Intro. To Bhagavad-GitaClearing the

Misconceptions Part I:Krishna and the Demigods

There is One GodThere is One God Gita is a strong monotheistic theology.Gita is a strong monotheistic theology. The many Gods of the Hindu pantheon are The many Gods of the Hindu pantheon are

sharply relegated to the status of subordinate sharply relegated to the status of subordinate servitors to the Supreme Lord.servitors to the Supreme Lord.

Thus, the conclusion is that the real and final Thus, the conclusion is that the real and final subject of the Bhagavad-Gita is Krishna subject of the Bhagavad-Gita is Krishna Himself.Himself.

Krishna asserts His supremacy in relation to Krishna asserts His supremacy in relation to the well-known gods or demigods of the Vedic the well-known gods or demigods of the Vedic and Hindu pantheon.and Hindu pantheon.

Krishna is the source of Krishna is the source of the demigods (10.2)the demigods (10.2)

For Krishna is the For Krishna is the source of all that exist source of all that exist (10.8)(10.8)

Thus, those who Thus, those who worship other Gods are worship other Gods are ultimately worshiping ultimately worshiping Krishna, the source and Krishna, the source and sustainer of those Gods, sustainer of those Gods, though they do so in though they do so in the wrong way. (9.23)the wrong way. (9.23)

Although the Gods may Although the Gods may accept offering from accept offering from their worshipers, the their worshipers, the God themselves are God themselves are acting as mere agents of acting as mere agents of the Supreme God who is the Supreme God who is the ultimate enjoyer of the ultimate enjoyer of all sacrifices (9.24)all sacrifices (9.24)

The ignorant worshipper The ignorant worshipper of the demigods who of the demigods who does not clearly does not clearly recognize the supremecy recognize the supremecy of the Godhead falls to a of the Godhead falls to a lower status of life lower status of life (9.24)(9.24)

The demigods cannot award ultimate liberation, since those The demigods cannot award ultimate liberation, since those who attain to their worlds again fall down to the mortal who attain to their worlds again fall down to the mortal earthly realm when their pious merit is exhausted (9.21)earthly realm when their pious merit is exhausted (9.21)

This impermanence holds true for the planets of Indra, This impermanence holds true for the planets of Indra, surendra-loka (9.20), svarga-loka (9.21), and for all the surendra-loka (9.20), svarga-loka (9.21), and for all the worlds in the material cosmos, including Brahma (8.16)worlds in the material cosmos, including Brahma (8.16)

It is only in the It is only in the world of the world of the Supreme God Supreme God Krishna that one Krishna that one finds the eternal finds the eternal abode, going to abode, going to which one never which one never returns to take birth returns to take birth in the material world in the material world (15.6) (8.21) (8.16)(15.6) (8.21) (8.16)

The cosmic form, which The cosmic form, which the Lord therin displays, the Lord therin displays, is revealed to be is revealed to be Krishna’s form and Krishna’s form and power of time (11.32)power of time (11.32)

Even the host of gods Even the host of gods are overwhelmed and are overwhelmed and anstonished, and enter anstonished, and enter within Times within Times destructive power destructive power (11.21-22)(11.21-22)

Krishna is absolutely Krishna is absolutely superior to the gods in superior to the gods in cognitive powers. cognitive powers.

In all respects Krishna is In all respects Krishna is the origin of the gods, the origin of the gods, and hence they cannot and hence they cannot understand Krishna’s understand Krishna’s origin (10.2)origin (10.2)

For indeed Krishna is For indeed Krishna is beginningless.beginningless.

