Sastra Caksusa

seeing through the eyes of scriptures

On recieving guests and the curse of becoming a temple president

dear devotees 

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Please accept my humble obaisences
All glories to Srila Prabhupada 
 Many devotees do not  know how to properly treat guests .Even though Duryodhana was a demon he was treated with kindness when he visited the Pandavas ,but Draupadi offended Duryodhana and Yuddhistira Maharaja wanted to chastise her for that , the whole battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas increased after this but the Kauravas hated the Pandavas from birth .
 Krsna Himself once washed the feet of all the guests imagine that the Supreme Lord washing the feet of all the guests.At least one should greed all guests to a temple with kindness. If they are from some other math or religious institution still you should not be a  demoniac snake and say we do not  want you here .Srila Prabhupada never hated his godbrothers as it  is taught in a nazi style boot camp way in some parts of  ISKCON . But  we in ISKCON  and Gaudiya math we have so much to learn .There is many stories in the puranas of guests being mistreated.And the host sometimes attained an animal body or went to hell for improper treating guests. At religious functions it is a day of festivities and everyone should be greeted with even more  care and affection .Ok so say you dislike someone or disagree with another devotee, do not  go up and offend that devotee.At least be polite , you can greet or not as you please.But you can not pollute the atmosphere at take out your hatred against a guest then you will go to hell .
 There is a pastime of Lord Ramachandra and the dog
 
 

One early morning lotus eyed Rama arrived at the royal council chamber along with Vasishtha and Kasyapa to attend the duties of state administration. That royal assembly consisted of ministers, persons expert in common practices, teachers of law, diplomats, kings, and other respectable persons. The exalted assembly of Sri Rama looked like the assembly of Indra, Yamaraja or Varuna. Rama ordered his brother, “O long-armed Lakshman, go to the palace gate and see if anyone has come with any petitions.”

Lakshman soon returned and said, “O Lord, it appears that there is no one in the Kosala Kingdom who is in need of anything.”

Rama, however, insisted, “Go again and look more carefully. I do not wish to be accused of the slightest neglect. Nor do I want the least bit of adharma to go undetected in My kingdom.”

Going out again, Lakshman then noticed a dog sitting near the palace gate, its head bleeding. While looking at Lakshman, the dog whined mournfully. Thus Lakshman asked, “What is wrong? Why have you come here? Please do not fear, for you may tell me everything.”

The dog replied, “I wish to speak directly to Lord Rama, whose lotus feet award one fearlessness and who is the shelter of the distressed.”

Lakshman then said, “If you have something to say, then you are welcome to come speak to the King himself.”

lakṣmaṇasya vacaḥ śrutvā sārameyo ’bhyabhāṣata

devāgāre nṛpāgāre dvija-veśmasu vai tathā

vahniḥ śata-kratuś caiva sūryo vāyuś ca tiṣṭhiti
nātra yogyāstu saumitre yonīnām adhamā vayam

Hearing Lakshman, the dog replied, “Agni the fire god, Indra the king of heaven, Surya the sun god and Vayu the wind god are all present in the temples, the palace of the king, and the abodes of the brahmāṇas. Lowborn creatures like myself are unfit to enter these places. (Texts 60.20-21)

“The King is the embodiment of dharma. He always speaks the truth, is expert at fighting, and is devoted to the welfare of everyone. Sri Rama knows the proper dispensation of justice. He is omniscient and is the foremost of those who delight others. He is the moon god, death personified, as well as the gods of wealth, fire, water and the sun. Sri Rama is Indra, the king of the gods, and he is the protector of his subjects. O Laksman, tell him that without his permission I do not want to enter into the royal palace.”

When Lakshman reported the matter, Rama immediately commanded, “Whoever it may be, usher them in without delay!”

The dog then humbly came before Rama and said, “O Lord, the King is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he is the savior of all creatures. While others sleep peacefully, the king remains alert, always working for the welfare of his subjects. However, since everything depends upon him, when the king is negligent his subjects very soon perish. The king is the upholder of religious principles, and thus curbs the forces of evil. Those who follow religious principles experience happiness in this life and the next. Thus the king receives great merit for sustaining dharma. O Rama, you are the model of a religious king. With my head placed at your lotus feet I seek your mercy. Do not become angry at what I have to say.”

