Category:Austerities and Penances
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that human life is specifically meant for austerity and penance (tapasya), which distinguishes it from the irresponsible life of animals. While animals like dogs and hogs work hard for sense gratification, a human being should voluntarily accept suffering in the form of penances to purify their existence and understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the ultimate goal of all austerities is to satisfy Lord Viṣṇu and awaken dormant love for Kṛṣṇa. He warns that even severe penances lead to a fall-down if the practitioner neglects the Lord's lotus feet, as seen in the case of Mayavadi philosophers whose intelligence remains impure. Conversely, one who has already taken to devotional service is understood to have completed all types of austerities in previous lives. In the Age of Kali, the difficult physical penances of former ages are replaced by the special gift of Lord Caitanya—the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa maha-mantra—which liquidates all sinful activities and grants the highest perfection. Ultimately, austerity is the spiritual power of the Lord's own self, and by following the footprints of acaryas like Dhruva Maharaja, the living entity can achieve permanent happiness and return back home, back to Godhead.
- Distinction from Animal Life: Human life is meant for tapasya and restraint, whereas animal life is dedicated to blind indulgence in sense gratification and lusty desires.
- The Goal is Satisfaction of Viṣṇu: All penances, sacrifices, and austerities should be performed only to attain Kṛṣṇa's devotional service and please the Supreme Lord.
- Impure Intelligence and Fall-down: Nondevotees who undergo severe austerities to achieve liberation fall down because they lack shelter at the Lord's lotus feet and possess impure intelligence.
- Purification and Divine Position: Engaging in penance and austerity purifies the heart (sattvam suddhyed), liquidates sinful activities, and allows one to attain a divine spiritual position.
- The Gift of Lord Caitanya: In the Age of Kali, the chanting of the holy name is the fulfillment of all great penances, allowing even the most fallen souls to achieve perfection without severe physical labor.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Human Life is Meant for Austerity and Penance.
Subcategories
This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total.
Pages in category "Austerities and Penances"
The following 285 pages are in this category, out of 285 total.
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A
- A brahmacari, or student, should perform sacrifices, a householder should give charity, and a person in the retired life or in the renounced order should practice penances and austerities
- A first-class brahmana does not accept any rewards from his disciples or yajamanas. Practicing austerities and penances, he instead goes to the agricultural field and collects food grains left by the agriculturalists to be collected by brahmanas
- A friend tells mother Yasoda: "It appears to be due to the result of severe penances and austerities in your past lives that your son (Krsna) was saved in this way"
- A great soul who has fully surrendered to the Supreme Lord after understanding Him fully and after repeatedly undergoing austerities and penances for many, many lives is very rare
- A hard heart is compared to a lightning bolt, to gold and to shellac. The lightning bolt is very strong and never becomes soft. Similarly, the hearts of those who are engaged in severe austerities and penances do not become very easily softened
- A human life is especially meant for this purpose (to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu), and one has to go through all kinds of penances and austerities and set aside the propensity for sense gratification
- A poverty-stricken man must automatically undergo austerities and penances because he does not have the wealth to possess anything. Thus his false prestige is vanquished - SB 10.10.15
- A poverty-stricken man, therefore, is unable to perform harmful, envious activities. In other words, such a man automatically gains the results of the austerities and penances adopted voluntarily by saintly persons - SB 10.10.16
- A suitable wife helps her husband perform penances and austerities in household life if both of them are on the same elevated platform of spiritual understanding
- Above the sun are planetary systems where persons who are elevated by great austerities and penances are situated. The whole material universe is called Devi-dhama, and above it is Siva-dhama, where Lord Siva and his wife Parvati eternally reside
- According to the development of consciousness, God realization is present. In the human form of life it is recommended, therefore, that one undergo the different types of penances and austerities described in Bhagavad-gita
- Actually, one should undergo severe austerities and penances only to achieve spiritual happiness. In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is recommended that tapasya, or austerity, should be accepted for realizing the Supreme Lord
- Actually, they (persons who manufacture modes of austerity and penances which are not mentioned in the scriptural injunctions) act out of pride, false ego, lust and attachment for material enjoyment. BG 1972 purports
- After performing so much austerity and penances, they rise up to the highest position, Brahman realization, but," patanty adhah, "they fall down." We have got so many instances
- Agnidhra appreciated the wonderful beauty of Purvacitti. Indeed, he was surprised to see such exceptional beauty, which must have been the result of past austerities and penances
- All the saintly persons present offered their prayers in this way: O supreme maintainer of those sheltered at Your lotus feet, O original PG the process of austerity and penance, in which You instructed us before, is the spiritual power of Your very self
- All these personalities (Sanaka, Sanatana, Narada, Siva, the Manus) underwent great austerities and penances and thus became authorities in Vedic knowledge. Perfect knowledge for human beings, as well as all living entities, is contained in the Vedas
- Although mental speculators and fruitive actors may perform great austerities and penances, they still fall down because they do not have information about the lotus feet of the Lord
- Although Suniti was an instructor to Dhruva Maharaja, she could not go to the forest because she was a woman, nor could she execute austerities and penances as Dhruva Maharaja did. Still, Dhruva Maharaja was able to take his mother with him
- Although the Mayavadis have undergone penances, austerities - very strictly they follow the principles of spiritual life - but because they are under maya, at the end they are thinking that "I am God, Purusa," the same disease, purusa
- Although they (Mayavadi sannyasis) rise to a very high position by executing severe austerities and penances, they still hover in the material world without the benediction of the lotus feet of the Lord
- Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet
- Although Visvamitra was born in a ksatriya family, by austerities and penances he achieved the position of a brahmana
- Although yogis try to capture Him (Krsna) as Paramatma by meditation, desiring to enter into the effulgence of the Lord with great austerities and penances, they fail to reach Him - SB 10.9.9
- Among the brahmanas, some are householders and are mostly attached to fruitive activities or the betterment of social conditions. Above them, however, are brahmanas who are very much attracted by austerities and penances and who retire from family life
- And if, after executing all kinds of penances and austerities, one cannot always see Krsna inside and out, then he has executed his performances uselessly
- Arjuna thought of Krsna consciousness or buddhi-yoga, or intelligence in spiritual advancement of knowledge, as something like retirement from active life and the practice of penance and austerity at a secluded place. BG 1972 purports
- As the Lord advises in the Bhagavad-gita, "Whatever you do, do it for Me; whatever you eat, first offer it to Me; whatever charity you want to give, first give it to Me; and whatever austerities and penances you want to perform, perform them for Me"
- At the end of one hundred years, one who has not acted as a human being in a life of tapasya (austerity & penance) must certainly be embodied again in a body like those of cats, dogs and hogs. This life of lusty desires and sense gratification is risky
- Austerity, penance, that is human life. Otherwise, it is animal life. Simply animal civilization. It is not human civilization
B
- Bahulasva said, "You (Krsna) have sent Your incarnation Nara-Narayana, who is engaged in severe austerities and penances at Badarinarayana"
- Beginning tapasya, austerity. Celibacy. (SB 6.1.13), controlling the senses, the mind. Renunciation. Following truthfulness & cleanliness. Practicing yoga, But all these things can be done by one stroke, kevalaya bhaktya, by engaging oneself in devotion.
