Guest guest Posted March 11, 2001 Report Share Posted March 11, 2001 Bhadra Govinda Prabhu wrote: > Now coming to mother Durga or Lord Siva giving bhakti, they may actually > put a conditional soul on the path of bhakti. > > It does not mean they are capable of giving *true* liberation. Just like > any of our sankirtana members may give a book and introduce some one to > the path of Bhakti. It does not mean he is capable of giving liberation. They are not the bestowers of liberation. But Siva or Durga can give bhakti, and liberation is the insignificant fruit of mere bhaktya-abhasa. This is a subtle point. To say that Krishna is the only bestower of liberation is supported in many places in sastra. However there are also ample examples in sastra of *how* Krishna has bestowed liberation through His various representatives (gurus) such as, Tulasi, The Ganga, Govardhana ect. The Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.18) has stated that the ability to give liberation is the qualification of being either a guru or a deva of which Durga Devi is both: gurur na sa syat sva-jano na sa syat pita na sa syaj janani na sa syat daivam na tat syan na patis ca sa syan na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum "One should not become a guru, a father, husband, mother or demigod unless one can give liberation to their dependents." This does not mean that the guru, the father, husband, mother, or deva is giving liberation, it simply means that Krishna is giving them liberation through these various mediums. This is the natural reconciliation of these two points: that only Krishna can give liberation, or that the guru or devas can give liberation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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