Topic 4:God and Gods- Reference Bhagwat Gita

Why are there so many gods in Sanatan Dharma?

People mostly believe in God because of:

1. Fear
2. Desire
3. Duty
4. Love

THREE MODES OF WORSHIP

Shri Krishna in infinite form

There are three modes of worship:

1. Mode of goodness
2. Mode of passion
3. Mode of Ignorance

Puranas prescribe worship  by people in different modes. There are 33 crore demigods (devi devtas).

Puranas and Upanishads say the Supreme God is only one. While living entities and demigods can be many.

E.g : In one country there will be one Prime Minister  but many cabinet ministers for different departments.

Who is the ultimate God and Demi-Gods? What are the differences between them ?

To understand this first we need to understand three modes of worship.

1. Worship in the mode of ignorance: –

People in this mode are “tamogun. “They are lazy, full of madness (opposite of goodness). People in this mode are not able to understand things just like a insane. They will look like vairagi vyakti  but will have spiritual laziness, they are intoxicated, always attracted towards materialistic happiness, they do things which are harmful both to the self and society. E.g smokers.

Mythological e.g : Bhasmasur, Vrikasura etc.

They will worship Shiv ji Who is Ashutosh (who grants wishes very soon because he is Bholenath very easily one can please him). They will worship Hanuman ji who is “asth sidhi nau nidhi k datha”

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Bhasmasura running after Shivji

1. Worship in the mode of Passion

People who worship in this mode belong to Raj gun. They are always attracted towards opposite sex, they hanker for honor, material assets they have the desire to become ultimate enjoyer. They never enquire for spirituality.

E.g : People who commit suicide out of worldly love e.g Heer Ranjha, Romeo Juliet who commits suicide.

Mythological e.g: Ravan and Hiranyakashyup who had great hanker for honour.

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Hiranyakashipu

Ravan

Worship in the mode of goodness: –

           People in this mode wake up at Braham muharat at 4.a.m worship Lord Vishu, Rama or Krishna. Worship by offering tulasi, flowers, fruits or water with love as recommended in Bhagwat Gita important ingredient is love and devotion.

The result of worshipping in this mode is purification of heart.

By guidance of pure devotee one can goo beyond the 3 modes and return back home to Godhead.

IS KRISHNA AVATAR OF VISHNU

Narayan Upanishad says all demigods are born from Narayan but there is no mention of Rama or Krish .

Bhishma Pitamah  lying on the bed of arrows on the battlefield of Mahabharat said Krishna is the original Narayan.

Krishna is the source of all Vishnu; Krishna is the source of all the Universe.

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Bhishma Pitahma on bed of arrows

From here we came to know there is not one Vishnu but many Vishnu but Krishna is the original Vishnu and also Krishna and Ram is one.

In next topic will discuss about Krishna’s expansion and different forms of Vishu.