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Çré Devaçayané Ekädaçé Issue no:139 01st July 2020 The Format For Gåhastha Life

The Duties Of A Householder How Should We Live At Home? Srila Muni Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura

The Format For Gåhastha Life Vaisnavas Of Different Levels His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami

Householder Sannyäsé & Householder Bäula Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura

Circulaton 29,777 Issue no 139, Page — 2 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä

The Duties Of A Householder intelligent man in human society should make Srila Narada Muni his own schedule of activities very simple. If there are suggestions from his friends, children, Maharaja Yudhisthira inquired from parents, brothers or anyone else, he should Narada Muni: O my lord, O great sage, kind- externally agree, saying, “Yes, that is all right,” ly explain how we who are staying at home but internally he should be determined not to without knowledge of the goal of life may also create a cumbersome life in which the purpose steadily attain liberation, according to the instruc- of life will not be fulfilled. The natural products tions of the . created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Narada Muni replied: My dear King, those should be utilized to maintain the bodies and who stay at home as householders must act to souls of all living entities. The necessities of life earn their livelihood, and instead of trying to are of three types: those produced from the sky enjoy the results of their work themselves, they [from rainfall], from the earth [from the mines, should offer these results to , Vasudeva. the seas or the fields], and from the atmosphere The means to satisfy Vasudeva in this life can be [that which is obtained suddenly and unexpect- perfectly understood through the association of edly]. One may claim proprietorship to as much great devotees of the Lord. A gåhastha (house- wealth as required to maintain body and soul holder) must regularly and repeatedly associate together, but one who desires proprietorship with saintly persons. Thus, with great respect over more than that must be considered a thief, he must hear the nectar of the activities of the and he deserves to be punished by the laws of Supreme Lord and His incarnations as these nature. One should treat animals such as deer, activities are described in Çrémad-Bhägavatam camels, asses, monkeys, mice, snakes, birds and other Puräëas. In this way one should and flies with compassion exactly as one would gradually become detached from affection for with his own children. There is actually very little his wife and children, exactly like a man awak- difference between children and these innocent ening from a dream. While working to earn his animals. Even if one is a householder rather than livelihood simply to maintain body and soul, one a brahmacäré, a sannyäsé or a vänaprastha, who is actually learned should live in human one should not endeavour strenuously for reli- society unattached to family affairs, although giosity, economic development or satisfaction of externally appearing very much attached. An the senses. In householder life, one should be Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya www.ibmedu.org nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 139, Page—3 satisfied to maintain body and soul together with still more satisfied when pleasing food made of whatever is available with minimum endeavour, grains and ghee is offered to Him through the according to place and time, by the grace of the mouths of qualified brähmaëas. Therefore, my Lord. One should not engage oneself in sinful dear King, first offer foodstuffs unto the bräh- work (ugra-karma). Dogs, fallen persons and maëas and the demigods, and after sumptuously untouchables, including caëòälas [dog-eaters], feeding them you may distribute that prasäda should all be maintained with their proper neces- to other living entities according to your ability. sities, which should be contributed by the house- In this way you will be able to worship all living holders. Even one’s wife at home, with whom entities or, in other words, the supreme living one is most intimately attached, should be offered entity situated within them all. A brähmaëa who in service for the reception of guests and people is sufficiently wealthy must offer oblations to the in general. One sometimes so seriously considers forefathers during the dark-moon fortnight in his wife to be his own that he may kill himself for the latter part of the month of Bhädra. Similarly, her or kill others, including even his parents or his he should offer oblations to the relatives of the spiritual master or teacher. Therefore if one can forefathers during the mahälayä ceremonies in give up his attachment to his beloved wife, he the month of Äçvina. One should perform the conquers the Supreme Personality of Godhead, çraddhä ceremony on the Makara-saìkränti who is never conquered by anyone. Through [the day when the sun begins to move north] proper deliberation, one should give up attrac- or on the Karkaöa-saìkränti [the day when the tion to his wife’s body because that body will sun begins to move south]. One should also per- ultimately be transformed into small insects, stool form this ceremony on the Meña-saìkränti day or ashes. What is the value of this insignificant and the Tulä-saìkränti day, in the yoga named body? How much greater is the Supreme Being, Vyatépäta, on that day in which three lunar tithis who is all-pervading like the sky? An intelligent are conjoined, during an eclipse of either the person should be satisfied with eating prasäda moon or the sun, on the twelfth lunar day, and in [food offered to the Lord] or with performing the the Çravaëa-nakñatra. One should perform this five different kinds of sacrifice [païca-yajïa]. ceremony on the Akñaya-tåtéyä day, on the ninth By such activities, one can give up attachment lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of for the body and so-called proprietorship with Kärtika, on the four Añöakäs in the winter season reference to the body. When one is able to do and cool season, on the seventh lunar day of the this, he is firmly fixed in the position of an ele- bright fortnight of the month of Mägha, during vated soul (mahätmä). Every day, one should the conjunction of Mägha-nakñatra and the full worship the Supreme Being who is situated in moon day, and on the days