Chapter 4 Demigod Worship-I Home Work

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Chapter 4 Demigod Worship-I Home Work Chapter 4 Demigod Worship-I Home work: 15 minutes Ice breaker (15 minutes): Share with us, before you came to Krishna Consciousness which demigod you were worshiping? Kirtan: 10 minutes Japa: 10 minutes Way Of Chanting Srila Prabhupada once imitated how we sometimes chant without focus, without concentration, without proper pronunciation - how we chant when we don't feel like chanting. You know the mood behind this type of chanting; "I have to chant but I'd rather be doing something else." And in our minds we are thinking, "I can't wait to get these rounds out of the way, when shall I be finished." We all do this. And it can get pretty bad. I know devotees who chant rounds while watching football games on TV. Srila Prabhupada explained that this type of chanting is more or less useless because it will not produce the desired result, love of Krishna. To even call this chanting is a stretch. It is closer to a ritual. But Prabhupada acknowledged the value in the ritual by saying that although this kind of chanting is not very productive, at least those who are chanting this way are keeping their vow to chant. He called this kind of japa, "courtesy japa." "Courtesy japa" means that since you have taken a vow - either to your spiritual master or yourself - to chant a certain number of rounds daily, you keep that vow while chanting the kind of japa he described above. We Should follow 4 steps for Chanting in the right way: Step1: Tell the mind to resolve to just hear one Hare Krishna maha mantra. Step2: As the mind starts to become absorbed in the sound of the holy name, it will periodically rebel and try to drift to some other topic. So you must now neglect the attempts of the mind to deviate from the task of japa. It is like a child who wants something at the store...it will cry and cry, but the stern parent just ignores or neglects the misbehaviour. In due course the child will get the message and calm down. Similarly the mind will introduce so many ideas and rationalizations for thinking something else, but one must just neglect the mind and force it back to japa. Step3: Take shelter of the Holy Name. Now the mind is absorbed in the sound of the holy name. One's whole existence is only the holy name....there is nothing else to be conscious of. So realize that the holy name is in fact Krishna Himself and surrender completely to Him, and accept Him in the form of the Holy Name as everything and all that we really ever will need. Step 4. Obtain Krishna's Mercy If the Holy Name so desires, being pleased by our endevor He may bestow His mercy upon us and give us a glimpse of real bhakti and the sweetness of His loving friendship. Lesson-4 Topic of discussion: Demigod worship Time: 1 Hour There are many rules and regulations for the worship of demigods in the scriptures, and one may question why the Vedic literatures recommended their worship. There is necessity. Those who are motivated by lust want the opportunity to love something, and the demigods are acknowledged as the officers of the Supreme Lord. The idea is that as one worships these demigods; he will gradually develop Krishna consciousness. But if one is completely atheistic and disobedient and rebellious against any authority, what hope is there? So one's obedience to a higher personality can start with the demigods. [On way to Krishna, ch -5] Discuss: How demigod worshipers are better than atheists ? For one who cannot understand what the Personality of Godhead is, sacrifice to the demigods is recommended. According to the different material qualities of the persons concerned, different types of yajïas are recommended in the Vedas. Worship of different demigods is also on the same basis—namely, according to different qualities. For example, the meat-eaters are recommended to worship the goddess Käli, the ghastly form of material nature, and before the goddess the sacrifice of animals is recommended. But for those who are in the mode of goodness, the transcendental worship of Vishnu is recommended. But ultimately all yajïas are meant for gradual promotion to the transcendental position. [BG-3/12] Discuss: Why do we see various demigod worships in the society? There is a great misconception about the gods or demigods of this material world, and men of less intelligence, although passing as great scholars, take these demigods to be various forms of the Supreme Lord. Actually, the demigods are not different forms of God, but they are God's different parts and parcels. God is one, and the parts and parcels are many. The Vedas say, nityo nityänäm: God is one. Ishwarah paramah Krishnah. The Supreme God is one—Krishna—and the demigods are delegated with powers to manage this material world. These demigods are all living entities (nityänäm) with different grades of material power. They cannot be equal to the Supreme God—Narayana, Vishnu, or Krishna. Anyone who thinks that God and the demigods are on the same level is called an atheist, or pashandi. [BG-4/12] Discuss: Compare the position of God and demigods. Some commentators on the Bhagavad-Gitasay that one who worships a demigod can reach the Supreme Lord, but here it is clearly stated that the worshipers of demigods go to the different planetary systems where various demigods are situated, just as a worshiper of the sun achieves the sun or a worshiper of the demigod of the moon achieves the moon. Similarly, if anyone wants to worship a demigod like Indra, he can attain that particular god's planet. It