The History of Bhagavad Gita
Sometimes it is good to ‘get back to basics’ on the philosophy of Bhagavad Gita. So I think a good place to start is the history of Bhagavad Gita. What is the Gita, where did it come from and how old is it?
Firstly the title of Bhagavad Gita is two Sanskrit words. Bhagavad comes from the word Bhagavan which referrers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and ‘gita’ means song. Sometimes we hear the Gita referred to in English as “The Song of God,” and this is a reasonable English translation of the title and it is a fairly accurate description of what the Bhagavad Gita is.
The Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to His friend Arjuna on the battlefield of Kuruksettra around five thousand years ago. The Gita has a very unique position in the world as it is the only book that contains directly the actual words spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You can find many religious and philosophical books in the world but there is no book, except Bhagavad Gita, which claims to contain the direct, actual words spoken by God. Even in the Vedic literatures the other sections of the Vedas may have quotes from God but they are written about God, they describe God, rather than being a direct conversation with God.
The Gita is unique in the world as it is a direct conversation between Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and his friend Arjuna so we need to take this book very seriously and study it very carefully.
So what were Krishna and Arjuna doing on the battlefield of Kuruksettra and how did this conversation between them that has now become the Gita take place?
There was a royal family called the Kurus which Arjuna and Krishna were both connected to. Although all the descendents of this family were actually ‘Kurus’ there was a disagreement between the five sons of Pandu and the other members of the Kuru family over who should be the King. Because of this disagreement the sons of Pandu became known as “Pandavas”. Arjuna was the third son of Pandu and Krishna was related to and friendly with both factions of the Kuru family. The Pandavas wanted to settle this dispute peacefully and even suggested that the Kurus could keep the kingdom and simply give them five small villages, one village for each of the Pandu brothers to rule over as they were Ksatriyas and needed to have at least some land. But the Kurus rejected this very reasonable proposal stating that they would not give the Pandus even a piece of land the size of the head of a pin. So in this way the Kurus forced the Pandavas to fight them and the leader of the winning group would go on to become the King.
From the point of view of military strength and the number of competent generals to lead the battle the Kurus led by the great and expert general Bhisma were far superior to the Pandavas led by Arjuna. Therefore it appeared that the Kurus should be able to easily defeat the army of the Pandavas.
So this is the basic background, you can find much more detailed information in Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is–but now you have the general idea at least. As I mentioned Krishna was friendly with both sides and both sides belonged to the Kuru family so they all knew each other and were related to each other in various ways. So this is a family quarrel. Krishna did not want to be seen to be partial to either side so he met with Arjuna, the leader of the Pandavas and Duryodhana, the leader of the Kurus, and told them both that He would offer his army to one side and He himself would be on the other side but He said that He would not fight. Krishna of course had a very large and powerful army and Duryodhana got the first choice so naturally he choose Krishna’s army and that left Krishna, who was not going to fight, on Arjuna’s side.
So Krishna, although He had agreed not to fight, offered to drive the chariot of Arjuna. That is how the famous image of Bhagavad-gita came about. The picture of Krishna at the front of Arjuna’s chariot driving it and Arjuna behind Him riding on the chariot and fighting the battle. Of course Arjuna wanted His friend Krishna on His side and was very happy with this arrangement and Duryodhana wanted Krishna’s powerful army on his side so he was also happy with the arrangement.
So now you understand how Krishna and Arjuna ended up sitting on the chariot facing their opponents and cousin brothers the Kurus on the battlefield. It was a very dramatic scene. The two very strong armies facing each other and ready to engage in battle. Arjuna asked Krishna to place his chariot between the two armies so that he could see both the armies and get a clear idea of the situation before the battle commenced. So Krishna moved the chariot and Arjuna observed the armies and seeing so many friends and family members on both sides Arjuna became bewildered and decided that they should not fight in this battle. His logic was that even if they were successful and ended up victorious in the fight practically all his friends and family members would be killed in the battle. Therefore he was thinking the victory would be pointless if all his friends were killed and there was no one for him to enjoy the victory with.
At this point Arjuna was saying to Krishna that they should just leave the battlefield. Krishna said he was surprised by these sentiments of Arjuna and considered that Arjuna was acting in a unmanly way and chastised him. This is the beginning of the conversation we now know as ‘Bhagavad Gita’ or ‘Song of God’.
The Gita is not a long conversation. it comprises of only 711 Sanskrit verses and it was spoken on a battlefield as the two armies were getting ready for the war. Maybe it took one hour or a little more and during the course of this conversation Arjuna came to he senses and realized his duty was actually to surrender to Krishna and do what Krishna wanted, and Krishna wanted him to fight. Actually this whole arrangement was made by Krishna so the Bhagavad Gita could be spoken by Him. Arjuna is bewildered and appears to be in illusion but we understand this is also Krishna’s arrangement. If Arjuna was not confused and bewildered there would have been no need for Krishna to speak the Bhagavad Gita to clear up his confusion. Krishna is not speaking the Bhagavad Gita for Arjuna’s benefit only. It is for the benefit of everyone.
And you may well ask: “Krishna spoke this conversation to Arjuna on a battlefield five thousand years ago, how is it that we have that conversation in a book now?” We have the Bhagavad Gita because Srila Vyasadeva the great sage and literary incarnation of Krishna included this conversation between Krishna and Arjuna, the Bhagavad Gita, as one of the chapters of his great epic the Mahabharata. So Sri Vyasadeva who was a contemporary with Krishna and Arjuna after the battle of Kuruksettra and the disappearance of Krishna compiled the Mahabharata which is the history of the universe and in that book he included the full details and history of the Kuru family and of course the Bhagavad Gita is included in Mahabharata.
It is not that the Bhagavad Gita was invented by Krishna 5,000 years ago when He spoke it to Arjuna. No. Krishna says: “I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Iksvaku. The supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.1 & 4.2)
Here Krishna is giving the history of the Bhagavad Gita stretching way back to the time when Krishna instructed the same Bhagavad Gita to Vivasvan the sun god. Srila Prabhupada estimates in his purport that this was at least 120 million years ago and that the Gita has existed in human society for two million years.
So the Bhagavad Gita was not a new book even when Krishna spoke it some 5,000 years ago. Then He was simply repeating the same thing He taught the sun god Vivasvan around 120 million years ago.
Although the Bhagavad Gita is the most ancient book, it is still studied today by millions and the teachings of Krishna in it are still very relevant to solving the problems we face in today’s world. This proves the eternal value of the timeless knowledge Krishna shares with His friend Arjuna.
My humble request is if you have not made a serious study of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is please purchase it at:
http://krishnastore.com/bhagavad-gita-as-it-is-with-bonus-dvd-h-krishna-407.html
And study it. You can also read it online at:
If you have already studied the Gita then please study it again. It is a truly wonderful book and every time you read your realization and knowledge deepens and you see completely new aspects to the book that you did not appreciate before. The more you read the Bhagavad Gita the more interesting it becomes and the more you will make spiritual advancement.
