Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.21.44
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSacred Animals and Their Worshipful Use
“Its shores abounded with deer, boars, porcupines, gavayas, elephants, baboons, lions, monkeys, mongooses and musk deer.”
What the purport teaches
- The shores abounded with many animals, including deer, elephants, lions, monkeys and musk deer.
- The purport explains that musk deer live only in certain places, such as Bindu-sarovara. They are intoxicated by the aroma of musk secreted from their navels.
- Gavayas, also called camarīs, are considered very sacred. The bunches of hair at the ends of their tails are used to fan the Deities in temple worship.
Try this today
Reread the description of gavayas and note how their tail hair is used in service to the Deities.
Ask yourself
What does the use of camarī hair help me notice about the details of temple worship?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.