20181023 Evening Talk

Nama Om…

Mukham karoti…

So today is the last day of Ashwin month, tomorrow is the first day of Kartik month. So we request people all over the world to offer a lamp to Lord Damodar. The two sons of Kuvera Nalakuvara and Manigriva were engaged in unrestricted sense gratification and they were intoxicated and so did not see that Narada muni had come. The girls covered themselves up and were embarrassed to find themselves in front of the great sage. But the two sons of Kuvera, the treasurer of the devas were still drunk and they were not that Narada muni had come. So Narada muni cursed them that because your consciousness is so low you, you are like trees, and you take birth as trees. But then he gave the blessing that these trees will be in the house of Lord Sri Krishna, in His garden. So they were standing there for a long time and then Krishna was tied to the mortar by His mother, so that He would stay out of trouble. But He pulled the mortar between the two trees and pulled the trees over freeing the two devas. They offered their obeisances to Lord Sri Krishna and begged for His mercy. Then they circumambulated Krishna and then they were taken back to the heavenly planets. So the loud crashing sound of the trees brought Nanda maharaj and the cowherd men. It also brought Yashoda. She said Nanda Maharaj why have you put our son Krishna in such a dangerous place? And they asked the children, you were playing with Krishna, what happened? So they said, well two devas came out of the trees, they circumambulated Krishna and went back to the heavenly planets. Children, what imagination! They couldn’t believe the children. Even though they were speaking the truth. So this is the basis of the Damodar month and how much Yashoda and Nanda Maharaj loved Krishna in the vaatsalya rasa, the parental rasa! So every day we offer lamps to Lord Krishna, Radha Krishna, in our temples. By offering a lamp to Lord Krishna, you get unlimited blessings. So we try to engage as many people as possible in this simple, but auspicious ceremony. Some grihastha devotee sent their daughter to the school and by accident some other child’s lunch box got switched and that box had non veg in it. The mother came to the school and was complaining that this should not happen, we are strict vegetarians. And this month is the month of Damodar. So the school principal asked if she could show the students how to do the Damodar puja. So all the students of the school were offering lamps! So what was seen as the non veg getting switched was turned into a great opportunity!! So, so many opportunities will come to observe this Damodar puja. And a little bit of direct service goes a long way. This Damodar month is considered by some to be the best month. Hare Krishna!

Now we are going to have some questions and answers.

Questions: I often wondered if we are offering candles as we have often done in the past, is there less benefit offering Lord Damodar a ghee wick? Kaivalya Sundar dd

Guru maharaj: A ghee wick wrapped around Tulasi is a 100 or 1000 times more auspicious. A ghee wick versus a candle I don’t know what the ratio is. I think a ghee wick is far better but it all depends what is available. If there are not ghee wicks available, then you can use a candle. I saw some devotees making wicks from cotton and then dipping those in ghee and putting them in little clay holders. But in the western countries the clay holders and those who make the wicks may not be available.  So there is a saying that a blind uncle is better than no uncle. There was one child whose parents were killed in an accident. They said do you have any uncle? Then one man he was blind, he said I will be your uncle, and everybody left.  But the boy said that a blind uncle is better than none. So a candle is better than no lamp.

Question: Hare Krishna guru maharaj. How do we introduce Damodar month to non-Indians who have very little or no exposure to Indian culture? Mathura Lileshwari dd.

Guru maharaj: In South America they did not seem to mind offering a candle. The Roman catholics have a tradition to offer candles to their deities. In western countries if you say it is our tradition to offer a candle then usually people go along. You can say this candle destroys bad karma and it is very auspicious. Or this is a lot of fun! Depending on what the audience is like you decide what to say to them. But don’t be too mental. You will be surprised people in Rome like to do what the Romans do.

Question: I want to open my preaching centre as every year to everyone for offering a ghee lamp but I don’t have enough Tulasi sticks. Is it okay if I offer it with regular wood and maybe I can put some powder of dried Tulasi leaves in with the ghee? Annapurna dd

Guru maharaj: You can just offer a ghee wick if you don’t have a Tulasi twig. The Tulasi twig is something very special. But you can only give it to devotees who will appreciate it. Otherwise a ghee wick or candle will suffice. In Mayapur everyone is given ghee clay ghee wicks and a few people are given dry Tulasi twigs with some cotton wrapped at the end.

Question: Guru maharaj Hare Krishna! Dandavat pranam! HARE KRISHNA! (Guru maharaj said).  I am in America staying in a hostel and I am not able to offer Lord Damodar a lamp. What can I do? Jainath

Guru maharaj: Why can’t you offer a candle to Damodar? I think people smoke in the west. So if they can smoke then you can offer a candle. Maybe you can go in a smoking room!! I don’t know why they would restrict you from offering a lamp? Is it due to some prejudice or is it due to a fear that the fire may spread? There must be some place in the facility where fire is allowed. I said the smoking room, that is not the ideal place but they can’t restrict you where fire is allowed. Otherwise you can always offer a mental lamp to Damodar. He also accepts worship in the mind.

So time flies. In Mayapur they have the Mayapur Executive Board meeting. I heard that somewhere in South India they are having the South Indian Divisional Council. But I haven’t found out whom to contact. So this is a day of meeting. Since tomorrow Damodar month is starting, today the caretakers had an urad dal dosa feast. And tonight pizza!! Otherwise they normally have rice, dal, sabzi! My diet goes on!!

Hare Krishna!