- Beyond the sun there are other planetary systems where persons who are elevated by great austerities and penances are situated
- Brahma had come to praise Priyavrata for his high standard of renunciation, austerity, penance and devotion so that he would not be deviated from devotional service, even though he would accept household life
- Brahma, Siva, Manu (the father of mankind), great saintly persons & also great sages who have elevated themselves to the transcendental platform through austerities & penance, as well as devotional service, are imperfect in knowledge compared to the SPG
- But mother Yasoda, thinking that same Personality of Godhead, Krsna (whom the yogis fail to reach with great austerities and penances), to be her son, began following Krsna to catch Him - SB 10.9.9
- By great austerities and penance, they can rise up to the param padam, aham brahmasmi, brahma-pada. But aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah, from that place, patanty adhah, again falls down in this material world
- By penances, austerities, & meditations they (the jnanis & yogis) can rise up to the platform of the Supreme Absolute, but as has been explained, they again fall down to the material world, because they have not taken Krsna's personal features seriously
- By performing austerities & penances, by controlling the senses & mind, & by achieving full knowledge of the Absolute Truth, one is fully cleansed of material contamination. Then one's words and blessings, like those of the demigods, are never a failure
- By this means, householder brahmanas who actually abide by the principles of austerity and penance maintain themselves and their families and perform all necessary pious activities
C
- Caitanya was neither foolish nor ignorant of the principles of Vedanta. His purpose was to demonstrate to modern society that fools who have no history of penance and austerity should not try to study Vedanta just for some recreational purpose
- Celibacy is so important that even though one does not undergo any austerities, penances or ritualistic ceremonies prescribed in the Vedas, if one simply keeps himself a pure brahmacari, the result is that after death he goes to the Satyaloka
- Conceited persons who think they can obtain liberation without the Lord's mercy, simply by performing strict penances and austerities, are totally mistaken; they fail
D
- Despite undergoing severe austerities and penances, he (Maharaja Nabhi) felt very pleased at Badarikasrama, and he did everything there expertly
- Dhruva Maharaja is an acarya, and by undergoing severe austerities and penances he teaches us how one should execute devotional service. We must carefully know the process of Dhruva Maharaja's service
- Dhruva Maharaja practiced severe austerities and penances to see the Supreme Lord, and his intention was to receive benediction from the Lord
- Dhruva Maharaja wanted something material from Krsna & engaged in DS. When the Lord appeared as four-handed Visnu before Dhruva, Dhruva told the Lord: My dear Lord, because I engaged myself in Your DS with great austerity & penances, I am now seeing You
- Dhruva Maharaja went to the forest to achieve some material result by austerity and penance, but when he actually saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead he said, "I do not want any material benediction. I am completely satisfied"
- Dhruva Maharaja went to the forest, and he had practiced so much penance and austerities. Then he saw God. And I can see God immediately without being trained, without undergoing training? No. It is not possible
- Dhruva Maharaja, a five-year-old boy, went to the forest for penance and austerity, and the King (Uttanapada) could not at all believe that a small boy of such a tender age could live in the forest
- Dhruva-ghata, where there are many nice trees of fruits and flowers, is famous because Dhruva Maharaja meditated and underwent severe penances and austerities there in an elevated spot
- Dogs and hogs do not have to work so hard for sex. A human being should try to live in a different way and should not try to imitate dogs and hogs. The alternative is mentioned. Human life is meant for tapasya, austerity and penance
E
- Education, austerity, penance or, in the modern world, business, industry, education and so on-all should be engaged in glorifying the Lord. Then everyone in the world will be happy
- Even after great austerities and penance, one may rise, param padam, in the, merging into the Brahman effulgence. Still, from there, he falls down. He falls down. Because Brahman, the spirit soul, is anandamaya
- Even after undergoing severe penances and austerities and performing the yogic principles, the great mystic yogis can hardly become eligible to achieve the dust of the lotus feet of Krsna
- Even great scholars and philosophers like Dr. Radhakrishnan will have to perform heaps of austerities and penances before they will yield to the process of surrender
- Even if one is in the renounced order, he should never give up the regulative principles. He should worship the Deity and give his time and life to the service of Krsna. He should also continue following the rules and regulations of austerity and penance
- Even the goddess of fortune could not receive the same favor as the gopis, although she underwent severe austerities and penances for many years
- Even the Mayavadi impersonalists who flatter themselves and believe that they have become the Lord themselves are not abhijnah or svarat, fully cognizant or fully independent. The Mayavadi monists undergo a severe process of austerity and penance
- Even though they (who think themselves liberated) rise to the highest point of liberation by dint of severe penances and austerities, they are sure to fall down again into material existence, for they do not take shelter at Krsna's lotus feet
- Every mother, like Suniti, must take care of her son and train him to become a brahmacari from the age of five years and to undergo austerities and penances for spiritual realization
F
- For a person devoid of devotional service, birth in a great family or nation, knowledge of the revealed scriptures, performance of austerities and penance, and chanting of Vedic mantras are all like ornaments on a dead body
- For example, the cowherd boys who are playing with Krsna do not have to learn by austerities or penances or yogic practice how to play with Him
- For God realization or self-realization, one generally has to undergo severe austerities and penances for many, many thousands of years, and then it may be possible to realize God
- For one who reaches that supreme abode (of Krsna), penances, austerities, yogic meditations, and so on are no longer required, and for one who does not reach it, all penances and austerities are a useless waste of time
G
- Garga Muni was a great saintly sage who had undergone many austerities and penances and been appointed priest of the Yadu dynasty
- Gopis addressed the earth and began to say, "My dear earthly planet, how many austerities and penances you must have undergone to have the lotus feet of Krsna always touching your surface"
