arca-vigraha

[Guest guest]

Since our philosophy is acintya bhedabheda tattva, there is both oneness and

difference simultaneously and inconceivably. Certainly matter and spirit are

different categories according to philosophical analysis, but according to

etiquette it appears that in some instances we stress oneness and in others we

stress difference. For example, we stress the difference between the living

entity and the Supreme Lord to distinquish ourselves from the Advaitins, but

when it comes to the Deity we stress the oneness of the arca-vigraha, not the

difference between the Deity and the materials used to construct it. I have a

problem with anyone who wants to stress the difference. If we research the

writings of Srila Prabhupada and other Vaisnavas in our line, we will see that

they always stress the oneness of the Deity and Bhagavan Himself, not the

difference. This is a important point in devotional attitude.

 

Rupa-vilasa dasa

 

 

[Guest guest]

Just as an aside, I am a little cautious about invoking achintyatva

in just any discussion of the Lord vs dependent tattvas. I don't want

to fall into the trap of using it as an escape route to avoid

seemingly irreconciable points of view.

 

Having said that, I entirely agree with Rupa-Vilas - I have not seen

Gaudiiya aachaaryas making any distinction between the Lord and His

archa-vigraha form.

 

yours,

 

- K

[Guest guest]

"Lord Krsna said: "I've never heard of a Deity's walking from one place to

another." The brahmana replied: "That is true, but how is it that You are

speaking to me, although You are a Deity? My dear Lord, You are not a statute;

You are directly the son of Maharaja Nanda. Now, for the sake of the old

brahmana, You can do something You have never done before."

 

Sri Gopalaji then smiled and said: "My dear brahmana, just listen to Me. I

shall walk behind you, and in this way I shall go with you."

 

Purport:

 

The conversation between Lord Sri Krsna and the brahmana is proof that the Lord

in His arca-murti, or form made of material elements, is not material, for those

elements, although separated from the Lord, are also a part of the Lord's

energy, as stated in Bhagavad-gita. Because the elements are the Lord's own

energy and because there is no difference between the energy and the energetic,

the Lord can appear through any element. Just as the sun can act through the

sunshine and thus distribute its heat and light, so Krsna, by His inconceivable

power, can appear in His original spiritual form in any material element,

including stone, wood, paint, gold, silver and jewels, because the material

elements are all His energy. The sastras warn, arcye visnau sila-dhih: one

should never think of the arca-murti, the Deity within the temple, as stone,

wood or any other material element. Because of his advanced devotional position,

the younger brahmana knew that although the Deity of Gopala appeared to be

stone, He was not stone. He was the son of Nanda Maharaja, Vrajendra-nandana

Himself.

 

As such, the Deity can act exactly as the Lord did in His original form as

Krsna. Lord Krsna was talking to the young brahmana just to test his knowledge

about the arca-vigraha. In other words, those who have understood the science of

Krsna--Krsna's name, form, quality and so forth--can also talk with the Deity.

To an ordinary person, however, the Deity will appear to be made of stone, wood

or some other material. In the higher sense, since all material elements

ultimately emanate from the supreme spiritual entity, nothing is really

material. Being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, Krsna can deal with His

devotees in any form without difficulty. By the mercy of the Lord, the devotee

knows perfectly well about the Lord's dealings. Indeed, he can talk face to face

with the Lord. (CC Madhya-lila ch. 5, texts 95--97 plus purport)

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

Sumeet and Rupa Vilas Prs, thanks for writing.

 

In the purport to 12.5, Srila Prabhupada makes two important points,

1) the arca-vigraha is saguna worship or worship of the Lord *represented* by

material qualities,and

2) that the arca-vigraha is an *incarnation* of the Supreme Lord.

3) and,that the form of the Lord (which I believe means svarupa) though

represented by material qualities in the arca form is not material.

 

So, he doesn't seem to imply absolute oneness of Lord Krishna's svarupa and the

arca form, Sumeet, so,it appears that in this case Srila Prabhupada view is in

consonance with what you have written. Or, am I getting it wrong?

 

Here is the excerpt,

"Therefore, the bhakti-yogi accepts the Deity of Krsna as worshipable because

there is some bodily conception fixed in the mind, which can thus be applied. Of

course, worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form within the

temple is not idol worship. There is evidence in the Vedic literature that

worship may be saguna and nirguna--of the Supreme possessing or not possessing

attributes. Worship of the Deity in the temple is saguna worship, for the Lord

is represented by material qualities. But the form of the Lord, though

represented by material qualities such as stone, wood or oil paint, is not

actually material. That is the absolute nature of the Supreme Lord.

 

A crude example may be given here. We may find some mailboxes on the street, and

if we post our letters in those boxes, they will naturally go to their

destination without difficulty. But any old box, or an imitation, which we may

find somewhere, which is not authorized by the post office, will not do the

work. Similarly, God has an authorized representation in the Deity form, which

is called arca-vigraha. This arca-vigraha is an incarnation of the Supreme Lord.

God will accept service through that form. The Lord is omnipotent and

all-powerful; therefore, by His incarnation as arca-vigraha, He can accept the

services of the devotee, just to make it convenient for the man in conditioned

life."

 

-Purport to Gita 12.5

 

 

 

 

Aravind Mohanram

Ph.D. Candidate

Dept. of Mat Sci and Engg.,

Penn State University,

University Park, PA 16801

www.personal.psu.edu/aum105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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