Madhya 15.179–“If a person possessing millions of wish-fulfilling cows loses one she-goat, he does not consider the loss. Kṛṣṇa owns all six opulences in full. If the entire material energy is destroyed, what does He lose?”
Subject: Extensive collection of BTG Magazine Ads of Bhagavad Gita As It Is (1972 Edition) to spread its glories
Extensive collection of BTG Magazine Ads
of Bhagavad Gita As It Is (1972 Edition) to spread its glories
Hare Krishna, Dandavat pranams and all glories to His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and all Vaisnavas.
The following link contains a collection of many advertisements of Original Bhagavad Gita As It Is(1972) that appeared in BTG Magazines in the 1970s.
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:ccafded7-ecf3-4bd5-8d29-d5f80976ed6c
This collection is presented to glorify the Original Macmillan Edition(Complete 1972 Edition) that Srila Prabhupada gave 100s of lectures from and always wanted to print it in large numbers.
All these advertisements can be used by the book distributors who want this original edition to be restored to distribute to all sections of people.
A quote below gives a proper proof where the original Gita is reviewed by Dr. Vajpayee.
“The reviews have very much encouraged me. Especially those of Prof. Bhatt and Prof. Vajpeye. I have personally written a letter of thanks to Dr. Bhatt, that he has so much encouraged me. Dr. Vajpeye’s review we are going to print and widely distribute, especially in Bombay and Madras, where there is so much propaganda from these bogus gurus and yogis. He has got practical experience of how they are cheating the innocent people in foreign countries and he has written; “The authorized edition of Bhagavad-gita will help to stop the terrible cheating of ‘gurus’ and ‘yogis’ who are false and unauthorized. [Letter to: Svarupa, Ranadhira, Mayapur-3 February, 1976 Los Angeles]”
Srila Prabhupada explains the potency of Macmillan edition – “We present it exactly as it is; without any additions or subtractions. That is perfect in every way and THEREFORE IT IS ACTUALLY HAVING A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ALL OVER THE WORLD. “
75-03-14 Letter: Mr. Dennany
“You mentioned in your letter that you had read many other Bhagavad-gitas before you read mine and that none of them revealed as much to you as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The reason is because we do not change the actual meaning of the gita at all. MANY OTHER COMMENTATORS DUE TO POOR FUND OF KNOWLEDGE TAMPER WITH THE LINES OF BAHGAVAD-GITA AND TWIST THE MEANING FOR THEIR PERSONAL MOTIVES, BUT WE DO NOT DO LIKE THAT. We present it exactly as it is; without any additions or subtractions. That is perfect in every way and THEREFORE IT IS ACTUALLY HAVING A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ALL OVER THE WORLD. The original words of Lord Krishna have unrivalled potency and anyone who is fortunate enough to hear those words and tries to apply them to his life becomes perfect.”
Srila Prabhupada proves that Macmillan edition fulfills the want of the Gita received in the Parampara system
Please find a wonderful quote below that proves that the 1972 Macmillan edition of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is fulfills the want of an edition that is in the line of disciplic succession.
Purport from Chapter 4: Transcendental Knowledge,Verse 2, Bhagavad Gita As It is,1972 original unrevised Macmillan Edition:
“There are innumerable interpretations rendered by different mundane scholars, but almost all of them do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, although they make a good business on the words of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. This spirit is demonic, because demons do not believe in God but simply enjoy the property of the Supreme. Since there is a great need of an edition of the Gītā in English, as it is received by the paramparā (disciplic succession) system, an attempt is made herewith to fulfill this great want. Bhagavad-gītā—accepted as it is—is a great boon to humanity; but if it is accepted as a treatise of philosophical speculations, it is simply a waste of time.“
The above quote “an attempt is made herewith to fulfill this great want” proves that this Macmillan edition fulfills the great want of the edition of Bhagavad Gita in English that’s received by Parampara as it is.
Also the quote “Bhagavad-gita—accepted as it is—is a great boon to humanity” explains everything.
Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ (BG 18.69): “One who is doing this humble service of preaching work, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, nobody is dearer than him to Me.” So if you want to become recognized by Kṛṣṇa very quickly, you take up this process of becoming spiritual master, present the Bhagavad-gītā as it is, your life is perfect.
