Krishna Can only be Seen by His Devotees
Often people ask why Krishna does not just appear in this world so everyone can see Him? It is a very interesting question and Krishna Himself explains this in Bhagavad-gita 7.25:
“I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My eternal creative potency [yoga-maya]; and so the deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible.”
It may be argued that since Krishna was present on this earth and was visible to everyone five thousand years ago, then why isn’t He manifest to everyone now? But actually He was not manifest to everyone. When Krishna was present there were only a few people who could understand Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In the assembly of Kurus, when Sisupala spoke against Krishna being elected president of the assembly, Bhisma supported Him and proclaimed Him to be the Supreme God.
Similarly, the Pandavas and a few others knew that He was the Supreme, but not everyone. He was not revealed to the nondevotees and the common man.
Therefore in the Gita Krishna says that but for His pure devotees, all men consider Him to be like themselves. He was manifest only to His devotees as the reservoir of all pleasure.
But to others, to unintelligent nondevotees, He was covered by His eternal potency yoga-maya. So even when Krishna was present on this planet in Vrindavan in India five thousand years ago and was enjoying there with His cowherd friends and the gopis most people could not understand that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even the demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Indra became confused and could not recognize Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In the prayers of Kunti in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.8.18) it is said that the Lord is covered by the curtain of yoga-maya and thus ordinary people cannot understand Him. Kunti prays: “O my Lord, You are the maintainer of the entire universe, and devotional service to You is the highest religious principle. Therefore, I pray that You will also maintain me. Your transcendental form is covered by yoga-maya. The brahmajyoti is the covering of the internal potency. May You kindly remove this glowing effulgence that impedes my seeing Your eternal form of bliss and knowledge.”
This yoga-maya curtain is also mentioned in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Gita. The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His transcendental form of bliss and knowledge is covered by the eternal potency of brahmajyoti, and the less intelligent impersonalists cannot see the Supreme on this account.
Also in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.7) there is this prayer by Brahma: “O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Supersoul, O master of all mystery, who can calculate Your potency and pastimes in this world? You are always expanding Your eternal potency, and therefore no one can understand You. Learned scientists and learned scholars can examine the atomic constitution of the material world or even the planets, but still they are unable to calculate Your energy and potency, although You are present before them.
”
So this is the nature of the material world. Krishna is present everywhere but the non-devotees can not see Him because He is hidden by the curtain of yoga-maya. So many so-called intelligent scientists will study this material world and although Krishna is right there in front of them they will not be able to see Krishna. But for His devotees this curtain of yoga-maya is lifted and Krishna becomes visible to them very easily.
So we can see Krishna, we simply have to become devotees of Krishna and then Krishna will lift this yoga-maya curtain and we will be able to see Him. But the non-devotees will never be able to see Krishna.
About the Author
Madhudvisa dasa My first contact with a Hare Krishna was a most merciful Mataji in Oxford Street, London who sold me a "Higher Taste" cook book in 1984 while I was on holidays there. I started seriously reading Srila Prabhupada's books in Australia 1985 and by 1986 Srila Prabhupada had convinced me "Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead" and "we should surrender to Krishna." I joined the Hare Krishnas in Perth, Western Australia in 1986. Since then I have been chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and preaching as much as I can. That's my life and full-time occupation now really. I like it more than anything I've ever experienced before. Srila Prabhupada's books are so amazing... Even after reading them all many times they're still fresh and new. They are truly transcendental! That's it really. Now I'm just hankering to once again see the world chant Hare Krishna, dance and feast and float away in the ecstasy of Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana movement as it did in Srila Prabhupada's physical presence. Let the whole world drown in the ecstatic flood of love of Krishna!
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It’s true.but most of the Hindus don’t believe in God’s.they just judge them as king.very sad to hear that.but any way my name is harikumar and I hail from kerala.i cannot fully follow krishna.because iam a meat eater.but I still read few pages of bhagwad gita.and came to know that no doubt he’s the supreme lord.hare Krishna.
I have no intention of hurting any religion.
If iam wrong.kindly justify.
Hare Krisna devotees. So i have vision seeing Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda in Mayapur ,also we had short conversation.By any means i,m not pure devotee,Also i so Krisna and Srila Prabhupada and Gour Govinda Swami in pretext of dreams.How to interpret this ?
Dreams are not very important. Important thing is to chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krishna mantra every day, strictly follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day.
I read this again & again, yet it is very interesting.
But do we still need to have Guru in person to guide us, or is reading enough?
Prabhupada, in his books, is living, and is a guru in person, that is if we are prepared to read his books and surrender to the instructions Srila Prabhupada gives us as we read his books.
