The Spiritual Duties of Householders
This is classic essay on this subject By Shrila Sacchidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the Modern Pioneer Spiritual Preceptor of Gauranga Dharma, written in his Vaishnava Toshani magazine.
What is proper occupation? To know this, one should see the behavior of Sri
Gauranga Mahaprabhu's followers. As far as possible I will try to briefly
compile them in this essay. First I will write about the behavior and
occupation of the grhastha, as found in the character of Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhu and His devotees.
As a support for his devotional service, a householder should find a
suitable wife. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 15.26-27) Lord Gauranga says:
grhastha ha-ilama, ebe cahi grha-dharma
grhini vina grha-dharma na haya sobhana
"Since I am remaining at home it is My duty to act as a grhastha. Without a
wife, there is no meaning to householder life."
While maintaining religious family life with one's wife, sons and daughters
are born in the form of Krsna's servants and maidservants; to nourish them
is called maintaining the family. In these activities there is a need for
piously accumulating wealth. In this regard Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu has
said in the Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya 5.41) and Caitanya-caritamrta
(Madhya 15.96):
prabhu bale,-parivara aneka tomara
nirvaha kemate tabe haibe sabara?
'grhastha' hayena inho, cahiye sancaya
sancaya na kaile kutumba-bharana nahi haya
The Lord said, "There are so many members in your family. How will you
maintain everyone? Being a householder, one needs to save some money.
Because he is not doing so, it is very difficult for him to maintain his
family."
One must be educated at a proper age. But he should not study atheistic
literatures. In the Caitanya-bhagavata (Adi 12.49 and Madhya 9.241-242)
Lord Gauranga says:
pade kene loka?-krsna bhakti janibare
se yadi nahila, tabe vidyaya ki kare?
visaya-madandha saba kichui na jane
vidya-made, dhana-made vaisnava na cine
bhagavata padiyao ka 'ro buddhi nasa
"Why do people study? Education is only for understanding devotional
service of Lord Krsna. If you miss this point, then what is the use of
your education? Everyone is blinded by pride and sense gratification.
Being proud of their education and wealth, they fail to recognize a
Vaisnava. If one studies Srimad-Bhagavatam improperly his intelligence is
polluted."
Serving guests is the principle duty of a grhastha-this is Lord Gauranga's
instruction. In the Caitanya-bhagavata (Adi 14.21, 26) it is stated:
grhasthere mahaprabhu sikhayena dharma
atithira seva-grhasthera mula-karma
akaitave citta-sukhe ya 'ra yena sakti
taha karilei bali atithite bhakti
"In this way Lord Gauranga satisfied all His guests and taught the world how to
behave as a perfect householder. The foremost duty of a householder is to
serve his guests. If a householder happily serves his guests without
duplicity and according to his ability he is considered hospitable."
A grhastha should act with simplicity in his dealings with people; he
should not allow any kind of cheating or duplicity in his heart. In the
Caitanya-bhagavata (Adi 14.142) Lord Gauranga Himself says:
ataeva grhe tumi krsna bhaja giya
kutinati parihari' ekanta haiya
"Therefore go back to your home and worship Lord Krsna with full attention,
giving up all duplicity."
It is the principle duty of a grhastha to serve senior persons. In the
Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 15.21) Lord Gauranga says:
grhastha ha-iya kariba pita-matara sevana
ihate-i tusta habena laksmi-narayana
"Later I shall become a householder and thus serve My parents, for this
action will very much satisfy Lord Narayana and His wife, the goddess of
fortune."
A householder should take the principles of renunciation to heart; but he
should not simply dress as a renunciate. As stated by Lord Gauranga in the
Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 16.237-239):
sthira hana ghare yao, na hao vatula
krame krame paya loka bhava-sindhu-kula
markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhana
yatha-yogya visaya bhunja' anasakta hana
antare nistha kara, bahye loka-vyavahara
acirat krsna tomaya karibe uddhara
"Be patient and return home. Don't be a crazy fellow. By and by you will be
able to cross the ocean of material existence. You should not make
yourself a showbottle devotee and become a false renunciant. For the time
being, enjoy the material world in a befitting way and do not become
attached to it. Within your heart you should keep yourself very faithful,
but externally you may behave like an ordinary man. Thus Krsna will soon
be very pleased and deliver you from the clutches of maya."
