Brahma Vaivarta Purana & Janmashtami fasting

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>On 31 Dec 1998, Madan Gopal wrote:

>

>> Could anyone comment on this? It sounds quite karma-kanda to me. Is

>> this purana directed to a certain audience?

>

>This is a mode of passion Purana, although Srila Prabhupada at one point

>says its a mode of goodness ( SP quoted in Our Original Position book).

>

>Gerald Surya

 

On what basis do you say that Brahma Vaivarta Purana is in the mode of

passion. Please provide some sastric proof. There are various quotes by

Prabhupada which say the opposite.

 

a.From Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 6.137, purport:

"The Rg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda, Mahabharata, Pancaratra

and original Ramayana are all considered Vedic literature. The Puranas (such

as the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, Naradiya Purana, Visnu Purana and Bhagavata

Purana) are especially meant for Vaisnavas and are also Vedic literature."

 

If it is in rajo-guna why is Prabhupada recommending the Purana for the

Vaisnavas.

 

b. From Prabhupada's Lectures, General, April 29, 1969, Boston:

"There are eighteen Puranas. Out of that, one Purana is called Agni Purana.

And another Purana is called Brahma-vaivarta Purana. So in these two

Puranas, and many other Puranas also, this Hare Krsna movement is there..."

 

c. From Prabhupada's Lectures, Srimad-Bhagavatam, June 15, 1974, Paris:

"For the SATTVA-GUNA, the Visnu Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Brahma-vaivarta

Purana, Bhagavata Purana... Because knowledge has to be given to everyone,

but according to his capacity."

 

Since Prabhupada has recommended the Brahma Vaivarta Purana for the

Vaisnavas, the horrible description of the suffering incurred by not

following the Janmashtami fasting in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana is also

meant to be taken seriously by the Vaisnavas, not just as karma-kanda.

And on no pretext should the transcendental position of the Brahma Vaivarta

Purana be minimized because it especially contains the super-excellent

descriptions of Goloka Vrindabana.

 

Your servant,

Nayana-ranjana dasa