Thank you for your email. I am grateful to you for your kindness. Please email me with new questions. Hare Krishna.
Hare Krsna Prabhu,
I’m very grateful for your grace. Your emails take me more closer to Krishna when I refresh my inbox for occupation related aspects.
One request Prabhu,
Is there any WhatsApp group that you can refer for me to take advantage of knowledge sharing through the mobile ?
Jai SriRama Jai SriKrishna.
No. Forget about the mobile. Get all of Srila Prabhupada’s books and read them…
Hare Krishna
Is it possible neophyte devotee can see Krishna.?
Hare krishna
Krishna is everywhere. But only pure devotee can see Krishna. So become a pure devotee, then you will see Krishna everywhere.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Prabhu
How much time it will take to see Krishna? What are the things that one should expect on the path of Krishna Consciousness?
You can see Krishna immediately.
Who is a pure devotee? Theepitome of Ultimate Bakthi and devotion of Chaitanya Maha Prabhu and people very very rare like him,a few in thousand in thousand years, only can see Lord Krishna and ordinary persons like us can be satisfied to his lotus feet in temples and feel so blessed if we are seen by the Lord as we have no “Divine Vision” as was given to his utmost disciple Arjuna to see his normal and Vishwaroopa darshan. Lord Krishna is with in Bakthi and at the same time beyond the reach ordinary of human beings however rich and powerful they might be yet be seen by a very poor man like Kuchela who had only high respect and true devotion and offered a palm full of pounded flattened rice to win over Lords heart. Hare Krishna
hare krishna, hare rama hare hare,
shri krishna show us the path through which we can see your existence and follow you
show us the medium through which our eyes can have to power to witness your aura.
hare krishna
krishna krishana
hare hare
Enthriling article.Devine, indeed.
Hari Krishna Sri Guru,
I am in the process to krishna consciousness and i do chanting maha mantra ‘ hara krishna haray haray ,Hara rama hara Rama ‘ from the time i wake till bed time
Now i wanna be in meditation mode 24X7.
Please guide me guru.
Hare Krishna
It is very good idea. Just increase chanting Hare Krishna, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, and speaking Krishna Katha to everyone you meet. Keep on increasing it until you are doing it 24 hours a day.
We have to gradually come to this platform. It is not possible overnight. But if you keep on seriously chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day and strictly following the four regulative principles then you will come to the point of being engaged in Krishna consciousness 24 hours a day after some time.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Jai Shree Krishna………
Sir, I based in India & reads about Krishna. I am chanting Hare Krishna mantra daily…….around 2 rounds of mala daily….there is some type of unknown fear in me…….some times i feel guilty…..I want to know that how I can get Krishna forgiveness for sins done by me knowingly or unknowingly….
Just increase your chanting. Two rounds is good but obviously not enough. Keep chanting Hare Krishna and the more you chant the more fearless you will become. Fearlessness is one of the symptoms of a devotee of Krishna. Of course feeling guilty is not bad. We can always feel guilty that we have not sufficiently served Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. We want to always remain humble servants of Srila Prabhupada. So the point of devotional service is we have actually do some service. So we have to see what we practical service we are actually doing for Srila Prabhupada. If you increase your practical service and chanting then that will solve all your problems.
Jai shree krishna prabhuji,
A man who feel that krishna is everywhere and he is supreme personality. but his faith in krishna is not so strong and yet he is concerning about fast and future aspect of life. how to improve krishna consciousness or bhakti or sradha. How an unbreakable faith in krishna be attained.
Chant Hare Krishna mantra at lest 16 rounds every day, strictly follow the four regulative principles: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day.
The essence of Gita or any other true religious text is SERVICE towards one and all to the extent possible, without any expectation. Therefore, the expectation to see Krishna or any other God/demi-God negates the very essence of teaching of Gita and other religious literature. Why should we have desire at all to know why Krishna is not visible or pray for darshan ? The selfish motive in any form should, in my opinion, be discouraged. In life, whether or not one gets what was aimed for, one should have the element of satisfaction for what all was achieved, despite best of efforts. There should be no room for expectation and complaint.
Rajiv
Hare Krishna Rajiv
You do not understand the feelings of a devotee. Devotees are constantly seeing Krishna. There is no question of surrendering to Krishna, serving Krishna, loving Krishna, without seeing Krishna. How can a devotee love Krishna if he can not see Krishna? It is not very difficult to see Krishna for a devotee and a non-devotee will never be able to see Krishna. So you do not understand these things. I suggest you become Krishna conscious and gradually you will understand.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble respects. This text answered the question I asked Lord Sri Krisna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead this very day! However, does this mean that to nondevotees Krisna appeared to be an ordinary man with normal colored skin, but to His devotees they saw Him in His form with bluish colored skin? Thank you for the very enlightening messages which you present to us very clearly…Hari Bol.