H
- Having equipped himself with austere penance, adoration, mental concentration and absorption in devotion, accompanied by dispassion, and having controlled his senses, Brahma, the self-born living creature, evolved great sages as his beloved sons
- He (Agnidhra) asked the girl whether she had achieved such beauty just to break the penances and austerities of others. He thought that Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, might have been pleased with him and might have sent her to become his wife
- He (Agnidhra) requested Purvacitti to become his wife so that together they could perform austerities and penances in family life
- He (Hiranyakasipu) was now a young man with a strong body and a very beautiful bodily luster resembling molten gold. This is the rejuvenation that took place because of his severe austerity and penance
- He (Lord Krsna) is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self - SB 10.9.21
- He (Mucukunda) decided to remain in that Gandhamadana Mountain region to execute austerities and penances for the rest of his life
- He (Narada Muni) had many other disciples, but he was very pleased with Dhruva Maharaja because in one lifetime, by dint of his severe penances and austerities, he had achieved Vaikuntha
- He (Narada Muni) was very pleased with Dhruva Maharaja because in one lifetime, by dint of his severe penances and austerities, he had achieved Vaikuntha, which was never achieved by any other king's son or rajarsi throughout the whole universe
- He knows that, "People will not be very much alert in accepting spiritual knowledge after undergoing so much austerities and penances. Let them chant Hare Krsna and take immediately." That is the special gift of Lord Caitanya
- Hiranyakasipu underwent severe austerity and penance to satisfy Brahma and thus receive a benediction of immortality
- His austerities and penances are exemplary practices for the human being. The incarnation of God Narayana Rsi was sitting amongst many devotees in the village known as Kalapa-grama
- His body shone most brilliantly; though he had engaged in austere penance for a long time, he was not emaciated, for the Lord had cast His affectionate sidelong glance upon him and he had also heard the nectar flowing from the moonlike words of the Lord
- However, although King Barhisman understood everything, he was still not prepared to give up his engagements. As the following verses will show, the King was contemplating sending for his sons, who were away from home executing austerities and penances
- Human civilization should be based on the Vedic principles. This means that in the beginning of life boys and girls should undergo penances and austerities. When they are grown, they should get married, live for some time at home and beget children
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- If a person born in a family of dog-eaters takes to the chanting of the holy name of Krsna, it is to be understood that in his previous life he must have executed all kinds of austerities and penances and performed all the Vedic yajnas
- If after performing severe austerities and penances one does not understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, such practices are useless
- If after undergoing all types of austerities, penances and mystic yoga practices one does not develop such love for Hari, then all his performances are to be considered a useless waste of time
- If one achieves the favor of the Supreme Lord, it is to be understood that he has finished all kinds of austerities and penances and has attained efficiency in their execution
- If one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of Krsna in this Age of Kali. That is the fulfillment of all great sacrifices, penances and austerities
- If one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engage in His service, there is no more need of severe austerities, penances and so on
- If one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are all useless, like the bathing of an elephant
- If one does not attain the perfect stage of devotional service, all austerities and penances actually have no meaning, for without the Supreme Lord no one can attain the highest results derived from performing them
- If one has awakened his dormant love for Krsna, then what is the use in executing austerities and penances unnecessarily. The Krsna consciousness movement is the unique gift of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age
- If one sets fire to unwanted grass and creepers in a field, they will all be burned. Similarly, by the process of austerity and penance, one can liquidate all sinful activities and become purified
- If one wants to perform austerities and penances in order to attain the supreme goal, one must attain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- If someone always sees Krsna inside and out, then it is to be understood that he has surpassed all austerities and penances for self realization
- If the spark out of impudency wants to try to become the big fire, then he falls down. By severe austerities and penances, you can rise up to the impersonal Brahman, but you'll fall down again. That is the fact
- If you have been able to worship Krsna, then there is no need of any more austerities, penances, (indistinct) to self-realize or to know God
- If you perform austerities and penances that is a kind of sacrifice
- In actuality the Mayavadi philosophers very strictly follow the austerities and penances of spiritual life and in this way are elevated to the impersonal Brahman platform, but due to their negligence of the lotus feet of the Lord they again fall down
- In contrast to Sutapa and Prsnigarbha, they (Drona and Dhara) did not undergo severe penances and austerities to become the father and mother of Krsna. This is the difference between nitya-siddha and sadhana-siddha
- In spite of executing all kinds of austerities and penances or even arriving at the brink of spiritual realization in Brahman realization, they (those who are simply puffed up) think that they are in the effulgence of Brahman
- In the beginning of life, as a brahmacari, one has to undergo severe penances and austerities in order to be educated in spiritual values
- In the beginning, those who are aspiring for salvation try to get out of the material entanglement by performing painful austerities and penances, and ultimately they come to the impersonal status of spiritual realization
- In the dynasty of Gadhi, the most powerful Visvamitra took birth. By dint of his austerity and penance, he became a brahmana. He had 101 sons, who were celebrated as the Madhucchandas
- In the material world, simply to get a little favor from the goddess of fortune, people observe many rigid regulations of austerity & penance. The Lord cannot tolerate any inconvenience on the part of the devotee. He is therefore famous as bhakta-vatsala
- In the preliminary phase of spiritual life there are different kinds of austerities, penances and similar processes for attaining self-realization
