The Secret of Spiritual Advancement
The secret of spiritual advancement is hearing submissively from the proper source. Proper source means from the revealed scriptures and especially from those who are purely representing the revealed scriptures, the bona fide spiritual masters. There are many spiritual masters available on this planet, practically on every corner. But because this is the age of Kali, an age of lies and deception, the overriding majority of them are mala fide, not bona fide. In other words, most of them are bogus. Therefore one must be careful to find that spiritual master who purely represents the revealed scriptures. Once having found him, one should very carefully hear from him and obediently serve him. This is how one becomes realized in the Absolute Truth. This is confirmed as follows in the Bhagavad-gita 4.34:
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”
The bona fide spiritual master is essential because he practically teaches by his example and by his merciful instructions how to perfectly follow the Vedic teachings in the modern age according to time, place, and circumstance.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Please clear my following doubts.
Before coming into contact with ISKCON I, as an usual Indian, used to pray to demigods for fulfillment of my material desires. Now, after getting proper knowledge of the Vedic wisdom from ISKCON, I want only to pray Krishna. But in that too I am feeling ashamed of myself for asking Krishna to fulfill my material desires. Now whenever I bow in front of Krishna I am always wondering that by avoiding/not praying to the demigods how do they feel? Will they get angry and curse me, as I've prayed them for so long years and now I am neglecting them? When this comes into my mind, I am feeling afraid.
Now my doubts are;
Who are demigods?
Why God created them and how they are born?
What their functional responsibilities in His manifestation?
Will they harm us if we neglect or not pray them?
Although these questions seem to be silly, still they are torturing my mind from so long time.
Now, I request you, kindly show mercy upon me and clear my doubts for this lifetime.
Prasad
India
sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā
chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni bibharti durgā
icchānurūpam api yasya ca ceṣṭate sā
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
"The external potency Maya, who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshiped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durga conducts herself."
It does not please the demigods when you beg them to fulfill your material desires. Since the demigods are the servants of Krishna, they will be very pleased with you when they see that you are praying to Krishna to be engaged in His pure devotional service. When they see that you are sincerely doing this they will give you all facility to help you to be fully engaged in Krishna's service.
Kindly do not pray to Krishna to fulfill your material desires. As a child did you ask your parents to feed you? No, you did not because you knew that your parents loved you and would take good care of you. So if you pray to Krishna to fulfill your material needs, it means that you don't trust Him to be a loving father who will take care of you. Therefore you should simply only sincerely pray for bhakti, pure devotional service. The reciprocation from the Lord through His agents the demigods will be that whatever material and spiritual needs you have to be fully absorbed in the His service will all be provided to you by His divine mercy.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”
The bona fide spiritual master is essential because he practically teaches by his example and by his merciful instructions how to perfectly follow the Vedic teachings in the modern age according to time, place, and circumstance.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Become Liberated by Hearing Srila Prabhupada
Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:
Question: Will the Demigods Harm Us If We Pray to Krishna and Not to Them?
Gurudeva,Please clear my following doubts.
Before coming into contact with ISKCON I, as an usual Indian, used to pray to demigods for fulfillment of my material desires. Now, after getting proper knowledge of the Vedic wisdom from ISKCON, I want only to pray Krishna. But in that too I am feeling ashamed of myself for asking Krishna to fulfill my material desires. Now whenever I bow in front of Krishna I am always wondering that by avoiding/not praying to the demigods how do they feel? Will they get angry and curse me, as I've prayed them for so long years and now I am neglecting them? When this comes into my mind, I am feeling afraid.
Now my doubts are;
Who are demigods?
Why God created them and how they are born?
What their functional responsibilities in His manifestation?
Will they harm us if we neglect or not pray them?
Although these questions seem to be silly, still they are torturing my mind from so long time.
Now, I request you, kindly show mercy upon me and clear my doubts for this lifetime.
Prasad
India
Answer: When We Pray to Krishna They Will Bless Us
The demigods are acting under the orders of Krishna to manage the affairs of this material world as various department heads of universal management. For example, regarding Durga devi, it is confirmed as follows in the Brahma Samhita, Text 5.44:sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā
chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni bibharti durgā
icchānurūpam api yasya ca ceṣṭate sā
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
"The external potency Maya, who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshiped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durga conducts herself."
It does not please the demigods when you beg them to fulfill your material desires. Since the demigods are the servants of Krishna, they will be very pleased with you when they see that you are praying to Krishna to be engaged in His pure devotional service. When they see that you are sincerely doing this they will give you all facility to help you to be fully engaged in Krishna's service.
Kindly do not pray to Krishna to fulfill your material desires. As a child did you ask your parents to feed you? No, you did not because you knew that your parents loved you and would take good care of you. So if you pray to Krishna to fulfill your material needs, it means that you don't trust Him to be a loving father who will take care of you. Therefore you should simply only sincerely pray for bhakti, pure devotional service. The reciprocation from the Lord through His agents the demigods will be that whatever material and spiritual needs you have to be fully absorbed in the His service will all be provided to you by His divine mercy.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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