A householder is duty-bound to work for the benefit of everyone. In the
Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 9.41, 7.92) Lord Gauranga said:
bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
naca, gao, bhakta-sange kara sankirtana
krsna-nama upadesi' tara' sarva-jana
"One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India
[Bharata-varsa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit
of all other people. 'My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and
performing sankirtana in association with devotees. Furthermore, go out
and preach the value of chanting the Holy Name, for by this process You will
be able to deliver all fallen souls.'"
In this practice of devotional service, duplicitous association has been
prohibited. Even in street sankirtana one should chant and dance in the
association of pure devotees. One should not chant in the association of
nondevotees.
A householder should fully depend on the will of Lord Gauranga-Krishna in all his
activities. Lord Gauranga says in the Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya 28.55):
suna mata, isvarera adhina samsara
svatantra haite sakti nahika kahara
"Listen, dear mother, the whole world is under the control of the Lord. No
one has the power to become independent."
A householder should cautiously give up the association of nondevotees,
women, and uxorious people. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.87) the
Lord said:
asat-sanga-tyaga, -- ei vaisnava-acara
'stri-sangi' -- eka asadhu, 'krsnabhakta' ara
"A Vaisnava should always avoid the association of ordinary people. Common
people are very much materially attached, especially to women. Vaisnavas
should also avoid the company of those who are not devotees of Lord
Gauranga-Krsna.”
By following his prescribed duties a grhastha Vaisnava should accumulate
wealth for his maintenance. He should not accumulate wealth by sinful
means. Lord Nityananda Prabhu has stated in the Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya
5.685-688):
suna dvija, yateka pataka kaili tui
ara yadi na karis, saba nimu muni
parahimsa, daka, curi-saba anacara
chada giya, iha tumi na kariha ara
dharma pathe giya tumi laha hari-nama
tabe tumi anyere kariba paritrana
yata saba dasyu, cora dakiya aniya
dharma-pathe sabare laoyao tumi giya
"Now listen carefully, O brahmana. I will take responsibility for all your
previous misdeeds if you do not repeat them. No more aggression, violence,
looting, or murder; give them up forever. Lead a religious life and chant
the holy names of the Supreme Lord. Then later you can also save others.
Go and meet other dacoits and murderers and bring them to the path of pure
religious life."
A householder should not hanker for another's wife or prostitutes. This is
exhibited in Lord Gauranga's dealings with Krsnadasa in the Caitanya-caritamrta
(Madhya 9.226-227):
gosanira sange rahe krsnadasa brahmana
bhattathari-saha tahan haila darasana
stri-dhana dekhana tanra lobha janmaila
arya sarala viprera buddhi-nasa kaila
"Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu was accompanied by His servant, Krsnadasa. He was
a brahmana, but he met with the Bhattatharis there. With women the
Bhattatharis allured the brahmana Krsnadasa, who was simple and gentle. By
virtue of their bad association, they polluted his intelligence."
Lord Gauranga protected that brahmana from the women's clutches by pulling him
by the hair. The words sarala vipra mean a weak-hearted young brahmana.
He is a real householder who chants one hundred thousand names every day.
Pure devotees should accept prasada in the houses of such grhasthas. In
the Caitanya-bhagavata (9.121-2) Lord Gauranga said:
prabhu bale,-jana, 'laksesvara' bali kare?
prati-dina laksa-nama ye grahana kare
se janera nama ami bali 'laksesvara'
tatha bhiksa amara, na yai anya ghara
"Lord Gauranga replied: Do you know who is a laksesvara? He is someone who
chants one laksa, or one hundred thousand, holy names everyday. I call
such a person a laksesvara. I only take meals in that person's house, no
one else."
There is no difference between smartas and Vaisnavas regarding following
the codes of religion. Lord Gauranga has said in the Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya
9.388-9):
adhama janera ye acara, yena dharma
adhikari vaisnaveo kare sei karma
krsna krpaye se iha janibare pare
e saba sankate keha mare, keha tare
"Sometimes an exalted Vaisnava exhibits the same activities as a
materialistic person. One can understand this by the mercy of Krsna;
otherwise in this dilemma one may be liberated or destroyed."
