As described in the Padma Purana, even a person who has never been able to give in charity, who has never been able to perform a great sacrifice, who has never been able to study the Vedas, who has never been able to worship the Lord—or, in other words, even one who has never done any pious activities—will become eligible to enter into the kingdom of God if he simply drinks the charanamrita which is kept in the temple.

[Posted Feb 11, 2009]

Benefits of Holy Water: Ageless vs New Age

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Blessings you can drink: charanamrita

Click on images to enlarge.

Boing Boing Apr 6, 2009 - MARK FRAUENFELDER

New age holy water

"It is a complicated process. Once the bottles arrive from their source near Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Ms. Brightwater said, she lays out tumbled stones that she has 'programmed for love, health and prosperity' around and on top of each case.

"She burns sage and sweet grass, herbs used by the Native Americans, to clarify and purify the energy of the water, and prays for its drinkers to experience good health, good luck and prosperity. She said she then asks 'the Great Spirit to help feed the hungry children, keep the waters clean and to protect the two- and four-legged on this planet.'

"She plays CDs of Native American and Buddhist healing chants for 12 hours a day, until the cases of water are delivered." go to story

Editor's note: If all you want is "love, health and prosperity" for this term of existence in the material world, you're welcome to try Claire Brightwater's concoction, but if you want transcendental happiness, the ancient Vedic texts prescribe charanamrita, with the assurance of liberation from the cycle of repeated birth and death and purification from all karmic reactions. More below:

The Bhaktivedantas World Sankirtan Party and Inside Nam Hatta are hosted by Hansadutta das, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and trustee of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Participate or learn more about World Sankirtan Party.

Milk promotes brain development

Religion You can Drink Suresvara das

"Within your body, by mystic power, you can transform food into blood and tissue," writes Srila Prabhupada, the Hare Krishna movement's founder and spiritual master. "Similarly, by mystic power, the cow eats grass and produces milk." more

Partaking of Prasadam

excerpt from Nectar of Devotion, "Further Considerations of Devotional Principles"

There is this specific statement in the Padma Purana: "A person who honors the prasada [remnants of food offered to the Lord] and regularly eats it, not exactly in front of the Deity, along with charanamrita [the water offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, which is mixed with seeds of the tulasi tree], immediately can achieve the results of pious activities which are obtained through ten thousand performances of sacrificial rites."

Drinking Charanamrita

excerpt from Nectar of Devotion, "Further Considerations of Devotional Principles"

Charanamrita is obtained in the morning while the Lord is being washed before dressing. Scented with perfumes and flowers, the water comes gliding down through His lotus feet and is collected and mixed with yogurt. In this way this charanamrita not only becomes very tastefully flavored, but also has tremendous spiritual value. As described in the Padma Purana, even a person who has never been able to give in charity, who has never been able to perform a great sacrifice, who has never been able to study the Vedas, who has never been able to worship the Lord—or, in other words, even one who has never done any pious activities—will become eligible to enter into the kingdom of God if he simply drinks the charanamrita which is kept in the temple. In the temple it is the custom that the charanamrita be kept in a big pot. The devotees who come to visit and offer respects to the Deity take three drops of charanamrita very submissively and feel themselves happy in transcendental bliss.

Comments

Sri Guru and Gauranga