[Lecture Festival Appearance Day, Sri Vyasa-puja – London,22nd August,1973]
Hare Krsna-Just for historical sake here is a picture (below) I took of our TSKP Gaura Nitai deities back in 1974
And here below, some 47 years later is our Deities today with 26 different very opulent outfits along with many jewelry pieces made mostly by my wife and a little by myself. Personally, I don’t think most of the outfits they make in India can compare to these.,as I have seen both. Ours are made of mostly of silk, and some cotton or linen-no polyester or other synthetic materials. Natural fabric “breathes” whereas synthetic ones just make you perspire.DEITY WORSHIP-THE MOST VALUABLE BENEDICTIONGIVEN BY THE LORD TO NEOPHYTESSB 4.30.27 purport–Deity worship in the form of temple worship is themost valuable benediction given by the Lord to beginners. All neophytes must therefore engage in the worship of the Lord by keeping the arcā-vigraha (arcāvatāra) at home or in the temple.SB 7.14.39-TRANSLATION–My dear King, when great sages and saintly persons saw mutually disrespectful dealings at the beginning of Tretā-yuga, Deity worship in the temple was introduced with all paraphernalia.NoD 35 Neutral Love of God 175614/530501Without worshiping the arca-vigraha, the form or Deity of the Lord,one cannot understand such literature as Bhagavad-gita andSrimad-Bhagavatam.751030SB.NAI Lectures 223477/530501So the temple worship is essential. So those who are against templeworship, Deity worship, they are not very intelligent class of men,foolish, mudha. NoD 35 Neutral Love of God 175614/530501When we have lost that loving feeling760924SB.VRN–
If we think that “Here is a stone statue,” then it will not prolong many days. It will not… Galagraha. No more vigraha, but galagraha. Suppose I have established this temple. Now under my direction, my disciples are worshiping vigraha. Vigraha means the form of the Lord, rūpa. But if there is no following of the regulative principles, then after my death it will be galagraha, a burden, that “Our rascal Guru Mahārāja established this temple, and we have to worship, early rise in the morning, all botheration.”This will be… That is called galagraha, a burden, “He has left with us a burden.” This is the risk. Then this, such a big temple will be mismanaged, and you’ll find that “This is breaking” and “This is unclean,” and there is no attention. This will be our… That is called galagraha. “The rascal has given us a burden.”Lecture NY sept 18 1966So in my childhood, when I was five or six years old, I requested my father that “Father, give me this Deity. I shall worship.” So father purchased for me little Krishna, Radha, and he gave me, and I was imitating. Whatever foodstuff I was getting, I was offering to Krishna and eating. In this way I got my life developed. And there was a temple in our neighbourhood.So I was seeing the Krishna deity. Oh, I was thinking…..I still remember. I was standing for hours together.SB 4.30.27 Purport-The form of the Lord as worshiped in the temples is called arca-vigraha or arcāvatāra, the worshipable form, the Deity incarnation. This facility is offered to neophyte devoteesso that they can see the real form of the Lord face to face and offer their respectful obeisances and sacrifices in the form of arcā.Through such facilities the neophytes gradually invoke their original Kṛṣṇaconsciousness. Deity worship in the form of temple worship is themost valuable benediction given by the Lord to beginners. All neophytes must therefore engage in the worship of the Lord by keeping the arcā-vigraha (arcāvatāra) at home or in the temple.
Srila Prabhupada speaks out- “So all my disciples are expected
to become siksa-guru on my order, not by his own order.”
Indian lady: Can the death of a spiritual master take to us, or I can get… Is that spiritual master still guiding after the death? (?)
Srila Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. Just like Kṛṣṇa is guiding us, similarly, spiritual master will guide. We are being guided by Kṛṣṇa, by the Bhagavad-gītā. Although Kṛṣṇa is not physically present, so-called… Kṛṣṇa is present always. But even if we say that Kṛṣṇa is not physically present as He was present before Arjuna, still, His book, Bhagavad-gītā, is there. And that Bhagavad-gītā is non different from Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s teaching, the same, absolute. That is Absolute Truth. Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s… Here form, the same. It is not that we are making show of offering Kṛṣṇa some food. No, we are offering directly to Kṛṣṇa and He’s eating. Kṛṣṇa being absolute, He can perform through anything provided we are sincere and serious. All right. (Srila Prabhupada’s Lecture on the Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākur London, September 3, 1971)
Gopala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, I am just trying to clarify — I don’t want to offend anyone — but no disciple of yours should call himself diksa-guru or siksa-guru. Am I right?
Srila Prabhupada:..” Well, everyone is engaged to become siksa-guru, but one should become perfect. The attempt is — what is called? — probationer. When probationer period is finished, then he is naturally, automatically, bona fide guru. Not in the probationer period. That is immature attempt. That will failure. Amara ajnaya [Cc. Madhya 7.128], Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: “By My order.” So all my disciples are expected to become siksa-guru on my order, not by his own order.” That is meaning I am giving sannyasa, I am sending you to different places, so this means that you have to carry out the order of the guru very strictly; then you become mature. Otherwise it will be artificial attempt, and that kind of guru will not help.”(Srila Prabhupada’s room conversation May 30 1976 Honolulu, Hawaii.)