- In the Vedic histories we find that there were many, many exalted emperors and kings who practiced austerities and penances. Dhruva Maharaja, Ambarisa & Yudhisthira were all great kings and were most opulent, but at the same time they were great sages
- Indra said, "Your (Krsna's) abode is accessible only for one who undergoes severe austerities and penances and becomes completely freed from the onslaught of material qualities like passion and ignorance"
- Influenced by Lord Caitanya’s Krsna consciousness movement, supposedly learned scholars give up their studies of Vedic literature, yogis give up their impractical practices of mystic yoga, ascetics give up their austere activities of penance & austerity
- It is said that although one executes severe austerities, penances and sacrifices in his life, if he fails to awaken his dormant love for Krsna, then all his penances are to be considered useless
- It is said that even if one performs austerities and penances, worldly circumstances are so implicating that somehow or other they will involve one again and again in the material modes of nature
- It is said that many kings and emperors formerly went to the forest for this purpose - to prosecute severe austerities and penances in order to go back home, back to Godhead
K
- Kalindi said, "My dear Draupadi, I was engaged in great austerities and penances to get Lord Krsna as my husband. When He became aware of this fact, He very kindly came to me with His friend Arjuna and accepted me as His wife"
- Kaliya said, "O killer of the Mura demon, I have acquired many mystic powers by my austerity and penances, but before You I am nothing, I am most insignificant. Therefore, please be kind upon a poor soul like me, and don't be angry with me"
- Kardama Muni advised his wife: "You have to factually engage in devotional service with austerity and penance, following the religious principles and giving charity. Then the Supreme Lord will be pleased with you, and He will come as your son
- King Malayadhvaja executed austerities and penances for thirty-six thousand years. After this time, he became fixed in the devotional service of the Lord
- King Pracinabarhisat left his kingdom before his sons arrived after their execution of penance and austerity
- Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja (BG 18.66). This simple fact cannot be understood by any man who has not undergone some austerities, penances, and who has not become a devotee. It is not possible
L
- Lord Brahma also came when Hiranyakasipu underwent severe penances and austerities and made the whole universe tremble
- Lord Brahma obtained his supreme position due to long austerities and penances, mystic yoga, meditation and so on. Hiranyakasipu wanted a similar position
- Lord Krsna said, "A brahmacari is meant to lead a life of austerities and penance. The householder is meant to live a regulated life of sense gratification, but no one should remain a householder for the third stage of life"
- Lord Krsna said, "In that stage, one has to return to the austerities and penances formerly practiced in brahmacari life and thus relieve himself of the attachment to household life"
- Lord Siva, whose hair is matted on his head, has certainly undergone great austerities and penances. Indeed, he is the president in the assembly of strict followers of Vedic principles
- Lord Visnu bestows all good fortune upon the living entities by teaching them to perform Vedic activities such as ritualistic ceremonies, mystic yoga, austerities, penances, and ultimately samadhi, ecstatic absorption in thoughts of You - SB 10.2.34
- Lord Visnu, or Krsna, is the supreme enjoyer of all the results of sacrifices, austerities and penances; in whatever one may engage, the ultimate goal is Visnu. If a person does not know that, he is misled
M
- Material desires should be completely stopped. Otherwise, although one's austerities, penances and charity may free one from sin for the time being, one's desires will reappear because his heart is impure. Thus he will act sinfully and suffer
- Mayavadi philosophers, impersonalists, want to negate this variety, but what is the result? Because they do not engage in devotional service, they simply undertake the hard labor of austerities and penances without achieving any permanent result
- Mudhas do not know that if they want to purify themselves, they must worship Lord Vasudeva (Krsna) by performing penances and austerities. This purification is the aim of human life. This life is not meant for blind indulgence in sense gratification
- Mundane violence and nonviolence have nothing to do with the Lord's acts. A demon killed by Him attains the same result as one who attains liberation after many, many births of penance and austerity
- My dear boy - Narada said (to Dhruva) - you belong to the royal family. You cannot suffer all this penance and austerity. Please return to your home. Your mother and father are very much anxious for you
- My dear King, some brahmanas are very much attached to fruitive activities, some are attached to austerities and penances, and still others study the Vedic literature, whereas some, although very few, cultivate knowledge and practice different yogas
N
- Narada Muni tells his disciple, Vyasadeva, "My dear Vyasa, you should know that persons who are engaged in executing austerities and penances, studying the Vedas, performing big sacrifices, chanting the hymns of the Vedas"
- No one's austerities can compare to the service of the queens at Dvaraka. Sukadeva Gosvami informed Maharaja Pariksit that for self-realization the austerities and penances performed by the queens at Dvaraka have no comparison
O
- O demigods, I instruct you to approach Visvarupa, the son of Tvasta, and accept him as your guru. He is a pure and very powerful brahmana undergoing austerity and penances
- O King, being thus informed by the demigods, the most powerful Lord Brahma, accompanied by Bhrgu, Daksa and other great sages, immediately started for the place where Hiranyakasipu was performing his penances and austerities
- O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure - SB 10.2.32
- O supreme unconquerable Lord (Kamadeva), when they become absorbed in thoughts of material enjoyment, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, as well as other demigods and demons, undergo severe penances and austerities to receive my (Laksmi's) benedictions
- O supreme unconquerable Lord, when they become absorbed in thoughts of material enjoyment, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, as well as other demigods and demons, undergo severe penances and austerities to receive my benedictions
- One cannot be purified merely by undergoing austerity, penance, brahmacarya and the other methods of atonement I (Sukadeva Gosvami) have previously described
- One does not need to undergo any severe penance and austerity. He can live this life in devotional service, guided by an expert spiritual master, and in any position, either as a householder or a sannyasi, or a brahmacari. BG 1972 purports
- One has to cultivate knowledge of the Absolute Truth by pursuing studies in the Vedas and undergoing severe austerities and penances
