helpless child in the middle of the gigantic ocean can be saved by an expert swimmer.  You are the creator of the gigantic oceans. Upon you the entire material universe rests. So be merciful upon me and save me from the unending miseries of this material world.

Dear Balarama I beg for your shelter

Please purify my senses so that my senses start taking pleasure in serving the lotus feet of Krishna.

Please remove all the impurities from my mind and inundate it with Krishna conscious thoughts.

Please give me intelligence so that I become convinced that material pleasure is the cause of all the misery and not the source of happiness.

Please bless me so that each and every moment of life I should only think of Krishna.

Please shower your mercy upon me so that I lose all taste for this material world.

Human life is useless if it is not used in the service of the Lord. I got this human life by your mercy. So, I beg you to be merciful upon me so that I do not waste my human birth.  Request you to free me from my helpless condition and give me the shelter of your divine lotus feet.

The most important reason behind Ravana’s death

Lust was the most important reason behind Ravana’s death. Shurpanakha, his sister cunningly planted the seed of lust in Ravana’s heart which became the cause of his downfall.

Shurpanakha wanted revenge because Rama and also Lakshman had refused her proposal of marriage. In anger, she tried to attack Sita and so Lakshman had to cut her nose. It was just a token punishment. She was furious. With her disfigured nose, she barged into the assembly of Ravana.

Shurpanakha describes Sita’s beauty to Ravana’s

Crying pitiful she said, “Ravana, my beloved brother, in the forest I saw a woman called Sita whose beauty is incomparable in the entire creation.  Such a lovely woman who is more beautiful than any celestial woman is meant to be your wife. For you, I tried to snatch her away from her husband, Rama. But Lakshman, Rama’s brother, attacked me and cut my nose. For your sake, I suffered. Sita’s beauty is not of this world. She has a tender body, lotus eyes, soft lips and glowing face. If you get her, you will enjoy pleasure more than what the celestial beings enjoy. Go in the forest to see her beauty. And if you have any feelings for your sister then do punish the two brothers.”

Shurpanakha’s description of Sita’s beauty charmed the heart of Ravana. The more he thought about her, the flame of the fire of lust made him mad for her. He became desperate for her. He wanted Sita, Rama’s wife, at any cost.

Shurpanakha succeeded in her mission. She had cleverly planted the seed of lust in Ravana’s heart. She knew her brother was lusty. So, he will definitely try to get Sita. And when Rama and Lakshmana will oppose, his brother will kill the two brothers. Thus, she will succeed in avenging the insult.

Why Ravana failed to satisfy his lust?

In Bhagavad Gita 2.62 – 2.63, Krishna says that our miseries start taking shape as soon as we start contemplating on the objects of the senses. Contemplation gradually leads to attachment for the object and attachment give rise to lust. A lust haunted person tries his best to satisfy his material desires. But the way this world is created that no matter how best we try, we cannot fulfil our lust. Trying to satisfy lust is like pouring ghee in fire. The more we try to satisfy our lusty desires, our craving for that desire keeps on increasing. And our sufferings too increase in that proportion.

Just like a spark if unchecked has the capability of burning the entire house. Similarly, even a tiny little material desire if not checked slowly becomes too big to handle. It completely overpowers us and compels us to act on that desire. Many times, our worldly desires force us act in a sinful way for which we have to suffer.  

Ravana’s misery began as soon as he developed a desire to enjoy Sita. To satisfy his nasty craving he kidnapped Sita and brought her to his kingdom, Lanka. But he failed to enjoy with Sita. Whenever he approached Sita, she rebuked him. He was insulted again and again by Sita.  The mighty king of Lanka had become a laughingstock. 

Did Ravana had a chance to rectify his mistakes?

It was not that Ravana, the demon king, did not have the chance to rectify his mistake.

His well-wishers tried to reason with him, make him understand the dangerous path he was pursuing.

Vibhishana, his brother, told him that it is improper to kidnap another’s wife. Mandodari, his chaste wife, who was herself extremely beautiful, tried to counsel him to give up attachment for another woman.  Hanuman, Lord Rama’s dearest devotee, too tried to persuade him to return mother Sita. But Ravana, the ten-headed lusty fool refused all the good advice.

And finally, Lord Rama had to kill him.   

Most important reason behind Ravana’s death

No one was the cause of Ravana’s misery, humiliation and death. Lust was the main reason behind Ravana’s death, the cause of his ultimate annihilation.  History is testimony to the fact that lusty men (and also women) have never lived happily. Many powerful kings lost their kingdom because of their obsession for opposite sex.

The lesson which we should learn from Ravana’s life is that we should never allow lust to grow in our heart. We should constantly check our heart for any lusty desires.  If it is there then nip it in the bud. Because if left unchecked then it will completely destroy us.

Everything begins with contemplation.  Ravana heard about Sita’s physical beauty then began contemplating upon it and eventually started acting on that wrong desire.  And finally, lust became the main reason behind Ravana’s death.

How can we engage our senses in positive spiritual activities?

What we see, what we hear, what we read and with whom we associate plays an important role in shaping our thought process. So, we should not allow our senses to indulge in any wrong activities. But senses need constant engagement and mind cannot remain empty. So, we should give our senses positive engagement. 

• If we engage our eyes in reading spiritual literatures like Krishna book or Ramayana then our mind will constantly contemplate on the pastimes of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama. We will slowly lose taste for reading books which arouse lusty desires.

• If we engage our eyes in seeing the beautiful deities of Krishna and Rama then our eyes will remain absorbed in relishing the divine form of the Lord. Eyes will then not look for lusty objects.

• If we regularly hear kirtan and pastimes of the Lord then those transcendental words will constantly reverberate in our ears. In fact, our ears will again and again look for an opportunity to hear those divine words.

Association with devotees of Lord can transform our life completely.  There are several examples in scriptures regarding this.  A prostitute, Lakshahira, full of lusty desires went to Haridas Thakura to pollute him. But instead of polluting the great devotee, she quickly got purified of her lusty desires because of Haridas Thakura’s association. Haridas Thakura would always remain absorbed in chanting the names of Krishna. When Srila Prabhupada went to west in 1965 then scores of American boys and girls were quickly able to give up their sinful habits because of Prabhupada’s association. They became sincere devotees of Krishna. 

How a devotee develops distaste for all lusty desires and enjoys spiritual bliss?

Sincere devotees of Lord never allow their senses to go astray. They carefully engage their senses in devotional activities of the Lord. So, they do not get enticed by any lusty desires.  Devotional services to the Lord are so satisfying and pleasing that the devotees lose all taste for all material desires.

Sri Yamunacarya, a great devotee of Lord, confidently says, “Since I have been engaged in the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa, realizing ever-new pleasure in Him, whenever I think of sex pleasure I spit at the thought, and my lips curl with distaste.” Bhagavad Gita 5.21

A devotee remains engaged 24 hours in a day in the service of the Lord so that lusty thoughts and desires does not sneak in in his heart.  When the Supreme Lord Rama, the killer of the lusty emperor Ravana, sees a devotee’s sincere spiritual endeavor then with his divine arrow of love he flushes out all the desires for lust from the devotee’s hearts. The devotee then experiences everlasting transcendental pleasure which the Vedic scriptures talk about.

