Srimad Bhagavad Gita AS IT IS

Bhagavad Gita:   Chapter 6 - Dhyana-yoga

TEXT 41
                        prapya punya-krtam lokan
                          usitva sasvatih samah
                          sucinam srimatam gehe
                         yoga-bhrasto 'bhijayate

WORD FOR WORD
   prapya--after achieving; punya-krtam--of those who performed pious activities; lokan--planets; usitva--after dwelling; sasvatih--many; samah--years; sucinam--of the pious; sri-matam--of the prosperous; gehe--in the house; yoga-bhrastah--one who has fallen from the path of self-realization; abhijayate--takes his birth.

TRANSLATION
   The unsuccessful yogi, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy.

PURPORT
   The unsuccessful yogis are divided into two classes: one is fallen after very little progress, and one is fallen after long practice of yoga. The yogi who falls after a short period of practice goes to the higher planets, where pious living entities are allowed to enter. After prolonged life there, one is sent back again to this planet, to take birth in the family of a righteous brahmana vaisnava or of aristocratic merchants.

   The real purpose of yoga practice is to achieve the highest perfection of Krsna consciousness, as explained in the last verse of this chapter. But those who do not persevere to such an extent and who fail because of material allurements are allowed, by the grace of the Lord, to make full utilization of their material propensities. And after that, they are given opportunities to live prosperous lives in righteous or aristocratic families. Those who are born in such families may take advantage of the facilities and try to elevate themselves to full Krsna consciousness.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

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Prabhupada Uvacha:
(here's some nectar, sometimes it comes in the form of Srutakirti prabhu's diary, other times from Govinda dasi's diary, Hari Sauri prabhu's Transcendental Diary, Bhurijan prabhu's book, or sometimes from a letter, or other related source, but still nectar...)

Cold place is a symptom of sinful life

When we were in Toronto he had told Subhavilasa that a cold place is a symptom of sinful life. He made a practical observation about the weather in West Virginia. "Now here, in this quarter, sun also rising very nicely. Formerly it was not so bright. Due to this Hare Krsna chanting, sun is giving light. Is it not?"

Kirtanananda Maharaja confirmed it. "It is a fact."

"The more people will be sinful, the place will be dark with cloudy. Nature will always disturb. They will not be happy. It is not possible. This is the only way to become happy. So, so far as possible, I have given you some framework. Now you fill up. Make it a nice building."

Even when I mentioned to Srila Prabhupada a little dubiously that the New Vrindaban devotees still buy their vegetable bhoga from the local markets and it did not seem that they very self-sufficient, Prabhupada maintained his positive mood. He said it was all right -- they have the intention, and that is what is required. He repeated what he said in Los Angeles, that Kirtanananda is putting into practice all the ideas he has given.

We began discussing the scientists and their bluffing again and Prabhupada told us a funny story about Gopala Ban, a court jester in West Bengal during the reign of Raja Krsnacandra. By it, Prabhupada cleverly illustrated how scientists obtained their grants. "The Mohammedan Governor of the day had asked him, 'Now, Gopala Ban, I have heard you are very expert. Can you write a similar book as the Mahabharata about my kingdom?'

"'Oh yes, why not? That is not difficult.'

"So he took with him some hundreds of thousands of rupees and again came. 'Give me another ten thousand,' and another ten ... in this way.

"'When will the book be finished? You have taken so much money.'

"'It is just on the verge of being finished.'

Then when he saw that no more money can be taken, 'I have taken so much money ... ' he said, 'Now sir, one information is very essential. Give me and Mahabharata will be finished. Everything is there.'

"'What is that information?'

"'Now, your wife, how many husbands she has got?'

"'This is nonsense!'

"'Eh? Well, that is the main subject matter of Mahabharata. Draupadi had five husbands [the Pandavas], and you are such a great person your wife must have at least one dozen. Otherwise, how Mahabharata will be written?'

"'It is the subject matter of... ?'

"'Yes, that is the only subject matter -- that Draupadi had five husbands. So you are such a big Nawab, your wife must at least have one dozen. So give me their names.'

"So he became very angry. 'Don't talk this nonsense!'

"'Then I cannot finish your Mahabharata. I have already invested!'

"So he took another ten thousand rupees and [the Nawab] he said, 'Stop all this nonsense. That's all right.'"

Srila Prabhupada was laughing all the way through his telling of it, making comical gestures as he relayed the foolishness of the Nawab and the sharp wit of Gopala Ban in taking advantage of his combined ignorance and pride.

"So these rascals," Prabhupada said, meaning the scientists, "they are writing Gopala Ban's Mahabharata, and the rascal government is paying them. They will never be able to produce anything. Challenge them. As soon as you say, 'Make an egg' -- 'That we cannot say!' And they'll chant 'Chemical evolution, chemical evolution' and get Nobel Prize. Rascals. But how the people are so foolish that they believe in this?

Prabhupada repeated his challenge to the scientists to make an egg and produce life. It is something he has said many times. "This is very simple. You see everything, white and yellow. Produce. Chemicals are white. Some chemicals are yellow also. Just like hydroform ... It is yellow. And soda bicarb, white, or potash cyanide is white. So you have got so many chemicals, combine and pack it in a cell, and put underneath the incubator. Why rascal do not do this?"

He emphasized the great fraud they are engaged in. "Beat them with shoes. 'Rascal, you are cheating in this way.' Beat them with shoes. That's all. That is the only punishment. Hundreds of men demand them, that 'Do it, otherwise don't talk nonsense. If you talk nonsense, then we will beat you with all our shoes.' Then they'll stop all this nonsense talk. There is no punishment for their cheating and taking money."

