By Sugunan (Recap given by Shoba on 13 Feb ‘03)
The concluding slokas of Chapter 7 showed to us, how great devotees behave in difficult situations? Though Asvattama killed five yuva pandavas, Panchali wanted to pardon him. Even though Arjuna and Bhima wanted to take revenge on Asvattama, she asked Arjuna to release him since she did not want to see his mother’s sufferings. Bhagavatam shows that even Krishna’s mother Devaki could not forgive Kamsa till the end, but in the case of Panchali, there was a complete change of heart. This was a realy transformation.
In the case of Asvattama, Panchali took a decision based on righteousness, which was lawful, merciful, sincere, balanced and praiseworthy in everyway. Krishna instructed Arjuna to punish Asvattama in a suitable manner to satisfy Panchali, Bhima and Him. Arjuna understood Krishna’s intention, cut-off with his sword the head-tuft of Asvatthama together with the crest-jewel that was a natural feature on his head and released him. Shaving the head of a Brahmin and expelling him from a place are equivalent to killing him. Then Pandavas performed the funeral rites of the children.
As long as we keep meeting only ordinary people, our lives cannot but be ordinary. Unless we come in contact with some who lives at a higher plane, we will continue to remain where we are. Let us read through Bhagavatam to understand how these extraordinary people (devotees) lived their life, how they behaved in difficult situation, what did they demand from Lord and follow their footsteps!
...Read more!
Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 7, Slokas 26-48)
By Sugunan (Recap given by Shoba on 6 Feb ‘03)
An introduction to ‘Bhagavat Mahatyamyam’ was given i.e. how Naradji made Gyan and Vairagya, the sons of Bhakti, revive their interest in life. Symbolically meaning in the Kaliyuga, Bhakti was growing, but Gyan and Vairagya were left behind. To revive the sons of Bhakti, Naradji advocated reading Bhagavatam or listening to the glories of Lord Krishna from Bhagavatam.
Then how Asvattama, the son of Drona killed all the Yuva Pandavas, while they were sleeping was described. Arjuna promised to take revenge followed Asvattama in a chariot, piloted by Krishna. Seeing them, Asvattama released the Brahmastra against Arjuna. Arjuna, on the instruction of the Lord, sent another Brahmastra and quenched the flames of both the missiles and withdrew them. Arjuna then bound up Asvattama with ropes. Krishna, pretending to be angry and to test how Arjuna would behave in this situation, scolded Arjuna for not killing the villain Asvattama. But Arjuna did not kill him, and left the situation to Panchali to decide, what action to be taken.
Panchali, in spite of his evil action, bowed to Asvattama and pleaded with Arjuna, to release him, because he is the son of his Guru who taught him the science of archery. If he would kill him, it would cause grief to his mother Kripi. Bhagavatam wanted to show to us, how Panchali, after going through the greatest tragedies of Mahabharatha war, completely changed her mental framework. Now she is able to see and feel the pain of others. The revengeful attitude of Panchali has been completely wiped off.
...Read more!
An introduction to ‘Bhagavat Mahatyamyam’ was given i.e. how Naradji made Gyan and Vairagya, the sons of Bhakti, revive their interest in life. Symbolically meaning in the Kaliyuga, Bhakti was growing, but Gyan and Vairagya were left behind. To revive the sons of Bhakti, Naradji advocated reading Bhagavatam or listening to the glories of Lord Krishna from Bhagavatam.
Then how Asvattama, the son of Drona killed all the Yuva Pandavas, while they were sleeping was described. Arjuna promised to take revenge followed Asvattama in a chariot, piloted by Krishna. Seeing them, Asvattama released the Brahmastra against Arjuna. Arjuna, on the instruction of the Lord, sent another Brahmastra and quenched the flames of both the missiles and withdrew them. Arjuna then bound up Asvattama with ropes. Krishna, pretending to be angry and to test how Arjuna would behave in this situation, scolded Arjuna for not killing the villain Asvattama. But Arjuna did not kill him, and left the situation to Panchali to decide, what action to be taken.
Panchali, in spite of his evil action, bowed to Asvattama and pleaded with Arjuna, to release him, because he is the son of his Guru who taught him the science of archery. If he would kill him, it would cause grief to his mother Kripi. Bhagavatam wanted to show to us, how Panchali, after going through the greatest tragedies of Mahabharatha war, completely changed her mental framework. Now she is able to see and feel the pain of others. The revengeful attitude of Panchali has been completely wiped off.
...Read more!
Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 7, Slokas 11-25)
By Sugunan (Recap given by Mahita on 30 Jan ‘03)
According to Sridhara Swamy, this is the most important chapter of Bhagavatam because two important characters are described in this chapter.
