Embodiments of Divine Love! Every individual should take a pledge to nourish the Vedas on right lines. The welfare of the nation and the prosperity of the world are dependent on the Vedas. Within another ten or twenty years, even the few who possess the Vedic knowledge may not remain. Hence there is urgent need to take concerted measures to provide the resources and the encouragement for the propagation of the Vedic studies. The Vedas are not to be used as a means of earning a livelihood. The Vedas are a means of establishing a link with the Divine. They are not to be used for entertaining the public. Those who have studied the Vedas must dedicate their lives to promote the Vedas. Only then would they be serving the cause of restoring the glory of Bharat’s ancient heritage. (SSS Vol.20, p. 192)

Kasturi tilakam lalata patale vakshasthale kaustubham

nasagre navamouktikam karatale venum kare kankanam

sarvange harichandanam cha kalayam kanthe cha muktavali

gopastree pariveshtito vijayate gopala chudamanih

Krishna is described as having tilaka - ‘Kasturi Tilakam’ on His forehead, ‘Kaustubha’ on His chest, ‘Navamouktikam’ on the tip of His nose and ‘Kankana’ on His hand: Kasturi Tilaka is not ordinary tilak, it is the Jnana or wisdom itself. So, He has the symbol of Jnana or wisdom on His forehead. Kaustubha is not an external ornament but is the emotion of tenderness and love within the heart. There is yet another significance why a pearl should be worn under the tip of the nose. The Navamouktikam, or the pearl, is the indication that we should always focus our attention on the tip of our nose, in order that we may have real wisdom. You may question why our vision should be focussed on the tip of the nose? When we sit down to worship God and keep our eyes wide open, there is every possibility that our attention will get diverted and distracted.

If we keep our eyes completely closed, then we may be induced to sleep. Therefore, we must keep our eyes half closed and concentrate our vision on the tip of the nose so that we neither sleep nor allow our attention to be diverted.

The poets have described this pearl at the tip of the nose in order to drive home the truth that our attention must always be concentrated on the tip of the nose. Now coming to Kankana, or the bracelet on the hand. Indians use the bracelet on two occasions; once at the time of the marriage, and a second time when they perform a yajna or yaga. The meaning of the Kankana is that we have decided and determined to undertake some noble action. Then you may ask. the question why Krishna should have Kankana on His hand? Is He going to get married every day or is He going to perform a sacrifice every day? No, He has taken some pledges and therefore He is wearing Kankana. The first pledge is to protect the right and the good and to protect Dharma when Dharma is in danger. The second pledge is to look after the welfare of those who devote themselves with single mindedness to God, who think of Him arid no one else. He said, ‘When you have abjured all Dharma and have taken shelter at My feet, I shall liberate you from all the sins that you have committed’. Krishna has put on this Kankana in order to carry out this pledge. Because we are not endeavouring to gain the grace of Krishna, the Kankana is still there and continues to be there.

We are not able to derive the benefit of the Kankana because we do not practise thinking of Him only and of none else. He said, ‘If you do think of Me only, and of none else, and if you worship - if you do all these three, I shall take care of your welfare’. (SSB 1972, pp. 227-228)