How to become the Celestials & Demigods from this human birth?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhu, in one of the articles in our site long ago, you said that demigods already did penances when they were in human birth, and as Krishna got satisfied by their Penances, now they got materially supreme rewards as living life of a Demigod in heavens for many yugas, they got demigod body itself in their new birth, which is mostly desirable by all, because materially one can have maximum happiness in extreme level, only in heavenly planets, that’s why Asuras Demons always try to conquer heavens, but they fail mostly as demigods are under Krishna’s protection.
Even in Srimad Bhagavadam, a sloka says Demigods and Asuras both of them have all material desires, but difference is, Demigods accept and surrender to the supremacy Of Krishna, so they are always protected and got heavenly comforts life, whereas Asuras won’t accept and surrender to Krishna, so their attempts fails mostly. Except Bali Maharaj like good souls
But of course I agree, due to immense opulence and great power, sometimes even Demigods develope pride and ego, at that time Krishna will wantedly send some Asuras to teach them a lesson, and to destroy their pride, that it is KRISHNA who gave demigods their great position, power, enjoyments, etc.
So, myself as a surrendered poor soul of Krishna but with material expectations, what should I do to become a Demigod in my next life, what should I do now, what kind of Penances will Krishna expect from me to get demigod body in my next life immediately? What kind of devotional services should I do to Krishna and Vaishnavas brahmanas temples?? What good deeds should I do to poor and needy people around us? Any social servies without expecting results
As we cannot pray to Indra to become next Indra, as Indra will think “oh! you are targeting my post??” as To become MLA MP seat, we should get mercy and permission of CM/PM, who are superior to MLA MPs… I hope you understand prabhu as very big postings can be acheived only by Krishna mercy
Hare Krishna Prabhu, sorry to disturb you, I’ll wait patiently Prabhu
REPLY:
So, you have a serious desire to enjoy all the material comforts and rule the heavenly material world.
You may think: “If we go to Goloka, we can just be a servant to Krishna, but if we become a demigod, we can enjoy so many comforts at its peak”
(Who can go to the heavens? List of some acts from Mahabharatha! READ HERE!)
So, this is clear:
Goloka is for those who enjoy the spiritual bliss of serving the Lord all the time.
Heavens are for those who like to enjoy everything materially.
Becoming a Prime minister of India from being a tea shop servant required hard work and tireless efforts and also patriotism for a man.
The person who was distributing newspapers in the railway stations could become the President of India only after tireless work with patriotism.
Similarly, the celestials and demigods too have got that position because of so much of austerities for hundreds or thousands of years.
The celestials and demigods are not of the same status.
Celestials are the population of heavenly planets – similar to the people of this earth planet.
Demigods are the OUTSTANDING people who excelled among the celestials by performing tough penances even as celestials.
(Why double rewards in heavens and next birth for Good karma? READ HERE!)
This is similar to the people making so much of efforts and becoming the rulers of the countries on earth.
The Prime minister or president or king is also One among the crores of people of a country (like the demigods who are also the celestials who are the people of heavens).
Celestials generally mean HEAVENLY PERSONS. That’s all.
A Demigod means the heavenly person who became a demigod through tough penances.
How this process happens?
Similar to the process followed by the great leaders who became leaders from among the people.
It is easy to get the mercy of Krishna from the earth because this planet gives both pleasures and pains. So, following devotion is not difficult here on earth.
But, celestial life is full of enjoyments. They will find it very difficult to follow devotion to Krishna or Shiva from heavenly planets when they are always engaed in enjoyments.
In general, even on earth, the people think of God only when they face some problems. When they are happy, they don’t think of God.
So, the celestials who follow serious devotion to the Lord even from the heavenly planets are given positions as demigods by Krishna.
For example, Krishna chooses Brahma, Yama, Varuna, Vayu, heads of thousands of planets, etc from among those heavenly people who follow tough austerities and devotional practices from the heavenly planets.
This is the reward for their outstanding dedication in the devotional services though there are almost all kinds of pleasures to enjoy in the heavenly planets.
(Are Demigods subject to attachments and bad times? READ HERE!)
Celestials have some limited mystic powers; When krishna appoints them as employees, ie, demigods, He gives them required extra powers to perform their duties.
This is the system.
So, you have to first become a heavenly citizen by performing MOSTLY GOOD DEEDS AND AVOIDING SINFUL ACTIVITIES IN THIS BIRTH.
But, you should also clear your pending karma that are waiting in tons.
So, going to heavens for very long period is permitted only if you do not have any pending reactions for sins that warrents you to take birth on earth.
So, it may take some more births to go to the heavens though you do only good deeds now. Because you have some pending karma also to be faced in many births.
In case you don’t have any reactions pending for past sins, but you are leading a life only with good deeds, you can get long heavenly life.
In case you do not show interest in the available enjoyments in heavens, but perform sincere devotion to Krishna from that heavenly life, you can get a chance to become a demogod with more powers.
This is the procedure to become a demigod.
So, becoming a heavenly person within this birth is not guaranteed.
But, becoming a servant of Krishna in Goloka can be achieved even at the end of birth by fully detaching from the materials and attaching with Krishna with Prema even in this birth, because such a state of Prema would have burnt all your past karma.
So, Krishna takes you back.
Now the conclusion is:
The Process of becoming a demigod may take many births, but goin back to Krishna’s kingdom can be fastened by ourselves by becoming a Krishna Premi within this birth.
Now, choose what is the faster and eternal and blissful destination.
(How can one enjoy or suffer without gross bodies in heavens and hells? READ HERE!)