Inquiries into the Absolute: Digest 100, Difference between demigods

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Digest 100, June 25th, 2004

Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

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Difference between demigods and incarnations of Krishna

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Q 1)

Is it correct to call Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as the Trinity? (knowing

that Brahma came from Vishnu's navel and Shiva came from Sankarsana)

Answer:

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are qualitative incarnations of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, technically called `guna avataras'. They are in

charge of the three qualities or modes of material nature viz. passion,

goodness and ignorance. In that sense, it is right to consider them a

Trinity -- in charge of creation, maintenance and destruction of the

universe, respectively.

`Trinity', however, is generally a misleading term as it is often used

and understood as indicating three aspects of the same Absolute, which

is a conception or terminology borrowed from Christian teachings. This

understanding is not fully correct. Although Brahma and Siva are

incarnations from Vishnu and, as you have mentioned, they have their

origin in Vishnu, both Brahma and Shiva are in a different category

("tattva") altogether, and it is important to understand this

distinction.

Krishna is the source of everything, the original cause of all causes.

Thus He is the Absolute, and source of all incarnations. But Brahma is

actually a living entity ("jiva tattva"), just like any one of us, but

he is specially empowered by the Lord for the work of creation. Any

qualified living entity can occupy the post of Brahma. Lord Shiva is

not an ordinary living entity, in fact he is altogether within a

different category ("siva tattva") than living entities. However, he

is not in the Vishnu category ("visnu tattva") either. He is in a

special category of his own. Thus Brahma and Shiva cannot be considered

on the same platform as Vishnu. Of the three, Vishnu alone is understood

to be beyond the control of material influence.

 

Q 2)

Can you tell me where I can find the complete chart of expansions

starting from Lord Krishna -> Sankarsana and so on.

Answer:

Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.2.23 purport (http://vedabase.net/sb/1/2/23/en)

gives a condensed list of the catur-vyuha expansion. (It also partly

addresses your first question) The actual description of the different

levels of expansion is quite complex and presented in great detail in

later cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam, and Caitanya Caritamrita

(http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/20/en). There is also a detailed summary

description of the different categories of expansion from Vishnu

found in SB 1.3.5 purport. (http://vedabase.net/sb/1/3/5/en)

 

Q 3)

Can Vishnu be classified as Demigod? (when i am listing all the

demigods to these kids)

Answer:

No, Vishnu is not one among the demigods, but is the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. The demigods are empowered administrators of

material affairs, and are like different assistants or limbs of the

Personality of Godhead, something like the different cabinet ministers

are to the Chief Executive of State.

As mentioned before, demigods are living entities, like any of us, who

have but achieved that post by virtue of their exalted pious activities.

They are within the covering of this material world, and are subject to

birth, death and transmigration to other bodies, although their lifespan

and opulence are fabulously far greater than human beings. Vishnu,

however,

is eternal, beyond this material world, and is the master of all demigods

and human beings.

The demigods derive their power from Visnu; He is their energetic source,

and thus not in the same category as an administrative demigod.

(Please refer to Bg As It Is, Chapter 3 Texts 10-12)

http://vedabase.net/bg/3/10/en

http://vedabase.net/bg/3/11/en

http://vedabase.net/bg/3/12/en

http://vedabase.net/bg/3/en

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