KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 3.1.23 :
- The sages, or persons who completely devoted themselves to the spiritual upliftment of the entire human society, were known as dvija-deva, the best amongst the twice-born.
- The denizens of superior planets, from the moon planet and upwards, were known as devas.
- Both the dvija-devas and the devas always establish temples of Lord Viṣṇu in His various forms, such as Govinda, Madhusūdana, Nṛsiṁha, Mādhava, Keśava, Nārāyaṇa, Padmanābha, Pārtha-sārathi and many others.
- The foolish propaganda by atheists that temples were constructed only in later days is refuted here because Vidura visited these temples at least five thousand years ago, and the temples of Viṣṇu were in existence long, long before Vidura visited them.
- The great sages and demigods never established statues of men or demigods, but they established temples of Viṣṇu for the benefit of common men, to raise them to the platform of God consciousness.
- One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige.
- Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding.
- Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective.
- One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding.
- In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. Not only should one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries.
- A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.
- Stories of Ekalavya, Karna, Vali, Ravana and how people are misled to believe them as heroes was discussed in the class. Hindu Atheism was also discussed.
- Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswathi Thakura’s write up on Ekalavya – https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/srila-bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvati-thakura-s-commentary-on-the-story
SB 3.1.23 TRANSLATION:
There were also many other temples of various forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Viṣṇu, established by great sages and demigods. These temples were marked with the chief emblems of the Lord, and they reminded one always of the original Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Human society is divided into four social orders of life and four spiritual divisions, applying to each and every individual person. This system is called varṇāśrama-dharma and has already been discussed in many places in this great literature. The sages, or persons who completely devoted themselves to the spiritual upliftment of the entire human society, were known as dvija-deva, the best amongst the twice-born. The denizens of superior planets, from the moon planet and upwards, were known as devas. Both the dvija-devas and the devas always establish temples of Lord Viṣṇu in His various forms, such as Govinda, Madhusūdana, Nṛsiṁha, Mādhava, Keśava, Nārāyaṇa, Padmanābha, Pārtha-sārathi and many others. The Lord expands Himself in innumerable forms, but all of them are nondifferent from one another. Lord Viṣṇu has four hands, and each hand holds a particular item — either a conchshell, wheel, club or lotus flower. Of these four emblems, the cakra, or wheel, is the chief. Lord Kṛṣṇa, being the original Viṣṇu form, has only one emblem, namely the wheel, and therefore He is sometimes called the Cakrī. The Lord’s cakra is the symbol of the power by which the Lord controls the whole manifestation. The tops of Viṣṇu temples are marked with the symbol of the wheel so that people may have the chance to see the symbol from a very long distance and at once remember Lord Kṛṣṇa. The purpose of building very high temples is to give people a chance to see them from a distant place. This system is carried on in India whenever a new temple is constructed, and it appears that it is coming down from a time before recorded history. The foolish propaganda by atheists that temples were constructed only in later days is refuted here because Vidura visited these temples at least five thousand years ago, and the temples of Viṣṇu were in existence long, long before Vidura visited them. The great sages and demigods never established statues of men or demigods, but they established temples of Viṣṇu for the benefit of common men, to raise them to the platform of God consciousness.
DemiGods are offered all respect because they are agents of Lord Krsna
Dvija Deva – is special – one who is interested in making all Krsna Consciousness
Pure spirituality – does not do identity politics
Sri Vaishnavas – Bonafide sampradaya – If they teach only their children then they are not Vaishnavas.. Ramanuja Charya accepted everyone irrespective of bodily identity..
Anyone is an expert in KC can be accepted as a Guru not based on gender, race, religion.. How much do you know about Krsna and are you living according to what you know. If you are then you are bonafide and includes being Property initiated..
Ekalavya was not properly initiated.. What he thought of guru puja was not actual guru puja.. He became more expert than Arjuna.. He cuts of his finger as guru dakshina to the guru.. Actually he insulted guru.. Not asked for initiation, and instruction.. One must go through proper process of initiation. Constantly take instruction and
Lord Caiatnya – ex of proper disciple – Accepted Madhavendra Puri and always referred to him..
BG 4.34
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.
The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish pretenders. The Bhāgavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. Not only should one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.
By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Actually, his main intention was to learn Dhanur Veda and become great. In this way he wanted to satisfy his own senses. He did not want to sacrifice himself to the will of his guru. That was not his honest desire.
Misconceptions –
Dana Veera Sura Karna
Karna the hero of Maha Bharatha
Actually Karna was envious of Arjuna.. He wanted to marry Darupadi.. He was born of bad karma.. He was thrown away after he was born and the chariot driver raises him.. He went to the swayamvar of Draupadi and he was not allowed.. To be in the race..
As long as you are not on the dharma side then you will lose..
The founders of Hindutva are themselves atheists..
Muslims are more on Krsna’s side than the Hindu atheists..
Hindu nationalists atheist
Leaders who themselves are not Hindus..
Hindu Atheism –
Hindu atheism or non-theism, which is known as Nirīśvaravāda (Sanskrit: निरीश्वरवाद, nir-īśvara-vāda, lit. “Disbelief in Ishvara”) has been a historically propounded viewpoint in many of the Astika (Orthodox) streams of Hindu philosophy.[1] Hindu spiritual atheists or Non-theists who affirms Vedas and Brahman or those who follow astika (orthodox) philosophies but reject personal god(s) are also called Dharmic atheist, Vedic Atheist or Sanatani atheist
RSS – they will fail as they are on the wrong side..
SP said – If we ever do take over a country.. We should have a minister of religions -should make sure people have to follow their religion correctly.. There are moral rules in each religion.. Minister should be responsible to make sure that the religious rules are authentic
religions of tribes – Their rules like having – Drugs, having marijuana..then it becomes hard .. to manage it.. Some of these rules are violating the regulative principles..
Vali – is another example.. Rama kills anyone who kidnaps other’s wife.. It tests our ability to accept Krsna Consciousness. These types of events..
Why is Rama hiding behind the tree, it is unfair, he is a good guy..
Vali asks Rama to take care of his son.
Ravana Worship…