Question: In his Hari Nāmamṛta Vyākaraṇa, in one of his vṛtti commentaries, Jīva Gosvāmī analyzes the declension of words “vaikuṇṭha-dhvas” and “vaikuṇṭha-sras”, which both mean “one who falls down from Vaikuṇṭha”. One may, of course, argue that the words refer to Jaya and Vijaya. But if they were indeed the only souls who fell down from
Question: How do we understand the story of Pundalika who kept Viṭṭhala waiting until he finished serving his parents? Which was the right dharma? Attending God /atithi or parents? Also Bhagavad-gītā says that it is better to do one’s own duty even though it appears to have faults than doing others duty perfectly. We also
Question: To be a devotee, is it really necessary to follow Indian culture? For example, is it necessary to wear a dhotī or sari, shave one’s head, or apply a tilaka? Answer: Most people do not have a clear concept of God. If you ask them, “what is God?” the most common answer that I
Question: Upon study of the Gosvāmī literature it is clear that: 1) Brāhminical initiation is only meant for children born in brāhminical families; 2) Bhakti is meant for everyone; 3) Bhakti can give Kṛṣṇa but still not qualify one as brāhmaṇa in this life. Technically, nobody except Indians can take upanayana and recite Brahma Gāyatrī. Yet,
Question: In SB 3.33.6, it is stated: tyan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād, yat-prahvaṇād yat-smaraṇād api kvacit śvādo ‘pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate, kutaḥ punas te bhagavan nu darśanāt “To say nothing of the spiritual advancement some who see the Him face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters immediately becomes eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if
Relation of Brain and Mind Question: What is the role of the brain in Vedic Psychology and what is the relationship between mind and brain? Answer: The sense (indriya) and is organ (golaka) are two different things. For example, there is a sense of seeing and there are two physical eyes, which are the golakas
Question: I am not a devotee of Ṡri Hari because I do not follow the rules and regulations nor do I chant. However, I do pray and try to chant the praṇām mantras as described in the Gaudiya Vaishnava songbook. Is it an offense to whimsically chant the praṇām mantras and a few times the
