Krishna And The Demigods2

Introduction to Bhagavad-GitaClearing the

Misconceptions Part Ib: Krishna and the

Demigods

Is their a Supreme Controller?Is their a Supreme Controller?

““Our dear lord, how many controllers or rulers Our dear lord, how many controllers or rulers are there in this material world? How many are there in this material world? How many causes are responsible for manifesting the causes are responsible for manifesting the various results of activities performed under various results of activities performed under the three modes of material nature [goodness, the three modes of material nature [goodness, passion and ignorance]?” Bhagavatam 6.3.4passion and ignorance]?” Bhagavatam 6.3.4

Necessity for a Supreme ControllerNecessity for a Supreme Controller

““If in this universe there are many rulers and If in this universe there are many rulers and justices who disagree about punishment and justices who disagree about punishment and reward, their contradictory actions will reward, their contradictory actions will neutralize each other, and no one will be neutralize each other, and no one will be punished or rewarded. Otherwise, if their punished or rewarded. Otherwise, if their contradictory acts fail to neutralize each other, contradictory acts fail to neutralize each other, everyone will have to be both punished and everyone will have to be both punished and rewarded.” Bhagavatam 6.3.5rewarded.” Bhagavatam 6.3.5

The Illogic of No Supreme ControllerThe Illogic of No Supreme Controller

““If there were many authorities who gave If there were many authorities who gave different judgments, which could be different judgments, which could be contradictory, a person might be wrongly contradictory, a person might be wrongly punished or wrongly rewarded, or he might be punished or wrongly rewarded, or he might be neither punished nor rewarded.” prptneither punished nor rewarded.” prpt

“…“…a person punished in one court may appeal a person punished in one court may appeal to another. Thus the same man may be either to another. Thus the same man may be either punished or rewarded according to different punished or rewarded according to different judgments.” prptjudgments.” prpt

No Laws No OrderNo Laws No Order ““Since there are many different karmis, or Since there are many different karmis, or

workers, there may be different judges or rulers workers, there may be different judges or rulers to give them justice, but just as one central to give them justice, but just as one central emperor controls different departmental rulers, emperor controls different departmental rulers, there must be one supreme controller to guide there must be one supreme controller to guide all the judges.” Bhagavatam 6.3.6all the judges.” Bhagavatam 6.3.6

““In governmental management there may be In governmental management there may be departmental officials to give justice to different departmental officials to give justice to different persons, but the law must be one, and that persons, but the law must be one, and that central law must control everyone.” prptcentral law must control everyone.” prpt

Knowing the Supreme ControllerKnowing the Supreme Controller ““Just as the driver of a bullock cart ties ropes Just as the driver of a bullock cart ties ropes

through the nostrils of his bulls to control through the nostrils of his bulls to control them, the Supreme Personality of Godhead them, the Supreme Personality of Godhead binds all men through the ropes of His words binds all men through the ropes of His words in the Vedas, which set forth the names and in the Vedas, which set forth the names and activities of the distinct orders of human activities of the distinct orders of human society [brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra]. society [brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra]. In fear, the members of these orders all In fear, the members of these orders all worship the Supreme Lord by offering Him worship the Supreme Lord by offering Him presentations according to their respective presentations according to their respective activities.” Bhagavatam 6.3.13activities.” Bhagavatam 6.3.13

The Demigods are not SupremeThe Demigods are not Supreme ““I, Yamaräja; Indra, the King of heaven; Nirrti; Varuna; I, Yamaräja; Indra, the King of heaven; Nirrti; Varuna;

Candra, the moon-god; Agni; Lord Siva; Pavana; Lord Candra, the moon-god; Agni; Lord Siva; Pavana; Lord Brahmä; Sürya, the sun-god; Visvasu; the eight Vasus; Brahmä; Sürya, the sun-god; Visvasu; the eight Vasus; the Sädhyas; the Maruts; the Rudras; the Siddhas; and the Sädhyas; the Maruts; the Rudras; the Siddhas; and Marici and the other great rsis engaged in maintaining Marici and the other great rsis engaged in maintaining the departmental affairs of the universe, as well as the the departmental affairs of the universe, as well as the best of the demigods headed by Brhaspati, and the great best of the demigods headed by Brhaspati, and the great sages headed by Bhrgu are all certainly freed from the sages headed by Bhrgu are all certainly freed from the influence of the two base material modes of nature, influence of the two base material modes of nature, namely passion and ignorance. Nevertheless, although namely passion and ignorance. Nevertheless, although we are in the mode of goodness, we cannot understand we are in the mode of goodness, we cannot understand the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What, then, is to be said of others, who, under illusion, What, then, is to be said of others, who, under illusion, merely speculate to know God?” 6.3.14-15merely speculate to know God?” 6.3.14-15