The purport is that the conviction in the heart of a Vaisnava is
independent. If one is a Vaisnava, then he can understand the conviction
in the heart of another Vaisnava who is engaged in the same activities as
those of the smartas. One who cannot understand this cannot respect
Vaisnavas, and he thereby goes to hell.
Lord Gauranga has explained the duties of householders in the
Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 15.104):
prabhu kahena, -- 'krsna-seva', 'vaisnava-sevana'
'nirantara kara krsna-nama-sankirtana'
Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu replied, "Without cessation continue chanting the
holy name of Lord Krsna. Whenever possible, serve Him and His devotees,
the Vaisnavas." (Please note that Hare Krishna, Radha Krishna, Nityananda, Gauranga etc. are all Holy Names of Lord Krishna.)
It is the duty of a grhastha to constantly chant the holy names of the Lord
and serve the Vaisnavas and the Lord with the help of his relatives and by
the wealth he has earned through his pious life. Regarding serving the
Vaisnavas, one should know that there are three types of nonduplicitous
devotees. Serving such Vaisnavas is called vaisnava-seva. There is no need
to gather many Vaisnavas by invitation. Whenever a Vaisnava comes for any
purpose he should be properly served with care. By gathering many
Vaisnavas, one may commit offenses. As stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta (
Madhya 15.198):
bahuta sannyasi yadi aise eka thani
sammana karite nari, aparadha pai
"If all the sannyasis come together, it would not be possible for me to pay
them proper respects. Therefore I would be an offender."
It is the duty of a grhastha Vaisnava to show mercy on the poor and fallen.
As stated in Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 3.238):
dine daya kare, -- ei sadhu-svabhava haya
"It is a characteristic of all saintly persons to be kind toward the poor
and fallen."
A grhastha Vaisnava should not desire to give up his body merely out of
some sentiment or anger. As stated by Lord Gauranga in Caitanya-caritamrta (
Antya 4.57):
deha-tyagadi yata, saba -- tamo-dharma
tamo-rajo-dharme krsnera na paiye marma
"Acts such as suicide are influenced by the mode of ignorance, and in
ignorance and passion one cannot understand who Krsna is."
There is no consideration of superior or inferior status due to social
position in regard to worshiping Gauranga-Krsna. In worldly occupations there are
different activities according to the different social divisions, which
are due to superior and inferior grades of intelligence. There are no such
distinctions in the process of devotional service. As confirmed by
Lord Gauranga in Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 4.66-67):
nica-jati nahe krsna-bhajane ayogya
sat-kula-vipra nahe bhajanera yogya
yei bhaje sei bada, abhakta -- hina, chara
krsna-bhajane nahi jati-kuladi-vicara
"A person born in a low family is not unfit for discharging devotional
service to Lord Krsna, nor is one fit for devotional service simply
because he is born in an aristocratic family of brahmanas. Anyone who
takes to devotional service is exalted, whereas a nondevotee is always
condemned and abominable. Therefore in the discharge of devotional service
to the Lord, there is no consideration of the status of one's family."
Also in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 5.84) it is said:
sannyasi pandita-ganera karite garva nasa
nica-sudra-dvara karena dharmera prakasa
"To vanquish the false pride of so-called renunciants and learned scholars,
He spreads real religious principles, even through a sudra, or lowborn,
fourth-class man."
A grhastha Vaisnava should feel satisfied with whatever food and clothing
he gets without difficulty. As stated in the Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya
4.293):
saba' haite bhagyavanta-sri saka, vyanjana
punah punah yaha prabhu karena grahana
"The different varities of spinach and vegetables are the most fortunate of all, for Lord Gauranga accepts them again and again."
A grhastha Vaisnava should perform devotional service with undeviated
attention, knowing Gauranga-Krsna as the Lord of all. He should not disrespect the
demigods worshiped by the smarta-sampradaya. As stated in Sri
Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya 2.243):
na mane' caitanya-patha, bolaya 'vaisnava'
sivere amanya kare vyartha ta 'ra saba
"If one claims to be a Vaisnava, but he disrespects Lord Siva and does not
strictly follow the path exhibited by Lord Gauranga, all his efforts are
futile."
