offenders in Vrindavan

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> Srila Prabhupada said that offenders in Vrindavan take birth in lower

> species there and thereafter go back to Godhead. What is the sastric basis

> for that statement?

 

Srila Prabhupada said:

 

It is with this conviction that we declare in our Back to Godhead magazine

that devotees like the gosvämés living in Våndävana who purposely commit

some sinful activity are born in the bodies of dogs, monkeys and tortoises

in that holy land. Thus they take on these lower life forms for a short

while. and after they give up those animal bodies, they are again promoted

to the spiritual world. Such punishment is only for a short period, and it

is not due to past karma. It may appear to be due to past karma, but it is

offered to rectify the devotee and bring him to pure devotional service.

(SB 5.8.26,p.)

 

One should not live in Våndävana and commit offenses, for a life of offenses

in Våndävana is no better than the lives of the monkeys and hogs there. Many

monkeys and hogs live in Våndävana, and they are concerned with their sexual

desires. Men who have gone to Våndävana but who still hanker for sex should

immediately leave Våndävana and stop their grievous offenses at the lotus

feet of the Lord. (SB 9.19.19,p.)

 

However, if one goes to Mathurä-maëòala-bhümi for sense gratification or to

make a livelihood, he commits an offense and is condemned. Whoever does so

must be penalized in the next life by becoming a hog or a monkey in

Våndävana-dhäma. After taking on such a body, the offender is liberated in

the next life. Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura remarks that residing

in Våndävana with a view to enjoy sense gratification surely leads a

so-called devotee to a lower species. (CC Madhya 22.132,p.)

 

Those who are thinking that “We are living in Våndävana, and I can do all

sinful activities because I am living in Våndävana. Våndävana-räja will cure

me, will purify me.” That’s a fact. Yes. But if you go on indulging in such

sinful activities, then you’ll have to live in Våndävana in like the hogs

and monkeys. At least one life you have to spend like that. Then you’ll be

purified. So why should you waste you’re time in that way? Dhämäparädha. If

one is committing sinful activities in the dhäma, Våndävana-dhäma, that is a

great offense. Nämno baläd yasya hi päpa-buddhiù. These are the injunction

of the çästras. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.2.18 -- Våndävana, October 29, 1972)

 

This whole Våndävana is simply cultivation of Kåñëa consciousness.

Unfortunately, we take to other consciousness here. Therefore we become

condemned. In Våndävana, if we take other consciousness, then we become

condemned. Condemned means he—still, the opportunity’s there—condemned to

accept a body other than a human being. But he’s helped. Because he’s in

Våndävana, he’s making progress. Even as animal, as hogs and dogs, he’s

making progress, because he’s in Våndävana. So Våndävana is so important,

because here anyone can get the opportunity of Kåñëa consciousness.

(SB 1.2.32 -- Våndävana, November 11, 1972)

 

As there are offenses against chanting the holy name, similarly, there are

offenses in dhäma, that in the dhäma one should not perform any sinful

activities in the dhäma. In the dhäma, if you chant Hare Kåñëa mantra, then

it increases thousand times. Similarly, in the dhäma, if you commit

offenses, it increases thousand times. So dhäma, one should be very careful

not to commit any sinful activities. (Lecture -- Våndävana, March 14, 1974)

 

["To commit sinful activities while in the dham." is one of dhama-aparadhas.

www.veda.harekrsna.cz/bhaktiyoga/philosophy.htm#5]

 

Those who are living in Våndävana and acting like monkey, they’ll get next

life—a monkey. To remain in Våndävana, and then next life they will be

liberated. In one life all their sinful activities will be punished. Because

as soon as animal life is obtained, there is no more further record of the

sinful life. The animals cannot make sinful activities more than what is

destined by him. But their sinful activity is not taken into account. For

this man who is offered this monkey’s body, he suffers the inconvenience of

monkey life. So his sinful activities are counteracted, and because he came

to Våndävana and lived in Våndävana by the mercy of Rädhäräëé, next life he

will be... That is the glory of Våndävana-dhäma. Otherwise what is the

explanation of these dogs and hogs and monkeys in Våndävana? If it is

dhäma-aparädha, committing offense in dhäma. Dhäma-aparädha.

(Room Conversation -- September 7, 1976, Våndävana)

 

 

Mathura mahatmya, the best resource I have in this regard, distinguishes

between sinners and offenders. While all sins committed in Mathura-mandala

are rather easily removed (see texts 3-10, 15-17, 22-23, 66-68, 72, 88, 104,

222, 311, 364) for Mathura-aparadhis there is hell and samsara:

 

324

 

skände

mathurä-väsino lokän

manasäpi dviñanti ye

na jätu bhavitä teñäm-

viraho nirayaiù saha

 

In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:

For they who in their hearts hate the residents of Mathura the tortures

of hell will not cease.

 

329

 

mathurä-väsinäm ye tu

doñam-paçyanti mänaväù

te sva-doñam na paçyanti

janma-måtyu-sahasra-dam

 

People who see fault in the residents of Mathura do not see their own

mistake, which will bring them thousands of births and deaths.

 

--

 

Local animals are liberated:

 

368

 

tatra çri-kåñëasyottaram

idam- våndävanam- ramyam-

mama dhämaiva kevalam

atra ye paçavaù pakñi-

våkña-kéöa-narämaräù

ye ca santi mamädhiñöhe

måtä yänti mamälayam

 

Lord Kåñëa answered:

Beautiful Våndävana is My transcendental abode. The beasts, birds,

trees, insects, worms, humans, and demigods who stay here with Me will all

go, when they die, to My own abode.

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Your servant, bh. Jan

 

www.veda.harekrsna.cz (Bhakti-yoga Vedic Encyclopedia Vedic Library)