Krishna Seva

[Pushtidas]

Jai Shree Krishna
and
Jai Jai Shree Gokulesh

What does Shastra say about Pavitra?
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Dasa nu das
Pushtidas

[Pushtidas]

Jai Shree Krishna
and Jai Jai Shree Gokulesh,

It was not a fair question, a difficult as well. The reason I put the question is to entice some Shastra schollars to answer it. But you are right, they don't have time for us little vaishnavs!!

Anyway it is an interesting piece of knowlwdge, and here is the reply:

In Shastra it has been said as followings:

Krutai Maninayam
That means in Sata-yug the pavitara should be Manimayam (diamonds).

Karya Tretayam hemsambhavam
In Treta-yug pavitras were made of gold.

Dwaparai pattasutra ca (CHA)
In Dwapar-yug we bestow pavitra made out of silk (reshama).

Kalou karpasmuchayate
In Kaliyug one will bestow (cotton) sutrau pavitra.

This a little teaser and hope you all loved the piece of knowledge it depicts.
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Dasa nu das
Pushtidas

[Nirupa]

Jai Shree Krishna

Thank you Pushtidasji that was interesting and informative.

Unfortunate that could not entice Shastra schollars to answer your question. Fortunately we have you and Vasantji and other vaishnavs who visit tibari now and again, so little vaishnav like me can learn from.
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Jai Shree Krishna
Darshan Abhilasi
Nirupa

[palna]

Jai Shree Krishna,

Pushtidasji this appears to be a very good piece of knowledge, but i am afraid i can not appreciate it as i do not fully understand the sigificance of each pavitra item in each age?? Could yourself or another learned Vaishnav expand upon this?

Many Thanks
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Prem Bandhan Ajab Gajab, Brahmaganth sami aa ganth, na tutai na chutai

Palna na Koti Koti Jai Shree Krishna

[Nirupa]

Jai Shree Krishna

Why did the pavitra change from diamonds to gold to silk to sutrau through age?
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Jai Shree Krishna
Darshan Abhilasi
Nirupa

[Pushtidas]

Jai Shree Krishna
and
Jai Jai Shree Gokulesh

Palnaji thanks for the interest, it is vital that as a Pushtimargiya vaishnav we should know what Pavitra is and what does it stand for. Lets see other tibari vaishnavs thoughts on this. Unnatiji, are you there? Lets hear from you !
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Dasa nu das
Pushtidas

[unnati]

Jai Jai Shri Gokulesh and Jai Shri Krishna,

PAVITRA BHAVANA

The eleventh day of the moon during the month of Shravan is observed as 'Pavitra Ekadisi'. It is the inception of Pushti Marg and on that auspicious day, vaishnavs offer a pavitra to Shri Thakurji. The following day, 'Pavitra Baras' is the twelfth day of the new moon and on that day, Goswami Acharyas place a pavitra around each other's necks, feed misri to each other and without giving any thought as to who is elder or younger, touch each other's feet and do dandvat. Following this all vaishnavs place a Pavitra around their Guru's neck, feed them misri and experience this to be the ultimate good fortune.

UNDERSTANDING PAVITRA BHAVANA

In the year 1549, third day of the new moon in the month of Sravan, Srimad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji began a one week discourse on Srimad Bhagavat and completed it on the night of the eleventh day.

That night in Gokul, on Govindghat, Shri Mahaprabhuji was deeply immersed in thought, 'During the age of Kaliyuga souls are pervaded with imperfections. In what manner can they be freed entirely from these faults and realize Bhagavad swarup?'. The sacred spot of this momentous event was Govindghat. 'GO' means sense organs, 'VIND' means attain and 'GHATI' means beautiful form. Souls are pervaded with fault. When all their sense organs are transformed into a divine form then only Prabhu will accept their seva.

As Shri Mahaprabhuji was pondering in this way at midnight, Shri Thakurji manifested and decreed that any soul whom would take 'Brahm sambandh' from Shri Mahaprabhuji would become freed of all faults and HE would accept them. Following this, Shri Mahaprabhuji sang Madhurashtak Stotra and placed a 360 cotton thread pavitra around Shri Thakurji's neck and fed him misri.

The eleventh day of Shravan is called Putrada (giver of sons) Ekadashi. Shri Acharyaji worships with balbhava and therefore SriNathji manifested at mid night with the balbhava swarup of Shri Gokulchandramaji.

The presiding devta for the month of Shravan is Bhagvan Vishnu Himself and therefore it is highly sacred. It is said that this month facilitated Bhagavad attainment. During ascension each day the moon's power and radiance increases dispelling darkness, freeing daivi souls of their adhibhautik faults. On the eleventh day upvas (fast) is kept. 'UP' means near and 'VAS' means reside.

One is freed from worldly activities and resides in Prabhu's presence. On that day the five sense organs of action, the five sense organs of knowledge and the mind, totaling eleven are all applied and utilized in seva, thus the name 'upvas' is given in which the adhyatmik faults of daivi souls are removed.

For the salvation of 'nisadhan' daivi souls (i.e. souls without any means or practice for salvation) Saraswat Kalp, Prabhu manifested at midnight on the eleventh day of shravan to bestow upon these souls Brahmsambandh through Shri Mahaprabhuji for removing all adhidaivic faults.