when the moon is everyone’s heart, and on this basis everyone completely full, or not quite completely full, when should separately worship the demigods, the these days are conjoined with the nakñatra from saintly persons, ordinary human beings, other which the names of certain months are derived. living entities, one’s forefathers and one’s own One should also perform the çraddhä ceremo- self. In this way one will worship the Supreme ny on the twelfth lunar day when it is in conjunc- Being in the core of everyone’s heart. When one tion with any of the nakñatra named Anurädhä, is enriched with wealth and knowledge which Çravaëa, Uttara-phalguné, Uttaräñäòhä or Ut- are under his full control and by means of which tara-bhädrapadä. Again, one should perform he can perform yajïa (sacrifice) and please the this ceremony when the eleventh lunar day is Supreme Personality of Godhead, one must in conjunction with either Uttara-phalguné, Ut- perform similar sacrifices, offering oblations to taräñäòhä or Uttara-bhädrapadä. Finally, one the fire according to the directions of the çästras. should perform this ceremony on days conjoined In this way one should worship the Supreme with one’s own birth star [janma-nakñatra] or Personality of Godhead. Sri Krishna, the Supreme with Çravaëaù-nakñatra. All of these seasonal Personality of Godhead, is the enjoyer of sacrifi- times are considered extremely auspicious for cial offerings. Yet although His Lordship eats the all humanity. At such times, one should perform oblations offered in the fire, my dear King, He is all recommended auspicious activities, for by www.ibmedu.org Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya Issue no 139, Page — 4 Top left 4 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä doing so a human being attains success in his intends to advance in spiritual life may visit all short duration of life. During these periods of these places and perform ritualistic ceremonies seasonal change, if one bathes in the Ganges, to get results a thousand times greater than the in the Yamuna or in another sacred place, if results of the same activities performed in any one chants, offers fire sacrifices or executes other place. O King of the earth, it has been vows, or if one worships the Supreme Lord, the decided by expert, learned scholars that only brähmaëas, the forefathers, the demigods and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, the living entities in general, whatever he gives in whom all that is moving or non-moving in charity yields a permanently beneficial result. within this universe is resting, and from whom O King Yudhisthira, at the time prescribed for everything is emanating, is the best person to reformatory ritualistic ceremonies for one’s self, whom everything must be given in sacrifice. one’s wife or one’s children, or during funeral O King Yudhisthira, the demigods, many great ceremonies and annual death ceremonies, sages and saints including even the four sons one must perform the auspicious ceremonies of Lord Brahma, and I myself were present at mentioned above in order to flourish in fruitive your Räjasüya sacrificial ceremony, but when activities. Now I shall describe the places where there was a question of who should be the first religious performances may be well executed. person worshiped, everyone decided upon Any place where a Vaisnava is present is an Lord Krishna, the Supreme Person. The entire excellent place for all auspicious activities. The universe, which is full of living entities, is like a Supreme Personality of Godhead is the support tree whose root is the Supreme Personality of of this entire cosmic manifestation, with all its Godhead, Acyuta [Krishna]. Therefore simply moving and non-moving living entities, and the by worshiping Lord Krishna one can worship temple where the Deity of the Lord is installed is all living entities. The Supreme Personality of a most sacred place. Furthermore, places where Godhead has created many residential places learned brähmaëas observe Vedic principles like the bodies of human beings, animals, birds, by means of austerity, education and mercy are saints and demigods. In all of these innumer- also most auspicious and sacred. Auspicious able bodily forms, the Lord resides with the indeed are the places where there is a temple of living being as Paramatma. Thus He is known the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, as the puruñävatära. O King Yudhisthira, the in which He is duly worshiped, and also the Supersoul in every body gives intelligence to places where there flow the celebrated sacred the individual soul according to his capacity rivers mentioned in the Puräëas, the supple- for understanding. Therefore the Supersoul mentary Vedic literatures. Anything spiritual is the chief within the body. The Supersoul is done there is certainly very effective. The sacred manifested to the individual soul according to lakes like Pushkara and places where saintly the individual’s comparative development of persons live, like Kurukuetra, Gaya, Prayaga, knowledge, austerity, penance and so on. My Pulahashrama, Naimisharanya, the banks of the dear King, when great sages and saintly per- Phalgu River, Setubandha, Prabhasa, Dvaraka, sons saw mutually disrespectful dealings at the , , Pamapa, Bindu-sarovara, beginning of Tretä-yuga, Deity worship in the Badarikashrama [Narayanashrama], the places temple was introduced with all paraphernalia. where the Nanda River flows, the places where Sometimes a neophyte devotee offers all the Lord Ramacandra and mother took shelter, paraphernalia for worshiping the Lord, and he such as Citrakuta, and also the hilly tracts of land factually worships the Lord as the Deity, but be- known as Mahendra and Malaya - all of these cause he is envious of the authorized devotees are to be considered very pious and sacred. of Lord Visnu, the Lord is never satisfied with his Similarly, places outside where there are devotional service. My dear King, of all persons centers of the Krishna consciousness movement a qualified brähmaëa must be accepted as the and where -Krishna Deities are worshiped best within this material world be cause such a must all be visited and worshiped by those brähmaëa, by practicing austerity, Vedic studies who want to be spiritually advanced. One who and satisfaction, becomes the counterpart body Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya www.ibmedu.org nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 139, Page—5