It is the duty of a grhastha to work for the benefit of others even by
giving up his own self-interest. In the Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya 3.365)
it is said:
apanara bhala hau yete jana dekhe
sujana apana chadiyao para rakhe
"Some people expect only benefits for themselves, but a gentleman cares for
others while giving up his own interest."
A grhastha Vaisnava should respect and worship tulasi. As stated in Sri
Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya 8.159-160):
sankhya nama laite ye sthane prabhu vaise
tathai rakhena tulasire prabhu pase
tulasire dekhena, japena sankhya-nama
e bhakti-yogera tattva ke bujhibe ana?
"Wherever Lord Gauranga sits to chant His prescribed rounds, He keeps tulasi before Him. He gazes at tulasi while He chants His rounds. Who can understand the science of devotional service?"
A householder with devotion is glorious, while a householder without
devotion is insignificant. Whatever social dealings a householder has to
perform should be done while taking shelter of the holy name of Gauranga-Krsna.
Regarding the character of the mahajana Sri Kalidasa, the
Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 16.6-7) states:
maha-bhagavata tenho sarala udara
krsna-nama-'sankete' calaya vyavahara
kautukete tenho yadi pasaka khelaya
'hare krsna' 'krsna' kari' pasaka calaya
"Kalidasa was a very advanced devotee, yet he was simple and liberal. He
would chant the holy name of Krsna while performing all his ordinary
dealings. When he used to throw dice in jest, he would chant Hare Krsna
while throwing the dice."
Everyone is prohibited from corrupt earning or spending, and workers are
prohibited from accepting bribes. As stated by Lord Gauranga in the
Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 9.90, 142-144):
rajara vartana khaya, ara curi kare
raja-dandya haya sei sastrera vicare
'vyaya na kariha kichu rajara mula-dhana'
rajara mula-dhana diya ye kichu labhya haya
sei dhana kariha nana dharme-karme vyaya
asad-vyaya na kariha, -- yate dui-loka yaya"
"One who serves the government but misappropriates the government's revenue
is liable to be punished by the king. That is the verdict of all revealed
scriptures. Do not spend any of the King's revenue. First you should pay
the revenue due the King, and then you may spend the balance for religious
and fruitive activities. Don't spend a farthing for sinful activities for
which you will be the loser both in this life and the next."
A grhastha should accept a spiritual master who is full of devotion and of
pure character. As stated in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya 21.65):
guru yatha bhakti-sunya, tatha sisyagana
"As the guru is without devotion, so are the disciples."
A householder should be particularly careful not to commit offenses against
the Vaisnavas. In the Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya 22.33) Lord Gauranga says:
ye vaisnava-sthane aparadha haya ya 'ra
punah sei ksamile se ghuce, nahe ara
"When someone offends a Vaisnava, he is not relieved until he is forgiven
by that same Vaisnava."
Serving devotees is a householder's main duty. As stated in the
Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 16.57, 60):
vaisnavera sesa-bhaksanera eteka mahima
kalidase paoyaila prabhura krpa-sima
bhakta-pada-dhuli ara bhakta-pada-jala
bhakta-bhukta-avasesa, -- tina maha-bala
"Taking the remnants of the Vaisnavas' food is so valuable that it induced
Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu to offer Kalidasa His supreme mercy. The dust of
the feet of a devotee, the water that has washed the feet of a devotee,
and the remnants of food left by a devotee are three very powerful
substances."
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.20.27-8) Lord Krsna describes how a
householder should act until his natural propensity for enjoying sense
objects is overcome and he fully attains the characteristics of a pure
devotee:
jata-sraddho mat-kathasu
nirvinnah sarva-karmasu
veda duhkhatmakan kaman
parityage 'py anisvarah
tato bhajeta mam pritah
sraddhalur drdha-niscayah
jusamanas ca tan kaman
duhkhodarkams ca garhayan
"Having awakened faith in the narrations of My glories, being disgusted
with all material activities, knowing that all sense gratification leads
to misery, but still being unable to renounce all sense enjoyment, My
devotee should remain happy and worship Me with great faith and
conviction. Even though he is sometimes engaged in sense enjoyment, My
devotee knows that all sense gratification leads to a miserable result,
and he sincerely repents such activities."
