Hare Krishna!
I need an explanation on Quote BG 8.24 and 8.25
BG 8.24: "Those who know the Supreme Brahman attain that Supreme by passing away from the world during the influence of the fiery god, in the light, at an auspicious moment of the day, during the fortnight of the waxing moon, or during the six months when the sun travels in the north"
8.25: "The mystic who passes away from this world during the smoke, the night, the fortnight of the waning moon, or the six months when the sun passes to the south reaches the moon planet but again comes back."
The clauses appear a bit confusing. If according to Quote 8.24, the mystic does not return in Uttarayan, then what about the nights in Uttarayan, also what about the Krishnapakshas in Uttarayan, since Quote 8.25 says that the mystic who passes in the night and Krishnapaksha returns back. If all of Uttarayan was conducive for the mystic.....then what about it's nights and waning moon fortnights. The Quote 8.24 says"or"...It kind of says the whole of Uttarayan is conducive including its nights and Krishnapakshas....but that contradicts the first part of Quote 8.25
I just was trying to understand the Quotes, word by word, and it does not throw enough light on the nights and Krishnapakshs in Uttarayan.
Please explain. Thanks. Hare Krishna! Nilesh.
your clue: 8.24 p. - 1st sentence
"When fire, light, day and the fortnight of the moon are mentioned, it is to be understood that over all of them there are various presiding deities who make arrangements for the passage of the soul."
They are called ativahika devas (something like 'escorting devas'), ratri (night) deva being one of them.
BG 8.26 p. refers to Chandogya Upanisad (5.10.3-5) quoted by Baladeva Vidyabhusana. In his Govinda Bhasya he explains this very clearly (3.1.*).
The path of the jnanis and karmis
Hare Krishna. As Jan points out the paths mentioned are the paths that are arranged by the presiding devas who take the soul. Baladeva Vidyabhusana comments as follows: (paraphrased)
The jnanis (according to Visvanatha Cakravarti), who know Brahman, who depart on the path presided over by the deities of fire, light, day, the waxing fortnight, and the northern progress of the sun, attain Brahman. On dying such persons, who worship Brahman without interruption, whether they undergo cremation rites or not, go to the deity of light. From the deity of light, they go the deity of the day. From the deity of the day they go to the deity of the waxing fortnight. From the deity of the waxing fortnight they go to the deity of the six months leading to the summer solstice. From there they go to the deity of the year. From the deity of the year, they go the deity of air, then to the deity of the sun, then to the deity of the moon, then to the deity of lightning, then to the deity of water, then Indra and then Brahmä. Finally a non-human form (an eternal associate of the Supreme Lord) takes them to Brahman. This is the path of the devas, the path of Brahman. The devas hand the soul over to the next deva until he finally reaches Brahman. Those who go by this path do not return to repeated human birth.
The karma-kandis, departing on the path presided over by the deities of smoke, the night, the waning fortnight, and the southern course of the sun, reaches the moon but again comes back. The householders who perform sacrifices, social work and charities go thru the deities of smoke, night, waning fortnight, the six months leading to the winter solstice, and reach Pitrloka. From there they go to ether, and from ether to the deity of the moon. They become food for the deities, and the deities enjoy them. Having exhausted their punyas there, they return to earth.
Radhikesh das
yes thank you Radhikesh
yes thank you Radhikesh Prabhu, I too was thinking of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana Purport.