Are Manthras containing beneficial prayers against Nishkam Bhakti?
Adhityan Narasimha asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhu, sorry to disturb you, but only you can erase my doubt. Just now I read Narasimma Kavasam in our site with meaning .
Prabhu, What I’m asking is every scriptures mantras related to Krishna and demigods supports our material desires also, finally leading to Vaikuntha. Even here in Narasimma Kavasam mantra, opulence life in heavenly planets, becoming victorious both in among demigods and human life, fulfilling whatever desires that devotees has, and finally getting Vaikundam.
Like such meanings are there in Narasimma Kavasam mantra ,,, so it’s encouraging us with desires , shall we proceed with this??
Prabhu, But ISKCON way of devotion is without material desires… So it’s confusing, even God is ready to give both material happiness and spiritual Vaikundam so, what’s problem in it prabhu?”
REPLY:
Most of the verses in the Narasimha Kavacha have some prayers to protect our body parts and to give some other benefits.
You have taken them as material desires or expectations. This may be due to your young age and the partial understanding of the purpose of the prayers.
(SRI NARASIMMHA KAVACHA MANTHRA WITH MEANING! READ HERE!)
As said by Srila Prabhupada, the activities of materialistic persons and the devotees may look like similar, but the devotee prays for serving the Lord better and others pray for their being comfortable to enjoy the life.
Narasimha Kavacha is a Protective manthra. The Lord came as Narasimha to protect His devotee Prahalad by eliminating the demon Hiranya kasipu who was doing all the possible and powerful efforts to kill his son Prahalad for worshiping the Lord.
Narasimha deva is the avatar specialized to protect His devotees from their enemies and ailments.
You have taken the manthras containing beneficial prayers for protection by the devotees as material; but, I tell them as spiritual prayers.
Same prayer can be seen as both material and spiritual prayers. Let me give some examples for them:
(i) Material Prayer: “Narasimha/ Krishna, make me rich so that I can lead a life of full enjoyments”
Spiritual Prayer: “Narasimha/ Krishna, make me relieved from loans and money problems so that I can perform my devotional services to you without much difficulties”.
(ii) Material Prayer: “Narasimha/ Krishna, please cure my diseases so that I can lead a comfortable life”
Spiritual Prayer: “Narasimha/ Krishna, please cure my diseases that are preventing my devotional following so that I can perform my devotional services to you without much health issues”.
(Is it still wrong worshiping demigods without any expectations from them? READ HERE!)
Thus, if your prayer or expectation of something from Krishna is ONLY to follow devotion still better, such prayers do not come under Kamya Bhakti, ie, devotion with expectation, but spiritual prayers to follow devotion better than now.
If the prayers are done to make our life with more comforts, they are material prayers.
Narasimha kavacha has such prayers from Prahalada that are prayed for healthy body parts and less barriers to follow devotion.
Let me take a few verses of Narasimha Kavacha as asked by you:
Its first verse itself says that It is most pious, vanquishes all kinds of impediments, and provides one all protection. So, kavacha means protection/ shield. A devotee needs a shield from barriers as his duty is to serve the Lord.
Its Second verse states: “It bestows upon one all opulences and can give one elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation. One should meditate on Lord Narasimha, Lord of the universe, seated upon a golden throne”.
(What to do if our Prayers are not answered by Krishna? READ HERE!)
This verse gives choices. If a devotee follows pure devotion successfully, he can get liberated. Or, if he has some trace of attachments, he can get the next highest destination of heavenly planets. Though a devotee does not target heavens, he is given as a reward of happy life in heavenly planets since he had some attachments also. After that, he takes new birth and attain pure devotion.
Though the devotee did not pray for opulences, Krishna/ Narasimha offers all the Opulences to His devotees if He is satisfied that he will use those opulences for His service back.
It is the causeless mercy of Krishna.
I have seen many initiated devotees who also become successful in earning. They support the temple projects and other services using those money.
The point is that getting the opulences will not shake their devotion. Narasimha deva finds this from every devotee. Then, if he is qualified, He bestows opulences.
Other verses in Narasimha kavacha states every organ and prays to protects that. Because, every devotee should have a manageable health to follow devotion properly.
This is the real purpose of giving those prayers by Prahalada maharaja in Narasimha kavacha. In fact, those verses were actually prayed by him to the Lord narasimha deva.
It is upto the devotees to recite Narasimha kavacha for material benefits also. But, if the devotees recite them to clear the barriers on the way their devotional services, they get support from the Lord.
You may be aware that many devotees chant even Hare Krishna Maha Manthra to get relieved from material pains and issues. Does this mean Hare Krishna Maha Manthra is given for getting material benefits?
It is upto the devotees to use any divine manthra for spiritual or material purposes. Because, they are depending on the Lord for everything.
Hope you are now clear about the Manthras containing beneficial prayers.
NOTE:
However, if you recite the manthras with beneficial verses towards Krishna or demigods without any idea to serve them, it can be branded as Kamya bhakti. Expecting more facilities to perform the devotion better is still Nishkam devotion only as we like to serve Krishna or demigods whatever your choice may be.
(Why Pure devotion as Krishna Himself has given boons to others? READ HERE!)