It is said that once Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi Mata went to visit Lord Shiva and Parvati Mata. Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi Mata gave Lord Shiva and Parvati Mata fine foods, and some pieces dropped to the ground. From these remains arose a maiden endowed with fair qualities. She asked for leftover food (uccishtha). The four deities (Lord Vishnu, Lakshmi Mata, Lord Siva and Parvati Mata) offered her their leftovers as prasada (food made sacred by having been tasted by deities). Lord Shiva then said to the attractive maiden: "Those who repeat your mantra and worship you, their activities will be fruitful. They will be able to control their enemies and obtain the objects of their desires." From then on this maiden became known as Uccishtha-matangini . She is the bestower of all boons.
The legend of her origin stresses Matangi's association with leftover food discarded by Lord Vishnu, Lakshmi Mata Lord Siva and Parvati Mata. Indeed, she herself actually arises or emerges from Shiva and Parvati's leftover food particles and the first thing she asks for is sustenance in the form of leftover food (uccishtha). Texts describing her worship specify that devotees should offer her uccishtha with their hands and mouths stained with leftover food; that is, worshippers should be in a state of pollution, having eaten and not washed. Since for Matangi worshippers make offering in a polluted state, she is known to have been offered a piece of clothing stained with the menstrual blood in order to win the boon of being able to attract someone. Menstrual blood is regarded in almost all Hindu texts and contexts as extremely polluting, and menstruating women are forbidden to enter temples or otherwise serve the deities, but nowhere is it mentioned that women cannot chant the holy name in such a state. In the case of Matangi, these strict taboos are disregarded, indeed, are flaunted. This kind of worship however is in the mode of ignorance. One must make efforts to advance to the mode of worship in goodness.
Krishna sees your heart's purity first, then the external cleanliness and purity are also considered, and Krishna himself says we must not disregard scriptural injunctions as they lead to downfall.
For Krishna, Bhava is of utmost importance while judging a devotee, not vichara. Vicharas (thoughts) are temporary and subject to changing very quickly, whereas Bhava changes gradually and has very few modifications. In the purest state of Krishna Consciousness there is just one Bhava - the Bhava of Love for krishna- Krishna Prema Bhava - though there are many other Bhavas that describe a relationship with krishna, for example the Vatsalya Bhava, wherein the devotee always considers himself a child of Krishna, or Matri Bhava where the lady devotee may consider herself in the mood of Mother yashoda, as a mother of Krishna, or Pitru Bhava where the devotee may consider himself as father of Krishna like Nanda Maharaja. there is also the Bhratra Bhava (brotherly love), as in case of the brotherly affection Krishna displays for Balarama.All these transcendal mellows are the mercy of Krishna and help us relate to Krishna in a direct and friendly manner.
The greatness of Lord krishna lies in the fact that He responds to each and every Bhava of the devotee individually, thus removing the conflict that may arise due to the different desires of different devotees. Krishna could expanded himself into 16108 forms to associate with each one of His wives.
Finally, KRISHNA is the LAW, the RULER of ALL, the MASTER of ALL, and what he chooses is FINAL, what HE decides is FINAL, so we must always abide by Lord KRISHNA's words. If we cannot turn inwards and Listen to His commands through our hearts, we must at least try to listen to the Bhaktas who relay whatever Krishna is telling them from within. Srila Prabhupada has so nicely put forward the matters relating to Bhakti, it leaves no doubt in our hearts, and we must always abide by his words, for they are relayed directly from Krishna into Srila prabhupada's heart, and passed onto us through the disciplic succession.
The only permanent arrangement is Krsna consciousness, which transcends the provisional nature of scriptural advice. Bhaktivinoda Thakura taught that saragrahi or essence seeking devotees should understand this point and make whatever adjustments necessary in order to be fixed in sadhana. Only sadhana, under the guidance of an advanced devotee, will enable one to realize absolute harmony and enter the mysteries of Krsna bhakti.
The legend of her origin stresses Matangi's association with leftover food discarded by Lord Vishnu, Lakshmi Mata Lord Siva and Parvati Mata. Indeed, she herself actually arises or emerges from Shiva and Parvati's leftover food particles and the first thing she asks for is sustenance in the form of leftover food (uccishtha). Texts describing her worship specify that devotees should offer her uccishtha with their hands and mouths stained with leftover food; that is, worshippers should be in a state of pollution, having eaten and not washed. Since for Matangi worshippers make offering in a polluted state, she is known to have been offered a piece of clothing stained with the menstrual blood in order to win the boon of being able to attract someone. Menstrual blood is regarded in almost all Hindu texts and contexts as extremely polluting, and menstruating women are forbidden to enter temples or otherwise serve the deities, but nowhere is it mentioned that women cannot chant the holy name in such a state. In the case of Matangi, these strict taboos are disregarded, indeed, are flaunted. This kind of worship however is in the mode of ignorance. One must make efforts to advance to the mode of worship in goodness.
Krishna sees your heart's purity first, then the external cleanliness and purity are also considered, and Krishna himself says we must not disregard scriptural injunctions as they lead to downfall.
For Krishna, Bhava is of utmost importance while judging a devotee, not vichara. Vicharas (thoughts) are temporary and subject to changing very quickly, whereas Bhava changes gradually and has very few modifications. In the purest state of Krishna Consciousness there is just one Bhava - the Bhava of Love for krishna- Krishna Prema Bhava - though there are many other Bhavas that describe a relationship with krishna, for example the Vatsalya Bhava, wherein the devotee always considers himself a child of Krishna, or Matri Bhava where the lady devotee may consider herself in the mood of Mother yashoda, as a mother of Krishna, or Pitru Bhava where the devotee may consider himself as father of Krishna like Nanda Maharaja. there is also the Bhratra Bhava (brotherly love), as in case of the brotherly affection Krishna displays for Balarama.All these transcendal mellows are the mercy of Krishna and help us relate to Krishna in a direct and friendly manner.
The greatness of Lord krishna lies in the fact that He responds to each and every Bhava of the devotee individually, thus removing the conflict that may arise due to the different desires of different devotees. Krishna could expanded himself into 16108 forms to associate with each one of His wives.
Finally, KRISHNA is the LAW, the RULER of ALL, the MASTER of ALL, and what he chooses is FINAL, what HE decides is FINAL, so we must always abide by Lord KRISHNA's words. If we cannot turn inwards and Listen to His commands through our hearts, we must at least try to listen to the Bhaktas who relay whatever Krishna is telling them from within. Srila Prabhupada has so nicely put forward the matters relating to Bhakti, it leaves no doubt in our hearts, and we must always abide by his words, for they are relayed directly from Krishna into Srila prabhupada's heart, and passed onto us through the disciplic succession.
The only permanent arrangement is Krsna consciousness, which transcends the provisional nature of scriptural advice. Bhaktivinoda Thakura taught that saragrahi or essence seeking devotees should understand this point and make whatever adjustments necessary in order to be fixed in sadhana. Only sadhana, under the guidance of an advanced devotee, will enable one to realize absolute harmony and enter the mysteries of Krsna bhakti.
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