Chief Minister Criticizes Tilaka

M. Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, has recently criticized the practice of wearing tilaka:

"What is the need for these things in a country that has accepted all religions and preached equality of the same?"

Here is our response to the esteemed Chief Minister:

"If your country has accepted religion why are you rejecting the practices of religion such as the wearing of tilaka? This is hypocritical. If you have accepted religion, why then do you reject the practices of religion? This is illogical and nonsensical. Accepting religion means to also accept the practice of religion. Otherwise you are not accepting religion at all. You are simply engaged in political double talk."

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Krishna With Tilaka

Krishna With Tilaka

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Is Chanting on Beads Required?

I have heard that by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra 16 rounds of 108 mahamantras each everyday one is sure to go back to the spiritual world. If one finds that it is not always possible to chant with the beads but still chants the same number of times everyday without the beads, will he also go back to the spiritual world? Or it is necessary to complete 16 times 108 on the beads only?

Yours Devotedly,

Avinash.G.f

Answer: Yes, and It Must Be Pure Also

Chanting 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mahamantra every day is not a guarantee that one will go back to Godhead in this lifetime. It is the quality of the chanting that determines whether or not one is qualified to enter the spiritual world at the time of passing from his present body. If one has advanced to the point of offenseless chanting, his perfection is assured. And if one is still holding onto material desires, he will take birth again in this material world to fulfill those desires.

Pure offenseless chanting requires that we obey the orders of the spiritual master. Since Srila Prabhupada has ordered us to chant on the beads, our attaining of spiritual perfection does depend on obeying his instruction to chant on the beads at least 16 rounds daily.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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