The first verse of a book is generally important in establishing its meaning. There are six criteria for establishing the meaning of a book, out of which upakrama or introductory statements is the first one. The first verse of the Bhāgavatam, therefore, is of prime importance to anyone […]
This is a summary of the Paramatma Sandarbha.
How is śāstra defined? Knowing its definition can help us understand its purpose and its nature.
We continue our discussion of Baladeva Vidyabhusana’s commentary on the Brahma sutras. As mentioned in a previous article, this commentary has been (mis)interpreted to support the jīva’s beginningless choice to enter the material world. I present the translation below along with notes. || 2.3.35 || atha prakṛti-kartṛtvāde doṣān […]
One of the pramāṇas propped up by some to support the novel concept that the jīva made an ‘anādi choice’ to enter the material world is Śrī Baladeva’s commentary on Vedanta-sūtras 2.3.31-40. Here we present a translation of Śrī Baladeva’s commentary. As will become clear, these proponents put […]
I received a long reply from a proponent of the jiva-choice theory- but I did not publish it as it violates the rules for posting on this site. I will answer one question, which is worth answering: The writer quotes me from the previous article: Question: You yourself […]
The word ‘anādi’ is a simple word. Yet, in recent decades, much confusion has surrounded it owing to novel interpretations offered for it by some modern sects of Caitanya Vaiṣṇavism. Here we examine what it means according to our ācāryas like Śrī Jīva Goswami and Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravarti. […]
Śrī Gadādhara Goswami, respectfully known as Paṇḍita Goswami, is an enigmatic figure. He is considered the closest friend and follower of Śrī Caitanya. He is not known to have written scholarly works. Whatever is known about Him is through the poetry and writings of others and through the […]
Inspired by an FAQ I came across on a Sri Vaiṣṇavism site, I have prepared a similar FAQ on Caitanya Vaiṣṇavism. Happy Reading!
Three types of meanings are typically accepted for Sanskrit words. Here we list a discussion of the three types of meanings by Sri Babaji in his commentary on Bhagavat Sandarbha, Anuccheda 98: “All literature, including the Veda, is composed of words. Every Sanskrit word (pada) has a meaning […]
A key qualification on the path of bhakti is śraddhā, which is generally understood as faith. However, the word śraddhā indicates something very specific in the context of uttamā bhakti. Śrī Jīva Goswami takes this topic up in some detail in the Bhakti Sandarbha. Here we examine his […]
In the Bhagavat Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Goswami does an extensive and relentless analysis of the relationship between Brahman and Bhagavān. The advaitavādis claim that Bhagavān is nothing but Brahman delimited by māyā. Bhagavān according them is vyavahārika reality, and not pāramārthika reality. That is, the ultimate and only […]
