ARE TATTOOS DEVOTIONAL OR NOT ? BY KRISHNA KRIPA DAS

Irked by Ink “Inking with the Supreme,” by Madhava Smullen, in the September/ October issue encourages tattooing in our ISKCON movement. But outside of the clay tilaka markings with which we adorn our bodies, there is no mention in sastra of Gaudiya Vaisnavas marking their bodies, especially not with ink tattoos.

The article describes the process of branding the body with symbols of Visnu, but this is done specifically by followers of Ramanuja in the Sri Sampradaya.

In Raga-vartma-candrika, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that for Gaudiya Vaisnavas branding the body with marks of Visnu is not appropriate.

Closer to home, Srila Prabhupada never encouraged such a practice. One might argue that he didn’t oppose it either, but I think it’s safer to conclude that if he didn’t specifically condone it we shouldn’t introduce a new so-called devotional practice.

How is a tattoo any different than a picture? In fact, it often is a picture. Do we take a painting of Krsna into the toilet? Of course, one can quote Gopala Guru Gosvami, who said to Lord Caitanya that the holy name is so pure that it can be chanted anywhereeven in the restroombut no such concession has ever been given for a deity of the Lord.

“The deity form of the Lord is said to appear in eight varieties: stone, wood, metal, earth, paint, sand, the mind, or jewels.” (Haribhakti- vilasa)

“One of the eight kinds of deity is the two-dimensional, painted picture. The devotee may worship the picture mürti . . . just as he worships a three-dimensional mürti.” (Pañcaratra-pradipa, ISKCON GBC Press)

The author tries hard to establish that tattooing is a Vais- nava practice, but other than one quote from Baladeva Vidyabhüsana he gives no other scriptural reference and not a single precedent for such a practice in our Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition. Baladeva Vidyabhüsana writes that branding the symbols of Visnu on the body is an example of austerity, but again, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura (Baladeva’s guru) clearly states that Gaudiya Vaisnavas themselves don’t do this. Did Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji, or Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura brand their bodies with symbols of Visnu or have tattoos? No. In fact, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote against branding:

“In the Sri Sampradaya of Ramanuja, tapa [austerity] is given by branding the body with the symbols of conch and disc, but Sri Caitanyadeva has instructed that we mark the body with harinama using sandal paste, etc., instead of brands. This rule is a blessing for the souls of Kali-yuga.” (Pañca Saµskara, page 2)

BERMUDA TRIANGLE MYSTERY REVEALED IN RIG VEDA & ATHARVA VEDA

Bermuda Triangle Mystery revealed in Rig Veda & Atharva Veda

Bermuda Triangle or the Devil’s Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean, where a number of aircraft and ships are said to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Even though the US Navy says that Bermuda Triangle does not exist, many have attributed various disappearances to the paranormal or activity by extraterrestrial beings.
But till date, nobody could find out actual reason behind this mystery.

Many believe that there is a hidden pyramid inside the atlantic ocean, which pulls everything towards it like a magnet.
It was named as “danger region” for about 500 years after disappearance of ships & planes. In 1492 during journey to America, Columbus saw some glitterness in this region and his magnetic compass got disturbed.
In 1909, a fishing boat got disappeared. On 5th Dec 1945, a flight started from Florida (USA), when went about 120 miles east, its contact was broken from base station and plane disappeared.
In 1948, a ship carrying 27 travelers disappeared in Bermuda region.
In 1951, another ship carrying 53 travelers disappearedin this region. Due to safety and precautionary reasons,
all routes for ships & planes have been made out of this triangle.

Recommends No Onion and No Garlic?

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You may know that onions and garlic are botanical members of the alliaceous family (alliums) – along with leeks, chives and shallots. According to ‪‎Ayurveda‬, India’s classic ‪‎medical‬ science, foods are grouped into three categories – sattvic, rajasic and tamasic – foods in the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. Onions and garlic, and the other alliaceous plants are classified as rajasic and tamasic, which means that they increase passion and ignorance.