About the Author
Madhudvisa dasa My first contact with a Hare Krishna was a most merciful Mataji in Oxford Street, London who sold me a "Higher Taste" cook book in 1984 while I was on holidays there. I started seriously reading Srila Prabhupada's books in Australia 1985 and by 1986 Srila Prabhupada had convinced me "Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead" and "we should surrender to Krishna." I joined the Hare Krishnas in Perth, Western Australia in 1986. Since then I have been chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and preaching as much as I can. That's my life and full-time occupation now really. I like it more than anything I've ever experienced before. Srila Prabhupada's books are so amazing... Even after reading them all many times they're still fresh and new. They are truly transcendental! That's it really. Now I'm just hankering to once again see the world chant Hare Krishna, dance and feast and float away in the ecstasy of Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana movement as it did in Srila Prabhupada's physical presence. Let the whole world drown in the ecstatic flood of love of Krishna!
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Hare Krishna Prabhuji
Dandavat pranams
Could u kindly clarify the following:
1. The exact number of verses in Bg is mentioned in your article above to be 711. I counted them in Bg As It Is and it came to 700. Are we perhaps looking at different versions; still the original number of slokas should be identical
2. Bhisma died on the 10th day of the 18 day war. Some say Bg was related only after Bhismadevs death to Dhristarastra by Sanjaya in Hastinapur. If that is true, 1.1 would have a slightly different context. I was always under the impression that through the grace of Srila Vyasadev, Sanjaya was able to witness it all live as if via television broadcast.
Please help
Yas
Nardev
Exact number of verses is 700, 711 is my mistake, sorry for that.
Hare Krishna Prabhuji
Dandavat
Jai Prabhupada
As per scriptures there are 33 crore demigods which is equivalent to 330 million . But I have heard in several lectures of Prabhupada that it is 33 million demigods which is equivalent to 3.3 crore. I am confused?
It does not matter exactly. There are a lot of demigods, be happy with that.
The point is that there are so many demigods, all in charge of a particular aspect of the material world, so the point is it is very difficult to find the exact right demigod to worship for the exact benefit you want.
So the worshipers of the demigods are less intelligent, demigod worshipers are fools.
Intelligent people realize that even the demigods are completely dependent on Krishna for fulfilling their boons. So intelligent people worship Krishna, not the demigods. So don’t be confused. Chant Hare Krishna and be happy…
Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I live in Mumbai and like to know whom I can contact who are following real teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Recently I got to know that all ISKCON doesn’t follow his way of Krishna Conciousness. For the association of devotees we need to associate only with true followers of Srila Prabhupada. Please help me to get in touch with them if ther are in Mumbai.
Read Prabhupada’s books and get in contact with Prabhupada and Krishna and all the great saints and sages who appear in Prabhupada’s books. Then you will have the best association.
Wonderful explanation about bhagavd gita. thanks for posting
Hare Krishna, can kindly comments whether we can chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra without the Mala….and what is the actual significance of having the TILAK.
Regards,
Yes. You can chant Hare Krishna in any situation, with or without mala. The reason we chant on beads is we make a vow to chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, so we need some way to count the number of rounds we have chanted, and that is what the japa mala is for, as a counting system, so we can know how many rounds we have chanted.
So chant at least 16 rounds on beads every day and keep chanting Hare Krishna the rest of the day on or off beads.
Tilak is marking the body as a temple of Visnu. It is also protecting the body from all directions.
Hare Krishna! Swami I am a student and I’m am very attached to Lord Krishna. I have understood a lot from Bhagavad Gita but my doubt is when Lord Krishna explained this to Arjuna, how did VedaVyas write it down? Was he present there to write it down? It may look like a silly doubt but I’m really curious. Also does Rajoguna mean that one should never live luxuriously or does it mean that one should not live beyond one’s materialistic capabilities? Please help me out. Dhanyavad
Vedavyasa wrote down all the Vedic literatures which were current at the time. He did not write them himself, these literatures were current, being handed down from spiritual master to disciple, but Vedavyasa could foresee that with the advancement of Kali-yuga men’s memories would become bad and it would not be possible to continue this process of accurately passing down the knowledge through only this verbal way. So he wrote the Vedas down. Bhagavad-gita is a chapter in his Mahabharata, it is the history of greater India. So these narrations about Krishna and what happened at the Battlefield of Kuruksettra were not secrets. It is all open. With many witnesses. So the history of the Bhagavad-gita was there already, Vedavyasa just wrote it down so it would be properly preserved for the future.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvsia dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Jay Prabhupada
I have a serious doubt. Did Lord Krishna stop time while speaking Bhagwad Geeta? If he did then how could Sanjay was able to see all the things? And if not then why other people on battle field could not manage to witness the conversation? Please wake me from this doubt.
Hare Krishna.
No. Krishna did not stop time.
Both the armies gathered on each side of the battlefield and Arjuna asked Krishna to drive his chariot into the middle so he could observe both sides and see how they had come so eager to fight. Then Krishna and Arjuna had the conversation which is Bhagavad-gita in front of everyone there. So everyone saw and heard the conversation. It was short maybe half an hour, not more than an hour for sure.
Sanjaya could see things using some sort of remote viewing. He could see the activities happening on the battlefield while sitting some miles away in Dhrtarasta’s palace. It is something like television. Something is happening in one part of the world and we can see it on the television from another part of the world. So Sanjaya had this power of television within his heart. So he could see what was happening even though he was not physically there.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Can i know the languages of Bhagavat Gita existing as per original SP 1972.I wanted to get all languages.If u can help me it ll be good.
Ys scsd
Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is is in English Language. English is the language he wrote it in and English language is the only original.
Hare Krsna Prabhuji
Can i post some of your comments to some questions on my facebook page.Your answers are nice.So do i have your permission for that?
Yes.
You write “The Gita has a very unique position in the world as it is the only book that contains directly the actual words spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. ” but we also find Krishna’s actual words in the Srimad Bhagavatam, called the “Uddhava Gita” Bhagavad Gita is known as ‘Song of the God’ whereas, Uddhava Gita is known as farewell message of Krishna, a parting discourse, and is meant for those who have advanced knowledge of Vedanta.
Uddhava Gita is the message or speech given by Lord Krishna to his friend and devotee Uddhava before his departure from the earth to console him from his sadness and explaining why the “Yadu” race or Yadava community should fall; the Bhagavad Gita is a clarion call for action and for performing one’s own duties.
Why would we not also revere the Uddhava Gita as Krishna’s words and therefore the BG is not the only book with the direct words of Krishna?
Hare Krishna Ted
Yes. Of course. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the post graduate study of spiritual life while Bhagavad-gita is the introductory text. What makes you think we don’t revere Srimad-Bhagavatam?
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna !!