Although his rhetoric was very strong, his tone was devoid of any envy or hatred. In one sense, as a self-realized soul, he is a neutral observer. But in another sense, as Krsna's representative, out of compassion for the suffering conditioned souls, he cannot refrain from condemning the perpetration of illusion which keeps them firmly bound to the material world.

- From the "A Transcendental Diary Vol 3" by HG Hari Sauri dasa

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"Our Condition--Precarious"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.8
Vrndavana, September 7, 1976

Listen to the entire lecture on-line:
http://prabhupadaradio.com/M3U/Bhagavatam/m3u_II/SB116.m3u

Prabhupada: He's not here? Pandita? Where he is?

Hari-sauri: Oh, he's here.

Prabhupada: Read it. (hums)

Pradyumna: (chants om namo bhagavate vasudevaya) Yasyam?

Prabhupada: No, that is finished. Number three. Number eight.

Pradyumna:

sa samhitam bhagavatim
krtvanukramya catma-jam
sukam adhyapayam asa
nivrtti-niratam munih

"The great sage Vyasadeva, after compiling the Srimad-Bhagavatam and revising it, taught it to his own son, Sri Sukadeva Gosvami, who was already engaged in self-realization."

Prabhupada:

sa samhitam bhagavatim
krtvanukramya catma-jam
sukam adhyapayam asa
nivrtti-niratam munih

So this samhita... Samhita means Vedic literature. There are many rascals, they say that "Bhagavata was not written by Vyasadeva, it was written by some Bopadeva." They say like that. Mayavadis, the Nirisvaravadi. Because although Nirisvaravadi, or Mayavadi leader Sankaracarya, he wrote comments on Bhagavad-gita, but he could not touch Srimad-Bhagavatam, because in the Srimad-Bhagavatam the things are so nicely set up, krtvanukramya, that it is not possible by the Mayavadis to prove that God is impersonal. They cannot do it. Nowadays they are doing, reading Bhagavatam in their own way, but that does not appeal to any sane man. Sometimes I have seen a big Mayavadi is explaining one verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, that "Because you are God, therefore if you are pleased, then God is pleased." This is their philosophy. "You do not require to please God separately. So if you are pleased by drinking wine, then God is pleased." This is their explanation. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has condemned this Mayavadi commentary. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. Mayavadi krsne aparadhi. He has plainly said. No compromise. The Mayavadis, they're great offender to Krsna. Tan aham dvisatah kruran, Krsna also says. They're very, very envious to Krsna. Krsna is dvi-bhuja-muralidhara, syamasundara, and the Mayavadi explains that "Krsna has no hand, no leg. This is all imagination." How much offensive it is they do not know. But to warn people like us, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has plainly warned that "Don't go to Mayavadis." Mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. Mayavadi haya krsne aparadhi. This is the statement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

So you should be very, very careful. Don't go to hear any Mayavadi. There are many Mayavadis in the dress of Vaisnavas. Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura has explained about them, that ei 'ta eka kali-cela nake tilaka gale mala, that "Here is a follower of Kali. Although he has got a tilaka on the nose and neck beads, but he's a kali-cela." If he's Mayavadi, sahaja-bhajana kache mama sange laya pare bala. So these things are there. You have come to Vrndavana. Be careful, very careful. Mayavadi-bhasya sunile. There are many Mayavadis here, many so-called tilaka-mala, but you do not know what is there inside. But great acaryas, they can find out.

sruti-smrti-puranadi
pancaratra-vidhim vina
aikantiki harer bhaktir
utpatayaiva kalpate
 [BRS 1.2.101]

They create disturbance only. Therefore we have to follow the Gosvamis, Gosvami literature, especially Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, which we have translated in The Nectar of Devotion, every one of you should very carefully read and make progress. Don't be victimized by the Mayavadi so-called Vaisnava. It is very dangerous.

Therefore it is said, sa samhitam bhagavatim krtvanukramya catma-jam. It is very confidential subject matter. He taught it, instructed to Sukadeva Gosvami. Atma-jam. Like father, like son. There is no difference between son and disciple. Canakya Pandita has equalized,

lalane bahavo dosas
tadane bahavo gunah
tasmat putram ca sisyam ca
tadayen na tu lalayet

That is the, I mean to say, Vedic system -- to teach the son and teach the disciple. If one cannot teach the son -- the son is disobedient -- he should give up his family life. Otherwise a father is in obligation to teach the son properly. But if it is not possible... Sometimes it so happens as family members, they do not take care. Otherwise Vyasadeva's son is expected to become Sukadeva Gosvami. If not, such family connection should be given up. Anukulyasya sankalpah pratikulyasya varjanam. Family life, if it is favorable for advancing Krsna consciousness, it should be accepted; otherwise it should be rejected. Anukulyasya sankalpah pratikulyasya varjanam.