is not that everyone, regardless of whatever demigod is worshiped, will reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is denied here. [BG-7/23] yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti mad-yājino ’pi mām Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me. [BG-9/25] Discussion: Do all demigod worshipers achieve the same destination or different? Nowhere in authentic scriptures is it said that one will ultimately reach the same goal by doing anything or worshiping anyone. Such foolish theories are offered by self-made "spiritual masters" who have no connection with the paramparä, the bona fide system of disciplic succession. The bona fide spiritual master cannot say that all paths lead to the same goal and that anyone can attain this goal by his own mode of worship of the demigods or of the Supreme or whatever. Any common man can very easily understand that a person can reach his destination only when he has purchased a ticket for that destination. A person who has purchased a ticket for Calcutta can reach Calcutta, but not Bombay. But the so-called spiritual masters say that any and all paths will take one to the supreme goal. Such mundane and compromising offers attract many foolish creatures, who become puffed up with their manufactured methods of spiritual realization. The Vedic instructions, however, do not uphold them. Unless one has received knowledge from the bona fide spiritual master who is in the recognized line of disciplic succession, one cannot have the real thing as it is. [Isopanisad, mantra-13 purport] Discuss: Do all paths lead to the same goal? Explain with some examples. Sripad Sankaräcärya, the leader of the impersonalists, maintains that Narayana, or Krishna, is beyond this material creation. However, foolish people (håta-jyana [Bg. 7.20]) worship the demigods because they want immediate results. They get the results, but do not know that results so obtained are temporary and are meant for less intelligent persons. The intelligent person is in Krishna consciousness, and he has no need to worship the paltry demigods for some immediate, temporary benefit. The demigods of this material world, as well as their worshipers, will vanish with the annihilation of this material world. The boons of the demigods are material and temporary. Both the material worlds and their inhabitants, including the demigods and their worshipers, are bubbles in the cosmic ocean. In this world, however, human society is mad after temporary things such as the material opulence of possessing land, family and enjoyable paraphernalia. To achieve such temporary things, people worship the demigods or powerful men in human society. If a man gets some ministership in the government by worshiping a political leader, he considers that he has achieved a great boon. All of them are therefore kowtowing to the so-called leaders or "big guns" in order to achieve temporary boons, and they indeed achieve such things. Such foolish men are not interested in Krishna consciousness for the permanent solution to the hardships of material existence. They are all after sense enjoyment, and to get a little facility for sense enjoyment they are attracted to worship empowered living entities known as demigods. [BG-4/12 purport] Discuss: Describe the results obtained by the demigod worshippers. In order to get temporary benefits what do they do? The pure devotee engaged in Krishna consciousness in devotional service of the Supreme Lord achieves eternal blissful existence that is full of knowledge, his achievements and those of the common worshiper of the demigods are different. The Supreme Lord is unlimited; His favor is unlimited; His mercy is unlimited. Therefore the mercy of the Supreme Lord upon His pure devotees is unlimited.
Recommended publications
  • The Real Protector Hare Krishna Dear Devotees, Please Accept My
    The Real Protector Date: 2005-01-19 Author: Shyam Sundara das Hare Krishna dear devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev. While I was passing through many temples of demigods viz., Siva, Anjaneya, Ganesha and Goddess Durga and so on, I got confused as to whom I should really surrender and pray for any benediction. By the mercy of Lord Krishna when I opened SB 10.2.26, my doubt got vanquished miraculously and the Lord's merciful answer is elucidated below through His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada: "Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary." Worship of demigods may be useful for a limited time, but the result is antavat, perishable. This material world is impermanent, the demigods are impermanent, and the benedictions derived from the demigods are also impermanent, whereas the living entity is eternal (nityo nityānaam cetanas cetanānām). Every living entity, therefore, must search for eternal happiness, not temporary happiness, The word 'satyam param dhīmahi' indicate that one should search for the Absolute Truth, not the relative truth. While offering prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nrsimhadeva, Prahlad Maharaja said "bālasya neha śaraṇaṁ pitarau nṛsiṁha nārtasya cāgadam udanvati majjato nauḥ" Generally it is understood that the protectors for a child are his parents, but this is not actually the fact. The real protector is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. " taptasya tat-pratividhir ya ihāñjaseṣṭas tāvad vibho tanu-bhṛtāṁ tvad-upekṣitānām" - If neglected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a child, despite the presence of his parents, will suffer, and a patient, despite all medical help, will die.