of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. My dear the principle for everyone's life. Narada Muni King Yudhisthira, the brähmaëas, especially has already described the principles of life for a those engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord brahmacäré, vänaprastha and sannyäsé, and throughout the entire world, are recognized and now he is describing how a gåhastha should live. worshiped by the Supreme Personality of - The basic principle is to satisfy the Supreme Per- head, who is the heart and soul of all creation. sonality of Godhead. The science of satisfying the The brähmaëas, by their preaching, sanctify the Supreme Lord can be learned as described here: three worlds with the dust of their lotus feet, and säkñäd upäséta mahä-munén. The word mahä- thus they are fit to be worshiped even by Krishna munén refers to great saintly persons or devotees. Himself. Saintly persons are generally known as munés, — Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 7: The Science of or thoughtful philosophers concerned with tran- God » Chapter Fourteen» Verses: 1-42. scendental subject matters, and mahä-munén refers to those who have not only thoroughly The Format For Gåhastha Life studied the goal of life but who are actually en- His Divine Grace gaged in satisfying the Supreme Personality of A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Godhead, Vasudeva. These persons are known as devotees. Unless one associates with devotees, The formula for gåhastha life should be dedi- one cannot learn the science of väsudevärpaëa, cation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. or dedicating one's life to Vasudeva, Krishna, the In Bhagavad-gétä (6.1) it is said: "anäçritaù kar- Supreme Personality of Godhead. In India the ma-phalaà käryaà karma karoti yaù sa san- principles of this science were followed strictly. nyäsé ca yogé ca na niragnir na cäkriyaù" One Even fifty years ago, I saw that in the villages of who is unattached to the fruits of his work and Bengal and the suburbs of Calcutta, people every who works as he is obligated is in the renounced day heard Çrémad-Bhägavatam at the conclu- order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who sion of their day’s work, or at least in the evening lights no fire and performs no work." Whether before going to bed. Everyone would hear the one acts as a brahmacäré, gåhastha, vänaprastha Bhägavatam. Bhägavata classes were held in or sannyäsé, he must act simply for the satisfaction every village, and thus people had the advantage of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasude- of hearing Çrémad-Bhägavatam, which describes va-Krishna, the son of Vasudeva. This should be everything about the higher aim of life—libera- www.ibmedu.org Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya Issue no 139, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä

