Page 47 - Powerful Feminine Qualities

We should read the sastras to understand how Krishna protects His devotees. When Bhisma was speaking to Kunti
Devi, he told her, “What happened to you and the Pandavas is unspeakable. No ordinary person could have gone
through so many sufferings. They would have given up. But you were able to do it for three reasons.
1. You were protected by following the principles of Krishna consciousness or dharma.
2. You were protected by the blessings of your gurus.
3. You were protected by Krishna Himself.
These are the reasons why you survived. Any ordinary person would have succumbed, given up, or died. However, you
were able to go through all sorts of tribulations without wavering in your determination.”
If you do not have father, husband or son, you still have the principles of Krishna consciousness. You have the
possibility of having a bona fide guru who is the representative of Krishna. In addition, you have Krishna Himself. You
will be able to survive even in the most hostile environment because you have protection of these three. Or as we say,
sri-caitanya-nityananda sri-advaita-sita
hari guru vaishnava bhagavata gita
All glories to Sri Caitanya and Nityananda! All glories to Sri Advaita Acarya and His consort, Sri Sita Thakurani. All
glories to Lord Hari, to the spiritual master, the Vaishnavas, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Srimad Bhagavad-Gita.
Those four things will keep your sanity, and will keep your safety intact so that you can continue in Krishna
consciousness: Hari, Guru, Vaishnava, Bhagavad-gita.

Women are influenced by the goodness and organizational skills of their husbands who engage everything in the
service of Krishna
Lord Krishna gave the perfect example of an ideal householder during His pastimes in Dwarka. His exemplary life as a
householder should be followed, but not imitated because human beings do not have the infinite power of the Lord.
Therefore, we should follow the example of His daily activities such as waking up very early every day, meditating,
bathing, putting on clean clothes, engaging in religious activities like offering oblations into the sacred fire, silently
chanting the Gayatri mantra, offering specific prayers to the sun-god, demigods, great sages, and the forefathers.
The Lord has no specific duty to perform because He is perfect in all respects. Yet, He acts just like an ordinary man to
instruct others how to properly act. The method of offering “tarpana,” dutiful service for great personalities such as
elders and also departed ancestors for their pleasure was a daily activity of the Lord. It is the duty of the householder
to make his family, immediate and extended including the deceased members, happy by offering choice articles such
sanctified food to them periodically.
Every day Krishna gave many groups of 13,084 cows decorated with a silken cloth, pearl necklace, and gold-plated
horns and silver-plated hooves in charity to Brahmanas. All the cows were laden with heavy udders full of milk
because their first-born calves accompanied them. The cows were peaceful and affectionate towards people. The
Brahmanas were given silken garments, a deerskin for sitting during meditation, and a sufficient quantity of sesame
seeds. The Lord is described as go-brahmana-hiyaya ca – He specifically pays loving attention to cows and Brahmanas.
He also looked after the welfare of all living entities for whom He would touch auspicious articles such as milk, honey,
ghee (clarified butter), gold, jewels and fire. His favorite attire was yellow garments and He would adorn Himself with
His necklace of Kaustubha jewels.
Krishna wore fresh flower garlands applied sandalwood pulp and other natural cosmetics on His skin and decorated
His body with ornaments. The Lord would look at marble statues of cows with their calves. He visited temples of
Vishnu and demigods like Lord Siva. The Lord would greet numerous Brahmanas who visited Him daily.
Many people from different castes would also come to see the Lord, who treated them with appropriate respect and
pleased them by fulfilling their desires. Seeing them pleased the Lord became very happy. All the articles offered to
the Lord like flower garlands, betel nuts, sandalwood pulp and other fragrant cosmetics were distributed by Him to
Brahmanas, elderly members of His family, His queens, and ministers in audience. He also organized the distribution
of sanctified food (prasadam) to the general population of Dwarka and other places.

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