Guest guest Posted December 29, 2003 Report Share Posted December 29, 2003 Let me introduce myself as a Bhakta of Lord Krishna. I am no vidwaan of the scriptures. But I have heard a lot of pravachans from authorised sources and established Vaishnava acharyas and Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaja, the 5th living Jagadguru in this world today. Before you read any book please ensure that you are reading books of Bhaktas and/ or authorised Vaishnava acharyas who have been preferably in the disciplic succession from Lord Krishna, himself who is the original knower of the Geeta and other works. There are many unauthorised translations and commentaries on the Geeta by Non-bhaktas and pseudo bhaktas who pollute the mind and intellect of the readers because their own brains are polluted. You can understand the Geeta only if you read books and spiritual literature written by a devotee attached with one of the established Sampradayas like the Brahma Sampradaya, Lakshmi Sampradaya, Rudra Sampradaya or the Kumara Sampradaya. Reading unauthorised commentaries will not only mislead a novice but also drive him to take the path of atheism under the cover of `being logical and rational'. Such persons end up in life as aimless agnostics. Although I am not an expert on the Geeta or the Mahabharata, I have only learnt from hearing passively the words of wisdom from Bhaktas. Let me try answering your questions and you please respond with your reactions - whether or not the answers are convincing. Before I start answering your questions, let me give you an introduction. God and Mahapurush (his great empowered devotees) appear in this world to teach the people (the commoners) how to live and how to do Bhakti and how to go back to the Kingdom of God. Their actions may not be understood by the ordinary people but it has various meanings and their actions and words are beyond human intellect. God takes an avataar to do certain work. He says in the Gita : parithranaya sadhunaam, vinashaya cha dushkritaam dharmasansthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge (Geeta Ch. 4) Meaing : I appear in every Yuga to deliver the bhaktas (Sadhus or pious people) and to annihilate the miscreants and also to restablish the principles of religion. This answers probably all your questions. First, if he had himself changed with his power the mind of Duryodana, there would have been no war. How can then the world be shown as to how to deal with demons and wicked people ? How could he have enacacted the Guruleela and retold the Knowledge of the Gita to Arjuna, who was His friend and devotee ? (He had earlier told this Gita to Vivaswan the Sun God - mention of this is made in the opening verses of Chapter 4 - B Gita). Lord Krishna is the Lord of all Dharma ie. types of religion and their practices. The Kauravas are pictures of adharma (irreligion). They had cheated the Pandavas in the game of dice; insulted Draupati in front of the entire Sabha of the King and even the the elders like Bhisma, Drona and Kripacharya did nothing to stop this disgrace. Thus there is no sense in showing mercy to established and confirmed tyrants. Speaking a lie in the war is only very very small act. Again, when it comes from Lord Krishna there is no need to verify it. There is no Dharma beyond God. Infact Dharma and Dharmic practices lead one to God. Ans No.3 : The war was not fought because it could not be avoided. It was fought so that it will be a role model for all future generations to follow. Lord Krishna says in the Gita (` Na me partahsthi kartavyam, thrishu lokeshu kinchana' Nanavapthavapthavyam vartha eva cha karmani) I have not got any duty (no work to do compulsorily) in either of the three worlds but still I engage in work for the sake of motivating people to work and keep people going. Thus the war was simply enacted to show the world that all Adharma will be vanquished ulltimately whatever be its strength. Again, all the Pandavas who eternal allys or Bhaktas of the Lord had nothing to gain from the Kingdom. They are eternal friends of God and want to be that way. Why would they compromise for a lesser pleasure ie. the Kingdom on the earth? That Krishna and His kingdom are much much superior and more blissful and pleasureful than earthly Kingdom need not be mentioned in the first place. That is why they renounced their Kingdom at the end of such a hard-fought war. Your next question of Heaven or Hell are also inferior to the association of Lord Krishna. Heaven and hell are the results of Good and bad karmas but the result of akarmas (for the pleasure of Krishna or as per His orders or the orders of His Bhaktas) is the Kingdom of God which is nothing but God personified. God realization is the ultimate goal of all Jeevatmas. I hope I have answered your questions. Still if you have specific questions, please e-mail them to me. Please remember that the first qualification for a person to read the Bhagavad Gita is to be a devotee of Lord Krishna. Others are advised strictly not to go anywhere near the Gita. This is mentioned clearly in the 18th chapter of the Gita.