Video: Six glories of Hare Krishna Mahamantra

There are unlimited glories of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. If we want to grow in our spiritual life then we should chant this great mahamantra sincerely. 

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is none other than the Supreme Lord Krishna appeared in this world to teach lesser mortals like you and me to chant this mantra with utmost sincerity.

In Sri Siksastakam Verse 1, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has described the glories of this great mantra.

In this video, I discuss those glories of Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Once we understand the glories of this mantra, we will be inspired to chant it more and more.

Once one person asked Srila Prabhupada, “Swamijī? Are we to believe in that by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa that we can attain a higher conscious level on this earth and attain self-realization without going through all the rigors of the old Vedas, scriptures?”

Prabhupada said: “Yes. This is the special concession for the conditioned soul of this age, that if you simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, then your heart will be purified. Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam (CC Antya 20.12). Then everything will be revealed. This is special concession.”  

Prabhupada travelled all over the world to spread the chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra.  Many westerners who did not know about Krishna and were indulging in sinful activities became pure just by chanting this mantra.  This mantra is extremely powerful especially in this age of Kali which is called the age of downfall.

Hare Krishna Mahamantra has transformed the lives of millions of people all over the world.  You and I also have the opportunity to change our life for good by chanting this mantra.  

Chanting will purify our hearts of all the impurities, free us from all the sinful reactions which is the cause of all the sufferings and will connect us to Krishna.  

Once we establish our relationship with Krishna, we will attain complete perfection in our life.

Read: Know the six glories of Hare Krishna Mahamantra

How to control the senses by Krishna Consciousness?

Bhagavad Gita explains how to control the senses by practicing Krishna Consciousness. For a devotee of Krishna controlling the senses is easy.

Sense control is very much required if you want to lead a peaceful, successful and happy life.  If you do not try to control your senses, senses will control you. And will compel you to act whimsically and keep you disturbed most of the time.

Bhagavad Gita 2.62 and 2.63 explain in detail how a person who fails to control his senses and tries to gratify it ultimately suffers.

Let us see how it happens.

How uncontrolled senses leads to a person’s fall down and suffering?

• First a person begins contemplating on the objects of the senses. Contemplating on the objects of the senses means developing material desires and hoping to fulfil it. A person thinks that if the material desires are fulfilled, he will become happy.

• By constantly contemplating on sensual objects, he slowly develops attachment for them.  
• Attachment gradually transforms into lust.  
• It is not easy to satisfy the lusty desires. So, when lust is not fulfilled the person becomes upset and angry and many times even wild.
• Anger leads to delusion.
• In delusion memory is bewildered. Person forgets all the good advice of the past and all the bad experiences of the past.
• Bewildered memory leads to loss of intelligence.
• And when intelligence is lost, the person starts acting foolishly, even indulge in sinful activities.
• This leads to his fall down and brings suffering.

So, everything starts with contemplation on the sensual objects. It is not that only when all your senses focus on sense objects then only you will fall down. Even one of your uncontrolled senses have the capability to destroy our life.

Krishna says so this in Bhagavad Gita 2.67, “As a strong wind sweeps away a boat on the water, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence.”

Can we completely stop the activities of the senses?

So, if you do not want to fall down and do not want to suffer then the first and the most important thing you should do is to stop contemplating on the objects of the senses. And stop getting allured by material desires.  

Material desires cannot make us happy. Even if we fulfil our material desires, still we will remain dissatisfied. You and I have already experienced it many times.   Things of this world cannot satisfy us because we are “spirit souls” and not “material souls.”

So, what to do with our senses? Should we stop the activities of the senses? Definitely Not. Senses always need engagement. Its activities cannot be stopped.  So, we need to give engagement to the senses.

Scripture says that if we want to lead a peaceful and happy life then we should engage all our senses in spiritual activities.  And instead of contemplating on material desires, contemplate on spiritual activities which will help us to grow in our spiritual life.

When our senses are spiritualized, we, the spiritual beings, begin experiencing happiness in life which we always look for in this world.

How to always engage the senses in spiritual activities?

Engaging the senses in constant spiritual activities is not difficult.

Srimad Bhagavatam gives the example of a great devotee called Ambarish Maharaj. The great king would always engage all his senses in Krishna Conscious activities. Let us see how he did it.

“Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord’s temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Kṛṣṇa or about Kṛṣṇa.

He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s temples and Kṛṣṇa’s places like Mathurā and Vṛndāvana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord’s devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the fragrance of tulasī offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord’s prasāda.

He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa never desired anything for his own sense gratification.

He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires.” Srimad Bhagavatam

By these spiritual activities, Ambarish Maharaj’s senses had become completely pure. So, he always remained peaceful and happy.  The great king has shown us the process to control the senses by practicing Krishna Consciousness.

Why Krishna helps a devotee to control the senses?

Once our senses are engaged in Krishna Conscious activities, it will become easy to control the senses. It is because we won’t be fighting alone with our senses. By our own endeavour to control the senses is a herculean task.

But since we engage in the service of Krishna, so Krishna who is the master of the senses, Hrsikesa, helps us to control our senses.

Srila Prabhupada explains, “As enemies are curbed by superior force, the senses can similarly be curbed, not by any human endeavor, but only by keeping them engaged in the service of the Lord.”  BG 2.68 purport

If we practice Krishna Consciousness, it becomes easy to control the senses.

To control the senses, do we need to give up worldly responsibilities?

It is not that to control our senses by Krishna Consciousness we have to run away from our worldly responsibilities and became a renunciate. Many people have a false notion that renunciation means giving up material duties. Arjuna also thought so. So, he also wanted to give up his duty of fighting. He said to Krishna, “Instead of fighting it is better for me to retire to a forest and live by begging.”  Arjuna thought that Krishna will appreciate him for his desire for renunciation.

But to his surprise, Krishna wasn’t amused.  He disapproved Arjuna’s idea of renunciation of work.  

Krishna said to Arjuna, “What do you mean by renouncing the work? You cannot live without working in this world. Even to maintain your physical body you have to work.”

One may externally give up one’s duty, but his mind and senses will keep on dwelling on it. Arjuna may give up his kshatriya duty of fighting, but in his mind, he will continue thinking about his enemies and will remain disturbed. If he goes for begging and someone refuses to give him alms, he will become angry. As a kshatriya warrior his psycho-physical nature is not to beg and live.  Begging and living is ideal for a brahmana who dedicates his life in the service of God.

So, Krishna wanted Arjuna to follow his nature and do his prescribed duty as per the scriptures.  Krishna advised Arjuna to practice karma – yoga [in Kṛṣṇa consciousness] without attachment. It will help him to engage his mind and senses positively in the service of the Lord.

What is Krishna’s advice to us?

Through Arjuna, Krishna is also giving us an important lesson in life.  We should not give up our responsibilities but instead we should work in this world as per the directive of the scriptures.

In my personal life also, I find that my nature is to work in the outside world and earn livelihood.  Initially I was thinking that working outside means indulging in sense gratification. But after reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and discussing with senior devotees I understood that it is not that I have to give up my work, but instead I have to do my work in proper consciousness.

