General
General

Yuga Theory in the Gauḍīya Tradition

Question: I am working on my honors thesis in religion.  My project is a comparison of the ways in which the Gauḍīya and Swāmi Nārāyaṇa traditions treat the theories of yugas.   Particularly, I am interested in whether or not the Gauḍīya tradition poses the idea of a Satyayuga within Kaliyuga created by the practice of

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General Questions & Answers

The Implied Meaning of Śāstra

Question: In SB 1.5.15, Nārada Muni, the father of all preachers of Bhāgavata-dharma, is heavily condemning all the works of Vyāsadeva because they encourage people to engage in sense gratification. In SB 11.3.26, one of the Nava-yogendras instructs Nimi Maharaja to have faith in the Bhāgavata and not to criticize other śāstras.  Can you give an

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Bhakti-tirtha General

Bhakti Tirtha Course 4

On October 15th, we will be launching into the fourth year of Bhakti Tirtha, which has now become an ongoing program at Jiva Institute. People who cannot participate in the complete six months semester can also come for a shorter period or just follow the course through the recordings. If want to receive these classes

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Indian History Questions & Answers

Animal Sacrifice without Killing

Question: Throughout the Mahābhārata and the Bhāgavata there are references to animal sacrifices being performed by saintly kings. I’d like to more carefully understand the nature of these sacrifices. For example: “Śrī Kṛṣṇa caused three well-performed Aśvamedha-yajñas (horse sacrifices) to be conducted by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and thus caused his virtuous fame to be glorified in

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General

Position of Lord Śiva

Question: I would like to know more about Lord Śiva’s position in the Gauḍīya sampradāya. Is he more powerful than Brahmā or is he just superior to Brahmā in devotion to the Lord? Recently, someone from the Rāmānuja sampradāya told me that Brahmā is the most powerful living entity in the universe, even stronger than

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa General

The Vedic View on Homosexuality

Question: What is the Vedic view of the śāstras on homosexuals and their love for each other? Answer: I have not read anything specific about it in the core śāstra, such as the Upaniṣads, Purāṇās, and Itihāsas. There are some stories about sex changes, such as that of Śikhaṇḍī, a sort of transgender male, who was the

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General Questions & Answers

Moon, Mood, Mantra, and Nara-līlā

Moon Planet Question: Is the moon planet described in śāstra the same planet that our scientists identify as the moon? Are humans even able to access the abode of Candradeva?  Answer: The description in śāstra does not match the moon identified by modern scientists. The moon in śāstra is described as a watery planet while

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