So what was the qualification of Sukadeva Gosvami which induced Vyasadeva to teach him this samhitam? Sukam adhyapayam asa nivrtti-niratam: he has no more attraction for material world. That is the qualification. Nirvrtti. There are two kinds of life: nirvrtti and pravrtti. Pravrtti means materialistic, karmis. Generally karmis, they have got tendency to enjoy this material world. That is called pravrtti. Pravrtti-marga. Pravrttes tu... Pravrtti is natural inclination. Anyone who has come to this material world... Pravrttir esa bhutanam. Everyone is in the pravrtti-marga. What is that pravrtti-marga? The pravrtti-marga is these things: sex, meat-eating, intoxication, like that. This is pravrtti-marga. Pravrttir esa bhutanam nivrttes tu maha-phalam. So the whole Vedic literature is there how to make him stop this pravrtti-marga. That is the whole plan. Otherwise there are many instances, loke vyavayamisa-madya-seva nityas tu jantuh. Nitya. A jantuh, he's called jantuh. Jantuh means animal or no intelligence. Those who are jantuh, they have got this tendency. Pravrttir esa. What is that? Vyavayamisa-madya-seva: sex and meat-eating. Amisa, meat, egg, fish; and madya, intoxication. This is pravrtti. Loke vyavaya. Vyavaya means sex. Amisa-madya-seva nitya tu jantuh. Jantuh means living being, conditioned in the material world, they have got this general tendency. Pravrtti. You will find in animals, in birds, in beasts, and beastly human being, two-legged beast... There are four-legged beasts and two-legged beasts. Four-legged beasts are the animals -- cats, dogs, tigers, etc. Cows, asses. They are four-legged beasts. And there are two-legged beasts, dvi-pada-pasu. It is not manufactured; it is there in the sastra. Dvi-pada-pasu. Dvi means two, and pada means legged. So any human being who is attached to this pravrtti-marga -- sex, meat-eating, intoxication, gambling -- he is dvi-pada-pasu, two-legged animals. This is pravrtti-marga.

Therefore education should be in such a way planned that he should be nirvrtti-marga. Pravrttir esa bhutanam nirvrttes tu maha-phalam. These are general tendency for the conditioned soul. But if anyone can control by training by education these things -- vyavayamisa-madya-seva: sex life, intoxication and meat-eating -- then he's called niratam. He becomes qualified. Vyasadeva preferred to teach Srimad-Bhagavatam to his son Sukadeva Gosvami because he was niratam, nivrtti-niratam. He was engaged. From the very beginning of his life, as soon as he was... It is said for sixteen years within the womb of his mother, he did not come out purposefully so that he may not be materially attached. Because a small child, the baby comes out from the mother's womb. Within the womb, when he's in suffering, he prays to God, "This time kindly release me. Now I shall begin bhagavad-bhajana." One who is little advanced in his previous life... Because it is very, very terrible condition within the womb of the mother. We have forgotten. But we can imagine, if you are packed up in a bag and put hand and legs tightly knotted, just imagine. You cannot live even for three minutes. They say if you are airtight packed-up like that, as we are put into the womb of the mother, we cannot exist more than three minutes. But we existed by the mercy of Krsna. Only by the mercy. That is also nowadays very dangerous. In that packed-up condition, he's there, he's already suffering, and the mother is planning to go to the doctor and kill the child. Just imagine how precarious condition in the womb of the mother. And if we do not try in this life that "I shall not again enter into the womb of the mother," then what is the value of this life? We have to learn it from the sastra. You cannot see actually, but the medical science explains that a child is placed in this way. In Bhagavata also it is stated how the child grows his body, how it is put into that precarious condition.

So one should be senseful, that "So much suffering awaiting..." Tatha dehantara-praptih. And Krsna says, "You have to accept another body." Not that death is finish. They have made it a very easy formula, that after death everything is finished -- because they are rascals. They do not take lesson from Krsna. Krsna said, tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati: [Bg. 2.13] you have to change your body. But these rascals, they do not know. "What kind of body I'm going to get? How the body is going to be changed? No, don't care. Go on." Mudha janmani janmani [Bg. 16.20]. Mudha-yonisu. They do not even try to understand wherefrom so many varieties of life are coming -- jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati. And still they are passing on as scientist. What science? It is only ignorance. If you have to study science, you have to take it from Krsna. Krsna said, tatha dehantara-praptih. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. According to your guna you are creating your next body. Just like according to the infection of a certain disease you are creating your future diseased condition, similarly sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. There are three kinds of the modes of material nature, and as you associate with the three kinds of material nature, you prepare your next body. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita: urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. If you associate with sattva-guna, then you are promoted to the higher planetary system: Janaloka, Maharloka, Tapoloka. But these rascals, they do not know; still they make an estimate. And what is that estimate? Wherever they go they find only rocks and sands. That's all. There are so many lokas. Each loka is full of living entities, and these rascals are simply taking photograph of rocks and sands. Just see their position. And they are passing on as scientist. How misleading these things are, and how people are being misled. You see.

So Kali-yuga is a very precarious condition: no knowledge, ignorance, and no nirvrtti. Everyone is in pravrtti. So whatever their condition may be, but if you want actually freedom from this material conditional life, then you should follow acarya. Acaryavan purusah. Acaryopasanam. Krsna is personally acting as acarya. He's coming again as acarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He has got so many representatives acarya: Sri Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka, Visnusvami, so many acaryas. Evam parampara-praptam. So take lesson from the acaryas. Sukadeva Gosvami is acarya. Vyasadeva is acarya. He's making the next acarya by teaching him -- adhyapayam asa, sukam adhyapayam asa -- so that he is becoming acarya. So we have to go the acarya and take lesson. Then, in the previous verse we are advised,

yasyam vai sruyamanayam
krsne parama-puruse
bhaktir utpadyate pumsah
soka-moha-bhayapaha

This is wanted. We are always perplexed with soka, moha and bhaya. If you want to get out of it, then read Srimad-Bhagavatam. Now if you are... If you say that "I'm uneducated, illiterate. I cannot read," there is no need of reading. Hear. Yasyam vai sruyamanayam. Simply hear. But hear from the right person, Sukadeva Gosvami. Not rascals, professionals. Then it will be useless. Here... Why? Anyone knows some grammar or little literary education. Why...? Sukadeva Gosvami had no opportunity to go to a school. Sukadeva Gosvami... Sukadeva Gosvami, as soon as he took birth, after sixteen years keeping himself within the womb of the mother, immediately left home. So where is the possibility of taking education? And he was given instruction while he was in the womb of his mother.