    [Show full text]
  • KB 2-19 / the Deliverance of Sisupala KRSNA, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
    KB 2-19 / The Deliverance of Sisupala KRSNA, The Sup... http://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/2/19?d=1 Prabhupada > Books > KRSNA, The Supreme Personality > Volume 2 > KB 2-19 / The Deliverance of 19 / The Deliverance of Śiśupāla King Yudhi ṣṭ hira became very happy after hearing the details of the Jarāsandha episode, and he spoke as follows: "My dear Kṛṣṇ a, O eternal form of bliss and knowledge, all the exalted directors of the affairs of this material world, including Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and King Indra, are always anxious to receive and carry out orders from You, and whenever they are fortunate enough to receive such orders, they immediately take them and keep them in their hearts. O Kṛṣṇ a, You are unlimited, and although we sometimes think of ourselves as royal kings and rulers of the world and become puffed up over our paltry positions, we are very poor in heart. Actually, we are fit to be punished by You, but the wonder is that instead of punishing us, You so kindly and mercifully accept our orders and carry them out properly. Others are very surprised that Your Lordship can play the part of an ordinary human, but we can understand that You are performing these activities just like a dramatic artist. Your real position is always exalted, exactly like that of the sun, which always remains at the same temperature both during the time of its rising and the time of its setting. Although we feel the difference in temperature between the rising and the setting sun, the temperature of the sun never changes.
    [Show full text]
  • Srimad-Bhagavatam – Canto Ten” by His Divine Grace A.C
    “Srimad-Bhagavatam – Canto Ten” by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Summary: Srimad-Bhagavatam is compared to the ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge. Also known as the Bhagavata Purana, this multi-volume work elaborates on the pastimes of Lord Krishna and His devotees, and includes detailed descriptions of, among other phenomena, the process of creation and annihilation of the universe. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada considered the translation of the Bhagavatam his life’s work. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This is an evaluation copy of the printed version of this book, and is NOT FOR RESALE. This evaluation copy is intended for personal non- commercial use only, under the “fair use” guidelines established by international copyright laws. You may use this electronic file to evaluate the printed version of this book, for your own private use, or for short excerpts used in academic works, research, student papers, presentations, and the like. You can distribute this evaluation copy to others over the Internet, so long as you keep this copyright information intact. You may not reproduce more than ten percent (10%) of this book in any media without the express written permission from the copyright holders. Reference any excerpts in the following way: “Excerpted from “Srimad-Bhagavatam” by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, courtesy of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, www.Krishna.com.” This book and electronic file is Copyright 1977-2003 Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, 3764 Watseka Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034, USA. All rights reserved. For any questions, comments, correspondence, or to evaluate dozens of other books in this collection, visit the website of the publishers, www.Krishna.com.
    [Show full text]
  • The Concept of Immo<Tals in Medite<<Anean Antiquity Autho<(S): Cha<Les H. Talbe<T Sou<Ce: Jou<Nal Of
    !"#$%&'(#)*$&+$,--&.*/01$2'$3#42*#../'#/'$5'*2672*8 57*"&.91:;$%"/.0#1$<=$!/0>#.* ?&7.(#;$@&7.'/0$&+$A2>02(/0$B2*#./*7.#C$D&0=$EFC$G&=$H$9?#)=C$IEJK:C$))=$FIELFHM N7>021"#4$>8;$!"#$?&(2#*8$&+$A2>02(/0$B2*#./*7.# ?*/>0#$OPB;$http://www.jstor.org/stable/3265162 5((#11#4;$QMRQIRSQQE$QE;FI Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=sbl. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 to build trusted digital archives for scholarship. We work with the scholarly community to preserve their work and the materials they rely upon, and to build a common research platform that promotes the discovery and use of these resources. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. The Society of Biblical Literature is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Biblical Literature.