The first great character is Asvatthama. Though born in a Brahmin family, he cannot be called a true Brahmin due to his deeds and has never done anything good. He is the biggest culprit and killed all the five sons of Panchali when they were sleeping. He has done such a cruel action that no Brahmin would even think of such a thing. After killing the five children, Asvatthama takes all the five heads to his master Duryodana thinking that he will be pleased. But even the cruelest person like Duryodana did not like this action of Asvatthama. Duryodana could not even talk and dies immediately. Asvatthama is called “Chiranjeevi” because he is an epitome of revenge and hatredness.
The second great character in this chapter is Panchali. She is one of the main causes of Mahabharata war. But when she became a great devotee of Lord Krishna, total transformation took place. When Asvatthama killed her five sons, she was in great sorrow and grief. Arjuna wanted to kill Asvatthama, but Panchali tells Arjuna not to kill him. She says,” If you kill Asvatthama how can his mother Gautami bear it. I can’t even imagine it“. Panchali was ready to pardon Asvatthama in spite of her greatest loss. One should become a great devotee like Panchali. The greatest shreryas is Krishna Katha Charatam. All the time chant Krishna Katha. This is the greatest Dharma one should follow in this Kaliyuga.
...Read more!
According to Sridhara Swamy, this is the most important chapter of Bhagavatam because two important characters are described in this chapter.
The first great character is Asvatthama. Though born in a Brahmin family, he cannot be called a true Brahmin due to his deeds and has never done anything good. He is the biggest culprit and killed all the five sons of Panchali when they were sleeping. He has done such a cruel action that no Brahmin would even think of such a thing. After killing the five children, Asvatthama takes all the five heads to his master Duryodana thinking that he will be pleased. But even the cruelest person like Duryodana did not like this action of Asvatthama. Duryodana could not even talk and dies immediately. Asvatthama is called “Chiranjeevi” because he is an epitome of revenge and hatredness.
The second great character in this chapter is Panchali. She is one of the main causes of Mahabharata war. But when she became a great devotee of Lord Krishna, total transformation took place. When Asvatthama killed her five sons, she was in great sorrow and grief. Arjuna wanted to kill Asvatthama, but Panchali tells Arjuna not to kill him. She says,” If you kill Asvatthama how can his mother Gautami bear it. I can’t even imagine it“. Panchali was ready to pardon Asvatthama in spite of her greatest loss. One should become a great devotee like Panchali. The greatest shreryas is Krishna Katha Charatam. All the time chant Krishna Katha. This is the greatest Dharma one should follow in this Kaliyuga.
...Read more!
Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 7, Slokas 1-11)
By Gopinath (Recap given by Chitra on 23 Jan ‘03)
Sage Vyasa took the advise of Narada to overcome his feeling of dissatisfaction and entered into Samadhi. In his mind, which was pure and full of love for the God, Vyasa had the vision of the God and the power of Maya dependent on the God.
God created Maya and it in turn created the whole world of names and forms. It is through this Maya, we are both enjoying and suffering. Like the story of an eagle, which had mistakenly joined a group of hens without knowing its true nature, we are identifying ourselves with the body due to Avidhya. When we understand our true nature as Satchitananda, we will become free the same moment and be one with the Lord. The body, which is a product of Sattava, Rajas and Tamas, is the cause of the miseries in this world of samsara. The only way to transcend this problem is by the devotion to the God. This was the spark of inspiration to Sage Vyasa to write Bhagavatha purana, which pulls people out of their ignorance and brings them to the light of truth. After this transformation, another feather was added to Vyasa, i.e. Sage Vyasa became Bhagavan Vyasa.
Vyasa had written this Mahapurana not for his benefit, as we all know he is spiritually advanced. It is for the benefit of all of us who are ignorant of the truth. From day we are born and till the time of death, we have one or other worries. The only way to come out of worries and fear is through ‘Parama prema bhakti’, which Narada had. The Lord, who is ‘Sangataharana’, is in the form of Bhagavatham by studying which Avidhya - the root cause of worry, fear and attachment is rooted out.
Suka, son of Vyasa, who was totally free from all attachments, became an instrument to propagate the Lord’s message. Suka muni, being a thorough renouncer, was not interested in anything but all the time into the Self and was qualified for this mission of the Lord. The Sages do not require any book reading, as they are all the time in communion with the Lord, with no self-cerntered desires. The Lord’s power is like a magnet pulling everybody who is inclined towards Him. It is through this powerful pull of the Lord, we all are attending Satsang week regularly week after week. Sukha muni learnt this Bhagavatha purana as the seva to the Lord and the devotees of Lord Hari.
