Re: demigod worship

From the Bhakti List Archives

• September 1, 2000


 
> bhavani nirmal  wrote:
>  > Dear devotees:
>  > 
>  > Born in an Udipi brahmin family, my favorite form of
>  > god to worship is Udipi Sri Krishna. I am partial to
>  > this form. Please advise me if I am wrong in doing
>  > that because I am not worshipping the Lord as Narayana
>  > but Sri Krishna. After all, I thought Sri Krishna is
>  > an incarnation of  Lord Vishnu/Sriman Narayana.  I am
>  > confused by all the out pourings of learned men of the
>  > group on worship of demi gods. Please enlighten me.
>  > During my course of study at the University I came
>  > under the influence of many who were partial to the
>  > Advaita doctrine and I tended to adopt their view that
>  > that there is only one paramatman who is formless and
>  > though he is called by many names, there is only One
>  > Supreme Spirit. 


There is indeed only One Supreme Spirit who is manifests in infinite forms.
For example, there is Matsya, Kurma,  Varaha, Narasimha, Hayagriva, and Rama. 
(See my site http://www.avatara.org)
In addition there are two other types of entities: matter and the 
infinitesimal souls (jivAtmas).  When the jiva-s get elevated within the 
material world, they get the bodies of demigods and are thus called demigods 
(devas) and weild great power. However, that is not the goal of life. The 
goal is to surrender to the Lord and uncover one's intrinsic form which 
serves Him in Vaikuntha.
I hope this is clear.

ys
Gerald Surya 

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