Comments on: Acharya Vaani http://uttaradimath.org/vedanta/2007/03/24/acharya-vaani-28/ A web log for learning Vedanta... Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:57:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Administrator http://uttaradimath.org/vedanta/2007/03/24/acharya-vaani-28/#comment-5 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:53:16 +0000 http://uttaradimath.org/vedanta/2007/03/24/acharya-vaani-28/#comment-5 Firstly let me make it clear that we are not fixing hierarchy to God at all. God is one and there is no difference whatsoever between His various forms and incarnations. Secondly, your conclusion that all gods are maifestations of shri viShnu needs some clarification. As all gods are manifestation of viShNu, do you mean there is no other devata soul apart from viShNu? This is against several pramANAs which categorically specify that there are souls other than the supreme soul (dvA suparNA sayujA sakhAya samAnaM vR^iksham parishasvajAte tayoranyaH pippalaM svAdvattyanashnannanyo abhichAkashIti - AtharvaNa upanishat Kha. 5 Man. 1 ) which are present in the body. Further, the AtharvaNopanishat says "tasmAdAtma~jnaM archayet bhUtikAmaH Ka.5 Ma.10" - Therefore one should worship the knower of viShnu. This clearly suggests that one should worship a person who has realized viShnu to gain liberation. Again is there a gradation among the individual souls or all souls are equal? The latter is impossible, particularly because the difference in the sAdhana of individual jIvas is well established by several pramANAs. So, there ought to be a difference in the knowledge etc of individual jIvas because of difference in their sAdhanAs. It is improper to claim that everyone gets the same amount of knowledge and bliss in liberation inspite of their differences insAdhana. Because the giver of liberation, viShNu, in that case would bepartial. Therefore one should accept that gradation is because of the differences in knowledge and bliss of different souls. On the point of doing Bhakti, it is not proper to worship two people with different qualifications in the same manner. One should naturally show more respect to one who is more qualified and superior. Therefore, it is very appropriate to say that the more one is knowledgeable about viShnu, the more one should show devotion towards him. Hence there is no problem in accepting gradation in Bhakti. On the point of measuring ones bhakti, though it is difficult to quantize it, one should start with a reference point. Love or devotion one shows about onself would be the reference point. Other higher souls should be respected accordingly. That was the intent of the posted Acharya Vaani. Hope this answers your questions. If you have further questions please feel free to ask. haraye namaH, R.Rachuri Firstly let me make it clear that we are not fixing hierarchy to God at all. God is one and there is no difference whatsoever between His various forms and incarnations.
Secondly, your conclusion that all gods are maifestations of shri viShnu needs some clarification. As all gods are manifestation of viShNu, do you mean there is no other devata soul apart from viShNu? This is against several pramANAs which categorically specify that there are souls other than the supreme soul (dvA suparNA sayujA sakhAya samAnaM vR^iksham parishasvajAte tayoranyaH pippalaM svAdvattyanashnannanyo
abhichAkashIti - AtharvaNa upanishat Kha. 5 Man. 1 ) which are present in the body.
Further, the AtharvaNopanishat says “tasmAdAtma~jnaM archayet bhUtikAmaH Ka.5 Ma.10″ - Therefore one should worship the knower of viShnu. This clearly suggests that one should worship a person who has realized viShnu to gain liberation.
Again is there a gradation among the individual souls or all souls are equal? The latter is impossible, particularly because the difference in the sAdhana of individual jIvas is well established by several pramANAs. So, there ought to be a difference in the knowledge etc of individual jIvas because of difference in their sAdhanAs. It is improper to claim that everyone gets the same amount of knowledge and bliss in liberation inspite of their differences insAdhana. Because the giver of liberation, viShNu, in that case would bepartial. Therefore one should accept that gradation is because of the differences in knowledge and bliss of different souls.

On the point of doing Bhakti, it is not proper to worship two people with different qualifications in the same manner. One should naturally show more respect to one who is more qualified and superior. Therefore, it is very appropriate to say that the more one is knowledgeable about viShnu, the more one should show devotion towards him. Hence there is no problem in accepting gradation in Bhakti.

On the point of measuring ones bhakti, though it is difficult to quantize it, one should start with a reference point. Love or devotion one shows about onself would be the reference point. Other higher souls should be respected accordingly. That was the intent of the posted Acharya Vaani.
Hope this answers your questions. If you have further questions please feel free to ask.

haraye namaH,
R.Rachuri

]]> by: manam4 http://uttaradimath.org/vedanta/2007/03/24/acharya-vaani-28/#comment-4 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 06:54:58 +0000 http://uttaradimath.org/vedanta/2007/03/24/acharya-vaani-28/#comment-4 how can you measure your bhakti ? god is one and how can you fix hierarchy to him.all the gods you have mentioned are manifestations of sri vishnu .so gradations seem in-appropriate and hierarchy in bhakti doesnt arise. how can you measure your bhakti ? god is one and how can you fix hierarchy to him.all the gods you have mentioned are manifestations of sri vishnu .so gradations seem in-appropriate and hierarchy in bhakti doesnt arise.

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