Karyastasya Katha Vartaha Shravyascha Parmadarata |
Vaditrasahitam Karyam Krushnakirtanmutave ||64||
After Namasankirtan, one should read from the tenth chapter of Shrimad Bhagwat and then discuss it’s content. Those who cannot read should eagerly listen to the Shastra.
Bhagwatkathashravankirtanadermokshahetutva - Katha of the Lord and Kirtan are simply a passage to Moksha explains Shatanand. Shrimad Bhagwat explains, ‘O Krishna! Those who listen to thy name and remember thy form, who speak about thee and think about thee, and whose mind is forever at thy lotus feet, are never again born upon this material world.’
Those who listen to the nectar of God’s Katha (Kathamruta) from great men purify their mind, consciousness and ego. They become free from the effects of the senses and attain a place at the Lord’s divine feet. They obtain supreme knowledge, renunciation, conciseness, the path to salvation and intense devotion to God. Therefore, who in their right mind does not have love for Katha of God? Katha destroys all obstacles; those who have no interest in Katha are mere fools with their ears as mere caves for snakes to reside within.
Secondly, on days of celebration such as Janmashtmi, Ekadashi etc., one should sing in praise of Shree Krishna using instruments such as Veena, Mrudang Kanshijoda. On such days, Mahapooja of the Lord should be performed: ‘On these days, one should purify themselves by bathing, put on perfumes, perform Abhishekh of God, prepare tasty offerings for God and sing and dance in rejoice.’
A temple is divine, as the very ground that it stands upon is sanctified. Merely standing in a temple will purify one from sin. What then needs to be said about those who perform Japa Mala, meditation, scriptural recitation etc? It is said that the ground where a Yagna takes place is sacred for a whole year. But a temple is an institution where sacrifices continue to take place. Great saints and Acharyas sanctify the temple and the Murtis therein, Utsavas continually take place with great pomp and pleasure, intense devotion by great devotees take place, Mahapooja, Mangal Kirtan Dhuna, Katha are all performed. Such is a temple and therefore there is no question that a temple is continually sacred and sanctified. In such a sacred temple, one receives a magnitude of Punya (fruits) for acts performed there and more so the favour of God.
The Gita says, Yagnanaam Japa Yagnosmi - ‘The best Yagna is where great penance and devotion takes place’ - such place is a temple of God. Those that serve and worship in a temple are always happy and will definitely reach the heavens. Those that fall into useless arguments there and do not serve there will only face misery. Such a person who serves and worships in a temple need not perform Yagna nor Tirthas. Performance of Daan and other great acts are all satisfied through worship and dedication in a temple.
For such reasons, a temple should never be reduced to a place of argument, difference and discontent. By doing so we insult the institution of a temple, which is a place of peace and tranquillity. We indeed offend the deities therein by such act. By acting in this way we will wash away any righteous acts we have performed there.