The money which I get is also because of the mercy of Krishna and it should be utilized in practicing Krishna consciousness, helping my family members to practice Krishna Consciousness and helping Iskcon in spreading Krishna consciousness.  This is the best way to engage the senses and purify the senses.

So, to control the senses it is important that we practice Krishna Consciousness sincerely.

Read: How to gain control over your mind as per Bhagavad Gita?

Did women in Vedic period enjoy equal rights?

Yes, women in Vedic period enjoyed equal rights as men. There are many examples to establish this fact.  Vedic scriptures do not advocate discrimination. 

Vedic India made sure that women are properly taken care and they are not exploited. Their physical needs as well as emotional needs were properly addressed. Today too those who live as per the Vedic instructions does not see any difference between men and women.  They understand that God has created both men and women so there should not be any gender discrimination.

However, there are feminists and left scholars who selectively pick some statements from the Vedas and say that Vedas advocate women discrimination. 

Women not allowed in few temples

For example, in India, there are certain social customs and rituals where women (as well as men) are expected to follow certain norms.

For example, there are few temples like Shani Shingnapur or Sabarimala where women are not allowed as per the tradition.  Without understanding the reason behind such norms, feminists and left liberal pseudo scholars start condemning the age-old custom.

Men not allowed in few temples too

But you will be surprised to know that there are temples in India where men are also not allowed.  For example, in Ma Linga Bhairavi temple in Coimbatore men are not allowed.  In Lord Brahma’s temple at Puskar, Rajasthan married men are not allowed. And there are other temples too where men are not allowed.  

So, if women are not allowed in some temples and we say it is discrimination against women. Then we should also say that there is discrimination against men because men are also barred from entering some temples.

Why the outrage?

Is it that the feminists and leftist people have developed some love for the Vedic demigods that they want women to enter the temple?  Definitely not. Their purpose and motive are quite obvious. They want to indulge in their favourite pastime – Hindu bashing and criticising the Vedas.

Let us put aside this unending cacophony for a while and try to analyse the Vedic perspective on the position and status of men and women in human society.

What Vedas say about men and women?

In Bhagavad Gita 2.13, Lord Krishna informs us that we are neither men nor women, but we are spirit souls. As a soul presently we are occupying a man’s body or may be a woman’s body. In the next life a man can become a woman and a woman can become a man. As long as we are in this material world, we will keep on occupying different bodies based on our karma. If our karma is little good, we get a human body and can be either a man or a woman. But if our karma is bad, we will get an animal body.

As long as we are in this material world we will keep on transmigrating into different species and suffer the repeated cycle of birth and death. So, Vedas ask us to free ourselves from this repeated cycle of birth and death. And this can be possible only when we return back to the spiritual world. In the spiritual world there is no death and there is no suffering.

Whether we are a man or a woman, we suffer here and we will die one day. So, we should not be obsessed with our bodily designation of being a man or a woman. But we should utilize this precious human life to attain liberation and return to kingdom of Krishna.

Both, men and women, have the opportunity to perfect their life by practicing devotion to Krishna.

Vedas recommend both men and women to practice varnashrama

How to perfect our human life is explained in Vedas. The sacred Vedas say that both men and women should follow the varnashrama system of life.  Varnashrama helps one to lead a happy life in this world and also helps to attain liberation from this world. Women in Vedic period followed Varnashrama dharma.

Vedas recommend 4 ashrams – Brahmachari ashram (Student Life), Grihastha ashram (Household life), Vanaprastha ashram (Retired Life) and Sannyasa ashram (Renounced Life). Suppose that we live for hundred years.

Brahmachari ashram

For 25 years one should live like a brahmachari, during this period strict vows of celibacy is observed.

Grihastha ashram

For 25 years to 50 years, one should live in grihasta ashram. It means that man and woman should get married, live together in a house, beget children and take care of them. There could be a possibility that some brahmachari may not want to get married. So, they can continue to live like a celibate monk in a monastery. In the household life also husband and wife are expected to sincerely practice spiritual life.

Vanaprastha ashram

After 50 years both husband and wife are supposed to enter into vanaprasta ashram. In vanaprasta ashram both husband and wife dedicate their life completely in practicing spiritual life. They do not focus on earning money and do not have any physical relationship.

Sannyasa ashram

Finally, there is sannyasa ashram. Generally, men take sannyasa and women return back to her grown up children. For women to follow the strict vows of sannyasa like living alone and going door to door to beg alms is generally difficult. But when women live with her children then she completely focusses on her spiritual life and remain detached from material activities.

Varnashrama gives equal rights to women

Vedas teach that both men and women should live in such a way that they help each other to elevate their consciousness. And they should not become the cause of bondage to each other in this material world.

This material world is temporary, and all relationship of this world is temporary. Our eternal relationship is only with the Supreme Lord. So, we have to get detached from this temporary relationship and develop ever- lasting permanent relationship with the Supreme Lord.  Vedas focus on this aspect of life and so ask both men and women to live by this principle.

If we study Vedic scriptures scrutinizingly, we will find that it does not discriminate between men and women at all. But it gives a process called varnashrama following which men and women can live happily in this world.  And finally attain liberation from this ephemeral world by developing love for the Supreme Lord, Krishna.

Varnashrama gives equal rights and opportunities to women to practice devotion to God.  So, women in Vedic period were never discriminated. There was gender equality.

Famous female saints of India

Those who cry saying that Vedas promote women discrimination should read the history of India without any prejudice. This will remove their veil of ignorance.

During Vedic period there were even women rishis such as Romasha, Gargi, Maitreyi, Apala, Aditi and others. And few hundred years back we had great women devotees of the Lord – Mira Bai, Sri Gangamata Goswamini, Sri Jahnava Mata, Sri Sita Thakurani etc. These women rishis were well versed in Vedas. The 126^th hymn of the first book of Rig Veda was revealed to Romasha, a woman.

In India women are not just allowed inside a temple but are also given an opportunity for deity worship. This can be seen in ISKCON temples all over the world. In Iskcon temples, women devotees also give discourse on literatures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. There are very few temples, maybe two or three, where women are not allowed.  And as discussed earlier, there are temples where men are also not allowed. So there is no specific gender discrimination.

Now let us go through few of the Vedic quotes on women.

 Vedic Quotes on Women

• Bhishma to Yuddhisthira: “O ruler of the earth the lineage in which daughters and the daughters-in-law are saddened by ill treatment, that lineage is destroyed. When out of their grief these women curse these households, such households lose their charm, prosperity and happiness.” (Mahabharata, Anushashanparva, 12.14).

• Vedas state that when a woman marries then she enters “as a river enters the sea” and “to rule there along with her husband, as a queen, over the other members of the family”. (Atharva-Veda 14.1.43-44). 

And there are many such statements in the sacred book about women. So where is the discrimination against women?

Conclusion 

Those who are genuine and open minded after reading sacred Vedas conclude that Vedas do not discriminate women. During Vedic period women had equal rights as men. Today too those who sincerely follow Vedic teachings always respects women and never illtreat them.

Vedic scriptures consider men and women as equals. Krishna, the Supreme Lord, is our father and Vedas are our mother.