Thanks for explaining, as you said I m reading Gita second time and I lv speaking to Madhavan, I lv reading it, I lv singing and hearing, it is very interesting to do his works, only some times I struggles to do his work. Actly I m a realized soul but not yet liberated. Each and every incident in my life explained by Madhavan, he explains r intimate me thru inspirated msgs, TV serials, daily incidents at off and at home. If I make any mistake he imm reflect me to realize and react. He forgvs me a lOt but he gvs me pain ofcourse its my karma to act and doing some times I take permission from him and I will not do. During imp times I do, if I avoid he makes me, convinces me till I do d gvn work. Really its amazing even though paining. Its my previous birth leftover work. Little bit I m getting involved in d gvn work, till I will b involved heartly I cannot see him, I m starving to avoid my emotions but still I m not able to handle few circumstances, he gvs me chance and even though I knw I m missing my control. Pl help me to come out from dat bond. I knw d bond is not permanent but still I req Madhavan not to gv me such circumstances and test me, I will fail and I m failing every time and after some time I m bcoming fine.
Hare Krishna thank you
Krishna never became God. Krishna is God. Eternally. One can not become God by any process. So Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared on this earth by His own desire. God can do anything He wants to do. So if God wants to appear on this planet He can. And that is exactly what He did in Vrindavan 5000 years ago.
Krishna showed that He was God from His very birth. He was not born like an ordinary child. Rather Krishna appeared before His father and mother, Vasudeva and Devaki, in His four-armed Visnu form dressed very opulently with beautiful jewelry and weapons. So this is not the way an ordinary child is born. Mother Devaki prayed to Krishna: “O my Lord, you have appeared here exactly as Lord Visnu and the cruel King Kamsa is looking for Visnu because he wants to kill You. Please my Lord take the form of an ordinary child.” So in this way Lord Krishna took the form of a baby. So you can not say that Krishna took birth like any other human being. Similarly all of Krishna’s activities, even as a small child, prove that He is not an ordinary human being but the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For example at the age of seven only he held up a great hill Govardhan and used it as an umbrella to protect his friends and family members, the inhabitants of Vrindavan. So no ordinary boy can hold up a mountain like this and use it as an umbrella. So in this and in so many other ways Krishna proved that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krishna pamho it is you that make me understood in first stage what is bhagavad gita thanks a lot maharaj ki joy ho..
HARE KRISHNA PAMHO, I have gone through the book bhagavad gita as it is more than hundred of times but never I can understand the actual meaning of the verse but it is very easy to understand what you described in this news letter so really it is the mercy of lord krishna and prabhupada and definitely you,myself is fortunate enough that such a person teaching me b/gita like you.joy ho …
Hare Krishna Mahaprahbu
Wow..This was the first time I manage to understand Bhagavagita and in particular Mahabaratha without much confusion.Thanks a million for explaining this beautiful epic in a very precise,simple and in a clear easy to understand English.
I have decided to visit Kurukshestra, Madhura,Vrindavan Dwarka and many other holy places in India where Lord Krishna’s significance prevails.
This is my dream and I seek his blessing to make it possible next month.
Hare Krishna
hare krishna
I love to read Bhagavad Gita and Srila Prabhupada’s ji book.thank you for sharing this with as all
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
After reading Bhagavad Gita as far as i can understand one’s duty is to serve Krishna with devotion.To do that one need to know about the will of Krishna.For the present moment i don’t have a direct relationship with Krishna and hence i don’t know His will.Even if i am reading Srila Prabhupada’s purports he is not physically present to guide me how to do things practically.Even though the Spiritual Master is eternal because he lives through his teachings i need someone who will confirm what i have learned from those teachings.Lord Krishna is also saying one has to approach someone who has seen the truth and enquire with a humble and submissive attitude.That is why i need a Spiritual Master who will guide me and tell me about the will of Krishna.So my question is apart from praying to Krishna what should i do to get a Spiritual Master,how will i recognize him in my conditioned state of existence.
Forgive me if i have committed a mistake.
Hare Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada is living in his books. You can have a personal realtionship with him by reading his books. He will answer your questions if you read his books.
That is if you actually want a real spiritual master. Most people just want a spiritual master for show.
So if you are serious you will read Srila Prabhupada’s books and follow the instructions Srila Prabhupada gives you as you read his books.
You have to realize bona fide spiritual master is very very rare. And Prabhupada is a bona fide spiritual master. We need to take advantage of associating with Srila Prabhupada by reading his books.
Sairam. Hare Krishna
Swamiji kindly clarify a humble doubt of mine When the Lord made the Gita Upadesa to Arjuna did the others also have the opportunity of listerning to Him ?
Prof.Balakrishnan
Yes, Krishna and Arjuna discussed Bhagavad-gita before the Battle of Kuruksettra. They were in the middle between the two Armies. Arjuna had asked Krishna to put his chariot there so Arjuna could see exactly who it was he was to fight. And on seeing all his dear family members and friends assembled on both sides he became bewildered and said: “Krishna I will not fight.” So Krishna took this opportunity of Arjuna’s bewilderment to speak Bhagavada=gita in front of everyone. So everyone there assembled on the battlefield on both sides heard the Bhagavad-gita. Actually the discussion is meant for the benefit of everyone. Arjuna is already Krishna’s friend and devotee, he was just put into this bewilderment by Krishna for the purpose of speaking Bhagavad-gita which is for the benefit of all people.
You said and saying that, “So Krishna took this opportunity of Arjuna’s bewilderment to speak Bhagavadagita in front of everyone. So everyone there assembled on the battlefield on both sides heard the Bhagavad-gita. Actually the discussion is meant for the benefit of everyone. Arjuna is already Krishna’s friend and devotee, he was just put into this bewilderment by Krishna for the purpose of speaking Bhagavad-gita which is for the benefit of all people.”
So tell me what was the point of the fighting then if everyone on both sides heard the bhagavad gita on the battlefield of Kuruksetra. Why there was anger, animosity, envy, jealousy, pride, bigotry,etc and other negative feelings and as a result soldier’s wife and children got affected by this fighting in a bad way.
This all sounds so conradictory, confusing(or sort of confusing) and weird or strange of what Krishna was doing overall in that period including and especially during the battles or war of Kuruksetra.
I would very much appreciate your answer. Thank-you for giving your time to read my inquiry(although feel in my head in one sense that you giving me time is not such a big deal as to thank you, but i should still be grateful and thank you. Thank-you again for listening this, and thank-you if you reply to this and thank-you for everything so far.)
Hare Krishna Sean
The background to Bhagavad-gita is it is a family battle. What happened is that the Kingdom belonged to the sons of Pandu, because there were two sons, Pandu and Drtarastra, but Drtarastra was blind, so he was disqualified from becoming the King. But he had many sons and he wanted one of his sons to become the next King. So for many years the Pandavas were mistreated by Drtarastra and his sons and ultimately there was no other option but fighting to solve this problem.
This is the way in the material world. You can not avoid violence sometimes. Particularly in the government. They were Ksatriyas, it means the warrior class. So they have to fight if challenged. That is their duty.
But above all this the Battle of Kuruksettra was Krishna’s plan. He wanted the battle and he wanted all the soldiers on both sides killed. Of course you have to understand nobody is killed. Only the material body is killed, the soul can not be killed. So the souls just change from one body to another. So there is really no loss. And in this case because they were seeing Krishna on the battlefield when they were being killed they all were liberated. So it was good for everyone.
I know it is confusing in the beginning and hard to understand. The only way you will be able to understand the Bhagavad-gita is by reading Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is in a humble and submissive mood, accepting that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and accepting that Srila Prabhupada is a pure devotee of Krishna.