    [Show full text]
  • Aureole of Gods and Goddesses
    Chitrolekha International Magazine on Art and Desig, (ISSN 2231-4822), Vol. 6, No. 2, 2016 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21659/chitro.v6n2.05 www.chitrolekha.com © AesthetixMS Study on the Prabhavalaya: Aureole of Gods and Goddesses Prasanna E. Khamitkar1 Abstract Most stand-alone Hindu sculptures of the murtis are supported with a prabhavalaya behind which means a “Luminous circle, an Aureole or a Nimbus " that is the ornate arch, made of stone, wood or metal that stands just behind and above deity images in temples. To analyze the various images of prabhavalaya the author refers to the content extracted from various resources, sculptures of various temples and the most remarkable sculptures from some museums. The author will try to make an effort to classify the visual understanding of the prabhavalayas found in various parts of India that forms as a screen to enhance the importance of various god and goddesses. Key Words: iconography, principle deity, motif, evolution, background, symmetry Introduction Prabha means the halo and valaya is the aura. Hence prabhavalaya or the Luminous circle is an ornate arch, made of stone, wood or metal that stands just behind the principle deity in shrines evolved over the period of time from the concept of a ‘ halo ‘. These arches have intricacy of floral patterns. Most important is the depiction of elements in connection with the main deity represented. The arches behind images pedestals generally bear similar symbols a makhara at the top, vyala or leogryph at the sides, vehicles at the base, ultimately referring to the ultimate, celestial or terrestrial realms respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • An Examination of the Malleable Representation of Medea Master's
    An Examination of the Malleable Representation of Medea Master’s Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Brandeis University Graduate Program in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies Professor Joel Christensen, Advisor In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies by Angela Hurley May 2018 Copyright by Angela Hurley © 2018 Acknowledgements A special thank you to my advisor, Joel Christensen, whose help has been invaluable to me and to my work, and to Cheryl Walker who has spent countless hours discussing this topic with me. iii ABSTRACT An Examination of the Malleable Representation of Medea A thesis presented to the Graduate Program in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Brandeis University Waltham, Massachusetts By Angela Hurley As a persistent character in myth from early Greek epic to Imperial Rome and still into modern times, Medea’s representation shifts as a reflection of the society and author representing her. This thesis surveys the earliest versions of Medea’s myth to establish a basic narrative and furnish a range of variations. In particular, I examine the use of similar scenes in tragedies by Euripides and Seneca for contrasting representations of Medea. Individual analyses of Medea’s representation by each playwright demonstrate how her character is altered and what the activation of different mythical variants means in their cultural contexts. Medea’s gender plays a prominent role in her myth and this thesis analyzes its affect on her representation and perception. By demonstrating the manipulability of a specific mythical character based on a playwright’s preference or societal perception, this thesis explores the organic and dynamic nature of myth.
    [Show full text]
  • Krishna Prasadam Dear Prabhujis and Matajis, Hare Krishna. Please Accept My Humble Obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada A
    Krishna Prasadam Date: 2003-04-01 Author: Purna Prajna das Dear Prabhujis and Matajis, Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev. We are eating food every day. This we presume will do good to our body. That is right. But we can make the same food which will do more good to us by offering the same with love to Krishna and eat it as prasadam. Srimad Bhagavatam explains this with a story from the pastimes of Krishna. SB 1.15.11 yo no jugopa vana etya duranta-kṛcchrād durvāsaso ’ri-racitād ayutāgra-bhug yaḥ śākānna-śiṣṭam upayujya yatas tri-lokīṁ tṛptām amaṁsta salile vinimagna-saṅghaḥ During our exile, Durvasa Muni, who eats with his ten thousand disciples, intrigued with our enemies to put us in dangerous trouble. At that time He [Lord Krishna], simply by accepting the remnants of food, saved us. By His accepting food thus, the assembly of munis, while bathing in the river, felt sumptuously fed. And all the three worlds were also satisfied. PURPORT: Durvāsā Muni: A powerful mystic brāhmaṇa determined to observe the principles of religion with great vows and under strict austerities. His name is associated with many historical events, and it appears that the great mystic could be both easily satisfied and easily annoyed, like Lord Śiva. When he was satisfied, he could do tremendous good to the servitor, but if he was dissatisfied he could bring about the greatest calamity. Kumārī Kuntī, at her father’s house, used to minister all kinds of services to all great brāhmaṇas, and being satisfied with her good reception Durvāsā Muni benedicted her with a power to call any demigod she desired.