When a householder has faith, he should take initiation into the chanting
of the Holy Name. As stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.64):
sraddhavan jana haya bhakti-adhikari
'uttama', 'madhyama', 'kanistha' -- sraddha-anusari
"A faithful devotee is a truly eligible candidate for the loving service of
the Lord. According to one's faith, one is classified as a topmost
devotee, an intermediate devotee or an inferior devotee."
A grhastha Vaisnava must gradually acquire all the qualities mentioned in
Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.78-80):
krpalu, akrta-droha, satya-sara sama
nidosa, vadanya, mrdu, suci, akincana
sarvopakaraka, santa, krsnaika-sarana
akama, aniha, sthira, vijita-sad-guna
mita-bhuk, apramatta, manada, amani
gambhira, karuna, maitra, kavi, daksa, mauni
"Devotees are always merciful, humble, truthful, equal to all, faultless,
magnanimous, mild and clean. They are without material possessions, and
they perform welfare work for everyone. They are peaceful, surrendered to
Gauranga-Krsna and desireless. They are indifferent to material acquisitions and
are fixed in devotional service. They completely control the six bad
qualities-lust, anger, greed and so forth. They eat only as much as
required, and they are not inebriated. They are respectful, grave,
compassionate and without false prestige. They are friendly, poetic,
expert and silent."
A grhastha Vaisnava should be eager to associate with advanced devotees. In
the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.83) it is stated:
krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya 'sadhu-sanga'
"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Gauranga-Krsna is association with
advanced devotees."
Out of all the processes of devotional service, one should give earnest
attention to the five limbs mentioned in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya
22.128-129) as follows:
sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana
sakala-sadhana-srestha ei panca anga
krsna-prema janmaya ei pancera alpa sanga
"One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear
Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith and
veneration. These five limbs of devotional service are the best of all.
Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Krsna."
Gradually one should diminish the following of prescribed rules out of
obligation and cultivate spontaneous attachment. When spontaneous
attachment to Lord Gauranga-Krishna is awakened, many prescriptions are automatically
discarded and atonement becomes needless.
The difference is described in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.140, 142-143) as follows:
kama tyaji' krsna bhaje sastra-ajna mani'
deva-rsi-pitradikera kabhu nahe rni
vidhi-dharma chadi' bhaje krsnera carana
nisiddha papacare tara kabhu nahe mana
ajnane va haya yadi 'papa' upasthita
krsna tanre suddha kare, na karaya prayascitta
"If a person gives up all material desires and completely engages in the
transcendental loving service of Gauranga-Krsna, as enjoined in revealed
scriptures, he is never indebted to demigods, sages, or forefathers.
Although the pure devotee does not follow all the regulative principles of
varnasrama, he worships the lotus feet of Gauranga-Krsna. Therefore he naturally
has no tendency to commit sin. If, however, a devotee accidentally becomes
involved in a sinful activity, Gauranga-Krsna purifies him. He does not have to
undergo the regulative form of atonement."
A grhastha Vaisnava should not endeavor for any knowledge or renunciation
other than knowledge of one's relationship with the Lord in devotional
service and renunciation born from devotional service. If one begins the
worship of Gauranga-Krsna with special care and eagerness, then he achieves all
auspiciousness. As stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.145):
jnana-vairagyadi -- bhaktira kabhu nahe 'anga'
ahimsa-yama-niyamadi bule krsna-bhakta-sanga
"The path of speculative knowledge and renunciation is not essential for
devotional service. Indeed, good qualities such as nonviolence and control
of the mind and senses automatically accompany a devotee of Lord Gauranga-Krsna."