- One has to return to the austerities & penances formerly practiced in brahmacari life & thus relieve himself of the attachment to household life. After being relieved of his attachments to materialistic way of life, one may accept the order of sannyasa
- One may ask if this means that those who are undergoing so much penance and austerity by strictly following the rules and regulations are endeavoring in vain
- One should never neglect austerities and penances; one should always perform them. Lord Rsabhadeva personally showed us how to do this
- One should not indulge in sex outside of married life, for sex is sanctioned in the scripture only in marriage, not otherwise. This is called celibacy. These are penances and austerities as far as the body is concerned. BG 1972 purports
- One sometimes, after practicing much severe austerities and penances, he can approach the Brahman, param padam, that is Brahman realization, or Brahmaloka. Patanty adhah. But from there also you will fall down
- One who does not take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, he may rise up very high by austerity and penance, but he cannot remain in that position
- One who has actually understood Him (God) surrenders unto Him after many, many births. We find all these qualifications in the Pracetas. They underwent severe austerities and penances within the water, and they did not take any food for a very long time
- One who has not undergone austerities and penances according to the Vedic system, what he can understand Bhagavad-gita and the Vedas? Therefore He has warned. And what is the result of tapasya? To become bhakta, devotee
- One who oppresses a pure devotee loses all the results of his austerities, penances and pious activities
- One who simply understands that throughout the entire universe Krsna is the supreme enjoyer and beneficiary of all kinds of sacrifices, penances and austerities, immediately becomes desireless (niskama) and therefore peaceful
- One's only concern should be to satisfy the Lord by one's activities. If the Lord is satisfied by an action, whatever it may be, then it is successful. Otherwise, it is simply a waste of time. That is the standard of all sacrifice, penance, austerity
- Our duty is to achieve permanent happiness and eternal life, and it is for that purpose only - for the ultimate gain - that we should undertake all sorts of penances and austerities
P
- People who develop this conception of religiosity perform sacrifices, give in charity, and undergo different types of austerity and penance, all with a view toward being rewarded with material prosperity
- Persons of normal mental condition must obey the scriptural injunctions. Those who are not in such a position neglect and disobey the scriptures and manufacture their own way of austerities and penances. BG 1972 purports
- Pious activities of the people, such as performance of Vedic rituals, charity, austere penances & transcendental service, performed with a view to worship & satisfy You by offering You the fruitive results, are also beneficial. Such acts never go in vain
R
- Rsabhadeva advised His sons, tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam suddhyed: "One should engage in penance and austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such activity, one's heart is purified
- Rsabhadeva says that - My dear sons, don't live this irresponsible life like animals, hogs and dogs, but take the responsibility of human life. Undergo austerities, penances, as they ae recommended in the sastras and make your life
- Rukmini continued, "But in order to achieve the favor of Your (Krsna's) lotus feet, they renounced their exalted positions and entered the forest to practice penances and austerities"
S
- Sacrifices, penances and austerities should be performed only to attain Krsna's devotional service
- Sages means those who have undergone austerities, penance, and many tribulation for attaining perfection, they are called sages
- Sankara-sampradaya, they perform very austere penance and principles. They take three times bath at least, three times. And no clothing; simply one loincloth
- Seeing the footprints of the deer on the ground, Maharaja Bharata praised the footprints out of love, saying: O unfortunate Bharata, your austerities and penances are very insignificant compared to the penance and austerity undergone by this earth planet
- Seeing the performance of such austere penances, the demigods, who had been wandering throughout the planets, now returned to their respective homes
- She (Suniti) never desired that her son (Dhruva Maharaja) remain at home comfortably without ever undertaking austerities and penances to achieve the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- She (the mother of a son undergoing austerities and penances and who becomes a strong devotee) will also be transferred with him to the spiritual world, even though she may be unable to undergo austerities and penances in executing devotional service
- Since the brahmacari devotee was leading a life of severe austerities & penances in order to be promoted back to Godhead, the sage said that he should die immediately so that he need not continue to labor hard & could instead go back home back to Godhead
- So this is God; in the lap of His mother He is God. He does not have to become God by meditation, penance, austerity or by following rules or regulations. He is substantially and eternally God, and He has nothing to do
- Some of the asuras, or demons, such as Ravana and Hiranyakasipu, also underwent a severe process of austerity and penance, but they obtained nothing except some temporary objects of sensory pleasure
- Some of the asuras, or demons, such as Ravana and Hiranyakasipu, underwent a severe process of austerity and penance, but they obtained nothing except some temporary objects of sensory pleasure
- Somebody, without undergoing so much austerities, penances and practice in yoga for controlling mind, the senses... It is not possible for the time being, in this age. People are so fallen that they cannot take to these processes
- Someone may argue that even devotees have to undergo many distresses in executing austerities and penances connected with devotional service
- Sometimes a neophyte devotee or ordinary person thinks highly of speculative knowledge, austerity, penances and renunciation, thinking them the only path for advancement in devotional service. Actually this is not a fact
- Sometimes penance and austerity are executed to attract people and receive honor, respect and worship from others. Persons in the mode of passion arrange to be worshiped by subordinates and let them wash their feet and offer riches. BG 1972 purports
- Sometimes we are proud of our austerities, penances and mystic yogic powers, but it is clearly stated herein that one cannot surpass the laws and directions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, either by dint of mystic power, a scientific education
- Srila Sukadeva Gosvami also informed King Pariksit that previously many other kings and emperors went to the jungle to prosecute severe austerities and penances in order to go back home, back to Godhead