tion or salvation which will be clearly explained from family life just to display his expertise in in the next verses. false renunciation, he will not benefit. Immature — Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 7: The Science of renunciants soon fall down. Association with God » Chapter Fourteen» Verses: 3–4, Purport the Lord’s devotees destroys materialism at its core. Those who enter family life only to satisfy How Should We Live At Home? worldly morality will become absorbed in ma- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura terialism. Just as the Lord’s devotee must accept the renounced order, he is also required to enter Proper association with exalted, swanlike per- household life. Family life is favourable for devo- sonalities rescues us from falling into the blind tees, because when a devotee enters family life, well of material life. If we associate with liberated he enters a temple. For a devotee, there is no souls, we will become qualified as spiritual house- difference between entering household life and holders. Those who do not associate with the entering renounced life. However, household personified Bhägavatas to discuss the scripture life is unfavorable for non-devotees. There is a Bhägavata, knowing the two to be non-different, huge difference between attached materialists will never find fortune in household life. It is good entering household life and the household life of for devotees to live at home, because it allows a devotee. Because a devotee enters family life them to peacefully worship Lord . Such only to favorably cultivate Krishna consciousness, peace, however, is not available to those who he should remain aloof from bad association are gross materialists due to being too attached to and idle talk. He should faithfully execute the household life. It is important to enter family life limbs of —his hearing and chanting—with firmly resolved to serve Krishna. This resolution enthusiasm, confidence, and patience. A house- is far superior to practicing false renunciation holder devotee must serve Hari, guru, and the likened to the lifestyle of the naked, fruit eating, Vaisnavas, chant the Lord’s holy name, associate forest dwelling monkey. False renunciation will with devotees, and hear hari-kathä. If all his not help one attain the ultimate goal of life. One endeavours are aimed at satisfying Krishna, his should enter family life only if it is favourable life is auspicious and he will attain good fortune. for the execution of devotional service to Hari. — Amåta väëé: Nectar of Instructions of Immortality» His Divine Grace If family life is unfavourable, it is a dark well Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada » Adapted and Published and should be rejected. If one separates himself by Isvaradasa, Touchstone Media. Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya www.ibmedu.org nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 139, Page—7 Vaisnavas Of Different Levels dieval age used saffron cloth. In the course of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura preaching their own spontaneously manifested paramahaàsa, Sri Rupa and Sanatana Goswa- The renunciate Vaisnavas should not think that mis, who inaugurated anuräga-märga, the path they are more respect worthy than the gåhastha of attachment, were not inclined towards Sri Vaisnavas. One should know that the difference Gaurasundara's ekadaëòa sannyäsa. Sri Gopala in recognition for the Vaisnavas is solely based Bhatta Goswami's spiritual master, Tridaëòi san- on the distinction between the uttama-adhikäré nyäsi Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati, exhibited and the madhyama-adhikäré. Both utta- the superiority of paramahaàsa dress and the ma-adhikärés and madhyama-adhikärés are path of attachment by wearing saffron dress befit- found among the gåhasthas. This rule also applies ting an äcärya. Sriman Jivacarana, who followed to the renunciate Vaisnavas. The glories of the Sri Rupa, has in the course of imparting instruc- renunciate Vaisnavas are that they have given tions befitting an äcärya preached svakéya- up the association of women, greed for money, to help others easily understand the concept of and bodily pleasure. The gåhastha Vaisnavas parakéya-rasa and to uproot the poisonous teeth have special glories. Many of them work hard to of the fraudulent followers of parakéya-rasa. earn money, and after serving Krishna, they serve Actually the concept of svakéya-rasa preached gåhastha and sannyäsé Vaisnavas. Whether one by Sri Jivapada has simply established the su- is a gåhastha or a sannyäsé, the principal cause premacy of parakéya-rasa of the spiritual world. for respect is the attainment of devotional service. — Purport to Çré Caitanya Bhägavata Madhya-khaëòa Chapter 19, Text One should be respected as a Vaisnava accord- 43 by Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, Vrajaraja ing to one’s advancement in devotional service. Press, Translated by Bhumipati Däsa There is no other criterion in distinguishing the level of a Vaisnava. — (Sajjana-toñaëé 5/11)

Householder Sannyäsé & Householder Bäula Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura

sei gräme gåhastha-sannyäsé eka äche pathera samépe ghara jähnavéra käche. “In that village lived a householder sannyäsé. !! Sri Sri Gaurchandra Jayati !! His house was on the side of the road near the ISKCON Ganges.” Mahavidyalaya is a branch of International Society for Krishna Consciousness The phrases householder sannyäsé and house- Founder-Äcärya: His Divine Grace A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada holder bäula, refer to those who identify them- selves as tyägés (renunciants) while maintaining Editor extreme attachment to home. The tamasic tan- Brajsunder Das tras encourage such immoral behavior giving Copy Editor Isha Prakash Das them the name däré sannyäsé. As per the logic of soëära päthara bäöé—“stone bowls made of Sanskrit Editor, gold,” and with the support of Çäkta philosophy, Vrajsevika Devi Dasi householder bäulas who are extremely attached Assistance to home and yet dress themselves as renunciants, Vamsidhari Gauri Devi Dasi by wearing red cloth claim that maintaining maid- Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of servants and wives is approved by the çästras. Ac- His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. cepting the saffron dress of a renunciant is among ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective artists. the rules for a sannyäsé on the path of regulative principles. Thus all Vaisnava äcäryas of the me- www.ibmedu.org Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya