Pativrata, purity, and Nirgunata,
that which is without material attributes

“If one offers impure things to Sri Bhagavan, He never accepts those things”

All glories to Sri Sri Krishna Chaitanya Chandra!

Sri Mayapur, P.O. Bamanpukur, Nadiya
Bengali Calendar: 11th Poush, 1322

Dearest –

I have received both of your letters dated 27th Damodara and 27th Keshava in due time. However, I have not been able to respond to those letters until now.

Regarding the definition of the words ‘pavitra’ (pure) and ‘apavitra’ (impure), whatever the karmis consider pure, may not seem pure enough to the devotees, and again, the things termed impure in the consideration of the karmis, may be regarded as pure by the devotees.* If the word ‘apavitra’ implies filthy, unclean or unfit, such things can never be offered by anyone to the Supreme Lord. Only sattvik objects, i.e., objects possessing the superlative mode or quality of goodness, neither rajasik nor tamasik, i.e., objects possessing the lower qualities of passion and ignorance, can be offered to Sri Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord. If one offers impure things to Sri Bhagavan, He never accepts those things. One should never accept anything impure, even if someone else claims that it has been offered to the Supreme Lord. This is because a devotee never accepts something knowing that it has not been accepted by the Supreme Lord. There is no offense to not accepting such things. Even if a pure, sattvik, object is known to be offered to the Supreme Lord by a non-devotee, that should be abandoned by a devotee, knowing that the Lord has not actually accepted it. Sri Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord, does not accept any offer from those who do not chant the holy Name of the Lord one lakh times daily. Be it pure or impure, a thing that is meant for sense gratification by those, averse to devotion, is absolutely mundane. The devotees understand that when a pure object is offered to the Supreme Lord, it becomes transcendental. That object is no longer considered fit for the sense of gratification of the conditioned souls, rather, it is to be honored and regarded as the remnants of the Supreme Lord. The impure objects can be fit for acceptance by anyone except the Lord – other people, devas, demigods, or rakshas, demons. That is mundane and impure.

The devotees observe upavas, fasting, on the day of Sri Ekadashi (the 11th day of the lunar fortnight) by not accepting Sri Mahaprasada or Sri Mahamahaprasada, the remnants of the Lord. This is because acceptance of some Prasada leads to the breaking of the fast, which means not showing proper respect to the Harivasara day, the day of or dear most to Lord Sri Hari. But someone incapable of fasting can take some anukalpa, non-grain small meals, which does not go against the principle of honoring this day.

Your ever well-wisher

Sri Siddhanta Saraswati

 *Note: Srila Prabhupad here hints at the common confusion arising
with the words ‘pure’ and ‘impure.’