- Such a person (who chants the holy name of the Lord) has already performed all types of austerities, penances & Vedic sacrifices, has already bathed in the sacred rivers, & has studied all the Vedic literature. Thus he has become an exalted personality
- Sukadeva Gosvami said: O Maharaja Pariksit, the priest of the Yadu dynasty, namely Garga Muni, who was highly elevated in austerity and penance, was then inspired by Vasudeva to go see Nanda Maharaja at his home - SB 10.8.1
- Suniti cited the example of Lord Brahma, who was Dhruva Maharaja's great-grandfather. Although Lord Brahma is also a living being, by his penance and austerity he acquired the exalted position of creator of this universe by the mercy of the Supreme Lord
T
- Tapas means austerity or penance. There are many rules and definitions in the Vedas which apply here, like rising early in the morning and taking a bath. BG 1972 purports
- Tapasya is meant for the renounced order of life; those who are retired from worldly activities should perform tapasya, penances and austerities
- The beautiful girl was the river Yamuna personified. She replied (to Arjuna), "Sir, I am the daughter of the sun-god, and I am now performing penance and austerity to have Lord Visnu as my husband"
- The benefit (of training a son as a brahmacari and engage in austerities and penances) will be that if her (Suniti's) son becomes a strong devotee like Dhruva, certainly not only will he be transferred back home, back to Godhead
- The Bhagavatam says (SB 10.2.32), because they (mayavadi philosophers) do not see the lotus feet of Krsna, they have to return to this material world, despite all their serious penances and austerities. Thus renunciation in itself will not help us
- The brahmacaris must perform sacrifices, the grhasthas must give in charity, and those in the renounced order of life (the vanaprasthas & sannyasis) must practice penance and austerities. These are the procedures to be elevated to the spiritual platform
- The doctrines of anthropomorphism and zoomorphism are never applicable to Sri Krsna, or the Personality of Godhead. The theory that a man becomes God by dint of penance and austerities is very much rampant nowadays, especially in India
- The dry speculators, however, because of their following the principles of austerity and penance, can have knowledge of the impersonal features of the Lord to some extent, but there is no chance of their understanding His ultimate form as Govinda
- The eighth offense is to equate the chanting of Hare Krsna with other spiritual activities, such as meditation, austerity, penance or sacrifice. They cannot be equated at any level
- The entire process of austerity and penance is meant to detach one from the material world and enhance one’s attachment to Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsna is the shelter of all persons advancing in self-realization
- The four divisions of meanings of the word deha (“body”) are (3) tapo-deha, the body engaged in austerities and penances (vide verse 216), and (4) sarva-kama-deha, the body engaged for the satisfaction of all kinds of material desires (vide verse 218)
- The gopis assembled there spoke among themselves, "What sort of austerities and penances we must have undergone in our previous lives! We must have worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, offered different kinds of sacrifices and made charities"
- The gopis said, "Although she is always resting on Your (Krsna's) chest in the Vaikuntha planets, she underwent great austerity and penance to have some shelter at Your lotus feet, which are always covered by tulasi leaves"
- The gopis said: "Dear earthly planet, how many austerities and penances you must have undergone to have the lotus feet of Krsna always touching your surface"
- The gopis then looked upon the ground they were traversing and began to address the earth: "Dear earthly planet, we do not know how many penances and austerities you have undergone to be now living with the footprints of Lord Krsna upon you"
- The great austerities and penances he (Hiranyakasipu) had performed for so many years could not give him protection from death. This was foretold by Lord Brahma
- The Haryasvas began practicing austerities, penances and meditation, which are the engagements of the highly exalted renounced order of life
- The human life is meant for austerity and penance, not for increasing the items of our sense gratification. That is animal life. Human life is meant for restraint. Laws are for the human being
- The impersonalists undergo severe penances and austerities to attain mukti
- The impersonalists, who take much trouble in penance and austerity for self-liberation, may approach the impersonal brahmajyoti, but ultimately, they glide down again to the material world to undergo another term of material existence
- The incidents in the life of Dhruva Maharaja are very attractive for devotees. From his pious actions, one can learn how one can detach himself from material possessions and how one can enhance one's devotional service by severe austerities and penances
- The intelligence of those who think themselves liberated but who have no devotion is impure. Even though they rise to the highest point of liberation by dint of severe penances & austerities, they are sure to fall down again into material existence
- The Lord is described here as tri-pat, which means that He is the enjoyer of three kinds of sacrifices. In Bhagavad-gita the Lord confirms that He is the beneficiary and enjoyer of all sacrifices, penances and austerities
- The Lord, being the source of everything that be, is the origin of all austerities and penances also
- The Mayavadi monists undergo a severe process of austerity and penance to acquire knowledge of becoming one with the Lord, but ultimately they become dependent on some rich follower who supplies them with requisite paraphernalia
- The Mayavadis are called avisuddha-buddhayah, or unclean in knowledge. Because they are unclean in knowledge, all their austerities and penances end in frustration
- The Mayavadis who are trying to become liberated in so many ways, mystic yoga practice and austere penances, and so on, so on, so on, so on... You can get that liberty immediately, simply by engaging yourself in some service of Krsna
- The Nagapatnis said, "He (Kaliya) must have undergone all kinds of penances and austerities, humbly honored others and executed universal welfare activities for all living creatures"
- The nondevotees, the impersonalist, they undergo severe penances and austerities undoubtedly, and they rise up to the brahma-jyotir. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adhah (SB 10.2.32). From there, he again falls down
- The personified Vedas continued to pray, "Thus they (Intelligent persons) are immediately freed from the contamination of the material qualities; they do not have to undergo severe penances and austerities for advancement in spiritual life"
