Sunday 20 June 2021
Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
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Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana was born sometime in the eighteenth century, in Odisha. At a very early age, he finished his studies of grammar, poetry, rhetoric and logic and then went on pilgrimage.
During his travels he met Sri Radha-Damodara Deva a grand-disciple of Sri Rasikananda Deva with whom he discussed philosophy. Sri Radha-Damodara Deva explained the conclusions of Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy as expounded by Sri Gaurasundara and requested him to consider the unlimited mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
In a very short time he became an expert in Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. He then moved to Vrindavana to further study these teachings under Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura who instructed him in achintya-bhedabheda-tattva.
One day, in Jaipur, in the royal court, the Ramanuja sampradaya began arguing a case in connection with the Gaudiya sampradaya. They informed the king that the Gaudiya sampradaya had no commentary on the most important revealed scripture of Vedic religion—Vedanta; therefore they had no siddhanta and no real sampradaya, or school. As a consequence they should give up their service of the deities of Govinda and Gopinatha, and entrust with those who were bona fide members of a genuine sampradaya. At that time, the king of Jaipura was a follower of the Gaudiya sampradaya. He immediately sent word of the controversy by messenger to Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakur in Vrindavan, wanting to know if the Gaudiya sampradaya actually did have any commentary on theVedanta. If there was, the king wanted that the commentary be sent immediately to Jaipur to satisfy the scrutiny of the pandits from the Ramanuja Sampradaya.
At this time, Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti was very old and infirm. It was impossible for him to make the arduous journey to Jaipur. He sent his student and disciple, Shri Baladev, in his place. Baladeva Vidyabhusan was an expert scholar in all the important scriptures. In the midst of a huge assembly of pandits from the Ramanuja sampradaya, Baladeva challenged them all to argue with him in scholarly debate. A long, and hard-fought debate took place, with tumultuous arguing from the Ramanuja school. Still, none of them could stand before his conclusive statements, keen scholarship, and penetrating intellect. Baladeva argued that the founder of the Gaudiya Sampradaya, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu established the Shrimad-Bhagavatam as the topmost commentary on Vedanta. The Bhagavatam itself claims that it is bhashyanam brahma-sutranam, the natural commentary on Vedanta. This is confirmed on the basis of evidence given by Jiva Goswami in his Sat Sandarbha. Therefore, the Gaudiya sampradaya has chosen to accept Shrimad-Bhagavatam as the original commentary on Vedanta, and sees no need for a separate commentary.
At that point, the pandits from the Ramanuja sampradaya shouted: "He admits that there is no commentary! They have no commentary!" Having no other recourse, Shri Baladeva Vidyabhusan promised to show them the Gaudiya commentary on Vedanta within a few days. The pandits were astonished to think that such a thing existed. They were suspicious that this might be some kind of trick, but were silenced for the time being.
Very troubled within his mind, Shri Baladeva Vidyabhusana went to the temple of Shri Govinda, the deity of Rupa Goswami. After offering his eightfold obeisances before the deity, he related everything that had taken place. That night in a dream, Shri Govinda told him, you must compose the commentary. That commentary will be personally sanctioned by me. No one will be able to find any fault in it. Seeing this in his dream, Baladeva became very happy, and his heart was full of strength, ready for the task at hand. After this, he meditated on the lotus feet of Govinda and began writing his commentary. Within a few days it was completed. This commentary became known as the Govinda Bhashya commentary on Vedanta.
In an addendum appended to the Govinda Bhashya, after it was published, Shri Baladeva has written, vidyarupam bhushanam ye pradaya, khatim nitye teno yo mamudarah, Shri govinda-svapna-nirdishtha bhashye, radhabandhurangah sa jiyat. "May Shri Govinda be all glorious. By his mercy, he revealed this commentary to me in a dream. The commentary revealed by him is especially appreciated by the highly learned, and as a result of this I have been given the name Vidyabhushan, but it is Shri Govinda who deserves all credit. May that Shri Govinda who is the most dear life and soul of Shri Radhika, be all-victorious."
With the Govinda Bhashya commentary in hand, Baladeva Vidyabhushan arrived at the assembly hall of the king, where the pandits were waiting for him. When he showed them his commentary, they were speechless. The Gaudiya sampradaya was proclaimed victorious. The king and all the Gaudiya Vaishnavas were supremely happy. At that time the pandits gave Shri Baladeva the name "Vidyabhushana," or one whose ornament is knowledge, in honor of his great scholarship. The year was 1628, Shaka era. From the day forward, the king of Jaipur decreed, everyone would attend the aroti of Shri Govinda, the deity beloved by the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, who was ultimately responsible for such a wonderful commentary on Vedanta.
The Ramanuja pandits, falling under the influence of Shri Baladeva Vidyabhusana, accepted him as their acharya and wanted to become his disciples. With great humility, Baladeva Vidyabhushana refused, explaining that there are four sampradayas, among which the Shri Sampradaya is a genuine school that preaches servitude to God as the best religious process. By advancing the views of the Gaudiya sampradaya, he meant no disrespect to the Shri sampradaya. To insult the Shri sampradaya would be a great offense, he said.
Shripad Baladeva Vidyabhushan returned from Jaipur to Vrindavan carrying the message of his victory. Upon returning, he submitted to the lotus feet of Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura and told him the news. All the visiting Vaishnavas and the residents of Vrindavan were delighted, and Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura bestowed his blessings upon Baladeva Vidyabhusana.
