saktyavesa
|
In Bhagavad-gita the Lord says that whenever one sees an extraordinary power, he should conclude that a specific partial representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is present. There are innumerable such personalities, but not all of them are direct visnu-tattva plenary expansions of the Lord. Many living entities are classified among the sakti-tattvas. Such incarnations, empowered for specific purposes, are known as saktyavesa-avataras. King Prthu was a saktyavesa-avatara of the Lord. Similarly, Arci, King Prthu's wife, was a saktyavesa-avatara of the goddess of fortune.
(More...) When King Prthu is described as an incarnation of Lord Visnu, it should be understood that he is a saktyavesa-avatara, part and parcel of Lord Visnu, and is specifically empowered by Him. Any living being acting as the incarnation of Lord Visnu is thus empowered by Lord Visnu to preach the bhakti cult. Such a person can act like Lord Visnu and defeat demons by arguments and preach the bhakti cult exactly according to the principles of sastra. As indicated in Bhagavad-gita, whenever we find someone extraordinary preaching the bhakti cult, we should know that he is especially empowered by Lord Visnu or Lord Krsna. As confirmed in Caitanya-caritamrta, krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana: one cannot explain the glories of the holy name of the Lord without being specifically empowered by Him. If one criticizes or finds fault with such an empowered personality, one is to be considered an offender against Lord Visnu and is punishable. Even though such offenders may dress as Vaisnavas with false tilaka and mala, they are never forgiven by the Lord if they offend a pure Vaisnava. There are many instances of this in the sastras.
(More...) Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-aṅghrayah (Bhag. 10.2.32). The jnanis and yogis may rise to the highest position, Brahman realization, but because of their lack of devotion unto the lotus feet of the Lord, they again fall down into material nature. Therefore jnana and yoga should not be accepted as the real processes for liberation. By discharging devotional service, Maharaja Prthu automatically transcended all these positions. Since Maharaja Prthu was a saktyavesa incarnation of the Supreme Lord, he did not have to act in any way to attain liberation. He came from the Vaikuntha world, or spiritual sky, in order to execute the will of the Supreme Lord on earth. Consequently he was to return home, back to Godhead, without having to execute jnana, yoga or karma. Although Prthu Maharaja was eternally a pure devotee of the Lord, he nonetheless adopted the process of devotional service in order to teach the people in general the proper process for executing the duties of life and ultimately returning home, back to Godhead.
(More...) When a specific opulence of the Supreme Lord is invested in some specific entities, they are called Avesa Avatars, The four Kumaras represent the specific opulence of knowledge of the Supreme Lord. Narada specifically represents the devotional service of the Supreme Lord. The devotional service of the Lord is there also in Lord Chaitanya, Who is considered to be the full representation of devotional service. In Brahma the opulence of creative power is invested. In Ananta the power of the sustenance of all the planets is invested. In the Shesha incarnation the power is in serving the Supreme Lord. And in King Prithu is the power of maintaining the living entities. Similarly, in Parsuram the power of killing the evil elements is invested. So far as Vibhuti, or the special favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is concerned, there is a description in the Bhagavad Gita, Tenth Chapter. It is said there that any living entity who appears to be especially powerful or beautiful should be known as specifically favored by the Supreme Lord.
(More...)
|