So how can a loving and caring father and a soft-hearted mother discriminate against their own children? 

How to give up greed as per Vedic scriptures?

Vedic scriptures say that to lead a peaceful and happy life we should give up greed. If we fail to do so, we will always be miserable.

In Nectar of Instruction (NOI) Text 2, it is explained why it is important to give up greed. And how greed for worldly things can be given up completely.

Srila Rupa Goswami, the author of Nectar of Instruction (NOI), in this verse talks about giving up

• atyāhāraḥ: which means over-accumulating things of this ephemeral world, and
• prayāsaś: which means over-endeavouring to over-accumulate things of this sensual world.

He writes, “If we fail to give up atyāhāraḥ and prayāsaś then our devotional service to Lord Krishna will get spoiled.”

Let us see why it is so important to give up greed and how greed for material things impedes our devotional journey.

We human beings have developed the habit of hoarding things. We think if we accumulate lots of stuffs, we will become lot more happy. So, we work hard to earn more so that we can accumulate more. But what is the limit?

How much is good enough to make us happy?

It is said that Jayalalithaa, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India, had 10,500 saris, 750 slipper and 500 wine glasses. I don’t think that she was able to wear all the saris and slippers and drink wine in all the glasses. And she is not an exception. There are many such examples.

But let us ask ourselves, “Do we need so many things in our life?”

We need 3 times food in a day, water to drink, proper clothes to wear and a house to live. And if we put aside our greed then these things can be easily obtained. In fact, God has provided us everything to live happily in this world.

God has already taken care of our important needs

We human beings work hard to earn food, but animals do not have to work hard for food. Food and water are abundantly available for them and for us too.  Elephants need huge quantity of food for survival and it is readily available. Unless and until man interferes with the nature, animals and birds have sufficient food and water for survival.  

But man exploits the natural resources for selfish purpose and try to usurp everything to satisfy his wanton desires.

There is not enough for man’s greed

Srila Prabhupada explains it with an example in NOI Text 2 Purport.

Suppose that there is a bag of rice lying on the road. Birds will come and eat few grains and go away. Some animals may come and eat and go away. But what will a human being do. He will immediately take away the whole bag.  He thinks, “Only I should have it. I will not share it with others.”

So, Mahatma Gandhi said, “In this world there is enough for man’s need but not enough for man’s greed.”

One thing I have observed that birds and animals do not overeat. Have we ever seen an overweight peacock or sparrow or crow or rabbit or dog? I have not seen till now. They are intelligent enough to know their limit. 

We should also understand our limit. Accumulating certain quantity of food grains is not wrong. Having few sets of dress and shoes and other necessities is not wrong.  But over-accumulation is condemned in the scriptures.

If we do our duty honestly and sincerely keeping God in the center, then all our material needs will be taken care.

In fact, for our material needs we do not even have to ask from God. Because as a loving and caring father, he has ensured that everything is there in this world for leading a decent life.

But we remain dissatisfied and so we go to God and ask him to fill our material desires. 

Does Krishna fulfills our material desires?

I have seen few of my colleagues in IT sector are desperate to go to America or United Kingdom or any European country for job assignment. But they do not get the chance. They get frustrated. When we invite them for our weekly Bhagavad Gita program then most of the time, they are reluctant to come.

But after lots of persuasion they start coming. They start chanting few rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. And suddenly they get the opportunity to go to onsite.

They become supremely excited. Krishna is supremely merciful. He resides in the hearts of all and he knows a person’s desire.  If a person does not have karma to go to onsite, he will never be able to go. But Krishna can change karma. So, when one starts chanting his name and praying for the fulfillment of desire then Krishna mercifully fulfills it.

In fact, if Krishna fulfills our desire then we should become extremely grateful to him. Some do become grateful. And also become devotee of Krishna.

But unfortunately, some people fail to recognize Krishna’s mercy. Once their desire is fulfilled, they forget Krishna. They fail to understand that just by approaching Krishna their desire was fulfilled and if they continue chanting the holy names of Krishna then how much happy Krishna will make him. 

Ideally speaking, we should never approach Krishna with any material desire.

Our only desire should be to serve him without any desire.

We have a desire to show off

One of my senior colleagues took a big house in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom on rent.  And by the end of almost every month he used to borrow money from me. He knew that I won’t tell others that he is borrowing money.  I too kept my promise, I did not say to others about this. He wanted to show to others that how rich he is.  

He also frequently changes his iPhone. As soon as a new model comes, he buys it and sells the old one even though the old iPhone is working perfectly fine.

Two Examples

• Once a student after completing his education got a job. He worked for couple of years and was able to save good amount of money.  He wanted to invite his parents who lived in village to the city. And using all his savings, he booked flight tickets for his parents. When someone asked him that what was the need. His parents would have come by train. He said that he wanted to show his friends in the village that he has become so rich that he can now book flight tickets for his parents. I am sure his parents might not be aware that he is squandering money. Serving parents is wonderful but one has to be practical. And most importantly there is no need to show off to others.

• One man at the age of around 60 years had saved two crore rupees. It was sufficient to lead a comfortable life after retirement. But he spent entire two crore rupees in getting his daughter married. And at the age of 60, he is again running to get a job. When asked, he said, “She is my only daughter and I wanted to show to my relatives that how much I love my daughter. All my relatives will always remember that how lavishly the marriage was organized.” He could have got his daughter married in one crore and the remaining one crore would also have been sufficient for his retired life.

But the desire to show off is most of the times so intense that people stop using their intelligence.

How our desire to feel special is exploited?

Dale Carnegie in his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” writes and I am paraphrasing it “People have a great desire to feel they are special.”

The advertising industry knows this very well. They exploit people’s intense longing to be special.

So, the product is not marketed based on its usability but based on how it is going to satisfy a buyer’s ego.

So, they tell a man that if he uses this particular saving gel then all the girls will be attracted to him.

They tell a woman that if she uses this facial cream then all men will fall for her and all the girls will envy her.

They use taglines like “Neighbors envy owner’s pride.”

And we easily get fooled. We spend lots of money in buying things which we do not even need. We start buying branded products because it makes us feel special. The same product of same quality may be available in local store at much cheaper rate, but we prefer branded products.

To buy more, we have to earn more. To earn more we have to work more.

And we get caught up in the rat race of this material world. This is why we see that today people have difficulty to give up greed.

How this material world makes us struggle hard

As long as we are in this material world and as long as we have greed to enjoy this world we will suffer. This material world is called Pa-varga.

It means that in this world we are forced to work very hard. The word consists of five Sanskrit letters – pa, pha, ba, bha and ma.  Each of these letters explain our struggle.

• Pa stands for parisrama i.e. “hard labor.” Everyone in this world has to struggle hard for survival. 
• Pha stands for phena,”foam.” When a horse works very hard, foam starts coming from his mouth. Similarly, when we work very hard, we get tired, our tongue becomes dry and foam forms in our mouth.
• Ba stands for bandha,”bondage.” In spite of all our hard work the three modes of material nature i.e. goodness, passion and ignorance bind us in this world.
• Bha stands for bhaya, “fear.” In this world we always live in fear because we are uncertain of the future.
• Ma represents mrtyu, “death.” No matter who we are, how much powerful or great we are, we all will be forced to leave this world one day.

