Shastra
Quiz

Shastra Quiz 1

This quiz is designed to motivate you to study the Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures in specific, and the Sad Darshanas in general, which are necessary to understand Gaudiya philosophy properly.    

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Questions & Answers Shastra

Hierarchy of Beings

Question: In Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (5.5.21-22), the following hierarchy of jīvas is given: bhūteṣu vīrudbhya uduttamā ye sarīsṛpās teṣu sabodha-niṣṭhāḥ tato manuṣyāh pramathās tato ‘pi gandharva-siddhā vibudhānugā ye devāsurebhyo maghavat-pradhānā dakṣādayo brahma-sutās tu teṣām bhavaḥ paraḥ so ‘tha viriñca vīryah sa mat-paro ‘haṁ dvija-deva-devaḥ It says that superior to humans are the Gandharvas, and superior to

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Gaudiya History Gaudiya Vaishnavas Shastra

Guru-tattva: Criteria of Re-Initiation

Question: I would like to hear from you some words about the criteria and sensibility to leave one’s guru and take re-initiation, since it´s a very delicate and personal issue. In other words, some devotees may receive re-initiation when that was not necessary, and vice versa. Any thoughts? Answer: These are very important and relevant

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Questions & Answers Shastra

Understanding Śāstra Properly

Question: In Bhagavad Gīta 4.12, Śrī Kṛṣṇa states that people approach the devas for quick benefits. It is also said that devas like Lord Śiva, “Āśutoṣa”, become quickly pleased with their worshipers.  However, in Bhāgavatam 3.24.27, Kardama Muni says in his glorification of Kapiladeva that a deva becomes pleased with the worshiper only after a

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Shastra

Women and Lust

by Satyanarayana Dasa There are popular statements found in smṛtis and nīti sāśtra that women have eight times more kāma than men. For example:  strīṇāṁ aṣṭa-guṇā-kāmaḥ (Bṛhat-pārāśara-smṛti) kāmaśca aṣṭā-guṇaḥ smṛtaḥ (Garuḍa-purāṇa 1.109.33, Hitopadeśa 2.71) The word kāma in these statements is often thought of as sexual “lust,” giving the impression that śāstra considers women to

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Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers Shastra

The Purpose behind Storytelling in the Bhagavatam

Question:  I heard that Sukadeva Gosvami was Krsna’s parrot in his last life, and in this life he was a brahman-realized person. How is one to understand this, if he’s an eternal associate of the Lord? Is this a lila or something else? Answer: There are various types of stories related to Sukadeva in shastra, and

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Philosophy Shastra

Preface to Tattva Sandarbha

Of the Six Sandarbhas, Tattva Sandarbha is the smallest in size, but not in importance. As its name suggests, it discusses the Reality (tattva) that is the ultimate subject to be understood and realized. Tattva also means “essence,” and thus Tattva Sandarbha provides the essence of what is to be elaborated upon in the rest

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