Srila Prabhupada's old Bhagavatam, new Bhagavatam, what is the difference?

Question

We have had an incomplete set of Srimad Bhagavatam for a while. I was ecstatic when the other day we unexpectedly received a new full set.

However, I remember hearing that there is much "revisions" of the new books of Srila Prabhupad, and some people are vehemently against these revisions which they say change Prabhupada's message.

Is it really that much different? Also, maybe the older Bhagavatams that we have already had been revised, I am not sure. I am wondering what to do now, is it not good to read from the new Bhagavatam, or was all this fuss blown out of proportion.. What is the difference between the old and the new?

Someone please help me with this....

Answer 1

BHAGAVATAM - Sanskrit: “One Devoted to Bhagavat [Lord]”), member of the earliest Hindu sect of which there is any record, representing the beginnings of theistic, devotional worship and of modern Vaisnavism (worship of the Lord Vishnu); the term is commonly used today to refer to a Vaisnava, or devotee of Vishnu.

The Bhagavata sect originated among the Yadava people of the Mathura area in the centuries preceding the beginning of the Christian era. From there it spread as the tribes migrated to western India and the northern Deccan. It was introduced into South India at an early date. The sect continued to be prominent within Vaisnavism until at least the 11th century, when bhakti (devotional worship) was revitalized by the great theologian Ramanuja.

The Bhagavata system was a highly devotional faith centred upon a personal god, variously called Vishnu, Vasudeva, Krishna, Hari, or Narayana. The school was known as ekantika-dharma (“religion with one object,” i.e., monotheism). The religious poem the Bhagavadgita (1st–2nd century AD) is the earliest and finest exposition of the Bhagavata system. By the time of the Gita Vasudeva (Krishna), the hero of the Yadava clan was identified with the Vedic Lord Vishnu. Later, the deified sage Narayana, whose followers were originally called Pañcaratras, was assimilated, and, still later, the pastoral and amorous Krishna was added to the multiplicity of traditions.

The Bhagavatas believed in simple rites of worship and condemned Vedic sacrifices and penances. The sect may have been largely responsible for the spread of image worship among orthodox, upper-class Hindus. Few early Vaisnava images are still extant, but those that have survived are mainly from the Mathura area, perhaps the earliest being the image of Balarama, the half brother of Krishna, which is attributed to the 2nd–1st century BC.

The above are the extracts from -
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9079024/Bhagavata.

From time to time different versions of Bhagawatam have come up but in my opinion the Original Bhagawat Purana and the version by Srimad Ramanujachar should be taken as origin.-

Answer 2

sri.Prabhupaadha's Bhagavadham (Old & New) are all recently published.Banarasi Das publications of Srimad Bhagavadham(original in Sanskrit ) was published 60 years back(1940 or earlier) .Very Reliable and true presentation of Srimad Bhagavadham as written by sri.Vedha Vyaasa Bhagavan.Many people read this book only for 7 days (Sapthhaagam)in Sukhsthal(on the bank of the river Ganga in U.P),under the banyan tree,where sri Sukha Dev is said to have preached srimath Bhagavadham to sri Parikshit Maharaj(sri.Krishna's newphew's son)

Answer 3

Hare Krishna!
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
pamho.


To give you some idea of book changes go to:

http://krishna.org/ISKCON/BookChanges/

Answer 4

Just think in another Brahman of just 611 Trillion more Earth years you might even get a whole new set...be patient my little swami:):):)