English
19th July 2019
Offences against Holy Name
I was reading Vyasa puja books, there are two – one in Hindi and other in English language. Many of you have mentioned about our zoom Japa conference, how you are appreciating my endeavors and how you have benefited through this conference. I am happy and you are happy with me hence I will continue to do this conference. You are happy that I am chanting, likewise I am also happy to see you chanting. As I see you chanting I am happy. We are increasing happiness of each other by chanting in this conference. You are making use of the prime time that is brahma muhurta.
So I am happy you are chanting in prime time in countries like India and Mauritius. Some have mentioned that they were chanting late in the day, are now chanting in the morning. Thus leaving the anarthas. So keep chanting and also engage others also for quality chanting.
In one weeks’ time I will begin with my overseas tour to America, Russia I am just thinking how to manage, it will not be possible to chant on this time. I am telling you this so that you keep this practice to chanting regardless of temporary zoom conference not being there. You have developed taste for chanting. Keep up the spirit of chanting during the zoom conference time.
Keep chanting with full faith, full faith in the glory of the holy name without offences. One of the offence is misinterpretation about the holy name, this misinterpretation minimizes the importance of holy name. No one can get such benefit just by chanting . Such misinterpretations are detrimental to the glories of holy name, stay away from such anarthas.
I would like to share one story how Lord was misunderstood by non-other than Parvati.
avajananti mam mudha manusim tanu asritam[BG 9.11]
As Krsna has said some mudha fools think, form of Krsna is like just another human also His name is ordinary, not potent. One time Shiva and Parvati were returning from Bhagavat katha and they were passing through Panchavati near Nashik. Kidnapping of Sita had just happened. Lord Ram was missing Sita he was asking everyone even the trees, have they seen Sita. He was in tears, completely lost. Parvati had misunderstood Ram, she was thinking he must be an ordinary husband. He is crying for his wife. He must not be God, He must be just an ordinary husband.
Of course Siva, he had offered his obeisances to Lord Ram from a distance. But Parvati was not offering obeisances in fact she was saying, “why are you offering obeisances to a ksatriya, just an ordinary person he is not even brahman.”
So of course Shiva had his reasons and convictions that Lord Ram is Supreme Personality of Godhead but Parvati was not understanding. Shiva proposed you could test whether he is Supreme Personality of Godhead. So she dressed just like vanavasi Sita and then she went towards Ram she was sure he will think Sita has come, and he will come running towards her, “oh! Sita where were you I was missing you.” As he is just an ordinary man, he will take me as Sita.
So as Parvati disguised as Sita proceeded towards Lord Ram.
om parvate namah
Lord Ram, He offered his obeisances to Parvati Devi next thing He said “why are you alone why Shiva is not there with you in this deep forest. Where is my dear Shiva.”
So Ram passed the test. He immediately recognized and offered his obeisances. Parvati was embarrassed, she sat there and she was meditating and the whole scene changed. There were Ram Sita Laxman sitting there amongst saints and
yam brahma varunendra rudra marutah stunvanti divyaih [SB 12.13.1]
Demigods are praying and glorifying Them this was Lord’s nitya lila.
Parvati was seeing this. And the kidnapping of Sita was just a part of prakat lila. When Shiva asked how did the testing go? She just said I offered obeisances and came back, she did not disclose what had happened, how she dressed like Sita. She kind of lied. She was very guilty of her behavior.
Ram feeling separation and looking for Sita and undergoing inconveniences and tribulations. Prabhupada has stated that Lord is teaching a lesson to those who are attached to their wives or to husband. That’s message or lesson to be learned from this episode. That Lord is also not spared, this is what could happen to you if you are too much attached to your wife. Guideline for grihasta, better not to take wife when you are travelling long distance. Lord Ram is acting like a man or human being because it was possible to kill Ravan as he had received benediction that he will not be killed by any of the 84 lakh species and he did not even think of human being as he thought human beings can never kill him.
Demigod knew this so they prayed to Lord, oh Lord you come as human being so that you can kill Ravana. So He is searching for Sita acting like a mere man. He is proceeding towards Sri Lanka. And as human form He can kill Ravana. That’s another reason Ram is acting like an ordinary human being. This whole pastime is that Lord Ram is considered as human.
avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam
paRam bhavam ajananto mama bhuta mahesvaRam
But we should not think as Lord Ram is acting like a human so He is a human. No He is Lord Himself. That param bhava He eternally exists and we should understand Him as Supreme Personality of Godhead. So we should be careful of misinterpretation on the holy name.
The glories of holy name are rare and intact they should not be considered as exaggeration. I am trying to explain you through this lila, so that you don’t commit offences against the holy name. We should have full faith in the potency of holy name.
Hare Krsna
