Normally we add the madhupak and bathing water to make caranamrta. On ekadasi since madhupak has honey [which is not recommended for consumption on Ekadasi] what to do? What are your ideas on this?
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South Africa
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Re: Caranamrta on ekadasi
Wed, July 4, 2007 - 7:33 AMHari bol prabhu.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Prabhupada never set up a standard of avoiding honey on ekadashi (or even avoiding tomatoes, spinach, spices except rock salt, or any of the other things that are prevalent these days...) So I see it as ok. Although there is no harm in observing these rules recommended by sastra, if they help with your vrata, the real purpose of ekadashi: to dedicate more time to serving Krishna and minimise our bodily needs, this is the real purpose of ekadashi.
Also usually in larger temples the deities are bathed with pancamrita everyday which includes honey...
I hope I haven't spoken too bluntly here, but getting bogged down in rules and regulations is something we see here a lot at the Manor with certain sectors of the congregation - that too is an offense: niyamaagraha / niyamagraha (please someone, correct me as to which one this is...) Prabhupada by his mercy removed much of this, and simply told us to chant 16 rounds minimum and abide the 4 regs, and by His mercy this is enough for us to return back to godhead.
Your servant,
Krish. -
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Re: Caranamrta on ekadasi
Wed, July 4, 2007 - 7:46 AMjai krish prabhu, thank u for saying this, i appreciate it. as well as many other devotees im sure.
and it is quite true that prabhupada didnt implement avoiding honey on ekadasi, nor mustard seeds (he ate them in his fave ekadasi prep) but that is another matter.... -
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Re: Caranamrta on ekadasi
Wed, July 4, 2007 - 12:41 PMI've always wondered about the standard for charanamrita niralajala ekadashi when doing a complete fast, is charanamrit still taken?
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Re: Caranamrta on ekadasi
Wed, July 4, 2007 - 7:05 PMInteresting side note... The Boston deities are not bathed in panchamrita daily...only on festivals. Daily bathing consists of scented oil massage, and bathing with rose-scented water. Some of this is collected (esp from the smaller deities) and given as caranamrita... On festivals, when there is a public abhisheka, there is of course caranamrita with fruit juices, yoghurt, honey, milk, etc...and buckets and buckets of it too...
Ekadasi... if it's not a grain or a bean (or mustard)...then it's edible. I feel personally that this is the extent I can do at present time. I've also found that fasting isn't my spiritual forte, so I do what I must, and try to read, chant, and do more service, esp for the temple deities, and pitch in with service to help out other devotees... I find that this gives me satisfaction, and I am engaged in whatever capacities I am capable of serving in...and the devotees are pleased...
I guess if you can follow the rest of the injunctions than that's a plus...but I have seen devotees who do this, and then hold it against others who don't. Sometimes extra austerities can make one bitter (and make one think one is better than others)...so the intent has to be carefully thought through. After all grouchiness manifests seconds before aparadh does!
Hope I didn't offend anyone. If I did, forgive me. If I made anyone laugh, AWESOME!
Hare Krsna!
SriRKd
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Re: Caranamrta on ekadasi
Thu, July 5, 2007 - 3:42 AMOn nirjala ekadashi, or at any other time of fasting, caranamrtia is still taken, as it it not considered breaking fast (I've been told this by many prabhupada disciples / trained pujaris)
relating to the proper mood of observing ekadashi I have the following story (names not too well remembered - sorry!)
One sannyas disciple of Sridhara maharaj on ekadashi would conduct esctatic kirtans and dance with much enthusiasm. After a long absence on preaching, Sridhara maharaj invited him to take prasadam on ekadashi, but the disciple refused revealing his vrata that he used to observe nirjala every ekadashi (just as gauranga mahaparabhu instructed - nirjala, and chant 3 lakhs of hari nama) but on the insistence of Sridhara maharaja he took prasadam as it pleased guru. Thus he understood the real meaning of ekadashi was to please guru and krishna, and not to make a big show of austerity like another devotee who observed nirjala (a godbrother of Prabhupada) who chanted rounds pacing up and down the prasadam hall on ekadashi!!
Hari bol!
your servant,
Krish. -
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Re: Caranamrta on ekadasi
Thu, July 5, 2007 - 3:43 AMP.S Sri Ranganath Krishna Prabhu, you made me laugh... :-)
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Re: Caranamrta on ekadasi
Thu, July 5, 2007 - 10:04 AMHere here! And what to speak of the mood of accepting and honoring caranamrita?! One is fortunate to have such mercy from Krsna, so honor it with that mood... it's mercy not food I say! Haribol!
Krish prabhu, I'm glad I made you laugh! :-D
SriRKd
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