Question: I am unable to follow one very important instruction of Śrīla Prabhupāda, which is to wake up early in the morning for attending maṅgala-ārati. I try for few days and then I lose my enthusiasm. Gurudeva, could you kindly elaborate on the importance of maṅgala-ārati and waking up at the brāhma-muhūrta?

Jayapataka Swami: Sometimes devotees would ask Śrīla Prabhupāda this question. He would advise them to take rest early, to not eat heavy prasāda late at night. He would take puffed rice or some light meal. So, like this, he was instructing people, not to eat too heavy...

Question: Normally we see that our ācāryas have said that we celebrate Śiva Rātri, seeing Lord Śiva as a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. But sometimes we hear that we cannot celebrate such festivals. What is the actual thing we should do, Guru Mahārāja?

Guru maharaj: We are allowed to worship Śiva and the different demigods in the proper position. They should be respected as the associates of the Lord, as the devotees of the Lord, not as independent, or equal or greater to the Lord. 17-July-2020 SRI DHAM MAYAPUR,...