710407LE.BOM
Lectures
So this process should be adopted, how to become sukrtina. Sukrti means
yajna-dana-tapa-kriya. One must perform sacrifices as prescribed in the
sastras, and they must give in charity their hard-earned money for Krsna's
cause. That is called dana. Yajna, dana, and tapasya. Tapasya. Just like
tomorrow is Sri Rama-navami. The tapasya will be that all the devotees
will observe fasting from morning till evening. This is called tapasya.
Just like Ekadasi day--there is no eating sumptuously. Simply you take
little fruits and flowers. Try to avoid that also. You don't take even
water. That is really ekadasi. But because we cannot do it--in the Kali-yuga
the time is different--therefore we are allowed to take little fruit and
milk, which is called anukalpa. These are different methods of tapasya.
And yajna. This yajna, sankirtanaih prayair yajnaih, yajanti hi su-medhasah.
In this age you cannot perform that big asvamedha yajna, gomedha yajna,
rajasuya yajna, so many other yajnas. It is not possible. First of all,
you have no means to perform such yajnas, hundreds and hundreds of tons
ghee required for putting into the sacrificial fire. You have not even
a drop of your ghee. So forget all those yajnas. In this age, yajnaih sankirtanaih
prayaih.
8-03-26.Letter: Mukunda
Please accept my blessings. I am sorry I am delayed to
reply your letter dated March 14, 1968, which I received over a week ago.
I am very glad that you are repentant even for some action which is not
sanctioned by me. This attitude is very nice and improves one in progressing
on the path of devotional service. The Rakhi Bandhan ceremony observed
by you under instruction of Prasad isn't approved by our Vaisnava rituals.
Of course, such ceremony is observed among the Hindu community as a socio-religious
convention. But in our Vaisnava community there is no such observance.
Now, forget the incidence, and in future don't be misled by some unauthorized
person. Our next ceremony is Lord Ramacandra's Birthday, on the 7th of
April. It should be observed in the same way as Lord Caitanya's Appearance
Day, namely, fasting up to evening and then accept Prasadam, and all our
ceremonies should be performed with continuous Kirtana, of Hare Krishna,
Hare Rama. That will make all our functions successful.
68-03-28.Letter: Mahapurusa
So far the Advent Day of Lord Rama Candra, it should be
celebrated as Lord Caitanya's Birthday was done. Fasting up to evening,
and then take prasadam, and chant Hare Krishna whole day, and be engaged
in reading and chanting off and on, chant for some time, then read for
some time, then again have Kirtana and so on, throughout the day. If you
have not got a Ramayana, then you can read Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam,
that is all right.
770326r2.bom Conversations
Prabhupada: Rama-navami is upavasa up till the... Go to observe
fasting up to the evening.
Tamala Krsna: So moon.
Prabhupada: Sunset.