THE DIVINE BHAVA OF PAVITRA

Purna Purushottam Prabhu Shri Krishna is an ocean of 16 divine qualities. His lilas span the 6 seasons. 16 multiplied by 6 is 96. If this is multiplied by 3, representing the three types of devotees, rajas, tamas and satvik, it reaches the sum of 288. Adding to that, the 12 months, one reaches 300. By adding the 60 minutes of an hour a total of 360 is obtained and therefore a 360 thread cotton pavitra is offered to Prabhu.

After taking Brahm Sambandh each vaishnav should perform seva daily offering new clothes and food preparations to Thakurji. However, human beings have limited capacity and are unable to fulfill this in totality. Therefore, by offering a 360 thread pavitra, the clothing seva of an entire year is represented. Prabhu is compassionate and bestows His grace by accepting this as a full year's seva.

WHY IS A COTTON PAVITRA CALLED 'PAVITRA' (SACRED)

That which is most beloved to us, the most pure and sacred, should be offered to Prabhu. Cotton is considered to be the most beautiful, pure and sacred and therefore is utilized in all vedic rituals. Of all things, cotton is the most quickly consumed by fire and for these reasons is considered to be sacred. Shri Hariraiji wrote a treatise entitled 'PAVITRAMANDAN'. In a 360 thread cotton pavitra 180 knots are tied just as there are 108 knots in a mankamala (Japmala) through which, Bhagavad bhajan and bhava is perfected.

According to Shri Mahaprabhuji's instructions, four kinds of pavitras are prepared and offered, each with its own individual bhava. Kesri, Champa, yellow-satvik, predominant Swaminiji, Radhaji's bhava red, pink-rajas, Chandrvaliji's bhava green-tamas, Radha sahacheri, kumarika's bhava blue, purple-nirguna, Yamunaji's bhava

In ancient literature, there is decription of the different bhavas of pavitra. Kesri coloured pavitra represents satvik bhava, white and red represents rajas bhava, green coloured is tamas bhava and sky blue is nirguna bhava. A five coloured pavitra represents the bhava of all the Brij Bhaktas. The tradition of pavitra has come down from ancient times. In Satyuga, the pavitra was jewel embedded, in Tretayuga it was golden, in Dwaparyuga it was silk and in Kaliyuga cotton is offered. On pavitra Ekadisi, Prabhu accepts the pavitra of all the different types of devotees, bestowing them accordingly, with the appropriate type of Bhakti Bhava. On this day pavitra is placed every where in seva, on the pichhwai, singhasan, khand pat, palna and hindola. The under lying Bhava is that Brij Bhaktas are having Prabhu's darshan from all the ten directions. Pavitra is offered during the month of Shravan in which there is no bhadra (i.e. inauspicious time).

After offering pavitra, misri is offered to Thakurji. Of all things misri is the most sweet and nectar-filled. Misri is offer to Prabhu with the Bhava of Swaminiji's sweet divine nectar. Instructions for offering misri in seva is therefore given to every vaishnav.

On Pavitra Ekadisi, Shri Nathji is adorned in Kesari bordered white cloth in the sacred thread ceremony or in marriage white cloth with the auspicious haldi coloured yellow border is used. For that reason white cloth is utilized in Prabhu's meeting with Shri Vallabh. Kesri colored kuley is offered indicating an auspicious celebration and dhadhi is sung.
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[unnati]

Jai Jai Shri Gokulesh and Jai Shri Krishna

'Pavitra baras' is the day of ultimate fulfillment for each vaishnav. On that day Shri Mahaprabhuji gave the first Brahm Sambandh to Damodardas Harsaniji, his foremost sevak. On this day all the descendent Goswami's offer pavitras and misri to each other after which vaishnavs offer pavitra and misri to their Gurudev. While offering pavitra, each vaishnav should hold the bhava that his Gurudev is Shri Mahaprabhuji and should regard himself with the bhava of Damodardas Harsaniji.

II Pushtimargiya sarvagya karuna purita: Shreshta Fal pradata cha Tasmai shri Guruve namaha II

Pushti Marg embodies perfect knowledge and is replete with compassion. I offer my obeisance to Gurudev who bestows the ultimate fruit. This bhava should be kept for Gurudev, most worthy of worship, at the time when pavitra is offered.

Each vaishnav should have constant remembrance that how much strain Shri Mahaprabhuji underwent and accepted of his own will, for the sake of giving Brahmsambandh to daivi souls unifying them in relation with Brahm. This was an undertaking of supreme significance. Remembering this, vaishnavs should surrender every thing to Prabhu and perform seva with total love and bhava. Pushti souls do not have a body for their own happiness but for Prabhu's pleasure only. It can be considered that the celebration of the twelfth day of shravan has reached ultimate fulfillment when vaishanvs dedicate themselves totally in physical seva performed with their own wealth leading gradually to the pinnacle of mansi seva.

Before offering pavitra, the heart should be purified, sanctified and all faults should be removed. One should be totally absorbed in seva, satsang and remembrance and all worldly attachment should be offered to Prabhu. Through this alone the five types of ignorance can be removed. On the day of Pavitra Baras at the moment of offering pavitra, a bhava of surrender should be kept and a unwavering resolve to live a life in accordance with Pushti Marg principles. Then only it can be considered that the inception of Pushti Marg has realized its ultimate aim. The day of Pavitra Baras is like Guru Purnima for Shri Mahaprabhuji's Pushti Marg and should be celebrated with this bhava deeply imbibed.

Sorry Pustidasji for the late reply..... I was really not aware of it.... Plz feel free to correct....
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Jai Shri Gokulesh,

Good inputs Unnatiji. Well done.
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----