English

GOING TO THE TEMPLE OF VIṢṆU OR TO PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE It is stated in the Purāṇas, “Persons who attempt to visit the holy places of pilgrimage, like Vṛndāvana, Mathurā or Dvārakā, are actually glorified. By … Read More

FOLLOWING THE DEITY A similar statement is there in the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, in which it is said, “Even if born of a lowly family, a person who follows the Ratha-yātrā car when the Deities pass in … Read More

STANDING UP TO RECEIVE THE LORD In the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa it is said, “A person who sees the Lord’s Ratha-yātrā car festival and then stands up to receive the Lord can purge all kinds of sinful … Read More

BOWING DOWN IN HONOR OF THE DEITY In the Nāradīya Purāṇa there is a statement about bowing down and offering respect to the Deity. It is said there, “A person who has performed a great ritualistic … Read More

DANCING BEFORE THE DEITY In the Dvārakā-māhātmya the importance of dancing before the Deity is stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa as follows: “A person who is in a jubilant spirit, who feels profound devotional ecstasy while dancing … Read More

ACCEPTING FLOWER GARLANDS The next instruction is that one should put on flower garlands that are offered to the Deity. In this connection, in the Eleventh Canto, sixth chapter, verse 46 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Uddhava says to … Read More

TILAKA AND TULASĪ BEADS In the Padma Purāṇa there is a statement describing how a Vaiṣṇava should decorate his body with tilaka and beads: “Persons who put tulasī beads on the neck, who mark twelve places … Read More

CHAPTER NINE Further Consideration of Devotional Principles BLASPHEMY One should not tolerate blasphemy of the Lord or His devotees. In this connection, in the Tenth Canto, seventy-fourth chapter, verse 40 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śukadeva Gosvāmī tells Parīkṣit … Read More

The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. (2) To consider the names of … Read More

  CHAPTER EIGHT Offenses to Be Avoided In the supplementary Vedic literature, there is the following list of thirty-two offenses in the matter of serving the Lord: (1) One should not enter the temple of the … Read More

NOT GIVING PAIN TO ANY LIVING ENTITY This is the statement of Mahābhārata: “A person who does not disturb or cause painful action in the mind of any living entity, who treats everyone just like a … Read More

THE DEMIGODS One should not neglect to offer due respect to the demigods. One may not be a devotee of demigods, but that does not mean that he should be disrespectful to them. For example, a … Read More

STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS IN ORDINARY DEALINGS AND EQUILIBRIUM IN LOSS AND GAIN There is a statement in the Padma Purāṇa: “Persons who are engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should never be disturbed by some material gain or loss. Even … Read More

NOT ACCEPTING UNFIT DISCIPLES, CONSTRUCTING MANY TEMPLES OR READING MANY BOOKS Another stricture is that a person may have many disciples, but he should not act in such a way that he will be obliged to … Read More

GIVING UP THE COMPANY OF NONDEVOTEES Lord Caitanya was once asked by one of His householder devotees what the general behavior of a Vaiṣṇava should be. In this connection, Lord Caitanya replied that a Vaiṣṇava should … Read More

OFFERING RESPECT TO THE BANYAN TREES In the Skanda Purāṇa it is directed that a devotee should offer water to the tulasī plant and āmalaka trees. He should offer respect to the cows and to the … Read More

OBSERVING FASTING ON EKĀDAŚĪ In the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa it is said that one who observes fasting on Ekādaśī is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and advances in pious life. The basic principle … Read More

ACCEPTING ONLY WHAT IS NECESSARY In the Nāradīya Purāṇa it is directed, “One should not accept more than necessary if he is serious about discharging devotional service.” The purport is that one should not neglect following … Read More

RESIDING IN A SACRED PLACE In the Skanda Purāṇa it is also said that for a person who has lived in Dvārakā for six months, for one month, or even for one fortnight, there is awaiting … Read More

BEING PREPARED TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING MATERIAL FOR KṚṢṆA’S SATISFACTION In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated, “For one who has given up his material sense enjoyment and has accepted the principles of devotional service, the … Read More