Rama reassured the dog, saying, “Go on! Speak without fear!”

Thus encouraged, the dog continued, “A mendicant brahmāṇa named Sarvartha-siddha has injured my head, although there was no fault on my part.”

Immediately, Rama had his men summon Sarvartha-siddha. Soon thereafter, when the brahmāṇa came before him, Rama inquired, “Why did you strike this dog? What was his fault?

krodhaḥ prāṇa-haraḥ śatruḥ krodho mitra-mukho ripuḥ
krodho hy asir mahātīkṣṇaḥ sarvaṁ krodho ‘pakarṣati

Anger is a deadly enemy, a sweet spoken enemy in the garb of a friend. It is like a sharp sword and it destroys everything. (Text 61.21)

tapate jagate caiva yaś ca dānaṁ prayacchati

krodhena sarvaṁ harati tasmāt krodhaṁ visarjayet

Anger nullifies whatever sacrifices and austerities one has performed as well as whatever charity one has given. (Text 61.22)

indriyāṇāṁ praduṣṭānāṁ hayānām iva dhāvatām
kurvitā dhṛtyā sāradhyaṁ sahṛtyendriya-gocaram

Therefore one should give up anger, and as a driver controls a chariot, one should control the senses, which are running towards their objects like wicked horses. (Text 61.23)

manasā karmaṇā vācā cakṣuṣā ca samācare
śṛeyo lokasya carato na dveṣṭi na ca lipyate

By ones thoughts, words, and deeds one should do good to those nearby. One should not hurt others. Sin will not come to one who behaves like this. (Text 61.24)

na tat kuryād asis tīkṣṇaḥ sarpo vā vyāhataḥ padā
arir vā nitya-saṅkruddho yathātmā dur-anuṣṭitaḥ

The harm that can be accomplished by an uncontrolled mind is greater than that which can be done by a sharp sword, a poisonous snake that has been stepped on, or an enemy who has been provoked. (Text 61.25)

vinīta vinayasy āpi prakṛtirna vidhīyate
prakṛtiṁ gūhamānasya niścayena kṛtir dhruvā

In spite of making an external show of proper social behavior one’s nature will be revealed by one’s actions. (Text 61.26)

The brahmāṇa then replied, “I was wandering about for a long time, begging for alms, when I came upon this dog squatting in the middle of the road, blocking my path. I told him, ‘Make way!’ but he got up so slowly that I struck him over the head with my staff. I was famished and my anger was easily aroused. O King, I admit my guilt. You should punish me as you see fit, just to save me from falling down into a hellish condition of life.”

Rama turned to his ministers and inquired, “What punishment should be inflicted on him? Justice must be done, for nothing instills more confidence in people’s minds than the administration of fair punishment to all wrong-doers.”

Bhrigu, Angiras, Vasishtha, Kasyapa, and other knowers of religious principles replied, “A brahmāṇa is never to be punished. This is the unanimous opinion of those conversant with rāja-dharma. Still, O Rama, you are the ultimate judge, for you are the Lord of the entire universe. You are Lord Vishnu himself. Thus, whatever is spoken by you is eternal religion.”

The dog then interrupted, saying, “O King, you have asked, ‘What can I do for you?’ If you truly wish to please me then kindly appoint this brahmāṇa as the head of the Kalanjara Monastery.”

Rama fulfilled the dog’s request, and thus the delighted brahmāṇa, Sarvartha-siddha, became honored as a spiritual leader and was placed atop a magnificently decorated elephant. Seeing this, however, the ministers became greatly upset and protested, “O King, this cannot be considered a punishment! Rather than punishing the brahmāṇa you have awarded him an exalted position!”

Rama replied, “You do not understand the intricacies of karma. The dog, however, does.”