    [Show full text]
  • God V/S Demigods Obeisances Unto Sri Caitanya
    ISSUE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF HARINAAM 12 SANKIRTAN SEVA SAMITI Spiriton this issue God and Demigod P.1 Krishna is the Yajna Purusha P.2 Lord Shiva, Brahma P.3 Panchatatva Mantra Srila Prabhupada Speaks out P.4 Editorial Desk P.5 jaya sri-krishna-chaitanya prabhu nityananda Vaishna Calendar, SMS P.5 sri-adwaita gadadhara shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda “I offer my respectful God v/s Demigods obeisances unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Hare Krishna Friends, Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Please accept our respectful obeisance! Gadadhara Pandit, Srivas Thakur, and all the devotees We have understood that Bhagavan means one who possesses all opulences and we of Lord Caitanya”. concluded that Krishna is the only Supreme possessor of all opulences. Let us understand who is a Demigod to understand the difference between God and Demigods. Maha Mantra Demigods are the representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna, Hare Krishna and are present to manage the affairs of the universe or this world. Just like we have the Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Prime Minister and along with him so many ministers and parliament members. These Hare Hare Members manage various portfolios like; Defence, Finance, Home Ministries etc. But all these MP’s are under the control of the Prime Minister. This is the kind of difference Hare Rama between Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna and the Demigods. Hare Rama Rama Rama Briefly the main difference between God and Demigods is that the demigods are many, Hare Hare but Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna is only one. Na dwitiya there is no Second one.
    [Show full text]
  • Greek Gods/Mythology Notes - Information on the Greek Belief System Comes from Many Sources
    Greek Gods/Mythology Notes - Information on the Greek belief system comes from many sources. Unlike followers of religions such as Christianity, Judaism, & Islam, the Greeks did not have a single sacred text, such as the Bible or Koran from which their beliefs and religious practices derived. Instead, they generally used oral traditions, passed on by word of mouth, to relate sacred stories. Priest and priestesses to various gods would also guide people in worship in various temples across Greece. We know something about these beliefs because Greek poets such as Homer, Hesiod and Pindar, and Greek dramatists such as Euripides, Aristophanes & Sophocles mention the myths in their various works. Greek mythology, however, was not static- it was constantly changing and evolving. Thus, there are often many different versions (and some that are contradictory toward one another) of the various Greek myths. Thus, some of the example myths you read in here may differ from ones you have previously heard. It does not necessarily make either version “wrong”- simply different. - The Greeks had many Gods & Goddesses- over three thousand if one were to count the many minor gods and goddesses. These deities made up the Greek pantheon, a word used to mean all the gods and goddesses (from the Greek word “pan” meaning all, and “theos” meaning gods). However, throughout Greece, there were always twelve (called the Twelve Olympians) that were the most important. They are: 1. Zeus 2. Hera 3. Poseidon 4. Athena 5. Apollo 6. Artemis 7. Hephaestus 8. Ares 9. Hermes 10. Aphrodite 11. Demeter 12. Dionysus 13.
    [Show full text]
  • Are These Statements About Hindu Mythology Fact Or Fiction?
    EVENT GUIDE To prepare for your Pandava event, use the following tips to get your event prepped and ready. DECORATING varies based on the region of the country from where No Pandava party is complete without the right it developed, get partygoers up and moving with decor! The covers of the Pandava series can be your some step-by-step instructions on basic elements to inspiration; use its palette of the artwork to adorn Indian dance. your space. Embellish the art by creating images of mythological animals (such as the tiger, crocodile, ram, BOO’S NEWS three-headed elephant, peacock, swan, and seven-headed In Aru Shah and the End of Time, Boo serves as a horse that pledge themselves to serve Aru and Mini for messenger, teacher, and guide to Aru and Mini. Have their battle with the Sleeper). event attendees sit in a straight row and play a few rounds of Boo’s News (a variation of the game telephone) where Alternatively, for a simpler plan, decorate your the person at the end of the row quickly and quietly space with bright, vibrant colors (especially reds and shares a favorite fact about a chosen mythology or why golds) using bright fabric or butcher paper and adorn they are excited to read Aru Shah and the End of Time your space with an abundance of white twinkle lights. into the ear of the person sitting next to him or her. From there, each person repeats this process and passes the FOOD information down the line. Once it gets to the end, have The foods of India are as diverse as the people and the final person share what was said to them to see how culture; in that spirit, set up a feast for attendees that close to the original news the “fact” was.