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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
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Hare Krishna 🙏
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Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi
Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi
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The description of Nirjala Ekadasi, which occurs during the month of May/June, is found in the Brahma-vaivarta Purana in the conversation between Vyasadeva and Bhimasena.
Once Bhimasena, the younger brother of Yudhisthira, inquired from the great sage Srila Vyásadeva, "O most learned and wor shipable grandfather, please hear my request My elder brother Yudhisthira, mother Kuntidevi, brothers Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Draupadi do not cat anything on the day of Ekadasi. They, especially Yudhisthira, always tell me that I should also fast on Ekadasi. But I always tell them that though I know that to fast on Ekadasi is an injunction of the scriptures, I cannot bear my hunger and therefore I am unable to fast. I can give in charity as per my capacity, I can worship Lord Kesava with proper rules and regulations, but I cannot fast. So please instruct me how can I obtain the result of Ekadasi without having to fast."
On hearing these words of Bhimasena, Sri Vyásadeva said, "O Bhima! If you want to go to the heavenly planets and avoid the hellish planets, then you must refrain from eating on both the Ekádasis of each month"
Bhima said, "O great sage! It is impossible for me to observe fast on 24 Ekadasis every year, as instructed by the Lord. What to speak of fasting day and night I cannot even tolerate my hunger for even a moment The fire of hunger known as 'brika' is always present within my stomach, and it is extinguished only by voracious cating. But with great endeavor I can fast only one day in a year Therefore please instruct me about a vow that I can follow to attain auspiciousness both in this life and the next."
Sri Vyasadeva said, "O King! You have already heard from me about the Vedic religious principles and the duties of the human beings. But in this age of Kali not everyone is capable of following those rules and regulations. Therefore I will tell you about a sublime method by which you can achieve great results. This method is the essence of all the Purdnas Anyone who observes the Ekadasis of waning and waxing moons by fasting never goes to hell."
Hearing Vyasadeva's words, that strongest warrior Bhimasena became frightened and shivered like a leaf on a banyan tree and said, "O grandfather! What should I do? I am totally unable to fast twice a month throughout the year Therefore, O my Lord, kindly instruct me about one vow that awards the most merit and how by observing it I can achieve all benefits"
Then Sri Vyasadeva replied, "The Ekadasi which occurs during the waxing moon in the month of May June during the sun's presence in either Taurus or Gemini Rasi is called Nirjala Ekadasi One should observe total fast even from drinking water in this Ekadasi. On this day one should perform acamana for purification by drinking that amount of water in which a single mustard seed or a drop of gold can be immersed. One should place the said amount of water in his palm held in such a way as to resemble a cow's car. If one drinks more or less water than this, it will amount to drinking of wine
"One must not eat anything at all on this Ekadasi, otherwise his vow will be broken One should not drink even water from the movement of sunrise from the day of Ekadasi until the sunrise on the day of Dvadasi. In this way if one strictly observes this Ekadasi without drinking water then he can attain the results of observing all the Ekadasis of the year
"In the early morning on the day of Dvadasi one should take bath and give gold and water in charity to the brahmanas. There after the follower should gladly eat with the brahmanas
"O Bhimsena! Now please hear the about the picty one ac cumulates by observing this Ekadasi. By following this Ekadasi one can achieve the result of following all the Ekadasis throughout the year Once Lord Visnu, who holds a conch, a disc, a club and a lotus flower in His hand, told me, 'If a person gives up all varieties of religion and surrenders unto Me and follows this Nirjalä Ekadasi which is very dear to Me, he is certainly relieved of all sinful reactions. One cannot attain the supreme destination by giving wealth in charity or attain any benefit by following smarta rules and regulations in the Kali-yuga. In fact the Vedic religious principles have been extinct in this age of Kali which is polluted with various faults.
"O son of Vayu! What more can I tell you? Eating is actually prohibited on all the Ekadasis, and even the drinking of water is prohibited on Nirjala Ekadasi By observing this Exádal one achieves the picty of visiting all the holy places At the time of death such a person is not approached by the fierce-looking Yamadūtas, rather he is approached by the divine looking Visnudutas to be transferred to the abode of Visnu If one gives water and cows in charity after observing this Ekádasi then he is freed from all his sinful activities"
When the other Påndavas heard about the glories of this Ekadasi they resolved to observe it. From that day onward Bhimasena began observing this Nirjala Ekadasl, which became famous as Pandava Nirjala, or Bhimseni Ekadasi By following this Ekadasi sinful activities as huge as Sumeru or Mandra Mountain are at once burnt to ashes O King! Lord Krana has declared that any pious activities such as taking bath in holy places, giving charity, chanting Vedic mantras, and performing sacrifices that are carried out on this Nirjala Ekadasi day become inexhaustible
One who reads or hears the glories of this Ekádali with deve tion goes back to the abode of Vaikuntha. The result one attains by observing the vow of Amavasya conjoined with Pratipada and offering oblations to the forefathers during the solar eclipse is attained simply by hearing the glories of this Ekadasi.
🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆 🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆 🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆 🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆 🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆
Hare Krishna 🙏
For Authorized Spiritual Articles,Posters , Quote etc . . kindly download Telegram application in Google play store and Follow the below link for telegram Suddha Bhakti channel 👇
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