Destinations of those who act in any of the three gunas (modes)!
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances.. Glad to see that your service is growing well by Lords mercy.
In the recent article, i read the following lines:
“The demigods, qualified by the superexcellent quality of the mode of goodness, are situated in the heavenly planets, whereas the human beings, because of their nature in the mode of passion, live on the earth in company with their subordinates.
Living entities who are associates of Rudra develop in the third mode of material nature, or ignorance. They are situated in the sky between the earthly planets and the heavenly planets.”
How do we understnd this that people in passion are on earth and those with ignornace are in between earth and heaven?
i have read that though Rudra is assoaited with mode if ignorance, Rudras themselves are not in this mode, but in mood or mode of service.
Please clarify. thanks.”
REPLY:
No need for confusion in it.
You have asked based on one of our recent BHAGAVATAM STORIES Post:
“The demigods, with mode of goodness, are situated in the heavenly planets. The human beings, in the mode of passion, live on the earth.
Living entities in the third mode of ignorance are situated in the sky between the earthly planets and the heavenly planets.”
(Gunas (Modes) – Origin, Development & Causes! Complete Analysis! READ HERE!)
How to understand the above statements?
Simple.
Let me explain one by one .
(1)
Those who act in the mode of goodness will do good for others.
They can’t involve in sinful acts.
Those who do only good and add only good karma, without sins (negative karma) will be sent to heavenly planets after death.
This is known to all.
The residents of heavenly planets will be celestials who have some extra powers.
So, these celestials are called as demigods also.
You may ask:
Why the Satva guna persons do not go to spiritual planets, but go to heavenly planets?
Satva guna is also a material factor and motivates us to involve in Good karma.
So, adding Good karma takes us to heavenly planets as more powerful persons called celestials or demigods.
(What are the dangers of the three Gunas? How Satva Guna too has risks? READ HERE!)
(2)
“The human beings, because of their nature in the mode of passion, live on the earth in company with their subordinates.”
Those who act in the mode of passion will have more attachment with their kiths and kins.
They will have more interest to lead a highly materialistic life with enjoyments.
So, they will be allowed to live on earth to act with attachments in the company of their subordinates, ie, relatives and friends.
(How Only the Gunas act, not the persons as per Bhagavad Gita (14.19)? READ HERE!)
(3)
“Living entities who are associates of Rudra develop in the third mode of material nature, or ignorance. They are situated in the sky between the earthly planets and the heavenly planets.”
Associates of Rudra (Shiva) means, those who act in thamo guna, ie, mode of ignorance.
Using Shiva’s name here is just indicative to the followers of thamo guna.
Lord Shiva represents thamo guna, ie, mode of ignorance.
This does not mean that he is under mode of ignorance. He just represents thamo guna, ie, mode of ignorance.
They will be confused with what to do. So, they are undecided and they delay their activities.
They may like to do good, but they do not do because they delay everything.
If they lead attached life, they can be sent to earth; If they lead a pious life, they will be sent to heavens.
But, they will be oscillating between attached life and god consciousness. They will keep on undecided.
(Why satva guna is favorable to follow devotion to Krishna? READ HERE!)
So, they can stay neither on earth nor in heavenly planets, but will be oscillating between earth and heavens.
So, they will be sent to the intermediate places between heavenly planets and earth.
CONCLUSION:
The above explanations show that those who act in (i) Satva guna or (ii) Rajo guna or (iii) thamo guna will take birth in (i) a heavenly planet, (ii) earth and (iii) in an intermediate planet respectively.
Until we act in any guna, we will have to take rebirths.
When we cross all these three gunas and act in Suddha Satva guna for the pleasure of the Lord Krishna, we will not take rebirths, but will get an eternal life in His Spiritual kingdom.
Hope you are clear.
(Three Gunas (Modes) – Causes & Krishna’s Views in Bhagavad Gita! READ HERE!)