Krishna Seva

[unnati]

Jai jai shri gokulesh

Vasantji, Beautiful story. Got the exact reason for not eating onion and garlic.
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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

[jagdish]

Jai Shri Krishna,

As with regards to fruits such as water melon, etc...

The process of cutting and culling the fruit and removing the 'flesh' of the fruit, is similar to that of removing the meat from an animal.

The fruit being red in colour, etc also adds the danger of the mind diverting from the seva into tamasi thoughts. Which a devotee would then be offering to Thakorji... once such thoughts arise in the mind, then one (the devotee) is no longer in 'apras'

Hence such fruits and grains/beans etc are discouraged.

Likewise carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, etc., create discomfort when in seva, releasing wind, for example is uncomfortable and also pollutes the atmosphere with bad smell (daivi beings are more sensitive to smell), this also adds to seva dosh, while one considers the comfort and happiness of Thakorji
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Best Wishes
Jagdish

[palna]

Jai Shree Krishna,
Thank you very much Vasantji for your explanations. I do have a few questions in hope you know the answers...
firstly what specifically are gomedha and asvamedha sacrifices?? What was the point in killling the animal inorder to bring it to life again? When killed however nicely they did it, did the animal not suffer pain?? Why were they performing a ritual for welfare of the universe. would Thakorji not look after the universe regardless of sacrifices made? Were they essential sacrifices or for personal bebefit? I am really sorry for all the questions but the story got me thinking and so many questions came to mind. Please vaishnavs who do know the origin and answer to the story and questions kindly share your knowledge. The younger generation is keen and eager to know more.....sorry for the inconvinience.
Thank you JAI SHREE KRISHNA!!!
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Prem Bandhan Ajab Gajab, Brahmaganth sami aa ganth, na tutai na chutai

Palna na Koti Koti Jai Shree Krishna

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Palnaji will try to answer your questions

Any type of Yagna is performed is to get the proper results and some benefit to the performer and even his sins are forgiven for performing the yagna.

Our body is just a cover for the soul and it gets old. Example given is like we have appliances in our kitchen and they get worn out and we throw them and buy new ones so they have new life again for couple years based on performance of the appliance.

Similarly when body gets old it suffers various pains eyesite becomes weak, you hear less etc so the thought of death is better as slow suffering is painful and thus avoided (called mercy killing) and hence old animals were killed by the rishis in olden days so their suffering is infact minimised and they get newer body again.

Will tell you a story which answers most of your other questions

Arjuna asks Krishna to describe the characteristics of the perfect yogi, Sthita-prajna . Krishna points out that a stable human behaviour implies separation of "I" from the mind. When the mind engages in selfish desires it evaluates success and failures and never gets the freedom. The mind needs diversion from selfish to unselfish desires to get the freedom.

" Manojaya eva mahajayah " — Conquest of mind is the greatest victory. Mind is one of the ashta-prakritis : "Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, reason and egoism — these constitute the eight-fold division of My Nature", says Krishna (Gita, VII-4).

The mind, manas , is controlled by intelligence, buddhi , and has control over our sense organs, indriyas . If our sense organs are horses of a chariot, the mind is the leash that is held by intelligence, the charioteer. The chariot will move in the right direction only if the charioteer has control over the horses through the leash. The mind is like the supervisor in the factory of life, and directs the indriyas . The mind does a wonderful job of carrying out directions, but it is not supposed to be the key decision-maker in the factory. That is the job of intelligence. If intelligence is clouded, then the mind has a habit of listening to whoever is speaking the loudest in the factory.

There is conflict between intelligence and mind that is judged by our consciousness. This is never seen in animals. Hence animal sacrifice came into practise in Bhakti in olden days

Let us suppose a landlord who happens to leave his house for a few days orders both his housekeeper and the dog not to go out of the house in his absence. Even though both have violated the order, the dog has no inner conflict and sleeps happily, but the housekeeper is sleepless. He feels guilty and is also ticked off for not following orders. The mind should always listen to intelligence and order the indriyas , and then there would be no conflict of mind and intelligence. When we say we have a disturbed mind then we have done something that our intelligence does not want us to do.

In the Yaksha Prashna episode in the Aranya Parva of the Mahabharata, Yama asks Dharmaraja what is the swiftest of all in the universe? Dharmaraja answers that the mind is the swiftest, manovega . The mind can travel at unimaginable speed; this has made the mind inconstant. Restless and unpredictable, the mind is an obstruction to peace. Mantra Japa is one way of controlling the restless mind.

A story in the Skanda Purana illustrates this: After the battle of Kurukshetra, Dharmaraja con-templates on performing the Ashwameda Yagya.

Krishna who wanted Bheema to know the importance of Mantra Japa asks him to bring Purusha Mruga who lives in Himalayas for the Yagya. Krishna warns Bheema that Purusha Mruga travels at the speed of mind and to bring him he has to travel at that speed failing which the Purusha Mruga would kill him. Bheema who could travel at the speed of wind ( vayuvega ) thinks he could bring him. Bheema goes in search of Purusha Mruga but he was unable to catch him because mind is the swiftest of all.

