Questions about Jewels.doc

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Letter COM:2327954 (55 lines)

Shyamasundara (das) ACBSP (Sylva, NC - USA)

18-May-99 18:02

(Bhakta) Miodrag Milosavljevic (Belgrade - YU) [197]

Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by Shyamasundara Das) [831]

Reference: Text COM:2326108 by (Bhakta) Miodrag Milosavljevic (Belgrade -

YU)

Questions about "Jewels.doc"

---------------------------

> PAMHO. AGTSP.

>

> Pardon me for quoting the document from 1994., but perhaps it means

> something that I discovered it at this particular moment :-)

> I have questions on two issues :

>

> 1.

> > "Recently he has been selling Rudraksas for between $50 and

> > $200 each, and when it was discovered that 99% of them were

> > either cracked or chipped he made no offer to compensate

> > anyone.

> >

> > [i can't imagine that a devotee would buy or sell Rudraksa

> > beads in the first place. They are for Saivites!]

>

> I am wearing rudraksas for about a year, and want to know if they should

> be replaced if they become damaged.

>

 

They should be replaced by Tulsi beads, damaged or not.

 

> A devotee who sold them to me said that they are from ISKCON devotee and a

> trusting friend, not from the bazaar where they sell all kind of stuff.

> They are bringing only specific kind of material relief and they are to be

> considered as such. Not all kinds of rudraksas are interesting for

> devotees. Making a parallel with gems, does it also apply to rudraksas

> that they should be bought ( or installed-how ? ) on auspicious day ? I

> was given the appropriate mantras, but the text was printed without

> sanskrit font, so it is useless - does anyone have these mantras ?

>

> Regarding Saivites, I understand that we can use rudraksas merely as a

> benediction from Lord Siva. Those rudraksas are not the beads for japa,

> but single pieces meant to be worn on the arm or wherever ...

>

>

 

I do not know why a Vaisnava would want to wear Rudraksa for any purpose. I

have not seen it recommened by Srila Prabhupada or any Vaisnava acarya.

 

My suspicion is that people who bring things to sell are more interested in

doing business and may not be so keen on the philosophical or devotional

soundness of what they are doing.

 

If there is some Satra-pramana which says that Vaisnavas should wear

Rudraksa for different purpose I would be interested to see that, until then

I would be very conservative and take no chances.

 

We have no enmity to Lord Siva, but only respect, however as Vaisnavas we

scientifically mould our lives in such a way that all that we do in some way

reminds us of Lord Krsna. Tulsi will remind us of Lord Krsna, Rudraksa will

not. Who do you want to be reminded of at the time of death? And considering

all the excitement in your area it may be sooner than later.

 

yhs

Shyamasundara Dasa

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