definitions

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Dear Bhakti Vikasa Svami Maharaja,

please accept my respectful obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all other Vaisnavas!

All glories to Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri Sri Radha-Govinda!

 

> Are there sastric or "Prabhupada Said" definitions of "blasphemy" and

> "offense"?

 

I don't know how about "blasphemy", but as far as "offense" or

aparadha is concerned, I think (as far as I know) there is no definition of

it as such, rather one always explains WHAT kind of aparadha this or that

one is, it is given a definition in terms of its application in a particular

field.

I'll give an example to clarify what I mean.

Nama-aparadhas. Ten in number. We can't give just a common

definition of it, we could say it's an offense against the holy name of the

Lord, but this is not a definition of the single term "aparadha", rather a

definition of the term "nama-aparadha". There are ten particular and

definite cases when we have to do with something wich is a NAMA-aparadha,

these ten cases constitute the principle of nama-aparadha. Something else

would be a different thing, another (not nama-) aparadha or whatever.

Similarly, seva- and vaisnava-aparadhas. 10 nama-aparadhas are

mentioned both in Padma Purana and Satvata-tantra. 32 (?) seva-aparadhas are

mentioned at least in Satvata-tantra, which also mentions some (or all?)

vaisnava-aparadhas and how to get excused for them.

So, I think "aparadha" as a stand-alone term could be given a

definition by literally translating it: 'apa' means 'against' and '€r€dha'

means 'service'. There are three prabhus (masters) to whom we render our

service: N€ma, KŠa and VaiŠava. Particular (laid down in scriptures)

offences of these three prabhus will cause an effect "against" our

"service", that effect will be a stumbling block on the path of our

bhakti/€r€dha.

That is all I could offer in regard to Your question. And I think I

can be well wrong that there is no common definition of the term aparadha. I

have a small fund of knowledge.

 

Your most unworthy servant,

Sergei.

Hare Krsna.