Actually we have been very badly educated and we have to un-learn what has been taught to us in the Western schools.
So it is totally impossible for me to explain these things satisfactorily in a few paragraphs here. So please read Srila Prabhuapada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is for yourself.
This was an excellent introduction regarding the history of Bhagavad-Gita. I have a question, which came in mind after reading the brief history of Bhagavad-Gita, that why Shree Krishna allowed His army to fight to Pandavas from Duryodhan’s side. Lord Krishna, He is all knowing, knew that Duryodhan was evil-minded person and was not following the law of Karma as well as Dharma. Then, why Shree Krishna is allowing His army to fight from Duryodan’s side.
Amer
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa das
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Thank you once again for your news letter.
I find it extremely helpful. I am reading the Bhagavad Gita for the first time and am up to chapter 13. Your letters have broadened my mind and I am really looking forward to reading it again.
I am chanting 16 plus every day and feel blessed to have found Krishna Consciousness .
I am finding some contradictions between Srila Prabhupadas instructions and some of my brothers action.
Can you please explain to me the full story of your stand in relationship to Srila Prabhupada being the final acarya . I would to know more about what happened in the movement after he left his body.
I am inclined to feel that many devotees I have met do not follow Srila Prabupada fully because they dont think his instructions are current or achievable. I actually do think they are achievable current and feel I need to follow them to the letter.
Most fallen soul
Cello
Hare Krishna Cello
I do not have any ‘stand’. I simply repeat what Srila Prabhupada has said. That is all. I am just passing on the messages that Srila Prabhupada passed to me. That is all we have to do.
As far as Prabhupada’s instructions, they are spiritual, transcendental and timeless. They are eternally current and easily achievable by any sincere soul. But one who is not sincere, he will not be able to follow them.
So today’s ISKCON, as you have noted, no longer seriously follow Srila Prabhupada. So they are lost.
If you want to know what I think then read Prabhupada’s books. I agree with Srila Prabhupada on every point. I do not have any different opinion to Srila Prabhupada. The idea that Prabhupada is the final acharya is insane. That is not what Prabhupada wants. If you read his letters, books and listen to his classes that is perfectly clear. Acharya is required for pushing on the preaching of Krishna consciousness. Krishna does not change the way He works. So there will be more acharyas in the future. That will be the success of Srila Prabhupada’s mission. But acharya is a pure devotee of Krishna. Acharya is self-effulgent. He rises like the sun in the morning. So if the real pure devotee acharya is preaching then it will be obvious to all except the most envious demons.
Some people can directly access Srila Prabhupada by reading his books, anyone can actually, but for some reason they refuse to and get so confused. So for most people it would seem that living acharya is required. The problem is that 99% of the people who claim to be ‘Prabhupada disciples’ are not even following the basic things like chanting at least 16 rounds a day and strictly following the four regulative principles.
So we are in difficult times. But we have Srila Prabhupada and we have his books so we simply need to take advantage of the association of Srila Prabhupada by reading his books. Then the way forward will become clear to us.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa
please accept my humble obeisance’s
all glories to Srila Prabhupada
Thank you for your reply. This has clarified things for me on that point.
I look forward to more reading.
Haribol
cello
WHO IS SANJAY IN THE MAHABHARATA AND HOW HE HAS DESCRIBE THE CONVERSATION OF THE SUPREME GOD KRISHNA AND HIS FREIND ARJUNA WHO HAS GIVEN THE SPECIAL SEEING POWER TO SANJAYA ? PLEASE TELL ME .WITH BEST REGARDS .
Hare Krishna Arun
Sanjaya is the secretary of King Dhrtarastra. He has the power to see what is happening on the battlefield of Kuruksettra within his heart. So he could see what was going on on the battlefield while sitting in the palace with the king. So he could describe to the king exactly what was happening as it happened. It is a type of subtle television. There are many subtle sciences that we are not currently aware of and this is one of them. It is a material art. Not actually spiritual. It is like the siddhis that yogis can achieve. These are materialistic perfections. So it is all to do with the subtle elements of mind, intelligence and ego. This science we have not yet discovered.
I agree with “The more we read the Bhagavad Gita the more interesting it becomes and the more we will make spiritual advancement as we are in the initial stage” and I am very eager to read all these letters and I am very thankful as i receive these E mails.
islam’s godhead is krishna(allah). do u agree?
Yes. There is only one God. In different countries they call God by different names. But they are all different names of Krishna only.
Kindly guide me spiritual way
Read Srila Prabhupada’s books. That is why he wrote them. To give us spiritual guidance…
I think that as I read, we are working in the material world , it is our office. Sri Krishna is our boss and that pure devotees are the trainer and managers of this company , we are the trainee. If we want to enjoy our life in office then boss may snatch the service and if we concentrate to work then we may get promotion with the time , place and others for enjoying . All people maintain this rule for office , so I think that every person must maintain this rule philosophically with realization .
Justify it.
Thanks again for your wonderfull introduction to Gîta. I appreciated very much your explanation about Iskcon false gurus: a pure scandal endeed! I 100% share your intelligent point of you about such a tough subject!
I want to know the time period(time duration) in which whole gita is described by shree krishna to arjun
It did not take very long for Krishna to speak Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna.
You can understand it for yourself. It is only 700 not big Sanskrit slokas. You can just try it yourself. Chant all 700 Bhagavad-gita slokas and see how long it takes. Not very long. Maybe one hour. Not more than that.
The conversation is there, the actual Sanskrit words that both Krishna and Arjuna spoke, in the Bhagavad-gita. So you can understand for yourself how long it would take to have this conversation.
It is not a very long conversation because as you know it took place just before the battle started while both armies were assembled there. Krishna and Arjuna were on the chariot in the middle of the two armies and the conversation was going on there. So it is not for a very long time.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krsna,
Prabhu, I have some doubts. The term epic is used by Prabhupada in many parts of his books but sometimes he chatises the peopje who call the historical facts as epic. Is there some contradiction?
My second question is can I chant at night like from 12 AM. I do chant at night. I am presently a student 17 years of age and I am unable to manage my time properly. I don’t have my own temple and my family members blasphemes anything devotional so I do most of the things without their notice and for me safest time is when they all fall asleep.
Hare Krishna Hrishikesh
As long as you are chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day that is all right. Best time is to get up before 4:30 AM in the morning. At that time all the family members will be sleeping for sure and you will have no problems chanting in the early morning hours like this. That is the most auspicious time of the day, the early morning hours before the sun rises.
As far as epic: dictionary.com defines it as “A long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style.” So it is a nice way to refer to the Bhagavatam, the Mahabharata, etc.
I have never heard Srila Prabhupada chastise anyone for calling the Bhagavatam or the Mahabharata an epic. No there is no contradiction. We naturally see so many contradictions in the beginning but there are no contradictions. It is only a sign of our immaturity in Krishna consciousness. As we make more advancement in spiritual life all the apparent contradictions will be automatically resolved. The important thing is to submissively hear from Srila Prabhupada, from the Bhagavad-gita, from Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc. And accept it even if in the beginning we see some apparent contradiction and can not completely understand it.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
i would like to know the accurate year when bagavad geta was written?