So these things are sometimes inconceivable. But it is not inconceivable. It is possible to... Our real point is that Sukadeva Gosvami was not a grammarian, but he learned everything from his father by hearing. Therefore it is called sruyamanayam. If you hear from the right person, properly, then you become perfect. There is no need of literary education. Therefore Vedas are called sruti. Sruti means... Formerly the students, they were learning everything. Their memory was so nice and sharp that simply by hearing from guru's mouth they would learn. In the Kali-yuga, because the memory is not so str... [break] ...Vyasadeva recorded this in writing, that "The rascals will come henceforward. They will have not very sharp brain, memory, so let me keep this literature in writing so that in future they may take advantage of it. Or somebody will read and they will hear. In this way their life will be successful."

So Sukadeva Gosvami is the next acarya, but one has to learn from the original acarya. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. So unless we come to the parampara system, acarya after acarya, there is no right education. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu's private secretary, personal secretary, Svarupa Damodara, he advised, bhagavat para giya bhagavat sthane. If you want to learn Srimad-Bhagavatam, you go to a person whose life is Bhagavatam. Grantha bhagavata and person bhagavata -- both of them bhagavatas. So bhagavat para giya bhagavat sthane. One whose life is Bhagavatam and nothing else, you should learn Bhagavatam from him, not from the professional person who are earning livelihood by reading or reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam. That will not be effective. You have to find out like Sukadeva Gosvami. Then this study of Srimad-Bhagavatam will be effective.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.8 -- Vrndavana, September 7, 1976

The pious and saintly Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “Oh Lord, You have so nicely explained to us the wonderful glories of the Saphalaa Ekaadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight  (Krishna paksha) of the month of Pausha (December – January). Now please be merciful to me and explain to me the details of the Ekaadasi that occurs in the light fortnight (Shukla or Gaura paksha) of this month. What is its name, and what Deity is to be worshipped on that sacred day? Oh Purushottama, Oh Hrishikesha, please also tell me how You can be pleased on this day?

Lord Sri Krishna then replied, “Oh saintly king, for the benefit of all humanity I shall now tell you how to observe fasting on the Pausha-shukla Ekaadasi.
 As previously explained, everyone should observe the rules and regulations of the Ekaadasi vrata, to the very best of their ability. This injunction also applies to the Ekaadasi named Putradaa, which destroys all sins and elevates one to the spiritual abode. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Shri Narayana, the original personality, is the worshippable Deity of the Ekaadasi, and for His faithful devotees He happily fulfills all desires and awards full perfection. Thus among all the animate and inanimate beings in the three worlds (lower, middle and higher planetary systems), there is no better personality than Lord Narayana.
 “Oh King, now I shall narrate to you the history of Putradaa Ekaadasi, which removes all kinds of sins and makes one famous and learned.

 “There was once a kingdom named Bhadraavati, which was ruled by King Suketumaan. His queen was the famous Shaibyaa. Because he had no son, he spent a long time in anxiety, thinking, ‘If I have no son, who will carry on my dynasty?’ In this way the king meditated in a religious attitude for a very long time, thinking, ‘Where should I go? What should I do? How can I get a pious son (putra)? In this way King Suketumaan could find no happiness anywhere in his kingdom, even in his own palace, and soon he was spending more and more time inside his wife’s palace, gloomily thinking only of how he could get a son.

 “Thus both King Suketumaan and Queen Shaibyaa were in great distress. Even when they offered tarpana (oblations of water to their forefathers), their mutual misery made them think that it was as undrinkable as boiling water. They thus thought that they would have no descendants to offer tarpana to them when they died and thus become lost souls (ghosts). The king and queen were especially upset to learn that their forefathers were worried that soon there would be no one to offer them tarpana also.

 “After learning of their forefathers unhappiness, the king and queen became more and more miserable, and neither ministers, nor friends, nor even loved ones could cheer them up. To the king, his elephants and horses and infantry were no solace, and at last he became practically inert and helpless.

 “The king thought to himself, ‘It is said that without a son, marriage is wasted. Indeed, for a family man with no son, both his heart and his splendid house remain vacant and miserable. Bereft of a son, a man cannot liquidate the debts that he owes his forefathers, the demigods (devas) and to other human beings. Therefore every married man should endeavour to beget a son; thus he will become famous within this world and at last attain the auspicious celestial realms. A son is proof of the pious activities a man performed in his past one hundred lifetimes, and such a person achieve a long duration of life in this world, along with good health and great wealth. Possessing sons and grandsons in this lifetime proves that one has worshipped Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the past. The great blessing of sons, wealth, and sharp intelligence can be achieved only by worshipping the Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna. That is my opinion.’

