Sri Vijaya dasami- Sri Ramacandra Vijaya Utsava.
[Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]
Srila Prabhupada explains the pastimes of Lord Ramacandra
compiled by Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa
Srila Prabhupāda: No, special observance means to discuss about the life and works of …then October, Vijayā–daśamī, appearance date of Śrīla Madhvācārya, and the victory day of Lord Rāmacandra. So there is no fasting, but in the evening we should celebrate some feasting and discuss about the life and works of Śrī Madhvācārya as well as Rāmāyaṇa incidents where Rāma and Rāvaṇa fought. Devotee: Thank you Prabhupāda. (end) Srila Prabhupada conversation, Vrindavana, Uttara Pradesh, India, March 11, 1972 Devotee: …engagement, one devotee commented that the reason that Lord Rāma worshiped Lord Śiva was because He wanted to kill Rāvaṇa and Rāvaṇa was a devotee of Śiva, so Lord Rāma worshiped Śiva in that respect.Srila Prabhupada; Hm? What is that?Devotee: He said that because Lord Śiva was, ah, excuse me, Rāvaṇa was a devotee of Lord Śiva, that in order that Lord Rāmacandra could kill Rāvaṇa, He worshiped Śiva.Devotee:: He wanted to take permission of him, so they say. Rāma wanted to take permission from Śiva…Srila Prabhupāda: So, Śiva is so rascal that he gave permission? That means they are trying to prove Śiva is a rascal. (devotees laugh) Because he gave permission to kill his devotee. Then what is the use of his, of one becoming Śiva’s devotee? If such a rascal that one can take his permission to kill his devotee, so what is the use of becoming a devotee of such a rascal? Huh?Devotee: He protected Bāṇāsura.Srila Prabhupāda: Huh? What is that? That means that proving that Śiva is a rascal. He gave permission to kill his devotee. Then what is the use? Then nobody should become Śiva’s devotee. That is the conclusion. Because he gives permission to somebody else to kill his devotee. They are trying to prove Lord Śiva is a rascal. What do you think? Huh? If I want your permission, please give me your permission, I shall kill your son, and if you say, “Yes, I give my permission,” then are you not a rascal? By this example they are making Lord Śiva a rascal, that he has no common sense even.Indian man: (Hindi)Srila Prabhupāda: No, if this proposition is there, that Lord Śiva gives permission for killing his devotee, then who will become his devotee? Huh? Is it not?Indian man: Yes.Srila Prabhupāda: No sane man will become his devotee. All the manufactured foolish statements, just see. Any commonsense man will immediately say, “Then Śiva is a rascal; he cannot give protection to his devotee.” What do you think? Huh?Devotee: Of course, Śrīla Prabhupāda, does one have to give protection to their devotee if they break the law? Just like if you have a child, and he murders someone, isn’t he supposed to be punished? So, if someone goes against the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even if you are a devotee, shouldn’t Śiva concur?Srila Prabhupāda: No, no. That is another thing. This proposal, that because Lord Rāmacandra approached Lord Śiva to kill Rāvaṇa, and he gave permission, although Rāvaṇa was his great devotee. Then what is the use of becoming devotee of Lord Śiva? He gives permission. Huh? Is that very reasonable proposal? If I ask your permission that I shall kill your son, will you give permission? No. Then? So, Lord Śiva gives permission to Lord Rāmacandra, “Yes, You can kill Rāvaṇa,” then what is the use of becoming his devotee?Devotee: I think Dr. Patel would say that it’s not fair, you have fired the opposition.Srila Prabhupāda: Eh?Harikeśa: It’s not fair. You have completely destroyed the opposition. (Prabhupāda laughs) There is no question of fight.Srila Prabhupāda: The actual fact is that Lord Śiva did not give permission, but he did not go to protect Rāvaṇa, because he knew that it was impossible to give him protection. That is summarized in Bengali, rākhe kṛṣṇa māre ke, māre kṛṣṇa rākhe ke. If Kṛṣṇa kills somebody, wants to kill somebody, nobody can give him protection. That is the conclusion. And if Kṛṣṇa protects somebody, nobody can kill him. Just like PrahlādaMahārāja. Huh? He was protected by Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva. Who can kill?Devotee: Why did Lord Śiva try to protect Banasura?Srila Prabhupāda: Huh?Devotee: Didn’t Lord Śiva try to protect Banasura?Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. You must try, when your son is in danger, you must try. That is natural. That is not uncommon. You can save or not save, that is a different thing. But it is your duty, if somebody is under your protection, you must try to save him, even at the risk of your life. That is real protector.Devotee: Do you have plans, Śrīla Prabhupāda, to comment on Rāmāyaṇa in future?Srila Prabhupāda: Hm? First of all, finish my Bhāgavatam, then we shall talk of other things. Srila Prabhupada morning walk conversation , Bombay, Maharashtra, India, December 23, 1975 Subway from Ceylon to Brazil.South American civilizationAnecdotes from Kuruksetra war Devotee (1): Just like Rāvaṇa could not reach the heavenly planets just by building the staircase.Srila Prabhupāda: That was his only demonic proposal, that “We make staircase.” He said that “Why you are undergoing so much