Hare Krishna
Bhagavad-gita is a chapter of the Mahabharata. So it is written down, dictated by Vyasadeva to Ganeshji who was the scribe. This was around 5000 years ago. I do not know the exact date but you could do some research and find out when Mahabharata was first written down I expect.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krsna Prabhu,
I have read in some versions of Bhagavad gita that the battlefield of
Kuruksetra is our body, the five pandavas are our five senses, Arjuna
is confused living entitity and Krsna is enlightened entity. I am
greatly confused. Why most people want to make us believe that Krsna
doesnot exists nor do Kuruksetra and Arjuna.
Yes. If you do not read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is you will be completely confused. Practically all the other editions of Bhagavad-gita attempt to hide the actual teachings of Krishna and the dishonest authors try to use Krishna’s book to propogate their own personal ideas and philosophy. This is very dishonest and has created such a disaster. Sure, if you have your own philosophy then you can write a book, but your own book. But these rascals, they know if they write a book with their bogus philosophy themselves no one will be interested, no one will read it. So instead they take Krishna’s book and totally misrepresent it and twist it to suit their own ends.
So the answer is to read Srila Prabhupada’s books. Then your confusion will evaporate and you will be floating in the ocean of transcendental bliss that is Krishna consciousness.
I get confused as to who’s prayer we are supposed to do
1) As per Bhagavad Gita – Lord Krishna
2) As per Vishnu Purana – Lord Vishnu
3) As per Shiva Purana – Lord Shiva
and many more……..
Also I don’t know which Bhagavad Gita Book is original (there are many in Google) and I don’t have much money to buy hard copy (I am still student)
Would you share some books with me on my email id if possible
Hare Krishna
Don’t be confused:
Chant:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
and read Srila Prabhupada’s original books at:
http://www.PrabhupadaBooks.com
and
http://www.AsItIs.com
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Sir,
My friend does not have computer to read BG and her parents are not buying BG for her from ISCKON, Bangalore. Thus when we went to our school library we found a BG and I searched for changes in them and luckily, that book had no changes. However the librarian was hesitant to give us that book since that was the only BG in the library. After some plead we got it but on the condition that it had to be returned within one week.
My doubt is that is it okay if my friend reads BG so fast? She is very determined and I am sure she can finish it but is it okay to read it fast?
My other friend is reading BG on the computer and thus three of my friends are reading BG and chanting 16 rounds daily (including one more girl) . Even I am doing the same.
So sir, could you please tell me if it is fine to read BG fast.
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada!!!!
Thank You.
Hare Krishna Rukmini
It is very nice to hear from you and about your preaching activities there. Yes. It is good to read Bhagavad-gita. Fast or slow. She can read it fast and then she will read it again also. Because the way Bhagavad-gita is the more we read it the deeper our understanding of it becomes. It is not like an ordinary book. It is incredibly deep. So yes. Let her read it fast.
Please reply to this with your mailing address, I will not post it on the website but I will send you a few books so you have something there to distribute to your friends also.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Sir,
I have written this reply to inform you that I have received the “many, many books ” which you had kindly sent me and I am extremely happy at it’s sight. Especially Prabhupada’s laughing photo at the back of every book delight’s me very much. Indeed, this is the first time I am seeing a book so joyfully!
Sir, I again humbly thank you a hundred, million times for giving me a chance to serve Srila Prabhupada. I shall start distributing immediately.
Thank You very, very much once again !!!
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada!!!
To Rukmini:
Hare Krishna….I was born again in 1997 but I met some Hare Ks in 2010…they seemed thoroughly into God too, and seemed in most cases to be more attuned to the spiritual life than most people from the C faith I encountered…I consider myself to be a true ecumenical and I constantly thank those who have been instrumental in leading me to the present state of mind.
God is Great, Jesus is God but lets face it passing ammunitions is satanic
Hare Krishna too
Hare Krishna Prabhuji,
Recently come to the circle of Prabhuji Hare Krishna.
Pranam
My best greetings to everyone, I enjoy reading the Gita, I have nothing to say to enlighten anyone, except Krishna is God, and I love him. I hope for miracles for the people in the World, I have hope, some day to return to the beautiful spiritual paradise to observe Krishna , and to dance myself with Radha.
I also would like to have several “lovers” to enjoy life with, and to have many “friends” , to partake of life with, much like Krishna has cowherd boys and Gopi gals, to be with him,
I would suggest to all the God’s and Demi-Gods, the necessity, at this time to supernaturally cause PEACE , because many in nthe World here, are so lost, and so resentful, that things could get worse before they get better, in many areas, so …………..with hope, I ask that Peace would BE, and that PEACE could BE, and that PEACE will BE .
Because all we have to do is forsake position, no King ever wants to be King, and 5000 years ago, a battle didn’t solve anything, so TODAY, we have TODAY , and we have great things now, modern things, and we should all pray and ask our superiors for Peace, so we can keep our things, and PEACE is a very good thing, and it is brought about by LOVE, and Krishna is LOVE.
This is my expierience, and I enjoy being with Krishna, I hope to be able to see him, and laugh with him, expierience being with him, and I really Love Radha , she is most particularly beautiful to me,
and I ask for daily miracle healing and protection for everyone,
I enjoy the Krishna on the web things, we are so fortunite to have these Krishna things on the web, I believe His Divine Grace, would be so happy to see all of this, and I congradulate and applaud, all the ones that work so diligently and work so hard to bring all these Krishna things, to us all, It is a JOY to me.
Plus ,I really Love Radha, she is most beautiful to me, I would enjoy being with HER, greatly, ya know, all the time, night and day.
I have hope.
We always have hope.
perhaps the gods and goddess’s and demigods can help God, to ease the suffering, somehow. People don’t like to suffer, and animals don’t like to suffer, my hope is to return to the krishna planet some day, it is so that I say these things, as I love Krishna, and I’m rather ,
stuck.
: ] davykrishna
thank you very much….
people say that mahabharatha is just a story, a myth cannot be proven. but i found that exactly 5000 b.c the day of krukshathra is calculated. even the day of great war is mentioned in bhagavad gita based on three astronomical observations (which is the biggest wonder as these 3 astronomical observations come only rarely). this proved the existence of mahabharatha and also krishna’s existence.
Hare Krishna, Radhey Radhey Prabhu
Thankyou very very much for writting me these mails. You are doing a great service for Krishna. You are very kind to help me for getting on the right track back to the supreme, our Krishna. You have wrote very well about Shrimad Bhagwat Gita Ji. I read your mails very happily and seriously as well beacuse they are so helpfull.
