Proper Line—Proper Success

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Kolkata-Worldwide, 9 August 2020, part 8

Question: Why do we celebrate Krishna Janmastami on the astami-tithi, not on Rohini-naksatra? Why exactly on astami-tithi?

Because Krishna is born on this day.

Devotee: But why not on Rohini-naksatra? Rohini-naksatra is on the next day...

Because we use the calculation based on P.M. Bagchi Panjika and their calculation is accurate. So, we celebrate Janmastami on the day that is calculated by P.M. Bagchi Panjika. Sometimes, some local people here, some smarta-vadis, celebrate Janamstami the day before we do (this year they are doing the festival on 11 August, and we do it on 12 August), so there is some contradiction with some groups. As I have just said, we follow P.M. Bagchi Panjika and we observe Janmastami according to their calculations—we do not follow other things, like smarta-vadi things, etc. We follow the proper line and observe it on 12 August because we follow the indication and direction given to us by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. What naksatra (constellation) it is, is not a question; the question is which day was indicated by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur—this is the day we follow.

Question: I was listening to a lecture of Srila Swami Maharaj Srila Prabhupad. One devotee asked him, "How long does it take to surrender?" Srila Prabhupad said it could take just one minute and he told the story of Khatvanga Maharaj. Could you please explain it?

Yes, those who have proper quality and qualification, can surrender within one minute. It depends upon one's devotion. "Sraddha anusare haya bhakti adhikari. Your devotional qualification depends upon your faith." Everybody has different kinds of devotion, everybody's devotion is not the same. So, one's surrender ultimately depends upon faith—those who have proper faith (who have the strongest faith for their guru), can surrender easily.

দীক্ষাকালে ভক্ত করে আত্মসমর্পণ ।
সেইকালে কৃষ্ণ তারে করে আত্মসম ॥

diksa-kale bhakta kare atma-samarpana
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama

"At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Krishna accepts them as His very own."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 4.192)

When you take initiation and if you surrender to your guru, then Krishna thinks, "He is my very own person. He is mine! He is only for Me!" This is what is called 'atma-samarpan.' Yet we always run behind false renunciation, false ego, we have so many bad elements within us, so many different kinds of desires... If you think in a proper way and practise under the guidance of a bona fide guru, then you will succeed.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

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