Hare Krishna John
No. Everyone saw Krishna as He is. A very beautiful boy with bluish skin. Everyone knew that Krishna was wonderful. Very beautiful, very powerful, very intelligent, very strong… But many could not realize that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are two types of people in this category. One category is Krishna’s pure devotees in Vrindavan. They did not recognize Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But this is not the normal maya. This is called yoga-maya. It is an illusion certainly but it is an illusion that enhances the loving relationships and feelings between Krishna and His devotees. This is called yogamaya. She covers the intelligence of the devotees and they do not realize that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This makes it possible for Krishna’s mother and father to think of Krishna as their son. Yogamaya enables Mother Yasoda to think of Krishna as her son and to think that Krishna is completely dependent on her…
The other maya is maha maya. That is the illusion of the non-devotees. They can not see Krishna because they are covered by the curtain of maha-maya.
It is a great science and everything is described in full detail in Srila Prabhupada’s books. Please read them!
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Thank you prabhuji for these nice and devotional articles. I feel we always need to stay in touch with Lord Krsna through devotional service so that we do not get deviated from this path since this material world is full of false enjoyment. God bless us all
Beautifull explanation, thank you!
Hare Krishna
Krishna does not appear every one in this world . is Krishna’s devotees seeing Krishna ? how
By love. Premanjana churita bhakti vilocana. The eyes are purified by bhakti, love, in such a purified state the devotees can see Krishna. But the non-devotees can not see Krishna. So become a devotee, develop your dormant love for Krishna and you will be able to see Krishna. Na ham prakasa yoga maya samanvrata: “I am not manifest to the fools and unintelligent, for them I am hidden by the curtain of yoga-maya…”
Hare Krishna Prabhuji. All Glories to Srila Prabhupad and Srila Guru Dev.
This also very nice and interseting artical. My question is prabhuji, how we remove or lifted the curtain of YOGA MAYA. we are not pure devotee even not regeularly remember to krishna’s lotus feet. And as well we are not follow strickly guidense of our Guru maharaj. So how we are achived the lotus feet of lord or back to home back to godhead.
Hare Krishna.
Krishna will never lift the curtain of yoga-maya unless you follow strictly the orders of Srila Prabhupada. These things are the minimum, beginning things: chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily, strictly following the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling, no intoxication] and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. If we are not prepared to surrender to and strictly follow these things we are not Krishna conscious and can not expect Krishna to lift the curtain of yoga-maya.
We have to take Krishna consciousness seriously and actually follow otherwise we can not become Krishna conscious… And it will not be easy. As soon as we try to become Krishna conscious maya will try to distract us. So it is a great battle. A great fight. But the only fight worth fighting.
Hi, I have been reading your emails and realizing how to pray god.I really hv a serious question to ask.
I am a non -veg person.so as my both daughters .
if I want to change to vegetarian, it’s quite difficult.why? I am born in Singapore,so as my children. We are so much used and adaptered to Singapore life, cos whenever we go out, we simply eat non veg food .
in this way, I definitely know God will Nvr come in front of me and children. And its ok about it.
But when we pray or do puja..Will God accept our prayers or will he neglect us out. He won’t bother us or. Care and listen to our prayers.
If that the case..than what is the difference between God and us .
I am grateful and thankful for your guidance on this topic .pls Care to explain.
Thanks
Sima Singapore
Hare Krishna Sima
God will hear your prayers but will you hear Him? That is the question here. God hears everything and has best wishes for all of us. He gives us His instructions and sends his pure devotees like Srila Prabhupada to guide us but it is up to us as to if we will accept the guidance or not.
So if you really want to make your life a success you have to follow the guidance of Krishna and his pure devotees like Srila Prabhupada.
The reality is meat eaters are not capable of understanding spiritual life. The killing of animals is very sinful and killing and eating animals blocks spiritual advancement. So if you truly are interested in making spiritual advancement, and actually that is the only purpose of this human form of life, then you will understand that eating meat is blocking your spiritual advancement and you will give it up.
It is not actually a question of meat eating. It is a question of doing everything for Krishna. Krishna is the enjoyer and we have to adjust our lives so we are always working to please Krishna, to serve Krishna, to cater to Krishna’s enjoyment. And the sublime truth is if we can please Krishna then automatically we ourselves become pleased and so does everyone else. Because everyone is a part and parcel of Krishna. So the point is we have to cook for Krishna, and we can only accept for eating ourselves the foodstuffs that have been previously enjoyed by krishna.
