Page 8 - Ananda Mela 2016- Joyful Festival of India

namo brahmaṇya-devāya

go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca

jagad-dhitāya kṛṣṇāya

govindāya namo namaḥ

‘My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the brāhmaṇas, and You
are the well-wisher of the en re human society and world.’ (Viṣhṇu Purāṇa
1.19.65) The purport is that special men on is given in that prayer for the
protec on of the cows and the brāhmaṇas. Brāhmaṇas are the symbol of
spiritual educa on, and cows are the symbol of the most valuable food
(Ahimsa milk); these two living creatures, the brāhmaṇas and the cows, must
be given all protec on – that is real advancement of civiliza on. In modern
human society, spiritual knowledge is neglected, and cow killing is encour-
aged. It is to be understood, then, that human society is advancing in the
wrong direc on and is clearing the path to its own condemna on. A civiliza-

on which guides the ci zens to become animals in their next lives is certain-
ly not a human civiliza on. The present human civiliza on is, of course, gross-
ly misled by the modes of passion and ignorance. It is a very dangerous age,
and all na ons should take care to provide the easiest process, Krishṇa con-
sciousness, to save humanity from the greatest danger.’” (Bg 14.16)

Ignorance of the laws of material nature and the principles of righteous living
(Dharma) as explained in detail in the Bhagavad-gita have catastrophic conse-
quences for individuals and society. There are five categories of ci zens in a
state that must be protected for society to func on in accordance with the
laws of nature. They are saintly persons who consistently live in the mode of
goodness or transcendental goodness, children, women, the elderly, and
cows. The mistreatment of any or all of these persons results in social insta-
bility, violence, war, pes lence and many more natural and man-made ca-
lami es.

The real problems of material existence are birth, death, old age and disease.
These problems cannot be counteracted by the accumula on of wealth or
economic development. There are many examples of people who are

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