Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.14.30-33
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutySeek Spiritual Advancement in Sacred Places
“The sacred lakes like Puṣkara and places where saintly persons live, like Kurukṣetra, Gayā, Prayāga, Pulahāśrama, Naimiṣāraṇya, the banks of the Phālgu River, Setubandha, Prabhāsa, Dvārakā, Vārāṇasī, Mathurā, Pampā, Bindu-sarovara, Badarikāśrama [Nārāyaṇāśrama], the places where the Nandā River flows, the places where Lord Rāmacandra and mother Sītā took shelter, such as Citrakūṭa, and also the hilly tracts of land known as Mahendra and Malaya — all of these are to be considered most pious and sacred. Similarly, places outside India where there are centers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and where Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Deities are worshiped must all be visited and worshiped by those who want to be spiritually advanced. One who intends to advance in spiritual life may visit all these places and perform ritualistic ceremonies to get results a thousand times better than the results of the same activities performed in any other place.”
What the purport teaches
- Sacred lakes, places where saintly persons live and places connected with the Lord are especially auspicious. The translation describes ritual activities there as yielding results a thousand times greater.
- Any place where devotees worship the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is most significant. Centers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement offer opportunities for Deity worship and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted this movement, with installed Deities, to spread to every town and village. The purport urges everyone to take part eagerly, because without spiritual life nothing is auspicious.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
Ask yourself
How could I better use the opportunity to worship and chant at a Kṛṣṇa consciousness center?
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.