20210603 Question and Answer Session

The following is a Question & Answer Session given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on June 3rd, 2021 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India.

Question: Here Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi understood his mistake when Lord Jagannātha and Lord Balarāma enacted Their punishment pastime. But I commit many offences, and sometimes I cannot even understand my offences. So in such circumstances how am I to ask for forgiveness from you and from Lord Kṛṣṇa so that you may completely forgive me?

—Bhāgyaśrī devī dāsī

Jayapatākā Swami: We should pray to Kṛṣṇa that I have committed many offences, knowingly or unknowingly, please forgive me.

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Question: Sometimes we hear non-devotees criticize devotees or our movement. Sometimes we are in a situation when we cannot say anything to them. What should we do in such situations because their words might have bad or huge impact on others too? Please kindly enlighten.

—Keya Rāṇī, Śyāmadeśa

Jayapatākā Swami: So there are three options: Like Satī devī, you can immediately burn yourself up and if that is not possible, then you can protest and defeat that person. If that is not possible, then leave the place.

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Question: We know that Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi is an incarnation of Vṛṣabhānu mahārāja. So he is like the father of Lord Jagannātha. So giving him a slap or punishing him - is it appropriate or correct?

—Śyāma Muralī dāsa

Jayapatākā Swami: Even if we take the position of being a parent of Kṛṣṇa, but still doing it as a service. So Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi, he is acting as a devotee, he is not acting as a parent. Although he may have been a parent in the previous līlā, he is not a parent in this līlā. So the Lord is chastising him as a special mercy.