Vaisnava-tantra and samskaras -

Sadhaka 108 put the question about the tantra generally.My questions is :What is actually vaisnava tantra?There are for example rituals for concieving children in Sat Kriya Sara Dipika.Can somebody write anything more about that?
Kanu

The word "tantra" basically means a particular procedure for doing something, and it also refers to related literatures. Practically every tradition anywhere has a body of ceremonies and rituals they observe. Whatever rituals and so forth Vaishnavas observe, that's Vaishnava-tantra.

As far as the varieties of rituals present in various scriptures go, it's good to follow them as long as they don't drive you nuts. As far as rituals for conceiving children go, I suggest you contact some householder devotees with children by e-mail or so.

Jay Radhe!

First of all, I would like to congratule kanai for receiving diksha at Radha Kunda. Now, I would like to known a little more about this Sat Kriya Sara Dipika.

sadhaka108
PS: did u receive my last email? it has been a long time since I wrote it.

Sat-kriya-sara-dipika and Samskara-dipika are rather elaborate couple of texts describing various rituals for Vaishnavas. The later, describing rituals for those about to renounce the world, is often taken to be an appendix of the former, which describes befitting rituals for the householders. The Gaudiya Math presents the title as the work of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.

However, Sat-kriya-sara-dipika is not mentioned in any older texts as a work of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. Other Gosvami granthas are well known and accepted. The only two texts that are associated with Gopala Bhatta Gosvami in the Bhakti-ratnakara are the Hari-bhakti-vilasa and a commentary on the Krsna-karnamrta. The Bhakti-ratnakara, which was written in the 18th century, gives an extensive and correct list of the works of all the Gosvamis. It has a long discussion of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, but says nothing of this text.

In his Gaudiya Vaisnava Sahitya (2nd volume, page 2), Haridas Das suspects the authenticity of this scripture. In the third chapter of the text, the author of Sat-kriya-sara-dipika recommends worshipping Gopala Bhatta Gosvami in the Vaisnava homa, “om gopala bhattaya svaha”. It is very unlikely that the humble Gosvami would write such a thing in his book, considering the extent to which he avoided publicity among contemporary Vaisnava authors.

Haridas Das suggests it was written by another Gopala Bhatta, not the Gopal Bhatta who was one of the six Goswamis. He says that he asked Vanamalilal Goswami, one of the Radharamana Goswamis, who was responsible for the service of Radharamana, about the book. Vanamalilal Goswami said that it was written by a Gopal Bhatta who was a disciple of Hita Harivamsa. In support of this he points to a reference in the tilaka section to the form of the tilaka being described as “Radhavallabhiya”, i.e. relating to the deity of Hita Harivamsa, not a Gaudiya deity. His conclusion is that it is written by a disciple of Hita Harivamsa.

Naresh Candra Jana, in his book Vrndavaner Chaya Gosvami (p. 212-213), considers it to be the work of a later author of unknown name who passed it off as a work of Gopal Bhatta Goswami. He points to similar inconsistencies.

Jaya Madhavandanda Das!

Please, accept my dandavats.

Thanks for the reply. You are always much attentive to my questions.

Can you tell me where I found a Sat-kriya-sara-dipika and Samskara-dipika copy?

your servant,
sadhaka108

Kusakratha has translated either one or both of them. I recall also seeing a spiralbound version published by ISKCON Mayapur Gurukula. I do not know from how to purchase a copy, though. Try to get in touch with either of them. Also, bear in mind that translations are often rather inaccurate, and anything suspicious or unclear should be checked against the original Sanskrit text.

This used to be Kusakratha's contact info: The Krishna institute, PO Box 281, Culver City, CA 90232 USA Tel: (310) 838-3535. However, he lives in Vrindavan now as far as I know, so the address may no longer be working.

I saw in Rasa Bihari's shop a year ago in Loi Bazar selling one of them.

My wife and I asked Ananta Das Pandit Babaji about householders performing samskaras. He said this is for ordinary people. It is not for sadhakas who have a manjari svarupa and performing raganuga bhajan.