Why thinking Krishna and demigods as non different is wrong?
A girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna. My brother, who follows Advaita Vedanta and worships Goddess Kali, argues that Krishna and Kali are ultimately one since all forms are manifestations of the same Brahman. He interprets Bhagavad-Gita verses like 9.25 to mean that Krishna mentioned only demigods Devata and not Devi goddess Kali so that means they are ultimately non-different, and that bhakti to any form is only a preliminary stage before merging into impersonal Brahman. He also claims distinctions like Vishnu-tattva and Shakti-tattva are temporary and dissolve in non-dual realization. He says every practitioners from whichever deity they worship be it Vaishnava Shaiva Shakta etc are all worshipping that Brahman and their paths will lead to One.
I feel confused, my mind becomes agitated during such discussions, and my faith feels shaken. Kindly clarify.”
REPLY:
Unnecessary discussion and agitation.
Just ask the following questions to your brother:
(i) The President of a country and a farmer of that country are the same because both are humans; But, they are not same in status because One is the president and the other is a farmer out of crores of farmers.
(Mayavadis Paramathmavadis & Devotees – Who is Superior? Why? READ HERE!)
(ii) A secretary of the president in the president’s office may have more powers because others can meet the president only if this secretary permits. This does not mean, he is more powerful than the President. President is the president; Secretary is a secretary.
(iii) If a person goes to a Tahsildar office straightaway, he may have to wait for months to get a certificate from the Tahsildar. It may even be rejected. But if the same person pays some bribe to a broker who is wandering outside that office, that broker comes with the certificate within minutes or hours. This does not mean that broker is more powerful than that Tahsildar. He is just a broker who is a partner in illegal earning by that Tahsildar. Tahsildar is tahsildar; Broker is a broker.
(iv) Krishna drove the chariot for Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war. This does not mean that Krishna is the driver of Arjuna. Krishna is the Supreme Lord, but he acts as a driver to establish dharma again thru pandavas. Krishna is Krishna; Arjuna is Arjuna.
(v) Krishna can offer any boon to anyone if He is pleased or convinced. The demigods too can give boons by getting from Krishna. Since both Krishna and demigods offer boons to the devotees, we should not think that both Krishna and demigods are the same in strength and status.
(CREATIONS BY KRISHNA -: SPIRITUAL (VAIKUNTA) PLANETS! READ HERE!)
(vi) The government gives monthly support of some money for the visually challenged persons. The cashier of a bank will give that money sent by the govt to every person. This does not mean that the cashier is the govt. He is just an employee of a govt bank. The sender is the govt.
Thus we can give many examples to show that Krishna and kali are not equal.
Kali devi is the aggressive form of Parvati devi when Parvati devi takes form of Kali devi to fight and kill any demon. This Parvati devi is the sister of Krishna because Parvati took birth before Krishna to the same parents.
Just because Parvati devi is the sister of Krishna, she is not equal to Krishna.
Can we consider a sanyasi and his poorvashrama children equal in status?
Can we consider the chairman of a company and the peon of that company equal in status?
Thus, Krishna and His sister Parvati’s Kaali form are not the same in status. Though though both of them have same parents.
Similarly, Krishna very selectively shows Himself to others. When the Pandavas left the planet, Krishna too decided to wind up his lilas and go back to His planet.
So, Parvati is not equal to Krishna just because their parents are the same.
You have also written about Brahmam as target and source. Just think whether Sun is equal to its own Sun rays.
Sun rays originate from the Sun, but they are not equal. The Sun rays may have some qualities of SUN in small quantities. Sun is Sun; Its rays are just rays. That’s all.
If the brightness of the body of Krishna constitutes the brahmam, how can that brahmam be equal to Krishna’s personal form?
CREATIONS BY KRISHNA – BRAHMAM & INTERMEDIATE WORLDS!
Only if a person stands under the hot sun, he can get his own shadow. Without that person, there will be no chance for his shadow. Similarly, without the personal form of Krishna, there will be no chance for the existence of the bright light around Him.
Every person is expected to honour and support his parents, but that does mean that He and His parents are same.
Krishna is always Krishna and that demigod is always a demigod. No need to confuse yourself.
The demigods can get something from Krishna and give to their worshipers. This does not mean that they are similar to Krishna.
Simple: Without the source Krishna, the brahmam is not possible.
Telling that the space of light takes form as Krishna, Shiva, Rama, etc is not acceptable.
This is an attempt to make Krishna as the product or form of that empty space brahmam. It can’t be accepted.
Also read the links given with this Post. You will get more details.
Hope you are now clear why thinking Krishna and demigods as non different is wrong.
(Krishna, Paramathma and Brahmam – three forms of Supreme! A-Z Details! READ HERE!)