The gradations of devotion to Lord Gauranga-Krsna are stated in the
Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 23.10-13). One should cultivate them as
follows:
sadhu-sanga haite haya 'sravana-kirtana'
sadhana-bhaktye haya 'sarvanartha-nivartana'
anartha-nivrtti haile bhaktye 'nistha' haya
nistha haite sravanadye 'ruci' upajaya
ruci haite bhaktye haya 'asakti' pracura
asakti haite citte janme krsne prity-ankura
sei 'bhava' gadha haile dhare 'prema'-nama
sei prema 'prayojana' sarvananda-dhama
"When one is encouraged in devotional service by the association of
devotees, one becomes free from all unwanted contamination by following
the regulative principles and chanting and hearing. When one is freed from
all unwanted contamination, he advances with firm faith. When firm faith
in devotional service awakens, a taste for hearing and chanting also
awakens. After taste is awakened, a deep attachment arises, and from that
attachment the seed of love for Gauranga-Krsna grows in the heart. When that
ecstatic emotional stage intensifies, it is called love of Godhead. Such
love is life's ultimate goal and the reservoir of all pleasure."
A grhastha Vaisnava should constantly chant the holy names while carefully
giving up the ten offenses. As stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya
4.70-71):
bhajanera madhye srestha nava-vidha bhakti
'krsna-prema', 'krsna' dite dhare maha-sakti
tara madhye sarva-srestha nama-sankirtana
niraparadhe nama laile paya prema-dhana
"Among the ways of executing devotional service, the nine prescribed
methods are the best, for these processes have great potency to deliver
Gauranga-Krsna and ecstatic love for Him. Of the nine processes of devotional
service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord.
If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily
obtains the most valuable love of Godhead."
A householder should accept pure devotional service that is not based
simply on religious sentiments. In the Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya 23.41)
Lord Gauranga states:
mora nrtya dekhite uhara kon sakti?
payah pan karile ki mote haya bhakti?
"What qualification does he have to watch My dancing? By drinking milk can
one attain devotion for Me?"
The mood of servitude is proper for a living entity, and the mood of being
lord is detrimental. As stated in the Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya 23.480,
482):
udara-bharana lagi' ebe papi saba
laoyaya 'isvara ami'-mule jaradgava
kukkurera bhaksya deha-ihare laiya
balaye 'isvara' visnu-maya mugdha haiya
"All sinful persons claim to be God in order to fill their bellies,
although factually they are idiots. Accepting the material body, which is
meant to be eaten by the dogs, they call themselves God under the
influence by Lord Visnu's external energy."
A grhastha Vaisnava should model his character after that of Lord Gauranga
and His followers. A householder should follow the ways of life and obtain
his means of livelihood as exhibited by Lord Gauranga and His followers.
If one desires Gauranga-Krsna in all his activities, then those activities are
auspicious. By endeavoring to gratify one's senses and attain irrelevant
fruits, one becomes a materialist. For a devotee, to remain a householder
or to become a renunciate is the same thing. Srila Ramananda Raya, Sri
Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Sri Srivasa Pandita, Sri Sivananda Sena, Sri
Satyaraja Khan, and Sri Advaita Prabhu were all grhasthas and have shown
us the way of faultless living. The difference between a householder and a
renunciate is due to their different means of livelihood. If the home is
favorable for a devotee's devotional service, then he should not leave. It
is his duty to remain a grhastha with detachment. But when the home
becomes unfavorable for his service, he then becomes eligible to leave
home. At that time the detachment he develops for his house through his
devotional service is accepted. For this reason, Srivasa Pandita did not
leave home. For this reason, Svarupa Damodara took sannyasa. All genuine
devotees have remained either at home or in the forest due to this
consideration. Whoever has left home due to this consideration is called a
genuine renunciate. He is always careful not to commit offenses against
the Holy Name.
(Translated by Bhumipati dasa prabhu and Pundarika Vidyanidhi dasa prabhu)
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Replies
Hare Krsna,
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful are the duties that you have shared with all devotees.
Please continue sharing them with your friends and other devotees when you meet them.
Hari bol,
Q. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ARCA-MURTI ?
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DEITY WORSHIP AT HOME.
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Q. WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMING ARATI ?
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THE WORSHIP OF RADHA AND KRISHNA.
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DEITY WORSHIP IS NOT IDOL WORSHIP.
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THE WORSHIP OF SHALAGRAMA- SHILA.
http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/group/krishnaconsciousness/forum/to...