Why severe punishments for small mistakes in devotional life?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Another thing heard was If someone wakes up after brahm muhurta, he gets sin of killing brahmana. If someone eat grains on ekadashi, he gets sin of killing guru, father and mother. Even he didn’t did these things, he will get karma by simply eating grains..
So again another question is that There isn’t any place for athiests? who don’t want to do ekadashi?? Can’t they live simply without getting these unnecessary karmas on little things?
Why getting so grave sinful reaction on minor things like on ekadashi just by eating grains and on not waking up at brahm muhurta? Athiests don’t care about god or ekadashi, but that doesn’t mean they should be sent to hell in all births for little things, unless they do any serious karma like cheating or killing intentionally”
REPLY:
This is the actual recommended standard.
Chanting 16 rounds is a recommended standard for a devotee who is willing to advance in Krishna Bhakti.
However, it is your choice to chant any number of rounds you can.
(Why hellish life for killing of ants unintentionally while walking? READ HERE!)
Fasting without taking anything is the actual fasting.
It is the highest recommended standard.
If full fasting is difficult for you, some relaxations – atleast omit grains.
Waking up in brahma muhurtha is the highest standard expected from a devotee who is willing to come up in devotional life.
If it is difficult for you, you can wake up at 5AM. Who is going to ask you?
The punishments mentioned in the scriptures were written in the other yugas.
In Satya yuga or Treta yuga or Dvapar yuga, the standard of devotees was the highest because the people had more lifetime.
In kaliyuga, some relaxations are there.
For example, in other yugas, even the sins thought within mind is sinful. But, in kaliyuga, sins done thru mind are forgiven.
So, the scriptures speak about the highest standards.
(Why we face double punishments in hell and next birth through karma? READ HERE!)
The rules written for one yuga may not exactly match for other yugas.
Starting from the Satya yuga, the rules are coming down till the kaliyuga.
The rules in Kaliyuga have been mercifully simplified considering the short and tough life in kaliyuga.
I have mentioned in our site posts on Ekadasi that the Ekadasi stories were written during other yugas and hence the devotees need not confuse with the tough rules mentioned in them.
If eating grains on ekadasi gives the sin equal to killing guru, father and mother in other yugas, for kaliyuga, there will be some simple punishments.
Even getting a rebirth is a big punishment for devotees.
Manu says if the violators of other varnas are given a punishment, the brahmanas should be given 1000 times more punishments for the same violation.
Why?
Because, he is enjoying the respects due to a brahmana. So, he has to maintain a standard.
So, the punishments for violations will also be more for brahmanas.
(Punishments for hurting others and Deserting Parents as per Karma! READ HERE!)
Same applies for the devotees also.
Since a devotee is respected by others, he should maintain very high standard.
No such strict rules for the comon man who is ready to take thousands of births.
If you like to go back to Krishna, the ruules will be stricter for you.
Because you are aiming for Goloka. So, the rules are tough.
However, the rules have been simplified in kaliyuga.
Just a sincere chanting of Holy Names and following discipline can give Krishna to us.
No need for performing tough penances and yagas in kaliyuga to go back to Krishna.
Similarly all other rules mentioned by you may not be applicable for kaliyuga as it is.
Hope you are clear why there are severe punishments for small mistakes in devotional life.
(What is the Right way of facing the Punishments by Krishna thru Karma? READ HERE!)