How can we remain respectful to the devatas while describing their non-supreme position or their non-ideal activities?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

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So sometimes when we talk about the devatas, we may be a little disrespectful saying that they committed this mistake, they are like this, or they are not supreme. So how can we be respectful to them at the same time and understand Krishna supreme? The nature of the human mind is to go towards extremes. Sometimes it may go towards the extreme of considering one thing to be all important and sometimes it may go to the other extreme of considering it utterly unimportant.
So, the same principle may apply with devatas. That there are people who consider devatas to be supreme. They consider devatas only to be the ultimate worshipable objects.
Now when we come to bhakti, when we recognize that Krishna is supreme and devatas are subordinate, we may start treating them as just minor beings, as insignificant beings almost. So as if sometimes even devotees start treating, Goloka is so wonderful, Vaikuntha is nothing. Somebody goes to Vaikuntha, they feel as if that person has not achieved anything at all.
We start treating Vaikuntha like our own backyard. You know, Vaikuntha is also the spiritual world. It’s a very lofty achievement to go to Vaikuntha.
So, similarly, now from the bhakti perspective within particular context, there may be some playful depictions of the devatas, especially in songs or in bhakti compositions. You know how Indra was so proud and Krishna crushed Indra’s pride and Indra’s arrogance was shattered. This may be told in a poetically playful way where sometimes Indra may be depicted like a humorous character who turns out to be not very intelligent.
We understand that it is done only in a mood of devotion. But otherwise there is, we see in the Vrajavasis, they want to perform a yajna for Indra. They don’t recognize his supreme position.
It’s not supreme position, it’s a very elevated position. So, like that we can, when some playful depictions are given, we can appreciate the mood of devotion. Sometimes there is a devotional depiction that is not necessarily a philosophically precise declaration.
It is sometimes a devotee may say that, I don’t worship any god other than Krishna. Katanjana kanjana jatubhaje. Venkatesh Uparabhadra says.
But it says, I don’t know lord other than Krishna. And the next verse says, I know no lord other than Ram. Now, what does it mean? If I know no lord other than Krishna, then why am I worshipping Ram? So, devotional statements are meant to convey certain realities.
And those realities are no doubt important. At the same time, they are not all important. Or rather, the devotional expressions of reality, they do not trump, in a factual sense, the philosophical truth that are depicted elsewhere.
So, philosophically speaking, the devatas are extremely powerful beings. They are far far more powerful than us. And that sublime position needs to be acknowledged.
So, if we understand the difference between the devotional perspective and the philosophical perspective, and we acknowledge the devotional perspective for its rasa, for its sweetness, at the same time, understand that a devotional perspective is the perspective of the heart. And the philosophical perspective is also true. So, that way, we don’t have to become offensive if somebody is minimizing devatas, especially not our level, but some exalted songs of some rajavasis or something like that, that seems to be playfully depicted.
We just see, appreciate the devotional mood over there. But otherwise, we appreciate, we respect the devatas as beings who are far far more powerful than us. And they can also help us move towards Krishna if we function, if we seek their blessings.
We don’t have to go out of our way to worship them, but we don’t have to disrespect them also. If we happen to go to the choir events or the places where their worship is happening, we can seek their blessings so that we can worship Krishna more. Thank you.
Thank you.