We are eternal travelers in this world

Once a traveler visited a monk in a monastery. He saw the monk did not have any belongings. The traveler was surprised.

He asked, “Where are your belongings?”

The monk replied, “Where are yours?”

“Well, I am a traveler. So, I carry only few necessary things.”

 “So am I,” the monk said.

I heard this parable long back. It is so true. We all are eternal travelers in this material world. As a soul we migrate from one body to another.

Just turn the pages of history and you will find that all the great conquerors – Alexander the great, Napoleon the great, Akbar the great – were forced to leave this world one day. And when their soul left for another destination, they had to leave all their possessions here only.  And their body was either burnt or buried.

Despite knowing this, we are caught up in this rat race of material existence. We struggle hard to accumulate things to prove to others how great we are.

Remember in a rat race even if we win, we will remain a rat only.

If we do not give up greed to enjoy name, fame and money, we will continue to suffer. In fact, we will waste our human form of life which is for self-realization.   

An industrialist who builds a huge factory also has to leave everything at the time of death. Many times, a thought comes to my mind. It could happen that the industrialist takes birth again and he may be trying to get a job in the same factory which he had established. He may stand in a queue desperate for a job and he may be rejected.

We all may laugh at this thought.

What happens to a cobbler who remembers his past life?

Srila Prabhupada in NOI Purport 2 tells the story of a cobbler.

A cobbler was living near a big mansion. Somehow, he remembered his past life. And he remembered clearly that he was the owner of that mansion. Now his children and grandchildren were living in the mansion. He had lots of affection for them.  But he could not do anything. How will his children accept him as his father?  At present he was a pauper.

In his previous life he was living like a king.

One day he could not control himself and decided to visit the mansion to inform his loving children and grandchildren that he was their father, their grandfather, and the original owner of the mansion.

What do you think happened?

The security guards stopped him at the gate. Why will they allow a cobbler inside the house?

And then the desperate cobbler narrated the deep secret to the guards. “In my previous life I was the owner of this mansion. Those staying inside are my children.”

What do you think happened next?

Everyone laughed at him.

When his children came to know that a cobbler is claiming to be their father and standing at the gate then the children asked the guards to throw him away. In fact, they beat him with slippers and kicked him out of that place.

Fortunately, we do not remember our past lives else we would have always felt miserable.

How to give up greed as per the Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad Gita?

So, what to do? Should we stop working? Should we stop earning money?

Definitely not.

Scriptures never tell that we should stop working. They just ask us to give up greed. Because greed can never be fulfilled. It makes people miserable.

So, the holy books emphasize that we should do our duty without greed, in a responsible way. Also while working in this world we should not neglect our spiritual duty. Purpose of human life is to attain liberation and return to the the spiritual world.

So, scriptures say that give up greed, simplify your lives, have sufficient time to practice devotional life and return back to Krishna.

Krishna should always be the center of our life. We should do only that work which are sanctioned by the scriptures. And the work should be done for the pleasure of Krishna. Finally, all the result should be offered to Krishna. 

By working in this way, we will live happily in this world and after leaving this world we will go back to the spiritual world. This is what Krishna teaches us in Bhagavad Gita.

O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me. Bhagavad Gita 9.27

But if we do not give up greed, if we continue doing atyāhāraḥ & prayāsaś then we will remain stuck in this world and the greed within our heart will always keep us miserable.

So, in Nectar of Instruction, Srila Rupa Goswami , says us to give up greed.

What Vedas say about women? They should be honored.

If you read Vedas thoroughly you will find many texts wherein women have been glorified. Vedas does not discriminate against women. But instead say that women have an important role to play in the society and family.

However, there are so called scholars who say that Vedas denigrate women. According to them “any wrong happening in India especially against women is the outcome of Vedic culture.”

It seems that they have not read the Vedic literatures completely or are wilfully distorting the Vedic texts.  To substantiate their point, they selectively quote Vedas but mostly wrongly.  They argue that “Vedas treat women as a second-class citizen and the holy book justifies violence against women.”

It is no denying the fact that women in India, in rural as well as in urban areas, are often the victims of crimes. I too was confused and sometimes thought that there must be some truth in it. However, close scrutiny of Vedic literatures revealed something else.

Instead of denigrating women, the Vedic literatures give women a very respectable position in the society.

Vedic quotes on Women

Below are quotes from the scriptures, it can help us to understand Vedic perspective on women.

• “A woman must be honored and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands, and brothers in law, who desire their own welfare. Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards. Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers. The houses on which female relations, not being duly honored, pronounce a curse, perish completely, as if destroyed by magic. Hence men who seek (their own) welfare, should always honor women on holidays and festivals with (gifts of) ornaments, clothes and (dainty) food. In that family, where the husband is pleased with his wife and the wife with her husband, happiness will assuredly be lasting.” (Manusmriti: The Laws of Manu, Chapter 3, 55-60)

• Vedas state that when a woman marries then she enters “as a river enters the sea” and “to rule there along with her husband, as a queen, over the other members of the family”. (Atharva-Veda 14.1.43-44)

These quotes echo that Vedas do not demonize women.

Sir Monier Monier-Williams (1860-1888) an Indologist and head of the Oxford’s Boden Chair, has written: “Indian wives often possess greater influence than wives of Europeans.”

Why Vedas are criticized?

Then why so much negative propaganda against Vedic literatures. Delving deep into history will help us to understand this. When Britishers set their foot to colonize India then they were amazed to see a society which was God – centered. The Indians had extraordinary faith in Vedas which they considered sacred and their lives revolved as per the injunctions of these literatures.

In spite of hundreds of years of Muslim subjugation, majority of the Indians did not compromise with their religious beliefs and remained Hindus. The Britishers wanted to know what these Vedas are and so they deputed Max Muller to translate these literatures which was in Sanskrit language into English.

Along with this Max Muller also had the responsibility to indoctrinate the Indians into believing that what they are revering is filled with filth. This would ensure that the Hindus would start doubting their sacrosanct Vedic literatures, would start feeling inferior and will then easily accept the doctrines of British Colonists.

Max Muller’s vicious agenda could be easily understood by the letters he wrote to his wife and to the Duke of Argyle.

To his wife he wrote: It (the Rig Veda) is the root of their religion and to show them what the root is, I feel sure, is the only way of uprooting all that has sprung from it during the last three thousand years.”

To the Duke he wrote: “The ancient religion of India is doomed. And if Christianity does not take its place, whose fault will it be?”

Vedic Historical facts have been undermined

During their reign in India, the Britishers continued their anti Vedic teachings. Among the Indians they only allowed those scholars to be part of the academic institutions who agreed with their viewpoints. These academicians who were picked and indoctrinated by the British Colonists continued dominating the educational institutions even after India achieved independence.

These academicians – historians, sociologists etc – formed a cartel wherein they never allowed those who disagreed with their opinions or tried to have a different perspective to be part of the mainstream academia.

The history textbooks in India misinterpret, misrepresent and misquote facts to present Vedas, ancient Vedic culture and Indian history in a biased way. Several of the facts as how Hindus were persecuted and how thousands of Hindu temples were razed have never found its place in the history textbooks.