Whether one is a speaker or a listener, the transformation comes when the mind and the senses of the people are drawn towards the Lord. Transformation comes by reading scriptures, Guru’s upadesha and continuous sadhana with the thirst of a seeker and by God’s grace. ...Read more!
Sage Vyasa took the advise of Narada to overcome his feeling of dissatisfaction and entered into Samadhi. In his mind, which was pure and full of love for the God, Vyasa had the vision of the God and the power of Maya dependent on the God.
God created Maya and it in turn created the whole world of names and forms. It is through this Maya, we are both enjoying and suffering. Like the story of an eagle, which had mistakenly joined a group of hens without knowing its true nature, we are identifying ourselves with the body due to Avidhya. When we understand our true nature as Satchitananda, we will become free the same moment and be one with the Lord. The body, which is a product of Sattava, Rajas and Tamas, is the cause of the miseries in this world of samsara. The only way to transcend this problem is by the devotion to the God. This was the spark of inspiration to Sage Vyasa to write Bhagavatha purana, which pulls people out of their ignorance and brings them to the light of truth. After this transformation, another feather was added to Vyasa, i.e. Sage Vyasa became Bhagavan Vyasa.
Vyasa had written this Mahapurana not for his benefit, as we all know he is spiritually advanced. It is for the benefit of all of us who are ignorant of the truth. From day we are born and till the time of death, we have one or other worries. The only way to come out of worries and fear is through ‘Parama prema bhakti’, which Narada had. The Lord, who is ‘Sangataharana’, is in the form of Bhagavatham by studying which Avidhya - the root cause of worry, fear and attachment is rooted out.
Suka, son of Vyasa, who was totally free from all attachments, became an instrument to propagate the Lord’s message. Suka muni, being a thorough renouncer, was not interested in anything but all the time into the Self and was qualified for this mission of the Lord. The Sages do not require any book reading, as they are all the time in communion with the Lord, with no self-cerntered desires. The Lord’s power is like a magnet pulling everybody who is inclined towards Him. It is through this powerful pull of the Lord, we all are attending Satsang week regularly week after week. Sukha muni learnt this Bhagavatha purana as the seva to the Lord and the devotees of Lord Hari.
Whether one is a speaker or a listener, the transformation comes when the mind and the senses of the people are drawn towards the Lord. Transformation comes by reading scriptures, Guru’s upadesha and continuous sadhana with the thirst of a seeker and by God’s grace. ...Read more!
Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 6, Slokas 30-38)
By Gopinath (Recap given by Chitra on 16 Jan ‘03)
After the exhaustion of the prarabhdha karma, Naradji gave up his body. To attain the goal of life, Naradji had the continuous perseverance with the body, mind and senses all the time associated with the Lord with total sharanagathi.
Slokas 30 to 38 detail the transformation of Naradji.
A person does exercises and goes for walk to maintain the health of his physical body knowing that it is only through the body he perceives spiritual things. Similarly, the spiritual body needs Sadhana, the exercise to bring one out of the diseases of pride, jealousy, anger etc. The mind should always be engaged in the thoughts of the Lord through Sadhanas viz. Japa, bhajans, listening to glories of the Lord, etc. That will bring transformation in our life, even though it may not happen today or tomorrow. A ‘split second’ darshan of the Lord made Naradji to strive for the goal of life. The elephant tied to a strong tree cannot run away. In the same way, we have to tie ourselves to the trunk of faith and spiritual strength and pursue our goal of our life to become one with the Lord. The total surrender a devotee under the direct care of the Lord.
Like the water flowing downwards unobstructed from a higher place, the Lord’s grace is always flowing towards every one of us. If one gets the conviction that the Lord is there in everything, the avarana or the block gets removed. Because of this conviction, Naradji could progress forward in the spiritual path and go all over the three worlds singing the glories of the Lord. When Lord’s glories are sung with the true bhava, the Lord’s response is immediate. All our body, mind and intellect should be devoted to the service of the Lord and this intense devotion will lead one to the salvation then and there. Any yama, niyama or yoga not dedicated to the Lord will become a materialistic attitude. Service to the Lord will make one attain his spiritual goals and take him across the ocean of samsara.
It is said that like Naradji, all the Masters have no self-centered goals and they travel all around to spread the message of the Lord. They are intoxicated with divine love and cheer up the people who are distressed by the worldly woes (e.g. our Guruji). We are fortunate to have our Guruji who has put us in this path and it is our duty to continue the sadhanas with faith and dedication to achieve our spiritual goal under his guidance.
...Read more!