` Perfection of Renunciation' Regards B Hariharan Sharma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Hi, Very valid questions. There is a lot we can dispute with. However, I recommend that you go through Cho.Ramasamy's "Mahabharat" from Alliance Publications, Chennai. It is very enlightening. Cho's "Ramayana" from the same publisher is another marvellous work. Regards. --- Ganaesh Kumaar <ganaeshram2002 wrote: > Dear fellow members, > > My name is A.N.Neelakantan (an_neelakantan@h...). > > I am personally confused on many issues on mythology > of Mahabharat, > and wanted your views on these issues to clarify my > need to find the > TRUTH. > > After reading 2 books on Hinduism I have learnt to > question > everything but the Ultimate truth of the `ONE TRUE > GOD'. However > mythology has come to my aid on many issues, but > also brought much > confusion to my thought process. Although I believe > in Krishna as a > GOD and practice Krishna Jayanti every year, I would > like to be > impressed by your wisdom on the questions mentioned > below. > > (The two books I studied are Hinduism' by `RC > Zaehner' 1996 Oxford > publication and `Am I a Hindu?' by `Ed > Viswanathan'.) > > > 1. Krishna was asked by Yudhishtra to go to > Dhuryodhan and seek > only 5 villages for 5 Pandav brothers, which Krishna > being God > himself, could have accomplished with ease. Then why > did Krishna > allowed the situation to go out of control, that > ultimately lead to > war between brothers? > > 2. During the war also Krishna made Yudhishtra tell > a half lie > to `Dhronacharya' about the death of `Ashwathama', > (Ashwathama was > the name of Dhronacharya's son and also a name of an > elephant which > was killed by Bishma because of Krishna's strategy, > so as to reduce > Dhronacharya's morale in the war, specifically > because Dhronacharya > alone could have defeated the Pandavas?) Why did > Krishna firstly > allow the war to start and after it started made the > truthful person > like Yudhishtra tell a lie (or half-truth) to > Dhoroacharya about > Ashwathama's death? So is lying allowed for war? > > 3. What was the cause for Mahabharata when > Yudhishtra with his > wife and brothers renounced the same kingdom after > they won the war. > Yudhishtra completely disagreed with Krishna's > teachings and reason > for war and Krishna also could not stop Yudhishtra > from renouncing > the thrown at that point? Why? (Had Yudhishtra > renounced the request > for 5 villages as per the 2nd question. Could this > war between > brothers be prevented?) > > 4. Did Yudhishtra go to Heaven or Hell? (Because he > had the > chance to visit both because of Lord Indra). (The > above stated books > give different answers to the above situation) > > 5.Why did Krishna took Ghandhari (Dhuryodhan's > mother) to the > battlefield and make her see the dead bodies of all > her 100 sons? > Then, why did Krishna allow the extinction of > himself and his whole > clan (due to Ghandhari's Curse)? (I have learnt that > hurting oneself > is better than hurting others. So this question.) > > 6.Arjuna asked the question to Krishna, as to `Under > what > authority is he giving advice to him on the > battlefield'? So is my > first question to u all, as to `Under what authority > are you all > going to base your answers?' > > > pls enlighten me! > > adiyen > Ganaesh. > > > > > > Srirangasri- > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor > > Links > > > / > > > > > Your > > > Find out what made the Top Searches of 2003 http://search./top2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Dear Bhagavatas: Sri Tatachar has explained the points well. Further discussions, if any, may be taken up directly with the Bhagavata who raised the questions and NOT posted to Sri Ranga Sri. However, copy may be marked to my personal id Ramanbil for my information. Thank you Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy ================================================================= There are several questions here which comes to our mind from time to time. Here is my humble attempt to answer them to the best of my ability. >>1. Krishna was asked by Yudhishtra to go to Dhuryodhan and seek only 5 villages for 5 Pandav brothers, which Krishna being God himself, could have accomplished with ease. Then why did Krishna allowed the situation to go out of control, that ultimately lead to war between brothers?