The Shrimad Bagavatam: have you studied it?

It has everything you always wanted to know about the univese but were afraid it would be religious.

 

I've read most of it - and to be honest, I found Prabhupada's version extremely tiresome, and his comments often nothing to do with the text and very, very repititious.
Other versions tend only to translate the later parts concerning Krishnas lila, but 'Krishna - The Beautiful Legend of God' (penguin books) is more readable than SP's version IMO.

It is a book of mythology, probably of medieval origin, one purana among many. It has no special significance for me.

 

It is indeed Krishnas biography. Some superstitions and legends have been added to it, in veneration of Krishna, but it does not in any way make it mythology.

Some of the expressions of Radha, and how she teases Krishna are very cute.

 

Scientific Content in the Srimad Bhagavatam




There are various contents in the Srimad Bhagavatam which are especially interesting with regards to modern science. The shortest unit of time is explained to be the time it takes light to cross over an atom. This is interesting, because if we consider that an atom, in contrast to the definition in modern science, means an indivisible particle or unit, then that corresponds to the modern view of the smallest unit of length called the Planck length. The main theory of modern science is also considering the smallest unit of time to be the time that it takes light to move over the Planck length (indivisible). This is called the Planck time.

There is also a detailed description of the development of the embryo in the womb starting from the time of conception.

 

Does it matter whether it is scientific or not?

 

Science points out to the truth too.

And as Gandhi said, there is no God higher than truth.

 

yea but why should I care whether it is scientific or not, please I get enough of that in my classes, i just want to read it to know about krishna.

 

Some who are still like little children in heart will read it enjoy it and not care wether the academic scholars and scientific community find surprising wisdom and facts in it; others wait anxiously for the book to be acclaimed to be accurate in everything described about the universe, atoms, time and history.

 

This is just for the sake of information. If you are interested, take it. If not, leave it.

 

I am interested in everything in the book, the stories, wisdom , facts, scientific details and other stuff . :H

 

I sure feel glad, happy and fortunate that such book has come to be written, unlike any other in the universe. Whatever can be said about it would be an understatement. It has been beyond my expectations.

 

I admire what Prahbupada has done, and how he came to America in his seventies and began the Bakti movement here, yet in what you said I agree completly.

Most people read the verse and the purport considering it heresy to avoid Prabupada's purport, but I have found that if you read it straight it has a joyful movement. Each verse stands completly on its own. The purport should give more details about its time in history and not a repetition of what the verse already says.

If you had been raised with the book being read to you at home and temples, I can understand needing a clarifying purport. For me I look at some explanations as unnessesary, but when its about numbers like the lifetime of Brahma or something else like that, then I look it up.

 

I would like to read it...as soon as I can get the Penguin one...I prob. will. I have their Gita...and I found it very well done. But I would like to read more stories about dear Lord Krishna....I love reading the Ramayana...I'm sure reading this would prob. hold my interests similarly.

BTW, Hari, I do enjoy the OP...it made me laugh.

 

I'm glad it made you laugh, but I wish to know what exactly is OP.

 

oh sorry there...the first thing you had posted. OP = Original Post.

 

I see, of course you saw the refference from a popular book.

 

i say it doesn't and tend to see the mythology although the krishnas like to present the science in it and the descriptions of hell and the astronomy. i skip over all that and go right to the tenth canto

 

i admire it to and certainly his bringing the bhakti and devotional yoga to so many people was with god's grace

but i think he was mistaken on many concepts and as well as you write in your post "began the Bakti movement", he was not the first, bhakti was existing here long ago, the native americans had great bhakti and other hindu gurus as well brought the idea of bhakti over a hundred years ago

 

If I'd been brought up on it I'd probably be extremely bored with it by now.
I don't think simply repeating the culture of past generations will help. We need radical changes, not cultural conservatism.

 

Here is a great story I love of Krishna, which is so original and so much like his character.

Radha was feeding bananas to her lover Krishna. She was peeling the skin away and gave the fruit to Krishnas mouth, and Krishna ate it.

However Radha was so love-stricken, that she forgot what she was doing, and threw away the fruit and gave the banana skin to Krishna to eat. And Krishna ate that too with a smile.

The rascal.



Whatever you offer me with love, water, a leaf , or a flower, I accept with joy.
--Krishna ( Bhagavad Gita )