Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 SrI SrI Guru Gaurangau Jayatah Camp: Minsk, BeloRussia DaNDavats Dear all. Jaya Krishna BalarAma! Please accept my respectful obeisances. All Glories to Sreela PrabhupAda.. Thank you for your letter. (1) why does Lord shiva smear himself with ashes? (2) why does he smoke ganja? (3) what is the meaning of the snakes, scorpions, etc that adorn his body? He was seated on a deerskin and was practicing all forms of austerity. Because his body was smeared with ashes, he looked like an evening cloud. On his hair was the sign of a half-moon, a symbolic representation. PURPORT Lord Çiva's symptoms of austerity are not exactly those of a Vaiñëava. Lord Çiva is certainly the number one Vaiñëava, but he exhibits a feature for a particular class of men who cannot follow the Vaiñëava principles. The Çaivites, the devotees of Lord Çiva, generally dress like Lord Çiva, and sometimes they indulge in smoking and taking intoxicants. Such practices are never accepted by the followers of Vaiñëava rituals. SB 4.6.36 >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 4.6.36 SB 4.7.17 PP "In other words, it is admitted herein that the followers of Lord ®iva are generally unclean. They are not even very hygienic; they do not take baths regularly, they wear long hair, and they smoke g€ñj€. Persons of such irregular habits are counted amongst the ghosts. Since they were present in the sacrificial arena, the atmosphere became polluted, and it had to be sanctified by trikap€la oblations, which indicated the invocation of ViŠu's favor". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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