- The personified Vedas continued, "By this simple process of penance and austerity, the Supersoul within the devotee's heart is very much pleased and gives the devotee directions so that he may go back home, back to Godhead"
- The personified Vedas said: We offer our respectful obeisances unto You, the Lord, the shelter of the quality of goodness and therefore the source of all religion, austerity and penance, for You are transcendental to all material qualities
- The Pracetas properly executed this function (studying the Vedas and performing severe austerities and penances) and consequently became equal to all other living entities
- The Pracetas underwent severe austerities for many, many years, even within the water. Accepting austerities and penances is the avowed business of those interested in advanced civilization
- The practice of austerity and penance is meant for understanding the distinction between the body and the soul and how the soul can be unaffected by the pleasures and pains of the body
- The qualities of one engaged in the service of Sri Caitanya - such as reputation, austerities, penances and knowledge - are not to be compared to the good qualities of others. Such is the perfection of a devotee always engaged in the service of Caitanya
- The Supreme Godhead here explains the different kinds of austerity and penance. First He explains the austerities and penances practiced by the body. BG 1972 purports
- The symptoms of a brahmana are control of the mind, control of the senses, austerity and penance, cleanliness, satisfaction, forgiveness, simplicity, knowledge, mercy, truthfulness, and complete surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The vanaprastha stage is exactly like this. Although the wife remains with the husband, she undergoes severe austerities and penances so that although both husband and wife live together, there is no question of sex
- There are instances of foolish penance undertaken by demons like Hiranyakasipu, who performed austere penances to become immortal and kill the demigods. He prayed to Brahma for such things, but ultimately he was killed by the SP of Godhead. BG 1972 pur
- There are many instances in Vedic civilization of kings who attained perfection as devotees of God. For example, Dhruva Maharaja went to the forest to search out God and by practice of severe penance and austerity found God within six months
- There are many mystic speculators who are engaged in speculating about liberation from the miseries of material life and who therefore undergo various austerities and penances
- There are many religious systems wherein penances and austerities are greatly stressed, but at the end no one understands Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is therefore no point in such penance (tapasya)
- There is no need of great austerities or penances to worship the Lord, for Me accepts even a small service offered by His devotee. Thus He is satisfied, and as soon as He is satisfied, the devotee is successful
- There is, of course, suffering in the lives of animals and plants, which are suffering due to their past misdeeds. However, human beings should voluntarily accept suffering in the form of austerities and penances in order to attain the divine life
- These Brahmavadi, these Nirakaravadi, although by austerities and penances they may rise up to the Brahman effulgence, still, they will fall down. Because we are living entities, we want varieties of enjoyment. We are not satisfied in void, in zero
- These four brahmacaris, the Kumaras, are recognized scholars in the Vedas and other sastras. Their unlimited volumes of knowledge, backed by austerities and penances, are exhibited by their sublime, ideal character
- These mudhas do not know that if they want to purify themselves, they must worship Lord Vasudeva (Krsna) by performing penances and austerities. This purification is the aim of human life. This life is not meant for blind indulgence
- They (exalted kings who practiced austerities & penances namely Dhruva, Ambarisa and so on) set the example for those who have acquired this good opportunity of a beautiful human form of life with all the facilities for economic development & good living
- They (nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances) fall down from their position of imagined superiority because they have no regard for Your (Visnu's) lotus feet - SB 10.2.32
- They (the materialists) may be very religious & may work very systematically or perform austerities and penances, but if they blaspheme the Supreme Personality of Godhead they are nothing but rogues. This is confirmed in the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya - 3.11
- They executed the required austerities and penances in their lives and were liberal, meeting the standard of qualified brahmanas
- This behavior of Lord Krsna with the gopis and queens is unique in the history of self-realization. Usually people understand that for self-realization one has to go to the forest or mountains and undergo severe austerities and penances
- This great sage incarnation of Godhead, Narayana Rsi, has been undergoing great penances, austerities from the very beginning of the creation to teach the inhabitants of Bharata-varsa how to attain the highest perfectional stage of going back to God
- This is all nonsense (to claim that God meditates, and by His meditation He becomes God). God is God, & He was always God and will always be God. Even as an infant on the lap of His mother Krsna is God. No meditation was required, no austerity or penance
- This is confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, "If Hari, the Supreme Lord, is worshiped, adored and loved by a person, it should be understood that the person has finished all kinds of austerities, penances and similar processes for self realization"
- This is the purification process: austerity, penance, controlling sex life, controlling the mind, controlling the senses, giving in charity whatever you possess, everything regulated. This is one process. And the other process is this bhakti-yoga
- This Krsna consciousness movement, there is austerity, but it is not very difficult. We recommend our students not to have illicit sex. We don't stop sex, but regulate. We don't stop eating, but regulated, krsna-prasadam, no meat-eating
- Those who are sinful persons, they cannot become so much purified by observing austerity, penances, celibacy, as one can become completely freed from sinful reaction by becoming devotee
- Those who are under the concept of bodily life, even though they are very much advanced in austerity and penance, or even though they are great philosophers, are unable to understand Him - Krsna
- Those who have discovered the greatest transcendental flavor in the movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu no longer have a taste for such activities like undergoing various austerities and penances
- Those who know the science of Krsna consciousness automatically know of subsidiary subjects like fruitive activity, speculative knowledge, yoga, charity, penance, austerity, and chanting mantras