Then, prompted by Rama, the dog explained, “In my last life I was the head of the Kalanjara Monastery. I duly worshipped the deities and the brahmāṇas and I always took prasādam. I performed my sacred duties carefully, and properly maintained the servants and maidservants. I was modest and well behaved and was always engaged in doing good to all living beings. Still, in spite of taking so much care, due to some unknown fault I had to take this lowest birth as a wretched dog. If in spite of having taken so much care I had to take a birth like this then what to speak of this brahmāṇa! He is hot-tempered, ruthless, and harsh. He cannot control his anger and he is engaged in harming others. He is certainly unfit to be an ācārya. For his audacity in accepting such a position he will degrade seven generations of his family.

“Therefore if you wish to condemn someone to hell, put them in charge of the brahmāṇas, cows, and deity worship. Anyone who steals from the brahmāṇas, the demigods, women or children is doomed, as is one who takes back a gift that was freely given. Indeed, even the very thought of stealing from the demigods and brahmāṇas will send a man to the lowest of hells.”

Saying this, the dog suddenly departed while Rama and the others sat wonder-struck with wide-open eyes. Although previously born in a very high family, that living being had somehow been forced to accept the body of a dog. After leaving the royal court at Ayodhya, the dog gave up his life by abstaining from food and water with the hope of attaining a better birth.

So if an unqualified person becomes a GBC or TP they will make many offences and be punished severely .he will think I own this zone or temple and make offences to many devotees and fall down from Bhakti . Srila Gaura Govinda Maharaja said in ISKCON Potomac in 1995 sometimes the TP thinks he is God and offends the vaisnavas he may falsely accuse a devotee and even kick him out of the temple .My point is be careful do not take your temporary position so seriously , Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakrua showed us how we must become humble as we can read in his books like Gita Mala .Sometimes sannyasis also offends others thinking they are so superior this is ahankara nothing else ,therefore sannyasa is forbidden in Kali yuga  .One must be careful of vaisnava aparadha .

The dog was envious of the Brahmana that hurt him and said to Lord Ramachandra please make him a temple president because then he will make even more offences and then he will get severely punished in his next life .

A humble devotee thinks I have been punished because I was made a TP so I will surely make more offences to vaisnavas  and then I will go to hell .Then again the devotees in the temple appriciate if a TP is humble and a servant of the devotees not trying  to be the Lord and master of all creation .Minister means servant .We are here to minister the purposes of Srila Prabhupada 

here is a warning from Srimad Bhagavatam : 

SB 5.26.35

yas tv iha vā atithīn abhyāgatān vā gṛha-patir asakṛd upagata-manyur didhakṣur iva pāpena cakṣuṣā nirīkṣate tasya cāpi niraye pāpa-dṛṣṭer akṣiṇī vajra-tuṇḍā gṛdhrāḥ kaṅka-kāka-vaṭādayaḥ prasahyoru-balād utpāṭayanti.
Word for word: 
yaḥ — a person who; tu — but; iha — in this life;  — or; atithīn — guests; abhyāgatān — visitors;  — or;gṛha-patiḥ — a householder; asakṛt — many times; upagata — obtaining; manyuḥ — anger; didhakṣuḥ — one desiring to burn; iva — like; pāpena — sinful; cakṣuṣā — with eyes; nirīkṣate — looks at; tasya — of him; ca — and; api — certainly; niraye — in hell; pāpa-dṛṣṭeḥ — of he whose vision has become sinful; akṣiṇī — the eyes;vajra-tuṇḍāḥ — those who have powerful beaks; gṛdhrāḥ — vultures; kaṅka — herons; kāka — crows; vaṭa-ādayaḥ — and other birds; prasahya — violently; uru-balāt — with great force; utpāṭayanti — pluck out.
Translation: 
A householder who receives guests or visitors with cruel glances, as if to burn them to ashes, is put into the hell called Paryāvartana, where he is gazed at by hard-eyed vultures, herons, crows and similar birds, which suddenly swoop down and pluck out his eyes with great force.
Purport: 

According to the Vedic etiquette, even an enemy who comes to a householder’s home should be received in such a gentle way that he forgets that he has come to the home of an enemy. A guest who comes to one’s home should be received very politely. If he is unwanted, the householder should not stare at him with unblinking eyes, for one who does so will be put into the hell known as Paryāvartana after death, and there many ferocious birds like vultures, crows, and herons will suddenly come upon him and pluck out his eyes.

your servant

Paramananda das

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