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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Vic DiCara February 4, 2021
Curious about two things:
1) Why do we say here that Vyasa composed the Purānas? I thought he composed Mahābharata and Brahma-sūtra and re-did Bhāgavata. I thought the purana were 20% of the original Yajur, which he edited into 400k verses in 18 sections.
2) It’s clear that all these questions pertain to the first half of Tattva Sandarbha. I thought Jiva Goswami only mentioned the purana’s deity as the indicator of its tri-guna. I wasnt aware that he mentioned the type of questions and content. Could you point me to that statement?
Raman February 4, 2021
Dear Vic DiCara ji,
1) “The Purāṇas, by virtue of their transcendental origin, are equal to the four Vedas and are therefore eternal and apauruṣeya. Thus Śrīla Vedavyāsa did not formulate the Purāṇas as an original composition. He condensed the already existing Vedas. Then He took unused verses from that abridged portion and compiled them into the Purāṇas.”
The correct word should have been “condensed” and not “composed”. Thank you for bringing this to our notice. We have updated the question text.
2) In his commentary on Anuccheda 18 of Tattva Sandarbha, Babaji Maharaj writes
“The citation from Matsya Purāṇa in the previous anuccheda states that the sāttvika Purāṇas glorify Lord Hari, Kṛṣṇa. By contrast, the rājasika and tāmasika Purāṇas recommend worship of other deities. Such worship embodies the perspectives of the lower guṇas of nature, and hence is not by its inherent nature directed toward immediate realization of the Absolute Truth. Thus, one can tell which guṇa a Purāṇa embodies by taking note of the deity it recommends for worship.
Another way to tell is by how it commences. In the sāttvika Purāṇas, a questioner will approach a learned speaker and inquire from him about the Absolute Truth. The questioner may ask the speaker to elaborate on the nature of Ultimate Reality, the supreme path of transcendence for all, the ultimate benefit a human being can aspire for, how one should prepare for death, or similar topics. Such questions then allow the speaker of the Purāṇa full freedom to explain these topics. The speaker who is self-realized, free from all gross and subtle material desires, and concerned only with the welfare of the inquirer and those who will hear the discourse either in the present or in the future, then replies with answers that are specific and unambiguous, leaving no room for misinterpretation or confusion. Examples of such sāttvika Purāṇas include Padma Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Purāṇa, and, most prominently, Bhāgavata Purāṇa, or Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.”
Radhe Radhe!
Vic DiCara February 5, 2021
Thank you for the reply, Raman Ji.
I wonder what the opening questions are like for rajas and tamas?
“Hi, can you tell me how to become a billionaire?” = rajas purana!
“Yo! How do I crush these idiots who always get in my way?” = tamas purana!
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