Fw: An Ideal Householder's Life

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Damodardesh (Yatra) <Damodardesh wrote:

"If a householder properly absorbs himself in devotional service he too is

considered situated in yukta-vairägya. A perfect example for householders to

follow is Advaita Gosvämi.

'This is the ideal householder's life. The husband and wife live

together,

and the husband works very hard to secure paraphernalia for worshiping Lord

Visnu. The wife at home cooks a variety of foodstuffs for Lord Visnu, and

the husband offers it to the Deity. After that, Arati is performed, and the

prasada is distributed amongst family members and guests.

According to the Vedic principles, there must always be a guest in the

householder's house. According to Vedic principles, a householder, before

taking lunch, should go outside and shout very loudly to see if there is

anyone without food. In this way he invites people to take prasada. If

someone comes, the householder offers him prasada, and if there is not much

left, he should offer his own portion to the guest. If no one responds to

his call, the householder can accept his own lunch. Thus the householder's

life is also a kind of austerity. Because of this, the householder's life

is

called the grhasta-asrama.

Although a person may live with his wife and children happily in Krishna

consciousness, he also observes the regulative principles followed in any

temple. If there is no Krishna consciousness, the householder's abode is

called a grhamedhi's house. Householders in Krishna consciousness are

actually grhasthas—that is, those living in the asrama with their families

and children. Sri Advaita Prabhu was an ideal grhastha, and His house was

the ideal grhastha-asrama.' (Cc. Madhya 3.41)"

"Vaisnava Ke" - Verse Thirteen (Purport)

by HH Jayapataka Swami

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