Real Religious PrinciplesReal Religious Principles

““Real religious principles are enacted by the Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great rsis who occupy the topmost planets the great rsis who occupy the topmost planets cannot ascertain the real religious principles, cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of nor can the demigods or the leaders of Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, ordinary human beings, Vidyädharas and ordinary human beings, Vidyädharas and Caranas.” 6.3.19Caranas.” 6.3.19

““Vedic literature contains ritualistic ceremonies Vedic literature contains ritualistic ceremonies that are not transcendental, but are meant to keep that are not transcendental, but are meant to keep peace and order among materialistic persons in peace and order among materialistic persons in the material world.” prpt.the material world.” prpt.

“…“…Vedic rituals…are intended to elevate one Vedic rituals…are intended to elevate one gradually to the transcendental platform of gradually to the transcendental platform of knowing Kåñëa (vedaiç ca sarvair aham eva knowing Kåñëa (vedaiç ca sarvair aham eva vedyaù [Bg. 15.15]).” prpt.vedyaù [Bg. 15.15]).” prpt.

“…“…real religious principle…is given by the real religious principle…is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That principle Supreme Personality of Godhead. That principle is stated in Bhagavad-Gita… [Bg. 18.66] one is stated in Bhagavad-Gita… [Bg. 18.66] one should give up all other duties and surrender unto should give up all other duties and surrender unto the lotus feet of Krishna.” prpt.the lotus feet of Krishna.” prpt.

The Ultimate Religious PrincipleThe Ultimate Religious Principle

““Devotional service, Devotional service, beginning with the beginning with the chanting of the holy chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is name of the Lord, is the ultimate religious the ultimate religious principle for the living principle for the living entity in human entity in human society.” 6.3.22society.” 6.3.22

Benefits of ChantingBenefits of Chanting ““Therefore it should be understood that one is easily Therefore it should be understood that one is easily

relieved from all sinful reactions by chanting the holy relieved from all sinful reactions by chanting the holy name of the Lord and chanting of His qualities and name of the Lord and chanting of His qualities and activities. This is the only process recommended for activities. This is the only process recommended for relief from sinful reactions. Even if one chants the relief from sinful reactions. Even if one chants the holy name of the Lord with improper pronunciation, holy name of the Lord with improper pronunciation, he will achieve relief from material bondage if he he will achieve relief from material bondage if he chants without offenses. Ajamila, for example, was chants without offenses. Ajamila, for example, was extremely sinful, but while dying he merely chanted extremely sinful, but while dying he merely chanted the holy name, and although calling his son, he the holy name, and although calling his son, he achieved complete liberation because he remembered achieved complete liberation because he remembered the name of Narayana.” 6.3.24the name of Narayana.” 6.3.24

““Sukadeva Gosvami said: Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, the My dear King, the chanting of the holy name chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of Therefore the chanting of the Sankirtan movement the Sankirtan movement is the most auspicious is the most auspicious activity in the entire activity in the entire universe. Please try to universe. Please try to understand this so that understand this so that others will take it others will take it seriously.” 6.3.31seriously.” 6.3.31

The Path of Pure LoveThe Path of Pure Love

““One who constantly hears and chants the holy One who constantly hears and chants the holy name of the Lord and hears and chants about name of the Lord and hears and chants about His activities can very easily attain the His activities can very easily attain the platform of pure devotional service, which can platform of pure devotional service, which can cleanse the dirt from one's heart. One cannot cleanse the dirt from one's heart. One cannot achieve such purification merely by observing achieve such purification merely by observing vows and performing Vedic ritualistic vows and performing Vedic ritualistic ceremonies.” 6.3.32ceremonies.” 6.3.32

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare