Inquiries into the Absolute: Digest 68

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Digest 68, August 20th, 2003

Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

*** You are welcome to send in your questions to HH Romapada Swami at

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Remembering Lord Krishna at the time of death and Life of Lord Brahma reference

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Q 1)

In the Bhagavad-Gita, last verse of the second chapter, Krishna says that

"... If one is thus situated even at the hour of death, one can enter into

the kingdom of God". Also the purpose of all the practice that we do is to

remember Krishna at the time of our final exam - The DEATH.

Regarding Ajamila's deliverance, is his previous karma also involved in

this or is it just purely because he chanted Krishna's name? In case of

Ajamila, he didn't even cry out for Krishna; rather he was calling for

his son. So how did he get the mercy of Lord, and what happened to all

his karma for all of his bad activities? Does it mean that any person

who doesn't have even a slight spiritual knowledge or bhakti calls his

friend or relative whose name is related to Krishna will get the same

benediction like Ajamila, and get liberated? We understand that the

Name of Krishna is non-different from Krishna Himself, but how do we

understand this incident? It is not really clear and looks

contradictory to laws of karma.

At least in case of Valmiki when he was a hunter he regretted for all

the sins he did and took shelter of his Guru and chanted Krishna's name

sincerely, but again it is not sure what happened to Valmiki after his

death, whether he went back to Godhead or was given a better life!!

Could you kindly clear this question: what does it mean to remember

Krishna at the time of death; does it really have to be with love or

can it be out of fear or can it be just calling out someone whose

name is Krishna-related?

 

Ans)

There are three stages of chanting, namely the offensive stage, the

clearing stage and the pure stage. Scriptures list different offenses

against chanting the holy names, specifically ten in number. (See

Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 8, pg. 72.) The Holy Name is compared to

the sun, but offenses shroud the sunshine like clouds. The clearing

stage of chanting is called Namabhasa, meaning a shadow or a dim

reflection of the holy name. It is compared to the light at daybreak

before the sun actually appears on the horizon and yet at once

dissipates the darkness of night. In the pure stage of chanting,

one's love of God awakens and Krishna actually manifests to the chanter.

Namabhasa, the 'clearing stage of chanting', is so powerful that it

can burn up the reactions to more sins than one is able to commit!

Note that while namabhasa can easily destroy sins and bestow

liberation, it cannot give love of God, which is attained only

in the pure stage of chanting. Ajamila's unintentionally calling out

the names of Narayana is considered to be in the Namabhasa stage, for

it is free of the ten kinds of offenses to the holy name. In other

words, Ajamila was not sinning on the strength of his chanting, nor

did he consider his chanting to be some material ritualistic activity,

etc.

Scriptures state that one who chants either unintentionally as when

calling a relative, or derisively as did Sisupala, or even unknowingly,

as when saying "Bowl-o-Rama" one utters the name "Rama" - they get the

benefit of Namabhasa!

This is not contradictory to the law of Karma, because Krishna is the

Supremely independent Lord, who is the master of the laws of Karma,

also provides measures for those who violate the laws of nature to

be relieved of the karmic reactions. Chanting of His holy names and

the rendering of other forms of devotional services are those very

means. This is an exhibition of Krishna's unlimited mercy to the most

fallen conditioned souls who would never willingly serve Him otherwise.

Krishna and His names are Absolute and fully pure and thus are fully

capable of destroying all impurities even by a slight contact. This

implies that the effect of mountains of sins can be easily overcome

by chanting as long as one carefully guards against the ten offenses.

Ample scriptural evidence to support the above statements can be found

in the section of the Ajamila story wherein the Visnuduttas are

addressing the Yamaduttas (Chapter 2, Canto 6).

You have asked if Ajamila's great fortune was due to his previous karma.

No, devotional service is never created by good karma nor prevented by

bad karma; devotional service is obtained only by the Lord's mercy. By

virtue of his practice of brahminical principles in his youth before he

had become corrupted, he was somehow inspired to name his youngest son

as Narayana. Entirely due to his material attachment, Ajamila constantly

chanted his son's name. However, some Vaishnava acharyas have explained

that by his intensely calling out the name of Narayana at his deathbed,

he was freed from all sinful reactions and thus he actually began to

remember Lord Narayana, the Lord whom he had learned to worship in his

childhood.

In either case, anyone who remembers Krishna at the time of death in any

frame of mind, whether in love, fear or even hatred is delivered from all

sinful reactions. They may be given a second chance, as was the case of

Ajamila himself, to perfect their life in devotion. However, it is not

certain that one will accidentally remember and offenselessly chant the

Lord's names at the crucial time of death. Those who are wise do not

take such chances and therefore diligently practice during their lifetime

to take shelter of the holy name.

For the sincere devotee, Krishna assures that He will personally appear

in their minds at the time of death, even if they happen to forget Him

by chance.

 

Q 2)

Srila Prabhupada in his purport to Bg 8.17 gives in detail about the

lifetime of Brahma (i.e. about yuga, Manvantra, Kalpa and so forth). Can

I get the actual reference to these statements?

Ans)

The calculation of Vedic time scales is described in great detail in

Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto Three, Chapter 11. Specifically see 3.11.18,

19, 22 & 23 for above definitions.

 

 

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----- Festivals over the next week ------

Aug 20 2003, Wednesday Appearance Sri Krsna Janmastami: of Lord Sri Krsna

(Fast)

(Fasting till midnight)

Aug 21 2003, Thursday Appearance Srila Prabhupada (Fast)

Nandotsava

(Fasting till noon)

Aug 23 2003, Saturday Ekadasi Annada (Break fast 05:30-09:57) (Fast)

 

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