 “Thinking thus, the king had no peace. He remained in anxiety day and night, from morning to evening, and from the time he lay down to sleep at night until the sun rose in the morning, his dreams were equally full of great anxiety. Suffering such constant anxiety and apprehension, King Suketumaan decided to end his misery by committing suicide. But he realized that suicide throws a person into hellish conditions of rebirth, and so he abandoned that idea. Seeing that he was gradually destroying himself by his all consuming anxiety over the lack of a son, the king at last mounted his horse and left for the dense forest alone. No one, not even the priests and brahmins of the palace, knew where he had gone.

 “In that forest, which was filled with deer and birds and other animals, King Suketumaan wandered aimlessly, noting all the different kinds of trees and shrubs, such as the fig, bel fruit, date palm, jackfruit, bakula, saptaparnaa, tinduka, and tilaka, as well as the shala, taala, tamaala, saralaa, hingotaa, arjuna, labheraa, bahedaa, sallaki, karondaa, patala, khaira, shaka, and palaasha trees. All were beautifully decorated with fruits and flowers. He saw deer, tigers, wild boar, lions, monkeys, snakes, huge bull elephants in a rut, cow elephants with their calves, and four tusked elephants with their mates close by. There were cows, jackals, rabbits, leopards, and hippopotamuses. Beholding all these animals accompanied by their mates and offspring, the king remembered his own menagerie, especially his palace elephants, and became so sad that he absentmindedly wandered into their very midst.

 “Suddenly the king heard a jackal howl in the distance. Startled, he began wandering about, looking around in all directions. Soon it was midday, and the king started to tire. He was tormented by hunger and thirst also. He thought, ‘What sinful deed could possibly have done so that I am now forced to suffer like this, with my throat parched and burning, and my stomach empty and rumbling? I have pleased the devas (demigods) with numerous fire sacrifices and abundant devotional worship. I have given many gifts and delicious sweets in  charity to all the worthy brahmins too. And I have taken care of my subjects as though they were my very own children. Why then am I suffering so? What unknown sins have come to bear fruit and torment me in this dreadful way?’

 “Absorbed in these thoughts, King Suketumaan struggled forward, and eventually, due to his pious credits, he came upon a beautiful lotus bearing pond that resembled the famous Lake Maanasarova. It was filled with aquatics, including crocodiles and many varieties of fish, and graced with varieties of lilies and lotuses. The beautiful lotuses had opened to the Sun, and swans, cranes and ducks swam happily in its waters. Nearby were many attractive ashramas, where there resided many saints and sages who could fulfill the desires of anyone. Indeed, they wished everyone well. When the king saw all this, his right arm and right eye began to quiver, a sakuna sign (for a male) that something auspicious was about to happen.

 “As the king dismounted his horse and stood before the sages, who sat on the shore of the pond, he saw that they were chanting the holy names of God on japa beads. The king paid his obeisances and, joining his palms, addressed them with glorified praises. Observing the respect the king offered them, the sages said, ‘We are very pleased with you, Oh king. Kindly tell us why you have come here. What is on your mind? Please inform us what is your heart’s desire.’

 “The king replied, ‘Oh great sages, who are you? What are your names, surely your presence reveals that you are auspicious saints? Why have you come to this beautiful place? Please tell me everything.’
 “The sages replied, ‘Oh king, we are known as the ten Vishvadevas (the sons of Vishva; Vasu, Satya, Kratu, Daksha, Kaala, Kaama, Dhriti, Pururavaa, Maadrava, and Kuru). We have come here to this very lovely pond to bathe. The month of Magha (Madhava mase) will soon be here in five days (from the Magh nakshatra), and today is the famous Putradaa Ekaadasii. One who desires a son should strictly observe this particular Ekaadasii.’

 “The king said, ‘I have tried so hard to have a son. If you great sages are pleased with me, kindly grant the boon of having a good son (putra).’
 “ ‘The very meaning of Putradaa,’ the sages replied, ‘…is “giver of a putra, pious son.” So please observe a complete fast on this Ekaadasii day. If you do so, then by our blessing – and by the mercy of Lord Sri Keshava invested in us – surely you will obtain a son.’
 “On the advice of the Vishvadevas, the king observed the auspicious fast day of Putradaa Ekaadasii according to the established rules and regulations, and on the Dvaadasii, after breaking his fast, he paid obeisances again and again to all of them.

 “Soon after Suketumaan returned to his palace and united with his queen. Queen Shaibya immediately became pregnant, and exactly as the Vishvadevas had predicted, a bright faced, beautiful son was born to them. In due course of time he became famous as an heroic prince, and the king gladly pleased his noble son by making him his successor. The son of Suketumaan took care of his subjects very conscientiously, just as if they were his own children.

 “In conclusion, Oh Yudhisthira, one who wises to fulfill his desires should strictly observe Putradaa Ekaadasii. While on this planet, one who strictly observes this Ekaadasii will surely obtain a son, and after death he will achieve liberation. Anyone who even reads or hears the glories of Putradaa Ekaadasii obtains the merit earned by performing an horse sacrifice. It is to benefit all humanity that I have explained all this to you.”

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Pausha-shukla Ekaadasii, or Putradaa Ekaadasii, from the Bhavishya Purana of Veda Vyaasadeva.

These stories have been summarized and slightly changed, abbreviated or added to from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press.

This particular Ekaadasii is to be found between Pages 33-38.

The following has been translated from an article in Sadachara Vybhavam of the great Vaishnava devotee Sripad Madhwacharya.

