Guest guest Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 Regarding the tattvada interpretations, JG writes as follows: The tattvavada-gurus accept a different reading of this verse, replacing the word "ca”(and) with the word "sva”(own). They say: “The word "ete” in this verse refers to the incarnations of the Lord and the word "bhagavan svayam” refers to the Lord Himself, whose form is the origin of the incarnations. What is the Lord's form ? His forms are mentioned in the words "svamsa-kalah” (The incarnations, which are His own plenary portions and portions of the portions, are His forms). His forms are not vibhinnamsa (seperated parts), as are the jivas." This is confirmed in the Varaha Purana: “The two kinds of expansions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead are : 1. svamsa (personal expansions) and 2. vibhinnamsa (separate persons). The svamsa expansions are unlimitedly powerful. Their form and personality are the same as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. “There is not the slightest difference between the svamsa expansions and the Original Personality of Godhead. The vibhinnamsa expansions are very weak in comparison to Them." Here it is said that both the Original Personality of Godhead and His expansions (amsas) are equally powerful. In the phrase "yathavidasinah kulyah sarasah syuh sahasrasah”(The incarnations of the Lord are innumerable like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water) (1.3.26) it may be understood that, because the Lord and His expansions share the same nature, as the original Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternal, so His expansions are also eternal. Although Lord Vasudeva and Lord Aniuruddha are equal in all respects, Lord Aniruddha sometimes devotedly meditates on Lord Vasudeva. To argue that this is contradicted by the Sruti-sastra is wrong. For the Supreme Lord, who is the source of all incarnations and for all His expansions, there are gradations of higher and lower. This is confirmed in Srimad Bhagavatam (3.8.3-4): “Some time ago, being inquisitive to know, Sanat-kumara, the chief of the boy-saints, accompanied by other great sages, inquired exactly like you about the truths regarding Vasudeva, the Supreme, from the Lord Sankarsana, who is seated at the bottom of the universe. At that time Lord Sankarsana was meditating upon His Supreme Lord, whom the learned esteem as Lord Vasudeva." This verse clearly states that Lord Vasudeva is superior to Lord Sankarsana. These gradations of higher and lower do not refer to Krsna. The phrase krsnas tu (but Krsna) separates Him from them. Krsna is then declared to be "bhagavan svayam”(the original Supreme Personality of Godhead). Regarding the question of Purna avatara, both RG and JG discuss this: JG says, “”The Padma Purana Uttara-khanda explains: nrsimha-rama-krsnesu sad-gunya-paripuranam “The six opulences of wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation are fully present in the forms of Lord Nrsimha, Rama and Krsna." Although all the forms of the Personality of Godhead fully display these six opulences, these three forms are singled out as especially displaying them. Because the most significant word "nrsimha-rama-krsnesu”is a dvandva-compound and because the most important word is generally placed at the end of a compound-word, we may conclude that because Krsna is placed at the end of this compound, He is the most important of all the forms of the Lord.”” Srila RG quotes VP (4.15.1-17) to say how the two demons hiranyakasipu and hiranyAksa could attain the lord because they thought of Him in hatred, only with the form of Krishna not with the forms of Rama or Nrsimha. JG says : According to the descriptions of the Vedic literatures, although the enemies of the Supreme Lord attain liberation by constantly thinking of the Lord or by inadvertently serving Him in some capacity, generally they do not all become liberated simply by associating with the Lord or being killed by Him. By killing and liberating these demons, Lord Krishna reveals His transcendental opulence, greater than the opulence of any other form of the Personality of Godhead. These statements are all confirmed by the explanations spoken by Parasara Muni and recorded in the Vishnu Purana. When Lord Krsna considered how Putana and other demons had already become liberated, He began to suspect that perhaps Kalanemi and the other remaining demons would not attain liberation. This possibility became completely intolerable for the Lord. This astonishing transcendental nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, is described by Parasara Muni at the end of his prose description of the Lord's opulence. Parasara muni said (Visnu Purana 4.15.9): “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, freely gave liberation to the demons who, although full of hatred for Him, somehow became immersed in remembering Him or talking about Him. If the Lord gave to these demons liberation, which is ordinarily very difficult for them, or even for the demigods or anyone else to achieve, then how shall we be able to describe the benediction He gave to the pure devotees full of love for Him ? " The Srimad Bhagavatam explains that Jaya and Vijaya were cursed to take three births as demons. We may note in this connection that they were ultimately liberated by Krsna. Their liberation was possible only from the hand of Krsna and not from any other form of the Lord. Even demons who are killed by Lord Krsna, or who think of Him at the time of death in a spirit of enmity, attain liberation. This is confirmed by Narada Muni in the following verse of S.B. (11.5.48): "Kings like Sisupala, Paundraka and Salva meditated in envy upon the movements, playful gestures, glances and other attractions displayed by Lord Krsna. Thus fixing their minds while engaged in lying down, sitting and in all activities, they attained a status equal to His. How then to compare with those whose minds are naturally attached to Him in a favourable mood ? " It is also confirmed by Lord Brahma in these words (S.B. 2.7.34): "All demonic personalities like Pralamba, Dhenuka, Baka, Kesi, Arista, Canura, Mustika, Kuvalayapida elephant, Kamsa, Yavana, Narakasura and Paundraka, great marshals like Salva, Dvivida monkey and Balvala, Dantavakra, the seven bulls, Sambara, Viduratha and Rukmi, as also great warriors like Kamboja, Matsya, Kuru, Srnjaya and Kekaya, would all fight vigorously,e either with the Lord Hari directly or with Him under His names of Baladeva, Arjuna, Bhima, etc. And the demons, thus being killed, would attain either the impersonal brahmajyoti or His personal abode in the Vaikuntha planets." By His own transcendental potency, Lord Krsna can grant liberation to anyone, regardless of how they think of Him. It is only Lord Krsna who will always grant liberation to the demons killed by Him. If one is thinking of Lord Krsna, even adversely, at the time of death, he will certainly become liberated. If one hatefully thinks of any other from of the Lord at the time of death, he may not necessarily become liberated. For example, the demon Vena was unable to think of the form of Sri Krsna at the time of his death, and therefore the demon did not attain liberation. One who, at the time of his death meditated on the Personality of Godhead in a spirit of animosity is only assured of liberation if the object of his meditation is specifically the form of Sri Krsna. Because liberation is attainable even for one who remembers the form of Sri Krsna, even in a spirit of animosity, it is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.1.33) "Therefore one must somehow think of Krishna, whether in a friendly way, or inimically." New Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC for low, low rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.