For e.g. in Goa in 1560s AD several orders were passed (which are well documented) by Viceroy D Constantine de Braganca and Governor Antonio Morez Barreto to drive away Brahmins, to confiscate their properties and to forcibly convert the Hindus but these facts are rarely highlighted.

In the book “Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India”, Prof K.S. Lal, former chairman of the Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR), specifies that Hindus were ruthlessly persecuted by the Muslim rulers and gives the figure that the Hindu population decreased by over 80 million from 1000 AD to 1500 AD.

However these facts and figures are never mentioned in the history textbooks and are never taught in schools and colleges. In fact today if anyone tries to speak about such misinterpretation of Indian history & Vedic literatures then they are immediately rebuked and are painted as sectarian, fascist, illogical and even unscientific.

Millions of women in India never lost faith in Vedas

But in spite of enormous negative campaign, Vedas did not lose its sheen. Women did not get disillusioned by Vedas because nothing obnoxious is there in holy Vedas.

This is why millions of women including those who are highly educated occupying important positions in the society respect Vedas. A woman since her childhood sees that the Indian society does not lampoon her. And she never feels that she is treated as a second class citizen.

She grows up hearing anecdotes of Mahabharata and Ramayan wherein women are often the central characters. She never finds that the scriptures promote, propagate and advocate physical or psychological violence against them.

At her home she finds that her mother plays a vital and central role in the family decision making process. She finds that the society derives inspiration from the lives of Mother Sita, Mother Yashoda, Draupadi and Kunti. Millions of Hindus revere and worship Goddess Lakshmi, Durga, Subhadra and Kali, the feminine divine form.

She reads about saint Mirabai, Maharani Laxmibhai, and several women who actively participated in India’s freedom struggle.

She thinks, “If Vedic culture were against women then how did these women gained so much prominence in Indian society.“

Vedas do not preach hatred; it’s a gross misrepresentation of truth. Vedas preaches all to live with love and harmony. If a person studies the Vedic literatures with an open mind then he will develop admiration for Vedic culture.

Crime against women is a fact in present day society

However there is no denying the fact that there are crimes against women in Indian society which needs urgent attention. The rape cases, dowry death, bride burning and other evils have penetrated Indian society. It is because people have given up Vedic way of life. Materialism which has spread its wings has created a godless culture.

It instigates people to satisfy their wanton desires by adopting any means. Close scrutiny would reveal that proponents of materialism in fact have no respect for women. They use women as a tool to further their business interests.

Scantly dressed women are used in advertisements to sell almost all the products – be it men’s shaving cream, a shoe polish, an electronic gadget, an air – conditioner or a tooth paste.

Crime against women is because people are not following Vedas

We do not find any instance in Vedic literatures wherein women were objectified or used as a commodity. If anyone tried to do so they were severely punished. Duryodhana, Dushasana and Karna had to pay with their life for insulting and disrespecting Draupadi.

Vedas say men and women are equal.  They are children of same God. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 14.4, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā – I am the seed-giving father. He is the Supreme father of both men and women. So, men should not disrespect and exploit women. And women should also not disrespect and exploit men. But instead, they both should come together to create a beautiful world and live happily. Once this understanding develops, the exploitative mentality will stop.

The crime against women is not because of Vedas but it is because people are not following Vedas.

If we want to end all kinds of crime against women (or even against men) then we should endeavour to create God centered society as explained in Vedas.

Just making strict laws won’t end crimes completely. All over the world there are laws against murder, kidnapping, rape, theft etc. But still there are felons who commit such heinous deeds. So, there is a necessity of spiritualty.

When Vedas are honored Women live in honor

Spirituality helps to burn the seeds of sin which is the root cause of all sinful activities.

Srila Prabhupada explains, “The only way to permanently change the criminal habit is to change the heart of the criminal. As you well know, many thieves are arrested numerous times and put into jail. Although they know that if they commit theft they will go to jail, still they are forced to steal, because of their unclean hearts. Therefore without cleansing the heart of the criminal, you cannot stop crime simply by more stringent law enforcement. The thief and the murderer already know the law, yet they still commit violent crimes, due to their unclean hearts.”

So to uproot the problems completely, it is important to develop and nurture a God centered society. Vedas help in creating a God centered life.

In a God – centered society, a person cultivates genuine love for God which cleanses his heart. And it helps him to understand that all – men and women – are children of God.

In such a spiritual society both men and women will honor each other. Men will respect women as they respect their own mother, own sister and own daughter. And women too will respect men as they respect their own father, own brother and own son.  

If entire world starts following Vedic literatures, there will be no crime against women.

Women will be honoured everywhere when everyone will begin honouring the teachings of Vedas.

How we celebrated Jagannath Rath Yatra during COVID -19 pandemic?

Like last year, this year too devotees in Puri and other parts of India celebrated Jagannath Rath Yatra during COVID – 19 pandemic.

COVID – 19 has indeed affected the celebration of world famous Jagannath Rath Yatra. In Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri and in other cities thousands of people would participate to pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath every year.  But COVID – 19 pandemic has shutdown the entire world –offices are closed, schools & colleges are closed and temples are also closed.

The killer Covid -19 Pandemic which started last year, 2020, is still killing people across the world. Few months back the 2^nd wave of Covid created mayhem in India killing thousands of people. The country was almost shutdown.

Rath Yatra celebrated in Puri during COVID without huge procession

Last year during the Rath Yatra time there was lockdown in India. Everything was closed including the temples. This year too the temples were closed. In 2020, the Supreme Court of India allowed Rath Yatra procession only in Jagannath Puri and this year too Rath Yatra procession was allowed only in Puri. In Puri also only the priests and devotees traditionally associated with Rath Yatra festival were allowed. Common people did not participate in the procession.

This year too like previous year Rath Yatra procession was not allowed in Kolkata. Kolkata Rath Yatra is organized by Iskcon and is famous in the city of joy. Thousands of people from Kolkata participate in it. Devotees from other parts of India and even from outside India come to participate in the Kolkata Rath Yatra festival.

Iskcon Kolkata too celebrated Rath Yatra during COVID but without procession

Although Rath Yatra procession was not there but still Iskcon Kolkata tried its best to celebrate the festival with whatever means available. All the rituals which are part of Rath Yatra was carried out by the resident devotees of the temple. At Iskcon House, Gurusaday Road a makeshift temple has been built which will be the Gundicha temple for the Lord.  Iskcon House is around 1.5 km from the main temple.

Lord Jagannath did not ride the chariots and was not pulled by thousands of enthusiastic devotees of Lord Jagannath. Instead the Lord directly went from Minto Park temple to Iskcon House on a vehicle.  There the Lord will reside till Ulta Rath Yatra. On the day of Ulta Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath will come back to his Minto Park temple.

Before this Covid Pandemic struck the world, devotees would eagerly wait for Rath Yatra. In spite of busy schedule and other pressing commitments everyone would make sure that they participate in the festival.