BACK TO GODHEAD ORIGINAL SCANS FROM 1944-1977
[Srila Prabhupada – “BTG is my life and soul. Please therefore try to distribute BTG as many as it is possible.“(Letter to Gurudasa — Los Angeles 16 April, 1970)]
Hare Krishna. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and all Vaisnavas.
The following link contains the nectar of all available scans of the Back to Godhead Magazine from 1944-77.
There are a total of 141 scanned files in the drive with 100s of interesting and transcendental articles written by Srila Prabhupada.
Please click the link below to access the scanned copies: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NPfgrqxyrcT1CIEfoNM8WRgcpbbrON7E?usp=sharing
Some quotes below emphasize how dear was the BTG Magazine to Srila Prabhupada and how important it is for all of us to study thoroughly again and again. Therefore, all the devotees are requested to receive all the nectarean benefits of all these 141 copies and distribute them to everyone.
BTG is my life and soul. Please therefore try to distribute BTG as many as it is possible. I started this magazine in 1947 in my householder life. I was spending Rs. 300 to 400 at the time ($300 to 400 in your exchange), and I was distributing this magazine without any consideration how much I was getting in return. Practically the whole money was spent without any return. But ten years after, from 1954 to 1959, the struggle was very hard because at that time I had no money and alone I was editing, publishing, and securing money for publication. So it was a great struggle. My ambition was that I would publish BTG in huge quantity so that people may understand transcendental blessings of Lord Caitanya.
[Letter to Gurudasa — Los Angeles 16 April, 1970]
Please accept my blessings. I have not heard anything from you in long time what is the situation with publication of our Back To Godhead. So I am anxious to know when it will be again published, and if it can be regularly printed, even on our mimeograph machine. It is too much important that it must be distributed regularly, as it is the backbone of our mission. So, even it is not printed very expensively and highly, still, it must be distributed even in mimeograph copy. And then in future we can print it very nicely, when there is the money there to do it. So please see to it, and please let me know the position by return of post as soon as possible.
[Letter to Rayarama — Montreal 8 June, 1968]
Please therefore save them from the great falldown. Believe me or not, I have got the clue of going “Back to Godhead” just after leaving my present material body and in order to take along with me all my contemporary men and women of the world, I have started my paper “Back to Godhead” as one of the means to the way.
Please do not think of me as an wonderful or a mad man when I say that I shall go “Back to Godhead” after leaving my present material body! It is quite possible for everyone and all of us.
[Letter to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of Indian Union — Delhi 21 November, 1956]
I am very glad to learn that S.F. Temple is doing very nicely in the street Sankirtana with transcendental plays. And your BTG sales are very encouraging to me. I have heard from Gargamuni that you are ordering 20,000 issues of BTG and this is very good news. Selling BTG means that our movement is increasing and our philosophy is being appreciated.
[Letter to Madhudvisa — Los Angeles 14 February, 1970]
You should take BTG as your life and soul. Your work for BTG is first and foremost above all. If you do not find any time for other things, there is no objection, but I want to see that you make BTG a successful magazine like Life magazine or Illustrated Weekly of India. I am very much ambitious of the progress of the paper, and you can use your discretion how to do it.
[Letter to Rayarama — San Francisco, March 23, 1968
July 21 1975 San Francisco
Prabhupāda: Now they should come to big dictionary. This is Vedic. The Vedic truth is there, but it is not properly explained because the men were fourth-class. Now the people have become advanced. They should take to Vedic literature. Then they will understand how God created. But it was not explained because the people, they were living in the desert and shepherds and all fourth-class, fifth-class men. And now they, these first-class men, all advanced men, they are trying to adjust the tenth-class ideas, and therefore they are becoming rejecting, that “It is all useless.” Now they should come to first-class understanding in the Vedas.
Paramahaṁsa: As a matter of fact there’s a very famous quote from Christ…
Prabhupāda: I think Christ said that there are many things to be spoken but…
Paramahaṁsa: “My father’s house has many rooms, but I cannot tell you of it now.”
Prabhupāda: Because they were fourth-class, fifth-class men. They will not understand. Therefore it is taken, “dogmas.” The modern students, they are advanced in education, and these things are not explained. And besides that, their education is atheistic. Therefore they are trying to reject religion.
Nalinī-kaṇṭha: They say you cannot study Veda because Christ said that there is no other way than himself.
Prabhupāda: Because they are fourth-class, unless he says like that, how they will stick? They were not intelligent men. Just like Lord Buddha also said, “There is no God.” “There is no God,” but he is God himself.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That means the followers of Lord Buddha are less intelligent than the followers of…
Prabhupāda: “Less” not. They are atheist class. So they will not understand what is God. So he said, “There is no God. You just hear me and become nonviolent.” So his idea was, “Let this rascal first of all become nonviolent. Then they will be pure, and then they will understand.”
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/177
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/178
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/218
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/219
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/220
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/224
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/231
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/235