Today is "Makara Sankranti" -- which is celebrated when the Sun begins the northward journey, marking the beginning of the "uttaraayaNa puNyakaalam". Sun enters the sign of "Makara", (Capricorn) from Cancer at this time. (This is also called equinox, when the day and nights are exactly the same). Starting this day, the duration of day starts to increase until "dakshiNaayanam" comes. Makara Sankranti signifies two things. One is the changing path of Sun and other is the beginning of "Uttarayana Punyakaala" Makara literally means "Capricorn" and sankranti means "change" or 'sankramaNa' literally means 'crossing'. On this day, it is said that Sun passes from one Zodiac sign to another. A sankranti or sankramaNa marks the beginning of every solar month in the Vedic calendrical system when Sun passes from one sign to the other, it's the cusp of the months as astro-wallas call. But, being solar based the change of January 14th or 15th of every year is considered more sacred than any other month, as it is the beginning of Uttarayana Punyakaala.

On this day, devotees prepare a dish made of green grams, rice and jaggery (sarkkarai pongal) - representing Lord Narayana, Laxmi and Their Divine love. The festival reminds us that we need to establish that Divine Love within ourselves and give a direction to this "chanchala buddhi" and fix it our Lord Narayana, who brings light in our lives.

 This same festival is celebrated as Pongal in the South of India.  Harvest is brought home the new rice is then boiled in milk to make the sweet called "chakrapongali", the special cuisine of the eve. This harvest festival is celebrated for 3 days. The delicacy is first offered to Sun God, the chief deity under worship, that is later distributed to all as prasadam. The harvest is celebrated as being blessed with Dhanyalakshmi and a splendid feast is shared by all after the Ishta Devatha pujas.

Traditionally, this period is considered an auspicious time and the veteran Bhishma of Mahabharata chose to die during this period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjuna. With his boon to choose the time of his death, he waited on a bed of arrows to depart from this world only during this period.  Sri Bhishma Pitamaha waited on the bed of arrows till the "uttaraayaNa punyakaalam" has arrived, and then breathed once more, for the last time. It is believed that one escapes the cycle of repeated birth and death, if one gives up one's body on this day. The uttarAyaNa (norther course of the Sun) was traditionally considered more auspicious than the dakshiNAyana (southern course of the Sun). Over the years, this led some to believe that dying during dakshiNAyana, the southern path of the sun, was inauspicious and did not lead to moksha - release - liberation.
        This belief is cast aside in the Brahma-Sutras that the time of death is immaterial in the case of the intelligent devotee. In those Sutras 4.2.19-20, it is established that one who has knowledge of the Lord can die during any time; the exaltations of uttarAyaNa are merely to praise meditation on the path to Vaikuntha, which the wise devotees jIva takes upon death.  This divine path beginning with light, is presided upon by deities of greater and greater brilliance, with uttarAyaNa being one of them. This marga - path culminates in Vaikuntha, the state of moksha, and shastra says it should be meditated upon daily by the yogi of devotion.

Sesame oil is used in making sweets and dishes, particularly on this day. It is believed that sesame seeds are used for purificatory purposed (or as being auspicious - "tila juhomi sarasaagum sapishhThaam gandhaara mama chitteramanutu swaaha", "tila krishnaa tila shevataa tila saumyaa vashaanugaa"...).

So generally special offerings of til (sesame) rice and corn (first harvest) are offered and distributed, especially preparations of rice kitcheri with sesame and corn are a prefered offering to the Lord on this day. In different parts of India slight variations (gauna - local traditions prevail) but the gereral observance is much the same. In the South of India they absorb themselves in the festival of Pongal - new harvest festival.

Some devotees also have elaborate festivals offering six kinds of sesame preparation in the service of the Lord on Sat-tila ekadasi:

See the following links just below for some interesting insights:

Other information about Makara sankranti - lincluding local traditions - festivals:

The wide range of festivities can better be witnessed by one along the countryside than in the urban localities. The festivities last the whole of Dhanurmasam, ending with Sankranti.

Gobbemmalu – Young girls are seen to put up Gobbemmalu. These are round balls of cow dung that are decorated with vermilion, turmeric and coloured flowers. These are placed in the middle of the bright muggus in the front yards of the dwellings and are worshipped with Navadhanyas (nine types of grains) to welcome the Lakshmi, the Goddess of abundance and prosperity. Spinsters worship for good husbands on the occasion. After this, the women folk get gathered to sing and dance to the accompaniment around these gobbis.

Many a traditional folk form add glory to the festive scenario. Haridasulu (Madhwas) are seen singing eulogies of the Almighty and seeking arms from the people in the early hours of the days. Gangireddu Ata, is another festival where trained oxen dance to the tunes of the Nagaswaram played by their master is a great attraction - probably not too many in Auckland. Kommudasarulu & PittalaDora are other folklore that brighten the days with their healthy humour - we can handle that......I got some one liners.....

Kites – kites are seen soaring high in the sky on the day of Makara Sankranti. This is symbolic of the existence of mankind, with the kites depicting the human lives and the manza depicting the eternal bond between us and the divine self. People however seem to correlate the soaring kites with their high spirits on the eve of Makara sankranti. Competitions held with kites of all sizes and shapes and the sharp edged manza draw people on the terraces and in open grounds to witness the riot of colours - fun for the gurukulis.

In some places they have the focus on the newly married couples who are presented with special gifts and clothes.