After the exhaustion of the prarabhdha karma, Naradji gave up his body. To attain the goal of life, Naradji had the continuous perseverance with the body, mind and senses all the time associated with the Lord with total sharanagathi.
Slokas 30 to 38 detail the transformation of Naradji.
A person does exercises and goes for walk to maintain the health of his physical body knowing that it is only through the body he perceives spiritual things. Similarly, the spiritual body needs Sadhana, the exercise to bring one out of the diseases of pride, jealousy, anger etc. The mind should always be engaged in the thoughts of the Lord through Sadhanas viz. Japa, bhajans, listening to glories of the Lord, etc. That will bring transformation in our life, even though it may not happen today or tomorrow. A ‘split second’ darshan of the Lord made Naradji to strive for the goal of life. The elephant tied to a strong tree cannot run away. In the same way, we have to tie ourselves to the trunk of faith and spiritual strength and pursue our goal of our life to become one with the Lord. The total surrender a devotee under the direct care of the Lord.
Like the water flowing downwards unobstructed from a higher place, the Lord’s grace is always flowing towards every one of us. If one gets the conviction that the Lord is there in everything, the avarana or the block gets removed. Because of this conviction, Naradji could progress forward in the spiritual path and go all over the three worlds singing the glories of the Lord. When Lord’s glories are sung with the true bhava, the Lord’s response is immediate. All our body, mind and intellect should be devoted to the service of the Lord and this intense devotion will lead one to the salvation then and there. Any yama, niyama or yoga not dedicated to the Lord will become a materialistic attitude. Service to the Lord will make one attain his spiritual goals and take him across the ocean of samsara.
It is said that like Naradji, all the Masters have no self-centered goals and they travel all around to spread the message of the Lord. They are intoxicated with divine love and cheer up the people who are distressed by the worldly woes (e.g. our Guruji). We are fortunate to have our Guruji who has put us in this path and it is our duty to continue the sadhanas with faith and dedication to achieve our spiritual goal under his guidance.
...Read more!
Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 6, Slokas 26-29)
By Gopinath (Recap given by Usha on 9 Jan ‘03)
The importance of Bhagavatam has been well explained. Bhagavatam glorifies Lord and His Bhaktas and was written by Veda Vyasa 5000 years ago. Since then it is being read and it will be read in future also. That is the importance of Bhagavatam. This scripture is very important as we are in the clutches of Kaliyuga. The swabhava of Kaliyuga is that everything will go wrong or in negative direction and hence our ancestors thought that there should be some remedy for this. So Naradji visits Veda Vyasa and asks him to glorify the Lord and as per His will, this Bhagavatam came into the mind of Veda Vyasa. By the grace of the Lord and our Guruji, we are quite fortunate to listen to this scripture Bhagavatam week after week.
The ultimate goal in our life is moksha or mukti. The Lord as well as all the Gurus say that by listening to this Bhagavatam, we will get moksha or mukti from ‘samsara bhandanam’. So one should read Bhagavatam as a daily routine. We are lucky to have human birth as we have mind and intellect to meditate on the Lord and reach Him. Naradji had vision of the Lord because he had conviction and definite goal. The Lord says that there is no short cut in this path and hence one has to strive hard with total faith i.e. ‘Sarvasya saranagathi’ to reach Him. There is no need for any one to go to Himalayas. Always meditate on Him and think of Him with undivided faith by which one can reach his ultimate goal!
...Read more!
The importance of Bhagavatam has been well explained. Bhagavatam glorifies Lord and His Bhaktas and was written by Veda Vyasa 5000 years ago. Since then it is being read and it will be read in future also. That is the importance of Bhagavatam. This scripture is very important as we are in the clutches of Kaliyuga. The swabhava of Kaliyuga is that everything will go wrong or in negative direction and hence our ancestors thought that there should be some remedy for this. So Naradji visits Veda Vyasa and asks him to glorify the Lord and as per His will, this Bhagavatam came into the mind of Veda Vyasa. By the grace of the Lord and our Guruji, we are quite fortunate to listen to this scripture Bhagavatam week after week.
The ultimate goal in our life is moksha or mukti. The Lord as well as all the Gurus say that by listening to this Bhagavatam, we will get moksha or mukti from ‘samsara bhandanam’. So one should read Bhagavatam as a daily routine. We are lucky to have human birth as we have mind and intellect to meditate on the Lord and reach Him. Naradji had vision of the Lord because he had conviction and definite goal. The Lord says that there is no short cut in this path and hence one has to strive hard with total faith i.e. ‘Sarvasya saranagathi’ to reach Him. There is no need for any one to go to Himalayas. Always meditate on Him and think of Him with undivided faith by which one can reach his ultimate goal!
...Read more!
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