Researcher ORCiD: 0000-0003-1871-7803

04 September 2010

God not needed to create the Universe - Hindustan Times

Dismissing the possibility that God created the universe, science mogul Stephen Hawking has claimed that the universe was formed because of laws of physics and not divine intervention, telegraph.co.uk reported. The scientist, in his latest book The Grand Design, has said that the universe can and will create itself from nothing due to gravity. “It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the Universe going,” said Hawking. Interestingly, this is the first time Hawking is completely dismissing the possibility that God created the universe. In A Brief History of Time, Hawking did not refute the possibility. In his new book, Hawking has rejected Sir Issac Newton's theory that God set the universe in motion. Explaining his stand on God, Hawking said in an interview that he did not believe in a personal God. "If you like, you can call the laws of science 'God', but it wouldn't be a personal God that you could meet, and ask questions." The book will be published on September 9.

05 August 2010

Sri Devananda Gaudiya Matha:

Sri Devananda Gaudiya Matha (Math, Mutt) is situated at Teghori Pada in Sri Nabadwip dham of district Nadia in the West Bengal state of India, and is a prominent holy place of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. It is located in the middle of the place earlier known as Koladvipa. The Math has been continuing as a famous religious spot thronged by thousands of devotees every year.

History

In 1940, after jagad-guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada entered aprakata-lila, one of his intimate associates, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, established Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti in a rented building. He later purchased an extensive piece of land on which he established a matha with a beautiful temple.

Inside the Temple

The following deities preside in the five chambers of the temple and samadhi mandir respectively:

Temple

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada,
Sri Gauranga and Sri Radha-Vinoda-bihari, and
Sri Koladeva, or Varahadeva, the presiding deity of Sri Koladvipa.

Samadhi

Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vedanta Bamana Goswami Maharaja

Nava-vidha Bhakti

The temple's nine towers each represent one limb of nava-vidha-bhakti, the nine types of devotional service.

Hearing,
Chanting,
Remembering,
Serving the Lord's lotus feet,
Worshipping,
Offering prayers,
Engaging as a servant,
Serving as a friend, and
Completely surrendering oneself.

Nava-vidha Khandas

The deities of the Mandir - Gauranga and Sri Radha-Vinoda-bihari, Nabadwip, West Bengal

The matha is divided into the following nine parts (khandas):

Paramartha-khanda - the printing press where devotional literature and magazines are produced.
Kirtana-khanda - the place where sankirtana, lectures on Bhagavatam and other scriptures take place.
Upasya-khanda - the temple where the deities of Srila Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, Sri Gauranga, Sri Radha-Vinona-bihari and Sri Koladeva are worshipped.
Sevaka-khanda - the place where the residents of the matha live.
Bhoga-khanda - the storehouse and kitchen.
Govardhana-khanda - the cow shed.
Vaisnnava-granthagara-khanda - the library.
Udayana-Khanda - the garden.
Jnana-khanda - the bathrooms and latrines.

These sections are divided on the basis of activities favourable to bhakti, which are to be accepted and those unfavourable which are to be avoided. Jnana and karma which are devoid of bhakti are always to be rejected just as one rejects stools. For this reason the bathrooms and latrines of the matha are called Jnana-khanda.

It was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami's long-held desire that a deity of Sri Koladeva be established on the Ganga's western bank in the old Kuliya-nagara. To fulfill this desire, Srila Bhakti Prajnana kesava Gosvami Maharaja has manifested the service of Sri Koladeva at the place.