Thankyou
Hare Krishna, Radhey Radhey Prabhu
Hare Krishna,
Thank you for the history of Bhagvad Gita it is well said, I have read Bhagvad Gita many times ,ofcourse a chapter every day but every time I read it it is more knowledgable,interesting and solving problems which arises in my day to day life.I think nobody cln claim that he has understood Gita completely.hare Krishna
Who give you your name
Hare Krishna Madhu
I took initiation from Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada’s disciple Jaya Dharma Prabhu who was the temple president in Sydney, Australia in the 70’s when Srila Prabhupada was physically present. He was performing the initiations on behalf of Srila Prabhupada for Prabhupada’s disciples in Sydney when he was physically present so I asked him if he could do the same for me and he agreed. That was in 1989 and at that time I did not even know the word ritvik and had never heard about the July 9th letter. All I know is that I was a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and at that time I had opened a temple in the capital city of Australia and some Gaura-Nitai and Jagannatha Deities had arrived there, so I had to worship the Deities, and to worship the Deities it is better to be formally initiated. It was only because of the Deity worship service that I thought of taking formal initiation from Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada had initiated me already some years before, in 1987, so from that time I felt very comfortable and protected as Srila Prabhupada’s servant and the formal initiation by Jaya Dharma Prabhu was just a confirmation of my already existing guru-disciple relationship with Srila Prabhupada. And it was Jaya Dharma who gave me the name “Madhudvisa dasa”.
Formal initiation is not very important but if it is necessary Srila Prabhupada and Krishna will make some arrangements for it as they did in my case.
So many ‘devotees’ accept formal initiation without at all surrendering to their spiritual master and this is a completely nonsense program. Even so many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples did not actually surrender to Srila Prabhupada. So that is not really disciple. That sort of ‘initiation’ is not initiation at all. We can only become a disciple if we actually surrender to the discipline of the spiritual master and accept his orders as our life and soul.
So there is no need to worry about formal initiation. We have to actually surrender to Srila Prabhupada, serve him, follow all his instructions and make his instructions our life and soul. This is the real initiation.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Thank you Madhudvisa prabhu
All glories to Srila Prabhupad
how to stop cupid’s attack in krishna consciousness?
You have to become Krishna consciousness. And Srila Prabhupada has written over 60 books on the subject. READ THEM and follow the instructions Srila Prabhupada gives you as you are reading them and then you will be able to overcome the attacks of cupid…
prabhuji
please enlighten me the ways of CHANTING THE MAHAMANTRA: HARE KRISHAN HARE KRISHAN KRISHAN KRISHAN HARE HARE, HARE RAM HARE RAM RAM RAM HARE HARE……
You chant it with your tongue. Can you not work this out???? Just do it….
Dear Madhu
wonderful work… I think there is a strong demand for this in the South America… there is so much reslessness…Is ISKON helping..
Jai Krishn
Darshan
Hare Krishna Prabhu Madhudvisa Dasa
In a publication of called website Prabhupadanugas, the readership is invited to read Srila Prabhupada´s authorized original editions, found at the Web page: Krishnapath.org or from Krishnastore.com.; Do you know if these sites are reliable?.
I appreciate your comments and orientation, in advance.
His servant
Padma Carana Das
Hare Krishna Padma Carana Prabhu
Yes. KrishnaStore.com is my site and that is reliable. We only have Prabhupada’s original books there. And KrishnaPath.org is not my site but is also completely reliable source for Prabhupada’s original books. Also you can read Prabhupada’s original books online at http://www.PrabhupadaBooks.com
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu Madhudvisa Dasa
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada’s books that are published in the Bhaktivedanta VedaBase (in several languages), are reliable reading. That is, are books original editions of Srila Prabhupada?
Appreciate your comments.
His servant
Padma Carana Das
Hare Krishna Padma Carana Prabhu
Vedabase is not reliable. The more recent it is the less reliable it is.
PrabhupadaBooks.com is reliable, Prabhupada’s original books at http://www.KrishnaStore.com are reliable…
Serious devotees who do not read English should learn how to read English because Srila Prabhupada preaches in English and any translation to any other language, while being very nice and very important to provide the people who speak that language with access to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, will never be Prabhupada’s original books. Prabhupada’s original books are in English so serious devotees should learn English to read them.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Well, that was a beautiful explanation about the origin of Bhagawad Gita and it opened new insights about the secrets of Bhagawad Gita. It is really amazing that the Supreme Personality of Godhead speaking to Arjuna and revealing not only the secrets of yoga but also of life.
Pls continue to sent the messages
Hare Krishna !!!
Sanjay K Shukla
Hare krishna..
my question is related to the topic ‘The History Of Bhagavad Geeta’, 2 days back i had discussion with one of our villager, he is of 60 year old. his name is Gundayya Swami and he completely follow BASAVA DHARMA given by BASAVANNA in 12th century. I and he had discusion about the existance of God and about the structure(FORm) of the, he keep on telling that God doesn’t have any shape,he wil not exist, worshiping to god is waist, serving flowers,food and lamping infront of GOD these all waist of money and time. He gave me examples of VACHANA’s to his dectation. I also said him wt i heard in SOS1 program at ISKCON Bangl’r. But he not agreed for my talk he said what the things happen in ISKCON all r missbelives, simply they do everythng for money. I said him about BHAGAVAD GEETA, in that LORD KRISHNA wt has said that thing only do in ISKCON. Then he started to scold to LORD KRISHNA, he atrted with KRISHNA is thief, and he questioned me IS GOD can be a thief? I said no,but not gave complete answer to him in described way and he was telling that MAHABHARAT is a false story just everything bis imaginary. He also asked me that whether GOd can have 16 hundred wife’s ??? He was telling about BASAVA DHARMA, i said actually we all belong to SANATAN DHARMA then he said where is the freedom for womens in that Dharma and also said what is tht for 5 PANDAVAS only one wife,IS it a good thing and how that can be possible , so MAHABHARAT is a false story.He also said in ISKCON society’s they mentain both dissbelives and also do few things scientifically to attract the people. That person also told that in ISKCON just all sit by chanting HARE KRISHNA HARE RAM, wt wil happen by chanting, that all things are only to attract people and to earn money. please suggest me how should i answer to all his questions,,, HARE KRISHNA pls tel in detail..
HARE KRISHNA
Veerabhadra
Hare Krishna Veerabhadra
Just because someone is an old man does not mean he is wise. This old man is a fool. And he is not going to listen to you even if you bother to try and give him the real knowledge. There is an English saying that says when a tree is young it is very easy to bend it, you can easily bend it this way and that, but when it gets old it becomes impossible to bend. The older people generally become very fixed in their ways and it is very difficult for a young man to change an old man’s opinion. He will not take you seriously.
I think it is better Prabhu for you to ignore this old man and become more and more serious in Krishna consciousness yourself. Cook very nice offerings and offer them to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and give some Krishna prasadam to this old man. Prasadam is very powerful. And if he is a reader get some small Prabhupada book and ask him to read it. If he reads even one line from one of Prabhupada’s books that will help him.
And if you and your family members are chanting Hare Krishna and having nice kirtans he will hear that and that will help him…
But I do not think there is much point for you to try to convince him by preaching to him at this stage.
Preaching only works if the person you are preaching to has a little faith in Krishna and you and is at least a little open to hearing what you have to say and prepared to consider it. Otherwise it is a waste of time.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna:
RE: talking to unbendable people
Jesus says do not throw pearls at swine…they may trample you underfoot!
