Question
Reading the Srimad Bhagavatam, first Canto, chapter 17, verse 34, in the purports of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, he ensures that only Krishna should be the object of our worship,
If so, which I have always accepted, why there are devotees who offer sacrifice and adoration to demigods Shiva, Indra etc.? Does not his fact contradict what Srila Prabhupada, all the glory for him, has indicated to us that we should do, that only Krishna should be our object of worship?
Answer
Dear Bhakta Jomi,
The philosophical context of the Srimad-Bhagavatam verse 11.20-32 and 33 is the following:
Those who are devotees and know things as they are, know that there is no use in worshiping the Devas.
If one has only spiritual desires, worshiping Radha Krishna or Gaura Nitai will work. But even if he had some material desires there is still no use in worshiping the Devas because Krishna is capable to satisfy any desires.
akamah sarva-kamo va
moksa-kama udara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta purusam param
“A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.10)
If you need the quantity of water contained in a small pond, obviously a larger pond will do the same and more.
However if someone is afraid that Krishna will “purify him too much” and he still does not want that, or if one has no knowledge whatsoever and want fast and sure sense gratification, or if he is envious of Krishna and he doesn’t want to have anything to do with Him, then he can get satisfaction of his material desires by worshiping the Devas. After all, they are representative of Krishna and their powers come from Him.
– Manonatha Dasa (ACBSP)
8 june 2019
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