Jagat

This is the concluding anuccheda of the arcana section. Sri Jiva Prabhu gives a lengthy defense of Ekadasi, no doubt this extended discussion is an indication of controversies in Vrindavan, where the Radha Vallabha sampradaya considers honoring prasadam to be a higher principle than fasting. Jiva appears to have the shastras on his side. Anuccheda 299 Limbs of Arcana – Janmāṣṭamī, Kārttika vows, Ekādaśī, Bathing in Māgha 299.1 Janmāṣṭamī तदेतदर्चनं व्याख्यातम्। अस्याङ्गानि चागमादौ ज्ञेयानि। तथा श्रीकृष्णजन्माष्टमीकार्त्तिकव्रतैकादशीमाघ-स्नानादिकमत्रैवान्तर्भाव्यम्। In this way arcanam has been described. The various limbs of worship can be learnt from books, such as the Āgamas. Other devotional practices, such as the celebration of Kṛṣṇa’s birth, observance of vows during the month of Kārtika, fasting on Ekādaśī, and bathing during the month of Māgha, are to be included as parts of arcanam . तत्र जन्माष्टमी यथा विष्णुरहस्ये ब्रह्मनारदसंवादे— Among these, Kṛṣṇa...

On special request, I am posting a picture of Krishna, the attractor of Srimati Radharani, on the occasion of his birthday. jayati jananivāso devakī-janma-vādo yaduvara-pariṣhat svair dorbhir asyann adharmam sthira-cara-vrijina-ghnaḥ susmita-śrī-mukhena vraja-pura-vanitānāṁ vardhayan kāma-devam May the Lord who is the abode of every living being, and yet is said to have taken birth in Devaki Mata's womb, be ever glorified. His companions are the best of the Yadus, and with his powerful arms, he throws off the manifestations of irreligion. He destroys the miseries of the moving and non-moving creatures with his sweetly smiling face. And he does so while increasing the erotic desires of the queens of Dvaraka and the gopis of Braj. (10.90.48)