Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers

Vedic Literature, Impurity, Saṁskāra Ceremony

Question: Could you please kindly explain the difference between the Vedas, Upaniṣads, Purāṇas and Itihāsas? Question: Could you please kindly explain the difference between the Vedas, Upaniṣads, Purāṇas, and Itihāsas? Answer: The Vedas, also called Śrutis, are an eternal body of knowledge that is revealed by Bhagavān to Brahmā at the beginning of creation. They

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Questions & Answers

What is a Kaniṣṭhādhikāri?

Question: Recently, while discussing with devotees, we churned out some points from the verse defining kaniṣṭhādhikāri in the Bhāgavata. I want to check with you whether they are proper. If possible, can you throw more light? Our points from discussion are as follows: The Bhāgavata classifies the devotees based on their vision.  Kaniṣṭhādhikāris have the narrow

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Questions & Answers

Scriptures on Islam and Christianity

Question: What is the true position of the scriptures on Islam and Christianity?  Answer: Our supreme pramāṇa are the Vedas and the Smṛtis, ie., Itihāsas and Purāṇas. This is what is scriptures for us. Our position is therefore that we accept anything that is in harmony with śāstra. Anything against the Vedic scriptures is not

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Questions & Answers

Mind’s Nature, Mood of Service, Siddha Svarūpa

Question: What is the nature of the mind?  Answer: The mind is the inner sense that perceives all the sensations coming from the external senses, as well as the emotions coming from the citta.  Its nature is to stamp each sensation as “like” or “dislike”. It is unstable, looks for pleasurable sensations without considering the outcome of such

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Questions & Answers

The Holy Name is Always Pure

Question: It is recommended that one who chants with offenses should continue chanting to become free from those offenses. Does this mean that one should continue chanting with offenses or with nāmābhāsa? Answer: No. Why should one chant with offenses?  Chant the name and avoid offenses. And why chant nāmābhāsa? Just chant the name. I

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Questions & Answers

Mukta-jīvas, Paramātmā-Aspect

Question: Kṛṣṇa’s friends in Goloka are called nitya-mukta-jīvas. Can nitya-mukta-jīvas be placed under antaranga śakti? Answer: No. Jīva is taṭastha śakti, both nitya-mukta as well as nitya-baddha. Moreover, Kṛṣṇa’s friends in Goloka are not nitya-mukta-jīvas. They are nitya-mukta parṣadas. * Question: Since we hear that Paramātmā is a provisional or temporary aspect of the Absolute, accompanying the jīva in

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Questions & Answers

Guru-tattva: Different Rasas?

Question: When the guru is situated in a particular rasa and his or her disciples have affinity for another rasa, how is such a paradoxical situation dealt with, and how does the disciple receive specific guidance for his or her budding bhāva?  Answer: When it comes to bhāva, prema, or rasa, there are two views

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