Those that subscribe to pure brahmana and vaishnava-style cooking of India – followers of Lord Vishnu, Rama and Krishna – like to only cook with foods from the sattvic category. These foods include fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs, dairy products, grains and legumes, and so on. Specifically, Vaisnavas do not like to cook with rajasic or tamasic foods because they are unfit to offer to the Deity.

Rajasic and tamasic foods are also not used because they are detrimental to meditation and devotions. “Garlic and onions are both rajasic and tamasic, and are forbidden to yogis because they root the consciousness more firmly in the body”, says well-known authority on Ayurveda, Dr. Robert E. Svoboda.

Some branches of western medicine say that the Alliums have specific health benefits; garlic is

JESUS WAS A VEGETARIAN

Jesus Was A Vegetarian

According to the Bible the original diet in the Garden of Eden was a vegetarian one. Adam and Eve lived happily, healthily and abundantly on a diet rich in fresh vegetarian fare. However, with the coming of the flood and the ensuing ecological destruction, a concession was made ensuring mankind’s survival, and for the first time there was a departure from the original diet intended by God.

Today of course this departure, this concession, has been transformed into the world’s biggest industry, the wholesale slaughtering of billions and billions of defenceless animals. Super efficient factory farms raise Gods creatures as meat, and high tech slaughterhouses deliver the final product. In one slaughterhouse in America they slaughter over 30,000 animals aday. That’s 210,000 a week, 1 million a month, 12 million a year, all between four walls in just one slaughterhouse. The rivers of blood spoken of in the Bible take place every day, as thousands of such slaughterhouses churn out their products, and planet earth becomes a mass production line of death.

It is an extreme departure from the simple, peaceful diet in the Garden of Eden, and many people question how spiritual institutions such as Christianity, can continually sanction such a satanic act. Walk into any supermarket and there before you is the Garden of Eden, an overwhelming array of products, hundreds of different vegetables, fruits, milk products, breads, cereals, rice, pasta, herbs, spices and much more. There is more than enough to satisfy our needs.

Combination That Could Save Lives: Black Pepper & Turmeric

William

A group of researchers from the University of Michigan have put the black pepper and turmeric mixture on test. It was found that this exceptional combination could play an important role in inhibiting and even treating breast cancer.  Although turmeric is an amazing herb on its own, it has a poor bioavailability (absorption) when consumed orally. This is a result of its fast metabolism in the liver and the intestinal wall.  Hence, the black pepper steps in as ideal solution, as it improves the bioavailability when it comes to cancer and inflammation.

1. Acts as Anti-Cancer Agent

It has been scientifically proven that piperine, a compound in black pepper, has the ability to increase the bioavailability of curcumin, the cancer-fighting compound in turmeric, for up to 1,000 times.  Without black pepper ( piperine), the bioavailability of turmeric is poor. According to a study published in the Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, the combination of curcumin and piperine is extremely effective in targeting cancerous cells.

2. Natural Anti-Depressant

Both curcumin and piperine have the ability to boost the serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain as well as to restrain monoamine oxidase. High levels of this enzyme in the brain are linked to depression.  In brief, both turmeric and black pepper act as amazing anti-depressant agents.

3. Reduces Pain and Inflammation

It has been found that curcumin and piperine positively affect over 700 genes and restrain the activity and synthesis of 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOX) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2). In addition to this, they have positive impact on other enzymes which have been linked to inflammation.

4. Supports Weight Loss

Last but not least, the combination of black pepper and turmeric is ideal for weight-watchers. Piperine is thermogenic, which, in turn, allows it to boost the metabolism and increase the levels of calories burned by the body. Moreover, it provides a feeling of satiety which lasts for an extended period of time, too.

Both black pepper and turmeric are highly versatile ingredients. They can be added to most dishes, smoothies, and even fresh vegetable juices.