Mother Durga

[Guest guest]

Madhavananda Prabhu wrote:

 

>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 liberation which is insignificant of Bhaktya-abasa is impersonal

liberation. It is not that factual/true liberation which is a result of

loving devotional service.

 

>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:

 

Exactly. I could not have chosen better words to convey the message. Thank

you Prabhuji.

 

Sometimes moksha/mukti/liberation is used as a synonym for end result of

bhakti. According to the context the usage of the word liberation is

different. If we worship Durga either as a guru or a devata, directly,

independant of Mukunda then she cannot give the devotional liberation, but

she may give impersonal liberation.

 

In the discussions between Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Lord Caitanya, the

replacement of the word mukti in "mukti-pada" by bhakti to make it "bhakti

-pada" is discussed.

 

Whether we take the word to mean any kind of liberation ---that is

impersonal liberation, personal liberation or devotional liberation

(liberation which is a result of bhakti), it is Krishna or Mukunda alone who

is the giver. No body else can give liberation.

 

Now if we use the two words mukti and bhakti to mean differently, then also

whether mukti or bhakti, the giver is Mukanda Krishna alone and none else.

 

The disciples of *any* guru or *deva* will not get true bhakti or true

liberation if they worship him/her independant of Krishna. This is what I

meant when I first commented that Lord Krishna Mukunda is the only giver of

liberation, on the verse from Brihatbhagavatamritam

 

>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."

 

It means *no one* should take any of the above responsible positions, with

out oneself surrendering to Krishna (of course through a via medium).

 

Now, even a liberated devotee (means one who has reached the end of path of

bhakti-attained priti or love of Godhead) a Maha Bhagavata, cannot give

bhakti/mukti to every one.

 

Sorry for the late comment, as I was very busy.

 

Your humble servant,

Bhadra Govinda Das.