Page 12 - Bhakthinivedana 2011 September English Magazine.pmd

You Ask,

Sri Swamiji Answers

Is it ok for a man to make a livelihood on his wife’s Is it true that there are many universes just like ours
income? Does it come under any of the dharma, with all these yugas and incarnations simultaneously
karma and sarana:gathi? happening in all these universes? If yes, then do

Ans: It is not at all advised to depend upon the money those universes have Lord Venkateswara and Nara-
earned by the wife totally. Both husband and wife can Narayana too?
earn, share it and spend the same for the family. This Ans: Yes. In other universes also it is said that there
is fine. are living organisms, but in what form they exist, how

they live and eat, we really do not know - maybe that
Is sorrow a weakness or strength for man? is in a different dimension.
Ans: Sorrow is not a weakness when it shows a path
for putting us in good karma but when it makes us If one performs rites for one’s self betterment, is it

nishkriya:s (not perform any actions), then it is very not like obstructing the process of one’s karma? Is it
bad. that if we pray or perform some acts to remove one’s
obstacles, one is postponing the karma?
When is the good time to chant ASHTA:KSHARI - Ans: Not exactly. Prayer gives you or should give you

MANTRA? better understanding of performing karma in a nice
Ans: It is always better to chant the manthra before way and allows you to face the results of karma with
eating or drinking anything after the morning bath. It all boldness.
does not matter whether the chanting is morning or

afternoon. Once you eat/drink something, you are I would like to know more about the minor gods of
not supposed to chant the manthra for that day. Hinduism, especially those connected with the Shaiva
traditions. Everyone knows Bramha, Shiva, Vishnu,
Who came first to this earth - Lord Venkateswara or Krishna, Bhairava, Durga, Kali, Parvati, Lakshmi,

Nara-Narayana? Sarasvati, Rama, Hanuman, Ganesha, Skanda, etc.,
Ans: Nara-Narayana avathara was the first one and but Hinduism has so many gods, there should be
Ve:nkate:swara is only during this kaliyuga. many interesting, other gods.
Ans: What are you going to do knowing all of them?

12 Bhakthinivedana • Sep, Oct 2011