James
Chant and grow closer to the LORD!
Yes. Krishna says don’t preach to the faithless. It is the same message. It is pointless to preach to someone if they don’t have at least a little faith in you and are at least a little open and curious about what you have to say. And it is pointless to try and preach if you don’t know what you should say, if you do not know the science of Krishna…
Hi Veerabhadra,
Lord Krishna did everythng to make ppl consious and to make them realise their mistakes he did steal makhan and all bt it was only for his neighbours to understand that hey shud not he selfish, his neighbours would give all themakhan to the king in the form of tax and not even a spoonful to their children and Lord Krishna used to steal it eat it with these children and take the blame on himself…. Also he married 16000 women as they were been kidnapped by a king and Krishna did free all these women and as these women were kidnapped no one would have married them so Lord Krishna promised to marry them and Mahabharata is a true story evidences of it are in Uttar Pradesh where u can find many places where the Pandavas used to live. Thanks
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa,
Thank you so much for the mail. It was really interesting to read about the history of Gita.
You are right we should read Gita..and even if we have read it we should keep reading it..my father also says so.
Please keep sending the Krishna Newsletter..I just love reading it.
Hare Krishna!!
Dear Madhudvisa Prabhu,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I request you to reply to my comment on the numbers of verses in the Bhagavad Gita. I have written it a long time ago and it has still not appeared on this site.
Your servant,
Santosh
1 – 46, 2 – 72, 3 – 43, 4 – 42, 5 – 29, 6 – 47, 7 – 30, 8 – 28
9 – 34, 10 – 42, 11 – 55, 12 – 20, 13 – 35, 14 – 27, 15 – 20, 16 – 24, 17 – 28, 18 – 78
TOTAL = 700
So it appears you are correct and there are 700 verses in the Gita… I apologize for that mistake.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna!!
Thank you so much for send such valuable newsletters. I really appreciate your effort.
Hare Krishna!
On a different thought, my expieriences have been that most personalities of Krishna are helpful and then shift devotee’s around. Un-able themselves to be the gods they want to be, IN THIS WORLD.
My hope would be to have more divine love in the world.
My hope would be to have more love, less betrayal and no demons.
My hope would be for peace on earth and good will towards men and women, like Jesus said.
My hope is in Jesus Christ, his mercy, his grace. Jesus has all authority.
This is ordained by Heavenly Father.
My hope is to return home ,again. His Divine Grace PB, his books are great, but for the average joe and jane, too complicated to read.
We’re in this world. Try to be helpful. Try to love.
practice staying in the 24 hours. Most personalities I know of recently are very hurtful souls, casting pain, and laughing.
No wonder no one chants ,around here, anyway, or anywhere.
Peace to all, you would think that Krishna would be more available to all souls. Probably makes everyone suffer, only to cause more resentments.
wisdom.
Davy
Pujaniya Madhudvisa Dasa ji,
In the translation of text 40 of chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita, ‘the most dangerous type of fear’ is mentioned. What is this most dangerous type of fear?
Hare Krishna,
Avijeet
The most dangerous type of fear is loosing the human form of life. Because we want to practice devotional service to Krishna and the human form of life is really the only practical way to do that. So if in our next life we take birth as an animal or a tree then it will be practically impossible for us to practice Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada says in the purport you mention:
“Material activities and their results end with the body. But work in Krsna consciousness carries a person again to Krsna consciousness, even after the loss of the body. At least one is sure to have a chance in the next life of being born again as a human being, either in the family of a great cultured brahmana or in a rich aristocratic family that will give one a further chance for elevation. That is the unique quality of work done in Krsna consciousness.”
So even a little devotional service rendered in Krishna consciousness will give one the guarantee of taking birth in a the human form in his next life. So a little Krishna consciousness can save one from the greatest fear, taking birth as an animal or a plant in the next life…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Pujaniya Madhudvisa Dasa ji,
Explanations like these definitely help, when I try to find the link between the translation and the purport.
Hare Krishna,
Avijeet
Respected Prabhu,
As u said that a person will advance in his next life he will take a human form if he will be in Krishna consiousness for a short period of time bt what if he has been a devotee of Krishna and at the time of death he thinks about his pets? Which life will be get? Of human or an animal?
Krishna says whatever state of consciousness you have at the time of death that state you will attain. So if you think of your dog at the time of death your next body will be a dogs body. And that will be a great waste of your human form of life. Because as a dog you will not be even able to think about Krishna consciousness. Dogs can only think about eating, sleeping, mating and defending. So it is such a disaster if you think of your dog at the time of death. So Krishna consciousness means we are being trained to think of Krishna constantly 24 hours a day, so death can come at any time, if we are trained to always remember Krishna 24 hours a day then we will be remembering Krishna at the time of death and if we remember Krishna at the time of death we will go back home back to Godhead… Which is the best place to be…
Hare Krishna, I’m still in Love with God, Krishna, because we know that His Mercy is there, here, everywhere. I gues it’s all growing, spiritual,
I’m so thankful , so grateful that His Divine Grace came to The World and wrote all the books. I have a simple love for Krishna.
I hope someone makes Hare Krishna Food , Cafe’s with the very good hare krishna dishes,
I’m rather absorbed in Bliss, at the moment.
Hare Krishna
Davy
I am from Mumbai and for 40 Years have been studying the Gita but i am getting doubts as i have acheived nothing.
All religion Holy books of the world teach you to pray to god and tell you what are bad and good things to do but the gita is only concerned about:
” The context of the Gita is a conversation between Lord Krishna and the Pandava prince Arjuna taking place in the middle of the battlefield before the start of the Kurukshetra War with armies on both sides ready to battle. Responding to Arjuna’s confusion and moral dilemma about fighting his own cousins who command a tyranny imposed on a disputed empire, Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna his duties as a warrior and prince, and elaborates on yoga, Samkhya, reincarnation, moksha, karma yoga and jnana yoga among other topics”
It doesnt make sense when other religions talk about being good and praying to god the gita only talks about war.
Hare Krishna
Bhagavad-gita can only be understood by the devotees of Krishna, without becoming a devotee of Krishna you will never be able to understand it.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
How true that is Madhudvisa dasa–I am thankful each and everyday I am a devotee of Krishna!
Hare Krishna
David in Surf City
Dear Prabhu Nath Sen-
Madhudvisa dasa ji is a learned soul and a devotee. He has learnt how to control his mind, but I have not. So, I have given below my quick response.
Gita does not talk about war. It talks about performing one’s prescribed duty, the most important way of rendering the devotional service to God, without worrying about success or failure. If it means that one has to fight his own family, so be it. Compromising with one’s duty is such a slippery slope that you enjoy it first, but when you realize that you have pushed yourself, your family, your community, your nation, and complete humanity to hell, it is too late.
What seems good and bad in this relativistic material world may not be good and bad in absolute terms. Please read the whole of Bhagvad Gita. It talks about good and bad in absolute terms.
Hare Krishna
Avijeet
Hare Krishna Avijeet
Thank you for your very good comments.
I am still very much on the path of learning how to control my mind. I can do it sometimes but sometimes not. I am seeing progress, improvement, but I am far away from being able to say that I can control my mind.