Not only the gods, but Not only the gods, but the entire universe is the entire universe is bewildered by the bewildered by the modes of nature and modes of nature and thus does not recognize thus does not recognize or understand Krishna, or understand Krishna, since Krishna is beyond since Krishna is beyond the modes (7..13)the modes (7..13)

It is only because of the It is only because of the bewildering influence of bewildering influence of the material modes upon the material modes upon the conditioned souls the conditioned souls that they worship other that they worship other gods at all (17.4)gods at all (17.4)

The omniscience of The omniscience of Krishna is superlatively Krishna is superlatively causal since Krishna is causal since Krishna is the source of everyone’s the source of everyone’s memory, knowledge, memory, knowledge, and forgetfulness and forgetfulness (15.15)(15.15)

Krishna knows the past Krishna knows the past present and future of all present and future of all beings but no one, in the beings but no one, in the material world, knows material world, knows Him in truth (7.26)Him in truth (7.26)

The living beings are The living beings are so much dependent so much dependent on Krishna, that even on Krishna, that even their faith in other their faith in other gods, must be gods, must be supplied by Krishna supplied by Krishna (7.21)(7.21)

The reuslt awarded by the those gods are actually The reuslt awarded by the those gods are actually give by Krishna alone, of whom the gods are but give by Krishna alone, of whom the gods are but agents (7.22)agents (7.22)

The result of worshiping The result of worshiping Krishna, is clearly Krishna, is clearly distinguished from the distinguished from the temporary results derived temporary results derived from worshiping all other from worshiping all other powerful beings.powerful beings.

““Men of small intelligence Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to worship the demigods go to the demigods, but my the demigods, but my devotees come to me.” devotees come to me.” (7.23)(7.23)

““Those sworn to the Those sworn to the gods, go to the gods,; gods, go to the gods,; those sworn to the those sworn to the forefathers go to the forefathers go to the forefathers; worshipers forefathers; worshipers of ghostly spirits go to of ghostly spirits go to such spirits; but those such spirits; but those who worship me come who worship me come to me.” (9.25)to me.” (9.25)

In view of the fundamental distinction between In view of the fundamental distinction between Krishna and the Gods, and their respective powers to Krishna and the Gods, and their respective powers to reward their worshipers, only those whose intelligence reward their worshipers, only those whose intelligence is stolen by lust worships the gods and neglects the is stolen by lust worships the gods and neglects the worship of the supreme Godhead. (7.20)worship of the supreme Godhead. (7.20)

Conclusion…Conclusion… There is nothing at all beyond Krishna (7.7)There is nothing at all beyond Krishna (7.7) He is the great Lord of all the worlds (5.29)He is the great Lord of all the worlds (5.29) He is the creator and sustainer of everything (8.9)He is the creator and sustainer of everything (8.9) Arjuna glorifies Krishna: as the Supreme Brahman, Arjuna glorifies Krishna: as the Supreme Brahman,

the Supreme Abode, The Supreme Purifier, the the Supreme Abode, The Supreme Purifier, the Supreme Divine Person (10.12)Supreme Divine Person (10.12)

God of gods (10.15); origin on the gods (10.12) God of gods (10.15); origin on the gods (10.12) (11.38); and the Primeval Person (11.38)(11.38); and the Primeval Person (11.38)

Arjuna further affirms that nobody is equal to or Arjuna further affirms that nobody is equal to or greater then Krishna (11.43)greater then Krishna (11.43)

The Lord ends His The Lord ends His teaching in the Gita by teaching in the Gita by urging Arjuna to urging Arjuna to abandon all other abandon all other duties and take shelter duties and take shelter of Krishna alone of Krishna alone (18.66).(18.66).

Chanting of the Holy Name is Gita 18.66Chanting of the Holy Name is Gita 18.66

““I offer my respectful obeisances unto the I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational

chanting of whose holy names destroys all chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances

unto whom relieves all material suffering.” unto whom relieves all material suffering.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.23)(Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.23)

Constant Chanting is sign of MahatmaConstant Chanting is sign of Mahatma

““On son of Prtha, those who ar not deluded, On son of Prtha, those who ar not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible. Always chanting my and inexhaustible. Always chanting my glories, endeavoring with great determination, glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion” (9.13-perpetually worship Me with devotion” (9.13-14)14)