Before marriage I always participated in Rath Yatra festival and procession. After marriage, me and my wife have been participating for last few years together. My parents would not be able to participate in the procession because of age but they always joined us when the chariots reached the Gundicha temple. For last few years, a beautiful Gundicha temple was mostly built at TAI Brigade Ground in Kolkata.  After Lord Jagannath would reach the Gundicha temple everyone would enjoy delicious khichadi prasadam. The taste would be out of this world.  Ask anyone in Kolkata who have tasted the khichdi prasadam at Rath Yatra and they will say you that it was the best khichadi they ever ate in their life.

Celebrating Rath Yatra at our home i.e. at Lord Jagannath’s home

But this year as there was no Rath Yatra procession, so, we were thinking how to celebrate Rath Yatra. We wanted to celebrate it.  This material world is a place where one or the other problems will keep on coming. Now its Covid pandemic, next year there may be some other crisis. Nothing should stop our devotion to Lord. 

One way to participate in the festival was to watch Rath Yatra live on YouTube channel. But it does not give the same feeling which we experience when we physically participate and pull the chariot.

So, after contemplation, we thought let us celebrate it at our home. Although I am saying, ‘our home’ but ‘our home’ is not ‘our home’, but it is ‘Lord Jagannath’s home.’ Lord Jagannath is Lord of the Universe, and he is kindly allowing me and my wife to stay in the house. Everything belongs to the Lord; nothing belongs to us.

So, we made plans to celebrate Jagannath Rath Yatra at Lord Jagannath’s home.

Srila Prabhupada celebrated Rath Yatra when he was just a small child. Although we cannot imitate him but still we can try to follow his footsteps. We knew that we may not be able to do it in a grand way as it happens in the temple. But whatever best we could do, we decided to do it.

Making the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Subhdra Devi and the chariot at home

My wife is good in making crafts. She takes Krishna Conscious classes for children and teaches the kids to prepare beautiful crafts based on various pastimes of Krishna.  This helps children to learn new things and use their talents in serving the Lord.

She took the responsibility of preparing small deity of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi at home. She also took the onus of making chariot for the Lord.

Since everything was closed and plans were made just few days before the festival, so she made the deities and the cart with whatever materials available at home. Cardboard, boxes, coloured paper, paints etc were used.  

Lord Jagannath in black, Lord Baladeva in white and Subhadra Devi in yellow looked colourful. Only one chariot for the three deities were made and that to not too big. But it looked elegant.

We celebrated Rath Yatra at home during COVID lockdown

On the day of Rath Yatra, we decided to prepare varieties of delicious food items for the Lord. Lord Jagannath loves to eat nice food when offered with love.

I took the responsibility of cleaning the hall, decorating the altar. We also planned for a small Gundicha temple where Lord will reside till Ulta Rath Yatra.

My wife began cooking different food items for the Lord since early morning.

I brought lots of flowers from the market and decorated the main altar, Gundicha temple altar and the Lord with colourful flowers.

We decided that we will start our Rath Yatra festival and procession after the festival starts at Puri.

Although I am calling it procession but only me and my wife was there. We did not invite others because of pandemic. My parents are also stuck at their native place because of Covid, so they were also not present.

Once Rath Yatra started in Puri. We performed an elaborate arati of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi. And then we began pulling the small cart of the Lord. A small blue colour ribbon was attached to the cart. It was the rope of the chariot. We pulled the Lord using that rope. 

With chanting of the mantras and singing of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra we began pulling the cart.  We also sang “jaya jaya jagannātha sacīra Nandan/ tribhūvana kore jār caraṇa vandan.” This is a very nice devotional song in Bengali composed by Vasudeva Ghosa, a great devotee of Lord Chaitanya.

We were enjoying the journey of the Lord. By the time the cart travelled from the main altar to the makeshift altar we both were feeling so happy, so enthusiastic. Our Rath Yatra lasted for around 30 minutes.

Offering arati and delicious food to Lord Jagananth, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi

We placed the Lord on the Gundicha temple altar and did the arati. After the arati varieties of delicious food items were offered to the Lord.

We could have prepared more food and in large quantities and would have distributed it to our neighbours. But due to covid people avoid physical contact, so we did not prepare more. We did not invite our neighbours for the festival because of the same reason. Jagannath will stay at the makeshift Gundicha temple for nine days till the Ulta Rath Yatra.

Although we celebrated the Jagannath Rath Yatra festival in a small way but still we experienced lots of joy.

Rath Yatra gives us an experience of the joy of the spiritual world

One of the great things in Iskcon is that we are trained to practice and celebrate different festivals of the Lord at our home.  In fact, we are told that we should make our home like a temple of the Lord. Whatever we do, we should keep Lord in the centre.

The beauty of devotional life is that when we try to do something for the Lord then the Supreme Lord reciprocates, and we can experience the reciprocation in our hearts.  

We feel sad or frustrated or empty in our life because we try to seek happiness in the outside world. But if we absorb ourselves in the devotional service of the Lord, we will just experience bliss.

Rath Yatra is one such festival in which we can completely absorb ourselves and feel the presence of the Lord in our hearts.  Lord Jagannath has appeared for us – for you and for me.  

And when we whole heartedly participate in Rath Yatra festival, we experience joy of the spiritual world.

Whom do you love more – Krishna or your husband?

Once Srila Prabhupada jokingly asked a newly married girl, “Whom do you love more – Krishna or your husband?”

The girl hearing the question started crying.

Prabhupada was little surprised. He asked her why is she crying.

The girl replied, “I am just married so I don’t know much about my husband so can’t say that I love him very much.”

“Also I do not have taste for the holy name so it seems that I don’t have love for Krishna too.”

 Prabhupada said, “No problem. Keep trying, gradually taste for holy name will develop and love for Krishna will manifest”.

To love a person we need to know the person

It is true that unless we know a person completely it may not be possible for us to love him/her. Love for a person develops when we start seeing his/her qualities, sacrifices and how much he/she cares for us selflessly.

It is not that from day one we start loving our mother and father. But when we see how selflessly they are taking care of us often sacrificing their own desires and comforts we start developing love for them.

Krishna also loves us selflessly. Whether we love him or not he continues to love us providing all the necessities of life. It is true that we suffer too but suffering is meant to correct us.

If we start practicing devotional life by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra sincerely and read more about Krishna then gradually we will understand Krishna and love for him will manifest.

Krishna in Bhagavad Gita assures that if we remember him constantly without deviation and remain engaged in his devotional service then we can easily attain him. B.G. 8.14.

By determined spiritual practice we can attain Krishna

In the beginning it may not be possible to always remember him but with constant practice it can be possible. For example when we chant our mind wanders because as of now we are not having sufficient taste for the holy name. So it is advised that while chanting we should try our best to control our wandering mind and force it to focus on the holy name. If we do it continuously then eventually our mind will also develop taste for hearing the holy names.

And since chanting is not a material activity it’s a spiritual activity so when we chant then Krishna cleanses our heart and mind of all material thoughts and purifies it.

As Lord Chaitanya says in Siksastakam, “Chanting cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life of repeated birth and death.”

If we practice devotion to Krishna with determination then Krishna will provide us everything which will help us to attain him.

Krishna in Gita assures us, “But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form – to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.” Bg 9.22.

When we love Krishna, we love all

Now back to the question

Should a devotee wife love Krishna more than her husband or vice versa?

