Is Preferring Other avatars to Krishna wrong & Offensive?

Is Preferring Other avatars to Krishna wrong & Offensive?

A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:

“Hare Krishna sir, hope you are doing well. I am emailing you to ask a question that I have regarding my current status of devotion.

A few months ago, I started worshipping Lord Vishnu. After that, I started to develop a certain degree of devotion towards Lord Hari. Prior to this, I did go to temples often and used to worship Lord Kartikeya and Lord Shiva a lot. But at the same time, I used to go to Lord Vishnu’s temple just to pay my respects and not really to seriously worship Him.

Back to my story, when I initially started to worship Lord Vishnu, I was immensely drawn to Lord Rama as I thought he was cool. I still worship Him until today but as time went by, I was drawn to Lord Narasimha and am pretty much focused in worshipping Lord Narasimha. However, nowadays I also feel a certain pull towards Lord Krishna but I kinda feel that worshipping Krishna doesn’t make me as satisfied as worshipping Lord Narasimha.

As I am currently worshipping Lord Narasimha, I am worried that I may be doing something wrong because I am not feeling much attraction or love towards Lord Krishna. Whenever I want to pray to Lord Krishna, I am somehow almost always drawn to worship Lord Narasimha again. I mean the pull is like “I would rather spend my time hanging out with Lord Narasimha rather than hanging out with Lord Krishna”. And I kinda do this too because I work more on learning prayers related to Lord Narasimha rather than learning about prayers related to Lord Krishna. I don’t hate Krishna or anything but I just prefer Lord Narasimha instead of Lord Krishna.

Did I do something wrong and am I being pulled to Lord Narasimha so that I could be punished before I am worthy of worshipping Lord Krishna?
If you read this all the way, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to hearing your response on this matter. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Thank you very much and Hare Krishna! “

REPLY:

See, having preference to a particular form or avatar of the Lord is good and is natural.

Some people may prefer the form of Lord Sri Rama avatar more;

Some prefer the Sri Vishnu or Sri Narayana form.

Some prefer Sri Krishna form.

Some prefer Sri Narsimha deva avatar.

These choices are natural.

Some others may change their favourite form of the Lord with the increasing age.

During the childhood, they may prefer Krishna form; Later, during the young age, they may prefer Sri Narsimha form.

During the old age, they may prefer Lord Rama.

Some other devotees prefer feminine forms such as Srimati Radharani, Sri Lakshmi, Sitadevi, etc.

Those who have some expectations from the God prefer Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Kartikeya, Durga, etc.

These things are natural because there are so many types of people with different preferences.

We can’t expect that all the persons may prefer a single form of the God.

That is why, in our Sanatana Dharma, there are many forms of gods, demigods, devathas, avatars, etc.

So, having the affinity for a particular form of the Lord is natural IF IT IS LIMITED. And, Preferring Other avatars to Krishna is also not wrong.

In your case, you are changing the preferences very often and you have chosen almost all the forms of the Lord and also demigods.

This seems to be excessive and this shows that you don’t have a steady mind.

See, Loving a single form and respecting all other forms is a healthy practice.

For example, Krishna devotees are expected to Love Krishna and respect all other gods/ demigods.

In your case, you are changing your preference to a particular avatar/ form frequently and develop a liking with another form.

This has been happening frequently so far.

This will not make you to remain steady in any one particular form/ god and you will not be able to develop longstanding love for any form/ god.

When we focus on multiple gods or forms of the lord, we can’t develop love for any one of the forms or gods.

So, think well in which form you have more affinity.

Develop attachment with that particular form. Recite the manthras related to that form.

Then, give respects to all other forms.

Thus stop changing the rpeferences frequently.

Having Krishna as our Primary choice, worshiping His avatars and respecting other gods is a good and standard practice.

On this basis, your current practice of changing your favourite forms frequently is not a healthy one.

Think of it.

Hope you are clear whether Preferring Other avatars to Krishna wrong & Offensive.

(Why many gods in the Hindu Religion of India unlike all other religions? READ HERE!)

Author: RAJAN

RAJAN from Tamil Nadu, India, a Life Patron and an Initiated Devotee being in ISKCON for nearly three decades, serves anonymously to avoid Prominence and crowd as an insignificant, Humble and Neutral Servant for all the devotees of Krishna! He promotes Social media forums and this blog-website as e-satsangha (e-forums) blessed with Lakhs of followers, to give Spiritual Solutions for all the Material Problems of the devotees since 2011! He writes friendly and practical tips to practice devotion (i) without hurting the followers of other paths, (ii) without affecting the personal and career life, and (iii) without the blind, superstitious and ritualistic approach! He dedicates all the glories and credits to his Guru and Krishna.