PADA Video on Aindra / Krishna Janma Video / Locanananda writes 09 04 26

 

PADA: Oh oh, youtube mashed up my video and it has a dead spot from 7:20 - 8.00. Sorry about that!

LOCAN ANANDA DASA Part 2 One World Scripture -- 

The Bhagavad-gita As It Is

In the Introduction to the original Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srila Prabhupada sums up the state of worldly affairs and offers the formula by which human society may achieve its highest possible level of accomplishment and social integration with the following words:

"In the present day, man is very eager to have one scripture, one God, one religion, and one occupation. So let there be one common scripture for the whole world -- Bhagavad-gita. And let there be one God only for the whole world -- Sri Krishna. And one mantra only -- Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And let there be one work only -- the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

We always understood that, in writing this, Srila Prabhupada was referring to the original edition of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and not to some later revised edition that he had not even given his permission to publish.

In Part 1, we mentioned that of the original forty-eight color plates included in the original work, thirty-two colorful illustrations had been removed leaving only sixteen color pages in the 1983 revised edition of the Bhagavad-gita. The greatest shock was to see that pictures of the predecessor acaryas were no longer presented to emphasize the significance of the principle of the unbroken chain of disciplic succession beginning from the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. 

It is that chain of pure devotee spiritual masters that differentiates our Krishna consciousness movement from every other religious denomination. So, it is in the interest of devotees throughout the world that those pictures be immediately reinstated in all future printings of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

The Bhagavad-gita was not the only book where Srila Prabhupada intended to include pictures of the great acaryas, as expressed in a letter to Brahmananda dated March 21, 1968, as follows:

"So far the order of photos in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya is concerned, they should go like this: My photo, Guru Maharaja's photo, Srila Gaura Kisora, Srila Bhaktivinode, Lord Caitanya, and lastly, Lord Caitanya's birthplace. For Lord Caitanya's photo, you may use a photograph of one of Jadurani's recent paintings of Panca-tattva."

Whoever has a sense of how to please Srila Prabhupada should immediately conclude that a great disservice has taken place which should be corrected without delay. Those who are responsible for this affront to the previous acaryas should beg their forgiveness by prostrating themselves at the lotus feet of each of the spiritual masters they have offended.

We had previously referred to the many hundreds of letters written by scholars and educators praising the literary achievements of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada was always eager to interact with professors who were recognized in their field of expertise. He would conclude their exchange by deftly pointing out the failings of their illogical conclusions. He also showed great appreciation for those who treasured classic Vaisnava literature and who saw the tremendous benefit to be derived from following the process outlined in the Bhagavad-gita to become fully Krishna conscious.

Below is one such letter from Dr. V.N. Shukla, a professor of Sanskrit and Hindi. He describes Srila Prabhupada's work in these terms: "Words fail me to describe the height of scholarship and devotion manifested in the volumes mentioned.... He stands for the feelings of international brotherhood and spiritual integration of all mankind."

After reading the opinion of such world-renowned Sanskrit scholars, it gives one pause when considering whether those BBTI editors who made changes to more than 500 verses in Srila Prabhupada's original Bhagavad-gita As It Is were at all justified or even sufficiently competent to do so without consulting with scriptural experts like Dr. Shukla, whose credentials are recognized throughout the academic world, and by teachers of Vedic religious principles and practices.

Adoring praise from Indian Sanskrit Scholar, Dr. V.N. Shukla -- Professor of Sanskrit and Hindi at M.U. Aligarh, U.P., India:

"I consider as one of my greatest spiritual thrills, that I had through a physical darshan of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on 30th March, 1976 for the first time. I had the rare privilege to see with my own eyes the very embodiment of Krishna consciousness, the be-all and end-all of all beings.

"Sri Swami Prabhupada has established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness which is spread in 108 cities around the world. All the members of ISKCON are pure Brahmins and Vaisnavas, initiated in the most austere sadhana recommended by the greatest Goswamis of Vrndaban -- Sri Rupa Goswami, the author of Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, and Sri Sanatana Goswami, the author of Hari Bhakti Vilasa and many other works.

"I had earlier known Srila Prabhupada through his enormous works on Krishna Bhakti, the nucleus of all Indian Vedic spiritual literature. To name a few of them, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, The Nectar of Devotion, Krishna (three volumes), Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Srimad Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, and the commentary on Sri Isopanisad will suffice. It is noteworthy to mention that the Isopanisad Bhasya is the greatest contribution of Srila Prabhupada as it completely refutes the Mayavada arguments of Sankaracarya. This book is a treasure to be possessed by every western scholar.

"Words fail me to describe the height of scholarship and devotion manifested in the volumes mentioned above. Our future generations and the posterity will definitely find a better world to live in through the efforts of Srila Prabhupada, as he stands for the feelings of international brotherhood and spiritual integration of all mankind, which is the backbone of the Vedic sanatana dharma of India. The literary world outside India, particularly the westerners, should be highly indebted to he who has so scientifically acquainted them with what is best in Krishna conscious India. I may be permitted to recommend to all scholars, professors and other Dharmacaryas the great importance and contribution of the books of Sri Swami Prabhupada." (Part 3 to follow)