So vaishnavs can you now tell me whose advice did Bheema take and how did he succeed in his mission.
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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."----

[palna]

Jai Shree Krishna,
Thank you Vasantji for the quick reply. Just a few more questions, so the soul of the old suffering animals went into the soul of the new younger animal or moved on, onto another body of either an animal or human? The sacrifice of the animal could then be described as a form of euthinasia as it ends the animals suffering, thus does that mean euthinasia for humas is permitted in Pushtimarg? I understand that some animals do not show evidence of guilt or after thought however if we then look at an example of a dog biting a human, the dog then goes to his owner wimpering, licking them, and holding their heads low, showing through body language and action that they feel remorse for their actions. Agreed they have lower intelligence levels but i just dont understand the purpose of the sacrifices? How many animals would be sacrificed? Why not let the animal die of natural causes? Why are they no longer done? If any one does know the answers please do share your knowledge, i am extremely confused and it would be of great help!
Thank you vallah Vaishnavs
JAI SHREE KRISHNA!!
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Prem Bandhan Ajab Gajab, Brahmaganth sami aa ganth, na tutai na chutai

Palna na Koti Koti Jai Shree Krishna

[jagdish]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Please see my comments under yours.

[palna]

Jai Shree Krishna,
Thak you vey much Jagdishji, that was very helpful and explained alot. To be honest i still dont understand the underlining point of it, yes it seems very vaishnav like to help the animal progress at a quicker pace in their spiritual path, and it is all Thakorji's leelas so in that way i do understand and accept it was committed out of good intentions. So for that day and age i understand the reasons behind it but obviously it todays society and the way things are it would be wrong, and we should leave everything to Thakorji, our pyara pyara Krishna always knows best Its just odd to think about it in pushtimarg practise today, so am very glad we dont do it anymore. Many many thanks for your explanations Jagdishji, They helped me understand the reasons behind it.
JAI SHREE KRISHNA!!
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Prem Bandhan Ajab Gajab, Brahmaganth sami aa ganth, na tutai na chutai

Palna na Koti Koti Jai Shree Krishna

[jagdish]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Palnaji glad to know that it was helpful...

One of the main underlying points could be, that in those times of satyug, treta yug and dwapar yugs, etc... everyone was bound by vedic duties and sattvick achar and vichar. In this day and age we are not bound to that extent (not that we would have the capabilities to perform such duties either).

..... and this was seen as their karmic duty (not performing one's duty to one's fullest capabilities is wrong/sinful) to help another soul progress as well as attain punyas/merits themselves in doing so. It is also one's duty to oneself, so by denying oneself the merits attained through these ceremonies one is again getting bound by the laws of karma and maya

As seen before, in this day and age there is no merit in performing such rituals.

Ultimately it is all in His hands....
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Best Wishes
Jagdish

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Well done Jagdishbhai hope Palnaji is fully satisfied.

We as human beings should not waste our lifes like the animals as expalined by our Acharyas we have been given intelligence to think hence even if you refer to Shrimad Bhagwad these are the words by Prahlad Maharaj at a very young age.

[ Kaumaaram Aacharet Pragnya Dharmaan Bhaagavataan Iha
Durlabham Maanusham Janmam Tad Api Adhruvam Arthadam

"Prahlaada Mahaaraaja said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should
use the human form of body from the very beginning of life — in other
words, from the tender age of childhood — to practice the activities
of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body
is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it
is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional
service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give
one complete perfection." - SB 7.6.1 -
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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."----

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Sage Purusha Marga travels at the speed of mind and Bheema can travel at the speed of the wind and we all know the difference which is faster and how fast.

Just a reminder still waiting for this answer as it is really a beautiful story.

Krishna who wanted Bheema to know the importance of Mantra Japa asks him to bring Purusha Mruga who lives in Himalayas for the Yagya. Krishna warns Bheema that Purusha Mruga travels at the speed of mind and to bring him he has to travel at that speed failing which the Purusha Mruga would kill him. Bheema who could travel at the speed of wind ( vayuvega ) thinks he could bring him. Bheema goes in search of Purusha Mruga but he was unable to catch him because mind is the swiftest of all.

So vaishnavs can you now tell me whose advice did Bheema take and how did he succeed in his mission.
_________________
Vasant Punjabi.

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

[jagdish]

Jai Shri Krishna,

bhai, thank you for the encouragement and i hope i have not said anything out of place or misleading.. please do feel free to highlight any mistakes

Also, thank you for the prasang you have illustrated, that of Prahlad Maharaj, it is quite apt.
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Best Wishes
Jagdish

[kavita]

jai shri krishna.

thanks alot for nice stories. learning a lot with your help. thanks again.
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Jai Shree Krishna
Kavita Bhatia

[unnati]

Jai jai shri gokulesh

Vasantji, please continue the story of Bheema.
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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

[Sital]

Jai Shree Krishna,

Yes Vasantji please continue, he must have taken Shri Krishna's advice?

JSK
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Madhurkomalkant padavali namami
Sital

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Well when one is in difficulty he has to approach the elders in his family for help right Kavitaji?

Now Sitalji if Shri Krishna would have accompanied Bheema then there would have been victory without fail but He did not.

While in the war Shri Krishna was with them so they won as where ever there is Shri Krishna there is victory.

Bheema cannot say no to the command of Shri Krishna and he tried his best but was not able to match the speed of the mind so he approached his elder and who was that? I know what Unnatiji is thinking His elder brother Yudhister no sorry this time he approached his elder but is was Hanuman.

Now since most of the answer is revealed can you vaishnavs guess how Hanuman helped his younger brother Bheema out of this problem the hint to the answer is in the story itself.
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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."----