20211017 Q&A Session

The following is the Q&A Session for Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given on 17th october 2021 by HH Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, India.

Bhakti Vijaya Bhāgavata Swami: Very nice class. I have a query. Although you mentioned about Kārtika-vratā how to observe Kārtika-vratā nicely and offer lamps? Somebody said offer lamp with tulasī stick some say not to offer. Some devotees follow very strictly the vows. Śrīla Prabhupāda said in the four months only four things you should avoid. Many people observe very strictly, not taking beans, poṭol, carrots. How to observe Kārtika-vratā, and very nicely and please Lord Dāmodara and get your bhakti. 

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, that the minimum we should is not eat urad-dal. We could do more, we could eat haviṣyanna or restrict our diet in various ways. Now Śrīla Prabhupāda would complain that if someone is not following any particular vow, simply growing beard and hair will not give any benefit. One year we were taking the khicuḍi off the floor without using our hands, like cows, at that time we kept our beard. So what one wants to do, that is optional. And someone is doing more, they should not be proud or criticize others who are not doing more. We can do more, to be detached, but we should not do less service. As far as offering tulasī twig in the Dāmodara-pūjā, in the Padma Purāṇa it says if we offer the lamp with tulasī to Lord Kṛṣṇa, then we get the result of one hundred fire sacrifices. And giving one hundred cows in charity. Also, in the same Purāṇa it mentions that if we offer lamp to Kṛṣṇa on tulasī, then it is equal to one crore or ten million lamps. I hope that answers your question Mahāraja? 

Bhakti Vijaya Bhāgavata Swami: Yes Guru Mahārāja, you have explained very nicely and I will share whatever you have said with the others. Hare Kṛṣṇa! 

Jayapatākā Swami: Of course, they can still distribute books! 

Harihara Kṛṣṇa Caitanya dasa: If because of previous saṁskāras, one is attached to festivals like Durgā-pūjā, does it hamper their Kṛṣṇa consciousness? Please enlighten dear Guru Mahārāja. 

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, we talked to some of the ancient Durgā pandal organizers and they said that they have the śālagrāma-śilā, and they offer the pūjā first to the śilā and the prasāda to Durgā devī. So that kind of pūjā is authorized. If you want to worship the devī or some devas to get some material benefits, then that can hamper our devotional service. Last question. 

Sujitendriya dāsa: If in the Durgā-pūjā paṇḍālas some devotees go to Durgā and they consider Durgā is Kṛṣṇa’s sister, so that way Durgā is our pisi-mā, because she is Śrī Padmanābha sahodarim, with that mentality, if devotees go and pay respects to her is that authorized? 

Jayapatākā Swami: We see Durgā devī as the energy of Kṛṣṇa. And like that we offer our respects from the right side. We understand that Śiva is the protector of the holy dhāma and that His energy, śakti, Durgā devī, she is the protectress. 

Question: Those people who do not want to or not interested to serve Kṛṣṇa or do not want to engage in devotional service, can we offer lamps in their name or for their benefit, and by doing so, will they gradually get a desire to perform devotional service? 

Jayapatākā Swami: We can offer the results to anyone. Whether they accept Kṛṣṇa or not, that is up to their free will. So it cannot hurt, but there is no guarantee that they will accept. 

So now I will see some temples.