Still I know that the process of Krishna consciousness is the way to control our minds. I know that if I am very seriously and very properly engaged in devotional service then my mind is easily and automatically controlled. But it only takes a very slight deviation and the mind is mad and out of control again. So we have to be always vigilant, always very careful to remain in Krishna consciousness constantly. The mind has to be always engaged in serving Krishna or planning how to serve Krishna. The English saying is: “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” And that is very true. So we can not let our mind be idle. We have to keep it constantly engaged in the service of Krishna.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I dont understand what connection has a god with “they would not give the Pandus even a piece of land the size of the head of a pin.”
If this was the wording of god then why would god be concerned about someones family issues.
Dont you think God has other issues to solve rather than some silly people fighting over land…and get involved in other familys business.(So this is a family quarrel.)
So youre saying god wanted its people to fight and kill each other for land??? (and Krishna wanted him to fight. )
If Krishna was god why did it need a army? ( Krishna of course had a very large and powerful army) am sure god who created this whole planet, stars, people etc can just with it words destroy the other army. so whats this about Krishna( so called god) having an army
Can someone please explain as i am really confused….
Dave….Uk
Hare Krishna Dave
You can not understand Bhagavad-gita like this. You have to become a devotee of Krishna and you have to at least theoretically accept that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and hear the Bhagavad-gita in a submissive spirit from beginning to end including the purports [explainations] by Srila Prabhupada. Unless you are prepared to at least theoretically accept that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and respectfully and submissively hear from Him what He has to say to you then you will never be able to understand the Bhagavad-gita. It is confidential knowledge that is only revealed to the devotees of Krishna.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna! Madhudvisa Prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Again, a very nice article summarizing the importance of reading Bhagavad Gita-the song of Supreme designer of this entire creation. Please continue writing. Haribol!!
Dear Madhudvisa Prabhu,
Many thanks for your very loving and clear cut teachings. I just read the blog on Mayavadis, and would like to comment that the proof is in the pudding….
I do not know many happy Mayavadis, but I do know many happy Bhaktas!! I have been a Bhakti all of my life, and even though through studying all different forms of yoga, being pounded with Mayavadi philosophy, I just never bought into it! I’ve observed that as the Love of Krishna permeates one’s life, nothing can compare, people observe it, and are naturally attracted to the Rasa. Much love and many thanks to you for your work. Hari Bol, Melinda
Respected Guruji, HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE,
I feel privileged to get your mwssages time to time. I am grateful to HIM and respected GURUs for being educated. Please bless with your postings.
With best regards
Hare Krishna Prabhuji
Really was a great mail to show the comparison between material & Transdental spiritual body of Lord.
Hare Krishna
Good morning, Thanks for the newsletter and this great enlightenment.
I love KRISHNA. I always have ,I always will. I love the cd’s with His Divine Grace speaking and his singing and the chanting.
I wrote a book titled “Tye Dye Betty” and I need to print it, it costs $1500.00 to print it. I want to make a Movie of it, to bring Peace to the world, and to promote Krishna.
I play music ,my cd’s are on the web, and I promote peace and love and KRISHNA.
Thank you, many blessings each day
David Munyon
Radhe Krishna,
I have a question on presence of living entities, and their transformation in different bodies. On which base a aatma takes different bodies? Is there any choice of aatma to take particular wished body?
Hare Krishna Ajay
Krishna describes in the Bhagavad Gita that the consciousness at the time of death determines the body that living entity will take next. That is why this society is called “Krishna consciousness” because our aim is to elevate our consciousness so that we will think of Krishna at the time of death and Krishna guarantees in the Gita that if one remembers Him at the time of death he will go to Him for sure.
So as if you want to go to Krishna you can live your life in such a way that you are always remembering Krishna so naturally you will remember Krishna at the time of death similarly if you live your life thinking about something else that will effect your consciousness at the time of death and consequently the next body your soul will be placed into.
There is the example of Jada Bharata in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. He was a great transcendentalist performing yoga and meditation in the Himalayas and one day a tiger was chasing a doe and she jumped over a stream and was pregnant at the time so she gave birth to the deer cub. The mother deer was either killed by the tiger or died somehow leaving the baby deer with no one to look after it. So Jada Bharata took compassion on the deer and started to care for it, feeding it and petting it and whenever he was doing his yajnas and spiritual practices that little deer was always there nudging him and distracting him. So gradually Jada Bharata got to the stage that he was constantly thinking of that little deer and if the deer was out of his sight for a little time he became so anxious about the safety of the deer.
In this way Jada Bharata transformed his consciousness from spiritual consciousness to deer consciousness. It ended up that he was thinking of the deer at the time of his death so he was forced to take his next birth in the body of a deer.
So you know people have pet dogs and pet cats and become very attached to them. So if they think of their dogs or cats at the time of death they will have to take the bodies of dogs and cats in the next birth.
As our consciousness at the time of death is the product of our actions during our life and we do have the power to change our activities if we want to so this will change our future birth. So in this way you can say we have some power over our next birth…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Respected Madhudvisa dasa,
Thanks for posting various transcendental articles on Bhagvadgota. I am little confused on your recent article ‘Krishna never gets old’.
I am aware that Lord Krishna’s Original form is with two hands holding a flute. But what is the true meaning of multi-manifestations mentioned by you in your article?
He appears before His mother Devaki as Narayana grown up and complete with beautiful clothing and ornaments with the six kinds of opulences in full.Firstly You mentioned Two hands and at the same time you mention narayan form which has four hands.
which is correct original form, With two hands or four hands?
Hare Krishna Rajesh
The original form of the Supreme Personalty of Godhead is Krishna — with two hands. Narayana is an expansion of Krishna. Many Hindus are confused about this and that confusion can only be cleared up by accepting the knowledge from Krishna as it descends through the disciplic succession.
Krishna confirms this many times in the Gita so if you simply read the Gita you can understand this simple point.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Madhudvisa prabhu,
Thank you for helping to preserve Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita and all his other books in their original form.
All glories to your service.
Hare krishna prabhu,
Thank you for your all mails and need Krishna mercy not only for me, all world need Krishna mercy. Your all mails are more valuable and waiting for your mails.
Hare Krishna,
Biju Mohanan
Dear Prabhuji,
Please accept my humble obescience.
Why critizie mayawadis, helped a lot to understand the real situation. May Krishna bless you to continue to do the service. Request you to send some stories in order to discuss during the cell. It will get some additional benefit.
Your Servent
Das.s.Pillai
Wonderfully explained the importance and the legacy of BhagavadGita in a very simple words and in most convincing way. I really appreciate your effort.
Regards
Jayasimha
Many thanks for this messsage, it is most insightful as well as helpful. I have begun the study of the Bhagavad-Gita and am finding it most interesting–to think it is the very words of God is incredible–I say this as one who comes from a Christian background and was at one time an Anglican priest but stepped away because of problems I could no longer ignore with the Bible. Co-incidentally,I am reading the book Self-Realization by Swami Prabhupada and find it to be such a help.
Many Thanks Again!
Hare Krishna!
David