Makara Sankranti - info:
http://www.indiainformation.com/festival/sankaranti.htm

Makara Sankranti and Ganga Sagar mela:
http://in.geocities.com/biswas_anirban/Makar.html

Sankranti
http://www.andhratoday.com/festival/sank.htm

Ganga Sagar mela - West Bengal tourist board:
http://www.travel-westbengal.com/fes_ganga.htm

Ganga Sagar Mela - A dip for Moksha:
http://www.indiaprofile.com/pilgrimage/gangasagarmela.htm

One month preceding Sankranti is called Dhanurmasam and is also an auspicious period. People wake up early, complete their morning ablutions and go around the streets singing devotional songs. Houses are whitewashed and farmers clean their warehouses. Colourful Rangooli / muggulu are drawn in the front yards of every house during this month. These artistic floral designs are drawn on the floor with rice flour or fine powder of limestone. These patterns are decorated with colors and adorned with marigold placed on cowdung balls. Colourfully dressed young girls go round them singing songs (gobbi patalu).

Ganga Sagara festival (Makara Sankranti Mela)
Ganga Puja
The Bi-annual Paraya Festival in Udupi

South Indian Pongal (Harvest Festival) on Makara Sankrati:

Kumbha Mela - Magh Mela

The followers of Madhwacharya's view of Makara Sankranti

Balaram Rasayatra:

Skanda Purana 2.2 chapter 42 describes Sri Krishna Pusya abhiseka as one of the festivals observed for Lord Jagannath in Puri. This chapter gives an elaborate description of the rituals for observing the  festival.

In the 27th chapter text 99 of the same section of Skanda Purana the pusya naksatra is also mentioned. There it is said that it was on a Thursday, astami tithi, during sukla-paksa of the month of Vaishakha in conjuction with the pusya-naksatra that that Lord Jagannath was installed in the original temple in Puri.

' Krsna Pusya abhiseka -- During the morning puja, or worship, the Deity or a salagrama is bathed in pure ghee. Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: "Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis decided that we shall decorate Him. Pusyabhisheka means a ceremony to decorate the deity profusely with flowers, ornaments, cloths. After there should be lavish feasting and a procession through the streets, so that all the citizens should see how beautiful Krishna appears." ' (Krsna-priya Devi Dasi, Vaisnava Academy - Alachua)

Sat-TilA EkAdasii

---

Sri Daalbhya Rishi said to Palastya Muni, "When the spirit soul comes in contact with the material energy, he immediately begins to perform sinful activities, such as stealing, killing, and illicit sex. He may even perform many other terrible deeds, such as killing a brahmin. Oh purest of personalities, please tell me how these unfortunate souls may escape the punishment of being sent to hellish regions of creation. Kindly inform me how, by giving even a little in charity, one may be easily released from the reactions of his sins."