The beauty of devotional life is that the more we love Krishna the more we develop love for everyone. So if a wife or a husband  is a dear devotee of Krishna then his/her love for his/her spouse will also multiple manifold – a win – win situation.

What Bhagavad Gita says about death? Its inevitable.

In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna speaks about death, rather strongly.  He says that death in this material world is inevitable. So, we should not feel sorry for those who are dying. Everyone who is born in this world will die one day.

No matter who you are you will die one day. The agents of death can knock at your or mine door at any moment, and we cannot do anything.

Greatest conquerors have failed to conquer death

I had once seen a movie “Final Destination.” The movie shows that a group of students of a college boards a plane to go to France.  One of the students while on the plane gets a paranormal experience. He sees the future. He sees that soon after the takeoff, the plane catches fire and crashes. Everyone dies. He starts shouting saying that the plane is going to crash. He asks everyone to deboard the plane else they will die. It creates chaos inside the plane. Everyone thinks that he has gone insane. The airport security takes him off the plane. And the plane really crashes immediately after takeoff. He escapes death.  

The student feels that he was also supposed to die with others in the plane crash, but he escaped death. But death won’t leave him. Sooner or later, it will follow him. To survive, he needs to defeat death. He starts doing research on death and tries to understand how death strikes. And what is its pattern?  

His apprehensions are true. Death tries to strike him again and again. But with his intelligence and proper planning he is able to outwit death each time. He finally survives in the movie.  The concept of the movie is quite fascinating.

But such things happen only in reel life and not in real life. In real life it is impossible to conquer death. The greatest conquerors in this world have failed to conquer death.

Death may come without any prior notice

During this Covid pandemic many of us have got this realization.  Many people whom I knew closely have died. In fact, they died helplessly. All the powerful governments of the world have terribly failed to save the life of the people. They have failed to save even themselves. Many influential political leaders have succumbed to Coronavirus. Everyone seems helpless.

Not just because of Coronavirus, people are also dying for other reasons. Or it would be correct to say for no reasons.  Sometimes death strikes without any prior notice, within few seconds life comes to an end.

Recently I had an experience that how life can end within few moments.  

The Devastating Day

It was just like any other day. I started my office work from home. Because of lockdown, I have been working from home for more than a year now.  The sky was clear. I opened the window for fresh air and got into my work. 

But soon by noon the sky got covered with thick clouds. It became completely dark. We had to switch on the lights. Soon there was thunderstorm accompanied with lightning. Thunderstorm is not uncommon in Kolkata. We have got used to it.

But that day it appeared as if the sky was too angry.  There were multiple layers of cloud in the sky, and they were all roaring. After every few seconds lightning was striking. I could see that many of it fell near our house.  

I was seeing the wrath of the nature from my window.  Soon the lights went off. Although it was middle of the day but the room was completely dark. Nothing could be seen. The security personnel did not immediately start the generator. Maybe they were afraid to go to the generator room.

My wife had put lunch plate at the altar and was about to offer food to Lord Krishna. She used mobile torch for light and kept it near the altar.

After offering the food, she went to the balcony. The sky was still roaring, and the lightning was falling from the sky again and again.

One such lightning it appeared fell very close to our apartment. My wife ran from the balcony. She said that she could experience the force of the lightning and it had made her numb for few seconds.

She said that it looks like these are the clouds of devastation. Something like sāṁvartaka cloud which Indra sent to destroy Vrindavan.  

Lethal lightning kills the kids

After few hours weather became normal. Next morning the maid who does not live too far from our apartment informed that two children – a boy and a girl – who were playing near her house got burnt alive due to lightning strike.  The maid was in shock because she knew the kids. They were brother and sister and were small. Seeing the rain, they ran outside to play. 

The children’s mother did not expect something terrible was to happen. She was watching her kids play as she used to do daily while doing her household chores.  But suddenly the lethal lightning fell upon the children.

Everything happened in few moments. Mother could not do anything. Nobody could have done anything. Her life fell apart.

It was the same lightning strike which had frightened me and my wife. It seems that the cloud of devastation had come to take the life of those two children.

In material world death is everywhere

Srimad Bhagavatam informs us that in this world there is danger at every step – padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām.

In Bhagavad Gita too Krishna clearly says that this material world is a place of misery – duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam.

Krishna also says that everyone in this material universe has to die.  No one can escape death. Here death is everywhere. Even if you and me go to the highest planet of this material world – Brahmaloka – still we won’t get freedom from death. Only in the spiritual world, the kingdom of Krishna, there is no death.

“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kuntī, never takes birth again.”  Bhagavad Gita 8.16

Death is too painful

It is true that as a soul we never die. We are eternal. But in this material world we are again and again forced to leave our current body and accept a new temporary body. That process is called death. And death is extremely painful.

When we die, we are forced to leave everything which we are attached to in this world.

We all have experience that when even a small thing which we are attached to is taken away from us, we feel so miserable.  We love our mobile phone, and we lose it, we feel so terrible.

If someone is attached to his house and he is forcibly evicted from the house, he is devastated.

A person had a beautiful house. I would see his house daily while going to school. It was a big bungalow painted in pink. Government decided to build a bridge over the Ganges connecting cities. As per the design made by the engineers the pillars of the bridge had to be laid down in the area where the pink bungalow was built.

That beautiful bungalow had to be demolished. The owner of the house was in shock. He opposed the move. He fought a legal battle in the court. But the court said that the bridge is going to serve the people, so let it be built. Let your house be demolished, take the compensation. When the municipal authorities came and started demolishing the house, the owner of the pink bungalow could not bear it. He got a massive heart attack and died. He was very much attached to his house.

At the time of death, one experiences pain of 42,000 scorpion bites

Just like we are attached to our house, we are also attached to our body. In fact, we identify ourselves with our body every moment.  As a soul, we reside in our body. This body is our home.  And one fine day we are asked to evict the body. How terrible we will feel?  We will be forced to leave our family members and friends. The thought of it makes us sick.

Death is not just painful physically but also emotionally.

To make us understand how painful death is, Garuda Purana says that at the time of death, a person experiences pain equivalent to 42,000 scorpion bites.

Bhagavad Gita says to escape death return back to the spiritual world

So, Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad Gita says that we should not be too attached to this world because this world is temporary and here death is everywhere. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that we should strive hard to return back to the spiritual world where there is no death and life is permanent.

“That which the Vedāntists describe as unmanifest and infallible, that which is known as the supreme destination, that place from which, having attained it, one never returns – that is My supreme abode.” Bhagavad Gita 8.21

Death is present only in this material world. And not in the spiritual world.  In the spiritual world no one dies because of Coronavirus or lightning strike.

So, Krishna wants us to return back to the spiritual world.

In Brihad-Bhagavatamrita, it is explained that Lord Krishna becomes so happy when Gopa kumara returns back to the spiritual world from this material world. While welcoming gopa kumara to the spiritual world Lord Krishna says, “In the material world you had to suffer so much because of heat, cloud, rain, thunderstorms and lightning. I am happy that you are back to my kingdom.”

This is why Bhagavad Gita says that if we want to escape death, we should return back to the spiritual world, the kingdom of Krishna.