- Those who perform severe austerities and penances, those who give away all their possessions out of charity, those who are very famous for their auspicious activity are not able to obtain any auspicious results
- Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, are to be known as demons
- Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body are known to be demons
- Throughout his life he tried to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by austerity & penances. Now, the mature result was that Dhruva Maharaja became fit to be carried to the spiritual world, accompanied by the confidential associates of the Lord
- To become Brahma is not a very easy thing. Brahma is such a big post, and it is given to a very qualified living entity who is highly advanced in austerities and penance. But he is also a living entity like us
- To become God conscious, Krsna conscious, is not very cheap thing. It requires a great amount of austerity, penance to come to this stage. So never be disappointed that because people are not responding
- To become successful in any attempt, one not only has to undergo severe penances and austerities, but also must be dependent on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- To become very learned scholar, scientist, it requires tapasya, austerities, penance. It is not that all of a sudden one becomes very great scientist. After many, many research work. Therefore it is called tapasah
- To come to the right conclusion, sankhya-yogis undergo severe austerities and penances, practicing control of the senses and renunciation
- To create different planetary systems I (Brahma) had to undergo austerities and penance, and the Lord, thus being pleased with me, incarnated in four sanas (Sanaka, Sanat-kumara, Sanandana and Sanatana)
- To exhibit His personal way of austerity and penance, He (the Personality of Godhead) appeared in twin forms as Narayana and Nara in the womb of Murti, the wife of Dharma and the daughter of Daksa
- To get out of this false struggle for existence and become happy in the material world, one has to control the mind and senses and be detached from material conditions. One should never neglect austerities and penances; one should always perform them
- To perform austerities or penances, or, for that matter, any form of devotional service, one has to be guided by a spiritual master
- Try to spread this Krsna consciousness movement. And this is your sadhana, execution of austerity, penance. Because you have to meet so many opposing elements. You have to fight with them. That is tapasya
U
V
- Vasudeva was Prsni in his former life, and Devaki was Sutapa. Sutapa. Sutapa means one who can perform austerities and penance very nicely. Su means nicely, and tapah
- Visvamitra, the son of Maharaja Gadhi, was as powerful as the flames of fire. From the position of a ksatriya, he achieved the position of a powerful brahmana by undergoing penances and austerities
W
- We are not master; still, we are trying to become master. The Mayavada philosophy, they also undergo severe type of austerities, penances, but what is the idea? The idea is that "I shall become one with God." Same mistake
- We should undertake all sorts of penances and austerities to attain the permanent source of happiness
- We train them in austerities and penances and recognize them as brahmanas by awarding them sacred threads. Thus the caste brahmanas of India are very displeased by our activities in the Western world
- What great penance and austerities the damsels of Vrndavana must have undergone, for they are able to drink the nectar of Krsna, who is all beauty, all strength, all riches, all fame and whose bodily luster is the center of all beauty
- What is the result of tapasya? To become bhakta, devotee. One who has actually undergone austerities, penances, then the result will be that he will surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is bhakta
- When a country is subjugated by an undesirable government, persons and parties undergo severe penances and austerities to get control of the government, and when they attain control, they flourish by giving themselves generous salaries
- When all these Pracetas were ordered by their father to marry and beget children, they all entered the ocean and practiced austerities and penances for ten thousand years. Thus they worshiped the master of all austerity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- When one is actually able to maintain the transcendental position, his stage is called neutrality in devotional service. Some great sages have attained this neutral position by practicing austerity, penance and meditation to control the senses
- When situated in the material quality of goodness, one tries to purify himself by performing various penances and austerities. When one reaches the platform of a real brahmana, he aspires to merge into the existence of the Lord
- When some great saintly persons who had undergone penances and austerities saw the four-handed transcendental form of Visnu, they began to remark as follows
- When they become absorbed in thoughts of material enjoyment, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, as well as other demigods and demons, undergo severe penances and austerities to receive my (Laksmidevi) benedictions
- When we are put into difficulties while discharging Krishna Conscious duties, it is to be understood that Krishna puts us in a field of austerities and penances which help us making progress towards realization of our goal of life
- While performing fruitive activities one can become free from the actions of sinful life through austerity, penance, celibacy, control of the mind and senses, truthfulness and the practice of mystic yoga
- With great austerity, penances and vairagya, they can go up to the param padam. Param padam means Brahman. Nirvisesa-brahman. Not in the material existence, but in the spiritual existence. Aruhya. They can rise up to that
- With great labor, austerity and penance, he (a person) may be elevated to the liberated platform, but for want of shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, he falls down again into material contamination
- Without austerity and penance and without sacrificing one's riches, one cannot achieve the mercy of the Supreme Lord
Y
- Yogis cannot capture Krsna by severe penances and austerities, but mother Yasoda, despite all obstacles, was finally able to catch Krsna without difficulty. This is the difference between a yogi and a bhakta
- Yogis may undergo severe austerities and penances for many births by practicing yama, niyama, asana and pranayama, none of which are easily performed - SB 10.12.12
- Yogis, mystics, want to catch Krsna as Paramatma, and with great austerities and penances they try to approach Him, yet they cannot. Here (in SB 10.9.9) we see, however, that Krsna is going to be caught by Yasoda and is running away in fear
- You are all self-controlled, well balanced in mind, and aware of the Absolute Truth. And because of austerities and penances you are completely cleansed of all material contamination. Your words, like those of the demigods, are never baffled