<< Krishna did get the issue under control. Thus, at the end, everyone pretty much got what they exactly deserved. He gave ample opportunities for everyone to sort it out themselves. Negotiating for 5 villages is one such example. >>2. During the war also Krishna made Yudhishtra tell a half lie to `Dhronacharya' about the death of `Ashwathama', (Ashwathama was the name of Dhronacharya's son and also a name of an elephant which was killed by Bishma because of Krishna's strategy, so as to reduce Dhronacharya's morale in the war, specifically because Dhronacharya alone could have defeated the Pandavas?) Why did Krishna firstly allow the war to start and after it started made the truthful person like Yudhishtra tell a lie (or half-truth) to Dhoroacharya about Ashwathama's death? So is lying allowed for war?<< One correction. Elephant was killed by Bheema and not Bhishma. The war started out with many strict ground rules that eroded as the war progressed. Drona was among the pack of warriors that killed Abhimanyu when he was all alone and devoid of weapons. There goes Drona's greatness. He paid for this mistake when Yudhishtira's half-lie resulted in his premature death in the hands of a Drupada's son, who was out there to settle an old score! >>Why krishna chose Yudhishtira?<< Yudhishtira was among the most honest, thus, Krishna used him for this purpose. Drona trusted Yudhishtira words and did not bother to double check. Perhaps, if the same half-lie was uttered by anybody else, Drona would have probably double-checked it. >>3. What was the cause for Mahabharata when Yudhishtra with his wife and brothers renounced the same kingdom after they won the war. Yudhishtra completely disagreed with Krishna's teachings and reason for war and Krishna also could not stop Yudhishtra from renouncing the thrown at that point? Why? (Had Yudhishtra renounced the request for 5 villages as per the 2nd question. Could this war between brothers be prevented?)<< They ruled the kingdom for as long as they liked. It was their decision to quit and pass it onto their own grand progeny Parixit. I have not come across this COMPLETELY DISAGREED business. I hope you are not feeding words in your question. Yudhishtira is well known for pashchattapa (that is worrying over and over some past deed). Unlike Arjuna, who displayed poorva taapa (worrying before the deed). Even if Yudhishtira completely disagreed- the ultimate golden standard to follow is Krishna and not yudhishtira. >>(Had Yudhishtra renounced the request for 5 villages as per the 2nd question. Could this war between brothers be prevented?)<< I get the impression you have not understood Duryodhana. The amount of envy and hatredness he had for PaaNDavaas, would have made him to get them killed, even if they renounced everything short of life (because, Duryodhana would have felt insecure as long as any paaNDava lived). The only renounciation that would have worked is that the paaNDavaas together with their kith and kin renounce their life. >>4. Did Yudhishtra go to Heaven or Hell? (Because he had the chance to visit both because of Lord Indra). (The above stated books give different answers to the above situation)<< He went to heaven. He did get a brief taste of hell. >>5.Why did Krishna took Ghandhari (Dhuryodhan's mother) to the battlefield and make her see the dead bodies of all her 100 sons? Then, why did Krishna allow the extinction of himself and his whole clan (due to Ghandhari's Curse)? (I have learnt that hurting oneself is better than hurting others. So this question.)<< Looking at the dead body (charama darshanam), especially of dear ones is most sacred thing to do. Even to day, that is part of death ceremony, whether in Hindu tradition or other religious systems. People travel 10s of thousands of miles just for this. Seeing them getting killed is a different thing than seeing them after being killed. That is why Dritarashtra opted to listen the war happenings than see (Vyasa had offered to restore his vision, instead Sanjaya got teh power of television so that he could narrate the happenings). >>6.Arjuna asked the question to Krishna, as to `Under what authority is he giving advice to him on the battlefield'? So is my first question to u all, as to `Under what authority are you all going to base your answers?'<< I have never read anywhere in Bhagavadgita Arjuna asking Krishna for his qualifications to preach. Arjuna submitted himself as Krishnas desciple. >>>Krishna also could not stop Yudhishtra from renouncing the thrown at that point>>Why?