austerities to go to the heavenly planets? I shall make a staircase. You will go.”Amogha: How high did he make it?Srila Prabhupāda: He never attempted. He simply bluffed, that’s all. So, demons’ proposals are like that. Therefore it is a common say in, hearsay in the, in India, that rāvaṇe sarge sini(?): “The proposal is just like Rāvaṇa proposed to make a staircase to the heavenly planets.” He was also very much advanced materially, very prosperous materially. Gold was very common thing. He brought gold from Brazil through the subway. His brother was king there, in southern America.Amogha: Kumbhakarṇa?Srila Prabhupāda: No, Mahīrāvaṇa. Mahī, mahī means the earth. He used to go through the subway, through the earth. So other side there was another Rāvaṇa. That is Mahīrāvaṇa.Devotee (1): He built the subway?Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. The subway is still there, Brazil. Somebody said?Paramahaṁsa: Well, they found some parts of a subway there, some big tunnel. But they don’t know where it goes, though.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. That is from Ceylon to Brazil, subway. And Rāvaṇa’s civilization, Rāmacandra’s fight, some millions of years ago. That is in the Tretā–yuga. The duration of Kali–yuga is about, say, four lakhs of years. And Dvāpara–yuga, eight lakhs of years. And then Tretā–yuga, twelve lakhs of years.Paramahaṁsa: About two million years ago, Tretā–yuga.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. No, why? Twenty lakhs, ah, two million, yes. Two million of years ago the Rāvaṇa’s civilization was there, and he was so prosperous. He had airplane. The zeplin, zeplin?Amogha: Jet plane?Srila Prabhupāda: Not jet, zeplin.Amogha: Oh, with the air and gas inside.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. His son’s name was Meghadūta. He was flying above the cloud. Therefore, his name was Megha. Megha means cloud. They were so much advanced in civilization.Paramahaṁsa: What kind of civilization was in South America at that time?Srila Prabhupāda: The same like. Therefore, these Mexicans, South American, they resemble therefore almost Indian body.Amogha: They also eat food… They eat a food similar to the cāpāṭi.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes.Amogha: Tortillas.Srila Prabhupāda: Cāpāṭi, in Middle East also they eat.Devotee (1): Yes, in Lebanon.Paramahaṁsa: In Tehran we saw those big cāpāṭis.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes.Paramahaṁsa: Six feet long.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes, so big. One cāpāṭi is sufficient for the whole family. They are sold in market, purchased.Śrutakīrti: Very cheaply.Paramahaṁsa: Only three or four cents apiece.Prabhupāda: Ācchā?Paramahaṁsa: Yeah.Prabhupāda: They don’t make much profit. That is the oriental culture. They make little profit; they are satisfied. Still in India you will find many hotel, very cheap, very cheap. Especially Mohammedan hotels. Still, by paying eight annas, you can get full meal.Devotee (1): When Rāvaṇa was on the earth, was the whole earth populated, like Brazil and also the other parts of the world?Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Everywhere population. This is a new theory of the rascals that there was no civilization before three thousand years. This is wrong theory. Everything was there.Devotee (1): So, when Mahārāja Yayāti banished his sons to those kingdoms, they were already populated there.Srila Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.Paramahaṁsa: They seem to be pretty much kṣatriya races.Srila Prabhupāda: And during Kurukṣetra fight, all different kings joined, either to this party or that party.Amogha: Oh, from all over the world.Srila Prabhupāda: It was first-grade world war, Kurukṣetra. There is the one king, Śaibya, he came from Śibiya. Where is Śibiya?Amogha: Siberia?Srila Prabhupāda: Śibiya.Amogha: Oh, Śibiya? That’s Africa.Srila Prabhupāda: No, maybe there. There were… All the kings of the world, they joined, either this party or that party. Friends, friendly countries, they joined. Just like Kṛṣṇa. He personally joined Arjuna, but He gave His soldiers to Duryodhana. It was family war. So, the friends divided, “I will join you.” It was sporting. For the kṣatriya fighting is sporting. They have football match. They did not take it as enmities. Just in the evening they are friends. This party goes to that party, that party goes to… It is a decision, who will be king, that’s all. Test of strength. Actually, it was not enmity. “Let us fight, and who is strong he will be king, that’s all.”Devotee (1): And the losers will go to the heavenly planets.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Anyone who dies in such fight, he goes to heavenly planet. Srila Prabhupada morning walk conversation, Perth, Australia, May 16, 1975 Srila Prabhupada describes Lord Ramacandra’s purpose Devotee: Why was, why was Lord Rāma letting Rāvaṇa live in Laṅkā?Prabhupāda: Eh?Devotee: Why was He permitting him to live there? He was irreligious. He did not trust in God. Why was Lord Rāma letting him…?Srila Prabhupāda: No, no. He was killed therefore. He was not allowed to live there. Therefore Rāmacandra went there to kill him. “You rascal. You must be killed.” Why do you say that he was allowed?Devotee: Well…