Interpreting Puranas

[Guest guest]

Dear prabhus,

Humble obeisances.

 

How do Gaudiya Vaisnavas explain such passages in the Puranas:

 

VishNu purANa (Part V, section 1):

"Beholding that divine and universal form of Hari, Brahma

again prostrated himself and began to chant glories......O king of

the celestials give thy orders to thy servants, we are ready". When

Brahma said this, the Supreme deity plucked off two hairs, one white

and the other black and said to the celestials " These my hairs

shall go down upon earth and shall relieve her of the

burden ....This my black hair, shall be impersonated in the eighth

conception of the goddess-like Devaki and shall destroy Kansa, who

is the demon KAlanemi".....

 

VishNu purANa (Part V, section2):

"...The portion of VishNu having descended on earth, the planets

moved in auspicious order and the seasons became regular and

genial..."

 

Sri Jayatirtha makes a note about reconciling Puranas based on:

- subjective viewpoints

- specific omissions which give clues

 

He was speaking in the context of Vishnu SarvottamaH. Could members

say more on interpreting Puranic imagery?

 

Thanks and regards,

Carl

[Guest guest]

achintya, "Carl" <rind_19 wrote:

>

> Dear prabhus,

> Humble obeisances.

>

> How do Gaudiya Vaisnavas explain such passages in the Puranas:

>

> VishNu purANa (Part V, section 1):

> "Beholding that divine and universal form of Hari, Brahma

> again prostrated himself and began to chant glories......O king of

> the celestials give thy orders to thy servants, we are ready".

When

> Brahma said this, the Supreme deity plucked off two hairs, one

white

> and the other black and said to the celestials " These my hairs

> shall go down upon earth and shall relieve her of the

> burden ....This my black hair, shall be impersonated in the eighth

> conception of the goddess-like Devaki and shall destroy Kansa, who

> is the demon KAlanemi".....

 

See Tattva-sandarbha. Jiva Gosvami rejects this interpretation on

the grounds that Lord Vishnu, who is the abode of all transcendental

qualities, does not have white hairs. I think he offered a more

metaphorical interpretation, but also suggested that it could just

be interpolation. In any case, it's certainly not consistent with

the Bhaagavatam, and Jiva argues that the Bhaagavatam should be the

last word and other Puraanas interpreted in light of what the

Bhaagavatam says.

 

regards,

 

K