Inquiries into the Absolute: Digest 27

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Digest 27, March 14, 2002

 

Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

 

Modes of material nature

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Q.1) In the Ekalavya pastime, it is mentioned that one should perform duties

according to one's propensity and capability. However, Lord Krishna declares

that it is not the prerogative of only the Brahmanas to indulge in sacred

activities such as reading scriptures etc.; rather any one who can raise

himself to the platform of bhakti is eligible for this. Are these not

contradictory?

 

Answer:

There are different ways to approach this question. First, I will briefly

explain an important distinction between the the bhagavata-marg approach to

qualifying oneself to perform brahminical activities, vs. the vaidic viddhis.

Krishna's statements in BG, much like the Srimad Bhagavatam's essence, are

connected to the path of bhagavata-marg. According to this method, one becomes

purified of *ALL* material contaminations by the process of bhakti primarily

focused on hari-katha; then, sequentially, one becomes eligible to perform

brahminical activities, following proper initiation.

 

In contrast, the Ekalavya story is connected to the vaidic viddhis, wherein

gradually evolving in one's qualities and birth by following Vedic viddhis and

prescribed duties is the focus. Ekalavya was disqualified on both accounts;

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur comments that Dronacarya assessed the

character disqualification of Ekalavya, and thus was not inclined to become his

teacher.

 

Note that these are two distinct yet equally valid approaches to becoming

purified sufficiently to perform brahminical activities. Please also note that

the Vedas consistently instruct us that only the bhagavata- marg is effective

in Kali-yuga.

 

Here is another way to view this whole subject. Krishna says in Bhagavad- gita

that everyone is eligible for attaining the highest perfection through

devotional service. (Bg. 9.32). This is not contradictory to the statement

regarding Ekalavya, as you have made reference to in your question. Rather,

each of us can perform our own prescribed duties; but by doing so in focused

devotion upon Krishna, one can attain liberation. Krishna Himself outlines

different kinds of duties for the different social orders based on their

nature. (Cf. Bg. 18.42-46) Thus, those who have braminical propensities such as

austerity, cleanliness, sense control etc., can perform devotional service

through activities such as sacrificial performance, reciting and teaching Vedas

etc., similarly, one who has propensity for administration, business or labor

can still worship Krishna through his own occupation. As far as devotional

activities such as chanting, hearing Srimad Bhagavatam etc., there is no ba!

r for anyone.

 

By following this bonafide process, one eventually attains the perfected stage

of pure devotee, in which one becomes situated above the modes of material

nature. Consequently he can perform any activity; but until one attains that

stage everyone should abide by their own prescribed duties in Krishna

consciousness.

 

As far as the pastime of Ekalavya is concerned, Dronacarya studied him and

deemed him unfit to learn the ksatriya's skills. Ekalavya then disobeyed the

order of his spiritual master and proceeded to learn the martial arts by

himself, and exhibited apparent pride in his accomplishment. By this prideful

and independent-minded spirit, he actually proved that Drona's assessment was

correct: Ekalavya was unfit to receive ksatriya training and therefore

restricted Eklavya's opportunity to exploit his acquired skills.

 

 

Q.2) In Srimad Bhagavatam (10.2.11-12,10) Lord Krishna blessed Mayadevi by

saying, "In different places on the surface of the earth, people will give you

different names, such as Durga, Bhadrakali, Vijaya, Vaisnavi, Kumuda, Candika,

Krsna, Madhavi, Kanyaka, Maya, Narayani, Isani, Sarada and Ambika. By

sacrifices of animals, ordinary human beings will worship you gorgeously, with

various paraphernalia, because you are supreme in fulfilling the material

desires of everyone."

 

My question is, why did Lord Krishna say that by sacrifices of animals,

ordinary human beings will worship Durga? Isn't it wrong to kill any creature?

Or is it that one can kill in the name of sacrifice? Why is it necessary to

kill animals to worship Durga devi?

 

Answer:

The Vedas are all encompassing and accommodate people in all different levels

of spiritual advancement, from the lowest to the highest. Thus, there are

provisions even for those who are addicted to sinful activities just to

regulate them. Those who are grossly and uncontrollably addicted to meat eating

are permitted to do so, although under explicit and stringent restrictions,

accompanied by a suitable mode of worship such as worshiping the ghastly form

of Kali.

 

Krishna as well as the Vedas recognize that such people will eat meat in any

case; however, by doing so in submission to Vedic strictures, they will become

gradually purified and slowly elevated. This does NOT however mean that the

Vedas permit slaughtering animals. It is specifically to curtail such misuse

of Vedas that Lord Buddha incarnated.

 

(Note: Such methods of achieving gradual elevation by Vedic procedures of

animal sacrifice are all rendered practically ineffective in this age of Kali

due to lack of qualified brahmananas, and are very difficult to perform.

Therefore the easy process of hari-nam sankirtan is recommended by Lord

Caitanya and is appealing to all.)

 

Krishna is certainly not advocating animal killing here, nor is it "prescribed"

as the way to propitiate Durga; rather He is just referring to the tendency of

people in general in the yuga which will follow His manifest passtimes'

completion.

 

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

Mar 14 2002, Thursday Disappearance Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji

Disappearance Sri Rasikananda

Mar 18 2002, Monday Appearance Sri Purusottama Dasa Thakura

 

*** NOTE: All times are for Washington D.C, USA, EST ***

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