<< Krishna is not a dictator. He is an adviser of the ultimate truth. For instance, he taught the Gita to Arjuna, and yet concluded saying- do as you wish (ya-taa i-cchha-si ta-taa ku-ru). General: A basic problem with Hindus is that by and large, we did not progress beyond the first chapter of Gita. K. Sreekrishna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Dear Mr Neelakantan, Your last question first: > 6.Arjuna asked the question to Krishna, as to `Under what > authority is he giving advice to him on the battlefield'? So is my > first question to u all, as to `Under what authority are you all > going to base your answers?' None what-so-ever! But the point is: What authority will satisfy you? Did it matter to Duryodhana that the Lord Himself had come to his door-step asking for peace? Now to your other questions: > 1. Krishna was asked by Yudhishtra to go to Dhuryodhan and seek > only 5 villages for 5 Pandav brothers, which Krishna being God > himself, could have accomplished with ease. Then why did Krishna > allowed the situation to go out of control, that ultimately lead to > war between brothers? You say: "Krishna being *God* himself, could have accomplished with ease" and then you ask "....Why did Krishna allow..."? Didn't Krishna "actually" accomplish everything?? Do you not see the contradiction in your question? Please re-read your question. If you cannot see the contradiction, I'll be more than happy to explain it. But, please place proper emphasis on your assertion that Krishna is "God Himself" during introspection. > 2. During the war also Krishna made Yudhishtra tell a half lie > to `Dhronacharya' about the death of `Ashwathama', (Ashwathama was > the name of Dhronacharya's son and also a name of an elephant which > was killed by Bishma because of Krishna's strategy, so as to reduce > Dhronacharya's morale in the war, specifically because Dhronacharya > alone could have defeated the Pandavas?) Why did Krishna firstly > allow the war to start and after it started made the truthful person > like Yudhishtra tell a lie (or half-truth) to Dhoroacharya about > Ashwathama's death? So is lying allowed for war? Will you accept the answer that with this action, Krishna decimated Yudhishtra's last trace of ego - thus clearing the path for his moksha? He accomplished many things in that one stroke, but let the details go... Answer this: Why did Krishna "choose" Arjuna as the receipient of BG, and not to any one Yudhishtra, Bhima, Dhrona, Bheeshma, Kripacharya, Vidura etc? They were equally great as Arjuna, if not better. > 3. What was the cause for Mahabharata when Yudhishtra with his > wife and brothers renounced the same kingdom after they won the war. > Yudhishtra completely disagreed with Krishna's teachings and reason > for war and Krishna also could not stop Yudhishtra from renouncing > the thrown at that point? Why? ....because, they did NOT fight "for" a kingdom. They were following their dharma. In renouncing, the continued following dharma. No mystery there. >(Had Yudhishtra renounced the request > for 5 villages as per the 2nd question. Could this war between > brothers be prevented?) Should be obvious now, so, you tell me this. > 4. Did Yudhishtra go to Heaven or Hell? (Because he had the > chance to visit both because of Lord Indra). (The above stated books > give different answers to the above situation) Before answering about Yudhishtra's travails, try answering these integral questions: Where are heaven/hell? What happens when one dies? Does "death" acutally occur? What is the single most important message from Gita? Other confusions will disentangle all by themselves. > 5.Why did Krishna took Ghandhari (Dhuryodhan's mother) to the > battlefield and make her see the dead bodies of all her 100 sons? Simple...to convince her that all her sons are dead! The mother's heart will otherwise cling to illusions which can be an obstacle on her path of moksha. > Then, why did Krishna allow the extinction of himself and his whole > clan (due to Ghandhari's Curse)? Let me just state that Krishna knew EXACTLY what He was doing alongwith ALL its grand and lasting implications. > (I have learnt that hurting oneself > is better than hurting others. So this question.) .....did you learn it right? If so, from what point of view? Finally, a comment: a) > but also brought much > confusion to my thought process. b) > Although I believe in Krishna as a > GOD and practice Krishna Jayanti every year.... The source for a) stems from b)! Whence arose all your questions. Regards, , "Ganaesh Kumaar" <ganaeshram2002> wrote: > Dear fellow members, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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