    [Show full text]
  • Of Names in Bhagavad-Gītā
    Index of Names in Bhagavad-gītā 1 Table of Contents Names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa 1 Names of Arjuna 6 Names of Other Persons 9 Conchshells 23 Groups 24 Locations 27 Miscellaneous 27 Texts 29 Weapons 30 i Index of Names in Bhagavad-gītā This index lists, explains, and provides verse locations for 239 names occurring in the texts and translations of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. The categories in this index are: Names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa (57) Names of Arjuna (25) Names of Other Persons (105) Conchshells (6) Groups (23) Locations (5) Miscellaneous (4) Natural Phenomena (6) Texts (7) Weapons (1). Names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Acyuta—He who never fails His devotees and who never falls down from His position. (1.21, 11.42, 18.73) Adhiyajña—the Lord of sacrifice; the Super-soul, the plena- ry expansion of the Lord in the heart of every living being. (8.2, 8.4) Ādideva—the original Supreme God. (11.38) Names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa 1 Ādikartā—the supreme creator. (11.37) Amitavikrama—having unlimited strength. (11.40) Ananta—He who is unending; He who has no limit. (11.37) Ananta-rūpa—unlimited form. (11.38) See also: Viśvamūrti, Viśvarūpa. Anantavīrya—having unlimited potency. (11.19, 11.40) Aprameya—who is immeasurable. (11.17, 11.42) Apratimaprabhāva—whose power is immeasurable. (11.43) Arisūdana—killer of the enemies. (2.4) Bhagavān—Supreme Personality of Godhead; “He who pos- sesses all opulences”; the Supreme Lord, who is the reservoir of all beauty, strength, fame, wealth, knowledge and renun- ciation; the name refers to the personal form of the Absolute Truth.
    [Show full text]
  • Percy Jackson Discovers He’S Not Completely Human
    [THE LIGHTNING THIEF STUDY GUIDE] 1 THE LIGHTNING THIEF Study guide Based on the book by Rick Riordan [THE LIGHTNING THIEF STUDY GUIDE] 2 Table of Contents: Teacher introduction and Background:………………………………….. Page 3 About the Author: Rick Riordan……………………………………………… Page 4 About the Composer/Lyricist & Book Writer ………………………… Page 5 Greek Gods……………………………………………………………………………… Page 6 Using the Power of the Gods…………………………………………………. Page 9 Create Your Own Camp Half Blood………………………………………… Page 10 Study Ancient Greece……………………………………………………………… Page 11 Greek Mythology Word Find…………………………………………………… Page 12 Songwriting and Reading Activities………………………………………… Page 13 Theatre Etiquette……………………………………………………………………. Page 16 [THE LIGHTNING THIEF STUDY GUIDE] 3 Dear Teacher, We have created the following study guide to help make your students theatre experience with the musical, THE LIGHTNING THIEF as meaningful as possible. For many, it will be their first time viewing a theatrical production. We have learned that when teachers discuss the play with their students before and after the production, the experience is more significant and long lasting. Our study guide provides pre and post-production discussion topics, as well as related activities. These are just suggestions; please feel free to create your own activities and areas for discussion. We hope you enjoy the show! Background Our musical is based on the book, The Lightning Thief by author Rick Riordan. [THE LIGHTNING THIEF STUDY GUIDE] 4 Author: Rick Riordan Born: June 5, 1964 Place of Birth: San Antonio, TX Rick was influenced early on by J.R.R. Tolkien when he read ‘The Lord of the Rings’, noting he probably read it ten times. He also admits to liking Greek and Norse mythology since he was in middle school.
    [Show full text]