Vedic vs. Varnasrama

[Guest guest]

>> There are many examples like this of Vedic standards which are not >>

>> really meant for the varnasrama communities Prabhupada wanted us to >>

>> create.

>

>Yes, somewhere there is a list of 5 things not to do in Kali Yuga, like no

>>horse sacrifice, no animal sacrifice, not taking sannyasa, that's all I

>>remember. }}}:-) JTR.....

 

 

BG Chapter Three, Text 26

 

So as not to disrupt the minds of ignorant men attached to the fruitive

results of prescribed duties, a learned person should not induce them to

stop work. Rather, by working in the spirit of devotion, he should engage

them in all sorts of activities [for the gradual development of Krsna

consciousness].

 

· · · · · ·

 

Srila Prabhupada explains:

 

Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. That is the end of all Vedic rituals. All

rituals, all performances of sacrifices, and everything that is put into the

Vedas, including all direction for material activities, are meant for

understanding Krsna, who is the ultimate goal of life. But because the

conditioned souls do not know anything beyond sense gratification, they

study the Vedas to that end. But through fruitive activities and sense

gratification regulated by the Vedic rituals one is gradually elevated to

Krsna consciousness. Therefore a realized soul in Krsna consciousness should

not disturb others in their activities or understanding, but he should act

by showing how the results of all work can be dedicated to the service of

Krsna. The learned Krsna conscious person may act in such a way that the

ignorant person working for sense gratification may learn how to act and how

to behave. Although the ignorant man is not to be disturbed in his

activities, a SLIGHTLY developed Krsna conscious person may directly be

engaged in the service of the Lord without waiting for other Vedic formulas.

For this fortunate man there is no need to follow the Vedic rituals, because

by direct Krsna consciousness one can have all the results one would

otherwise derive from following one's prescribed duties.

 

BG Chapter Four, Text 12

 

However, foolish people (hrta-jnana) worship the demigods because they want

immediate results. They get the results, but do not know that results so

obtained are temporary and are meant for less intelligent persons. The

intelligent person is in Krsna consciousness, and he has no need to worship

the paltry demigods for some immediate, temporary benefit. The demigods of

this material world, as well as their worshipers, will vanish with the

annihilation of this material world. The boons of the demigods are material

and temporary.

 

SB Canto 3: Chapter Two, Text 32

 

Nanda Maharaja was a well-to-do landholder and owner of many cows, and, as

was the custom, he used to perform yearly worship of Indra, the King of

heaven, with great opulence. This worship of demigods by the general

populace is also advised in the Vedic literature just so people can accept

the superior power of the Lord. The demigods are servants of the Lord

deputed to look after the management of various activities of universal

affairs. Therefore it is advised in the Vedic scriptures that one should

perform yajnas to appease the demigods. But one who is devoted to the

Supreme Lord has no need to appease the demigods. Worship of the demigods by

common people is an arrangement for acknowledging the supremacy of the

Supreme Lord, but it is not necessary. Such appeasement is generally

recommended for material gains only.