Gradual Reawakening of the Enlightened Self

There is a common misconception that spiritual enlightenment comes like a flash of lightening out the sky. This is not the case. The way spiritual enlightenment happens is just like the gradual rising of the sun within the sky of one's heart. If ones seriously sticks to the ultimate self-realization path, the bhakti yoga path, by remaining steadily engaged in Krishna consciousness, he will experience the factual gradual reawakening of his original enlightened consciousness. He will revive his original identity that he once had before he fell into material existence. This is the special mercy of Lord Sri Krishna upon that person who is sincerely trying to surrender to Him. Lord Krishna confirms this as follows in the Bhagavad-gita:

tesam evanukampartham
aham ajnana-jam tamah
nasayamy atma-bhava-stho
jnana-dipena bhasvata

"To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance." Bhagavad-gita 10.11

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Vishnu, the Source of Krishna?...

Sir, why is Lord Krishna's name greater, more powerful than Lord Vishnu's names though Lord Vishnu is source of Lord Krishna?

Warm regards,

Sunil

Answer: No. Krishna, the Source of Vishnu...

It is a very common misconception in India that Vishnu is the origin of Krishna. This indicates how much how out of touch modern day Hindus are with their own scriptures.

The actual fact is that Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. All other incarnations emanate from Him.

It is very clearly stated by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita:

aham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravartate

"I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me." Bhagavad-gita 10.8

Lord Brahma states in the Brahma-samhita:

isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam

"Krishna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes." Brahma-Samhita 5.1

It is furthermore stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam:

ete camsa-kalah pumsah
krsnas tu bhagavan svayam

"All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead." --SB 1.3.28

Some people think that because the Lord first appeared as Vishnu within the prison of Kamsa and then took the form of baby Krishna that Vishnu is His original form. This is not a fact as confirmed by the authoritative Vedic literatures. Krishna spoke to His mother Devaki shortly after His birth revealing to her why He had manifested the Vishnu form:

etad vam darsitam rupam
prag-janma-smaranaya me
nanyatha mad-bhavam jnanam
martya-lingena jayate

"I have appeared in this Vishnu form just to convince you that I am the same Supreme Personality of Godhead again taken birth. I could have appeared just like an ordinary child, but in that way you would not have believed that the Supreme Personality of Godhead had taken birth in your womb."
--SB 10.3.44

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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