Mangala Arati
A Krishna conscious day begins early in the morning. The devotee rises by 4 am, takes bath, puts on devotional clothing ( a sari or a dhoti) applies tilaka to the body, and then celebrates at the temple or at home the mangala arati ceremony while singing the Gurvastakam prayers, the eight prayers glorifying the spiritual master. These beautiful prayers composed by the great Vaisnava acharya Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur are so full of spiritual powerful that anyone who chants them aloud with great care and attention, during the period before sunrise known as the brahma-muhurta obtains direct service to Krishna, the Lord of Vrindavana, at the time of his death. Because they are eager to attain Krishna's association the devotees make sure to celebrate mangala arati every day.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
P.S. The Gurvastakam Prayers are as follows:
Text One
saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
Text Two
mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Three
śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-
śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato 'pi
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Four
catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-
svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasāda, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Five
śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra-
mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Six
nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā
tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Seven
sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Śrī Hari [Kṛṣṇa].
Text Eight
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.
I have just started reading The Bhagavad Gita As It Is, and am currently studying the introduction. In it, Prabhupada states:
"What is material nature? This is ...explained in the Gita as inferior prakrti, inferior nature...Prakrti is always under control, whether inferior or superior. Prakrti is female, and she is controlled by the Lord just as the activities of a wife are controlled by the husband. Prakrti is always subordinate predominated by the Lord, who is the predominator."
This passage troubles me greatly. Is Prabhupada saying that women are inherently inferior to men? Does the Bhagavad-gita teach this view? I know I am only in the introduction, but I very much want to understand. I want to immerse myself in Krishna consciousness and feel that this very well could be the path I have been searching for years. However, as a woman, it disturbs me to think that this idea could be embedded in the teachings of Krishna and of the founder of ISKCON. Any assistance you could provide would be most appreciated.
Hare Krishna!
KLM
Souls who are embodied in female forms are not inherently inferior to souls who are embodied in male forms. The soul is something different from the bodily covering which is merely a temporary garment worn by the soul. According to our karma we are sometimes embodied in male forms and sometimes embodied in female forms.
Physically the female form is weaker than the male form. And we see practically that impious men take advantage of this to sexually force themselves upon women. Therefore women are meant to be protected by pious men. It is on this physical level that the womanly form is considered inferior in the sense that it is of inferior strength. Again this says nothing about the soul, the actual person who is residing in that body.
The highest form of distinguishing who is superior and who is inferior is on the basis of who is the most advanced in Krishna consciousness. If a woman is more Krishna conscious than a man, she is superior to him. And if she is less Krishna conscious, she is inferior. No one has to remain inferior. Everyone has the equal opportunity to become superior. Those who are superior will take advantage of the opportunity offered to them in the human form of life for spiritual emancipation, and those who are inferior will not take advantage of their highly developed human consciousness preferring instead to imitate the animals by absorbing their lives in sense gratification: eating, sleeping, mating, and defending.
Kindly inform me if this has clarified this matter for you, or if it still requires further clarification.
I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.
Always your well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
P.S. The Gurvastakam Prayers are as follows:
Text One
saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
Text Two
mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Three
śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-
śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato 'pi
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Four
catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-
svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasāda, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Five
śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra-
mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Six
nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā
tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Text Seven
sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Śrī Hari [Kṛṣṇa].
Text Eight
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.
Mangala Arati Kirtan
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Are Women Inherently Inferior to Men?
I have just found your website and am so grateful for the opportunity to read your answers to questions that have been plaguing me for weeks. Thank you so much.I have just started reading The Bhagavad Gita As It Is, and am currently studying the introduction. In it, Prabhupada states:
"What is material nature? This is ...explained in the Gita as inferior prakrti, inferior nature...Prakrti is always under control, whether inferior or superior. Prakrti is female, and she is controlled by the Lord just as the activities of a wife are controlled by the husband. Prakrti is always subordinate predominated by the Lord, who is the predominator."
This passage troubles me greatly. Is Prabhupada saying that women are inherently inferior to men? Does the Bhagavad-gita teach this view? I know I am only in the introduction, but I very much want to understand. I want to immerse myself in Krishna consciousness and feel that this very well could be the path I have been searching for years. However, as a woman, it disturbs me to think that this idea could be embedded in the teachings of Krishna and of the founder of ISKCON. Any assistance you could provide would be most appreciated.
Hare Krishna!
KLM
Answer: Not If They Are Krishna Conscious
I am very happy that Krishna has sent you to me so that I can be of service to you in your spiritual life.Souls who are embodied in female forms are not inherently inferior to souls who are embodied in male forms. The soul is something different from the bodily covering which is merely a temporary garment worn by the soul. According to our karma we are sometimes embodied in male forms and sometimes embodied in female forms.
Physically the female form is weaker than the male form. And we see practically that impious men take advantage of this to sexually force themselves upon women. Therefore women are meant to be protected by pious men. It is on this physical level that the womanly form is considered inferior in the sense that it is of inferior strength. Again this says nothing about the soul, the actual person who is residing in that body.
The highest form of distinguishing who is superior and who is inferior is on the basis of who is the most advanced in Krishna consciousness. If a woman is more Krishna conscious than a man, she is superior to him. And if she is less Krishna conscious, she is inferior. No one has to remain inferior. Everyone has the equal opportunity to become superior. Those who are superior will take advantage of the opportunity offered to them in the human form of life for spiritual emancipation, and those who are inferior will not take advantage of their highly developed human consciousness preferring instead to imitate the animals by absorbing their lives in sense gratification: eating, sleeping, mating, and defending.
Kindly inform me if this has clarified this matter for you, or if it still requires further clarification.
I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.
Always your well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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