Pulastya Muni replied, "Oh fortunate one, you have asked me an important and confidential question, which not even Brahmaa, Vishnu, Shiva or Indra has ever asked. Please listen very carefully to my answer.
    "With the arrival of the month of Magh (January - February), one should bathe, carefully control his senses by giving up lust, anger, pride, jealousy, faultfinding, and greed, and meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna. One should then gather up some cow dung before it touches the ground and, after mixing it with sesame seeds and cotton, form 108 balls. This should be done on the day when the constellation of Purva-ashadha nakshatra arrives. then one should follow the rules and regulations of Sri Ekaadasii, which I shall now explain to you.
    "After bathing, the person who intends to observe Ekaadasii should worship the Supreme Lord. While praying to Lord Sri Krishna by chanting His holy name, he should promise to observe the Ekaadasii fast. He should remain awake overnight and perform a homa (fire sacrifice). Then the devotee should perform an Arati ceremony for the pleasure of the Lord - Who holds a conch, disk, club, and so on in His hands - offering Him sandalwood paste to his feet, incense, camphor, a bright ghee lamp, and delicious food preparations. Next the devotee should offer the 108 balls of cow dung, sesame seeds, and cotton wool into the sacred fire whilst chanting such holy names of the Lord as Purusha sukta, and other names. Throughout the whole day and night he should also observe the standard Ekaadasii vrata (fast, which in this case is a fast from all kinds of grains and beans). On this occasion one should offer the Lord pumpkin, coconut, and guava. If these items are unavailable, betel nut may be substituted.
    "The devotee should pray to Lord Sri Janardana, the benefactor of all living beings, in this way; 'Oh Lord Sri Krishna, You are the most merciful Personality of Godhead and the giver of liberation to all fallen souls.  Oh Lord, we have fallen into the ocean of material existence. Please be kind to us. Oh lotus-eyed divinity, please accept our most humble, affectionate and respectful obeisances. Oh protector of the entire world, we offer You our humble respects again and again. Oh Supreme Spirit, Oh Supreme One, Oh source of all our forefathers, may You and Your eternal consort, Srimati Laxmi-devi, please accept these humble offerings.'
    "The devotee should then try to please a qualified brahmin with a warm welcome, a pot full of water (purna kumbha), an umbrella, a pair of shoes, and clothes (cloth - dhoti, and anga vaastra), requesting him at the same time to bestow his blessings, by which one may develop unalloyed love for Lord Sri Krishna. According to one's ability, one may also donate a black cow to such a brahmin, particularly to one who is very well versed in all the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures. One should also offer him a pot full of sesame seeds.
    "Oh exalted Daalbhya Muni,  black sesame seeds are especially suitable for formal worship and fire sacrifices while white or brown ones are meant to be eaten by a qualified brahmin. One who can arrange to give both kinds of sesame seeds (black and white or brown) especially on this Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii day will be promoted to at least the heavenly planets after leaving this present body, for as many thousands of years as the number of seeds that would be produced if the seeds he donated were sown in the ground and grew into mature, seed bearing plants.
    "On this Ekaadasii a faithful person should (1) bathe in the water mixed with sesame seeds, (2) rub sesame seed paste on his body, (3) offer sesame seeds into the fire in sacrifice, (4) eat sesame seeds, (5) give sesame seeds away in charity, (6) accept charitable gifts of sesame seeds. These are the six (sat) ways in which sesame seeds (tilaa) are utilised for spiritual purification on this Ekaadasii. Therefore it is called Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.
    "The great Devarishi Naarad Muni once asked the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, 'Oh mighty armed Lord, Oh You who are so affectionate to Your loving devotees, please accept my most humble obeisances. Oh Yaadava, kindly tell me the result one obtains by observing Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.'
    "Lord Sri Krishna replied, 'Oh best of the twice born brahmins, I shall narrate to you an account of an incident I personally witnessed. Long ago on earth there lived an old female brahmini who worshipped Me every day with controlled senses. She very faithfully observed many a fast, especially on special days honouring Me (My various appearance days Janmaasthami, Rama-navami, Vaman Dwadasi, Nrisimha Chaturdasi, Varaha Dwadasi, Gaura Purnima, etc. - Calendar) and served Me with full devotion, devoid of any personal motive. Her rigorous fasting made her quite weak and thin. She gave charity to brahmanas and to young maidens (kanyas), and even planned to give away her house in charity.  Oh best of the brahmanas although this spiritually minded woman gave charitable donations to worthy people, the odd feature of her austerity was that she never gave food to brahmanas or the devas (demigods).
    "'I began to reflect on this curious omission:  "This fine woman has purified herself by fasting on all the auspicious occasions and by offering Me strict devotional worship.  Therefore she certainly has become eligible to enter My personal abode, which is unattainable by ordinary persons."  So I came down to this planet to examine her, disguising Myself as a follower of Lord Shiva's, complete with a garland of skulls draped around My neck and a begging pot (kumandalu) in My hand.
    "'As I approached her, she said toMe, "Oh respectful one, tell me truthfully why You have come before me."
    "'I replied, "Oh beautiful one, I have come to get some sacred alms from you" - whereupon she angrily threw a dense lump of mud into My begging pot!  Oh Naarada Muni I simply turned around and went back to My personal abode, astonished at this fine brahmani's peculiar mixture of great magnanimity and stinginess.
    "'At last this austere lady reached the spiritual world in her self-same body, so great were her efforts at fasting and charity.  And because she had indeed offered Me a lump of mud, I transformed that mud into a beautiful home.  However, Oh Naradaji, this particular house was just like that mud completely devoid of any edible grains, as well as any furniture or ornamentation, and when she entered it she found only an empty structure.  She therefore approached Me and said with great anger, "I have fasted repeatedly on so many auspicious occasions, making my body weak and thin.  I have worshipped You and prayed to You in so many different ways for You are truly the master and protector of all the universes.  Yet despite all this there is no food or wealth to be seen in my new home, Oh Janardana, please tell me.  Why is this?"
    "'I replied, "Please return to your house.  Sometime later the wives of the devas (demigods) will pay you a visit out of curiosity to see the new arrival, but do not open your door until they have described to you the glories and importance of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii."
    "'Hearing this, she returned to her house.  Eventually the devas' wives arrived there and in unison said, "Oh beautiful one, we have come to have your darshan.  Oh auspicious one, please open the doorto your house and let us see you.
    "'The lady replied, "Oh most dear ones, if you want me to open this door, you will have to describe to me the merit one obtains by observing the sacred fast of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii."  But to this request, not even one of the wives responded.
    "'Later, however, they returned to the house, and one of the wives nicely explained the sublime nature of this sacred Ekaadasii.  And when the lady at last opened her door, they saw that she was neither a demigoddess, a Gandharvi, a she-demon, nor even a Naga-patni.  She was simply an ordinary human lady.
    "'From then on the lady observed Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii, which awards ALL material enjoyment and liberation at the same time, as it has been described to her.  And she finally received the beautiful furnishings and grains she had expected for her home.  Moreover, her once ordinary material body was transformed into a beautiful spiritual form made of sac-cid-ananda (eternality, knowledge,and bliss), with a fine complexion.  So, by the mercy and grace of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii, both the lady and her new home in the spiritual world were at last radiantly splendid and lustrous with gold, silver, jewels, and diamonds.
    "'Oh Naradaji, a person should not ostentatiously observe Ekaadasii out of greed, with the hope of attaining wealth dishonestly.  Selflessly, he should simply donate sesame seed, clothes, and food according to his capacity, for by doing so he will achieve good health and exalted spiritual consciousness, birth after birth.  Ultimately, he will begiven release from the bonds of this world (liberation) and admittance into the Lord's supreme abode will be his to enjoy.  That is my opinion, Oh best of the demigods deva-rishis).'
    "Oh Daalbhya Muni," Pulastya Rishi concluded, "one who properly observes this wonderful Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii with great faith become free from all kinds of poverty - spiritual, mental, physical, social, and intellectual - as well as all kinds of ill luck and evil omens (sakuna).  Indeed, following this Ekaadasii fast by donating, sacrificing, or eating sesame seeds frees one of all past sin, without a doubt. One need not wonder how this happens.  The rare soul who properly performs these acts of charity in the right devotional mood, following the Vedic injunctions, will become utterly free of all sinful reactions and go back to Godhead, back home to the spiritual world."

These stories have been summarised and slightly changed or abbreviated from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press. pages 39-44.