So if you are going to cook for someone you have to cook the things they want to eat. And Krishna tells us that He wants us to offer grains, fruits, vegetables, milk products, etc. So we need to prepare very nice meals from these grains, fruits, vegetables and milk products and offer them to Krishna and then we can ourselves accept the remnants of the foodstuffs offered to Krishna. This is Krishna prasadam, Krishna’s mercy.
This is the way. If you want to advance in spiritual life you have to accept the way. It is a scientific process. If you want the results then you have to follow the process…
So do it. Stop eating meat and cook for Krishna instead and only accept Krishna prasadam. This will be a revolutionary change in your families life and you will all be so much happier for it. So just do it.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu..!
All Glories to srila Prabhupada…!
What ever you said in news settler is absolutely right prabhu
can you explain regarding nava vidha bhakthi.
can a devotee who is the gruhastha / Bramhachari can able to do all these NINE ways of divotion.
and kindly send your news settler regularly prabhu , am not getting it since few days .
I was feeling something missing , plz do sending your news settler
hare Krishna..!
Hare Krishna Prabhu
Newsletters are a bit occasional at the moment because I am too busy and do not have time to write them but you can please read Srila Prabhupada’s books. You will find so many wonderful things there.
As far as the nine process of bhakti, yes, of course you can do all of them. It is not difficult. Different devotees will find themselves more attached to some than others but you can certainly do them all. Of course the example is there of the devotees who have perfected their lives by following only one. So these things are extensively described in Srila Prabhupada’s books. I am trying to encourage the people to read Srila Prabhupada’s books. So anything I am not saying here you will find in in Prabhupada’s books. I want to you read Prabhupada’s books. Not that you will find everything here. You will find everything in Prabhupada’s books.
The main 2 processes are hearing and chanting. So we have to first concentrate on our hearing and chanting and then automatically all the other processes of bhakti will automatically follow.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
HARE KRISHNA… Prabhu… Dandavat pranam,
am practicing krishna conciousness since 2012 , but observe myself very attracted towards old bad habits and tendencies only when am outside association,,,,, but am enthusiastic and feel inspired in association of devotees…
what steps and endevors should i make to maintain same enthusiasm and spirit both in and out oof association…
please guide me….
Balaji Rodage…
Just read Srila Prabhupada’s books and seriously follow his instructions. Do the basic things at least. Chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, in or out of the association of devotees, strictly follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. Then you will have no problems giving up your bad habits.
But it is tapasya, austerity. We have to be prepared to undergo the tapasya. It means it is difficult. We will feel that we want to break the regulative principles, etc, but we have to develop the strength to chant Hare Krisha and read Prabhupada’s books instead and as we chant Hare Krishna our desires to break the regulative principles will be replaced with love for Krishna.
So becoming Krishna conscious is a great battle. We have to be prepared to fight for it.
CHant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krshna
I can and feel and see my lord krshna everywhere
hes my best friend
Excellent article
Hare krishna hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare
Hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
Regards
HARE Krishna
Hare Krishna,
I am thankful to send this articals.
Hari KRISNA, I really wish that there is an ISKCON temple here in Albuquerque. I really miss the Vaisnava community.
I really wish that there is an ISKCON temple here in Albuquerque. I really miss the Vaisnava community.
Hare Krishna Prabhuji,
May I request you to elaborate on the importance of hearing as it is the most important amongst the nine process of devotional service. I would also request you to explain in detail the three visnus as per the Bhagvad gita 7.4.
yours sincerely,
fallen soul
I want daily basis emails of lord Krishna in my inbox
Hare Krishna
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Hare Krishna
This is so true.
This also explains the misconception mayavadis have they assume Krishna is material , hence they cannot proceed further in spiritual development , as they never get any mercy from the lotus feet of Supreme lord Krishna or a pure devotee.
So mayavadis are able to realise only the Brahman and Super soul aspect , unlike devotees who realise all three aspects ;the above two and the Absolute Supreme Person feature (which is the origin of other two aspects also and is permanent unlike the former two which manifest only when the material world is manifest)
Remember partial knowledge is more dangerous than complete ignorance.
Another problem is that mental speculation cannot perceive the absolute supreme person feature neither being situated in mode of goodness can ;
As stated in this article Krishna can be only be known through Devotional service hence as stated by Srila Prabhupada sun will rise only when it is supposed to rise ; Just be sincere in devotional service that is more than enough.
Hare Krishna,I just want to know why God only manifest in India not other Continents?
God manifests everywhere, not just in India. Although India is special. India is Punya bhumi, or used to be, the land of pious activities. So God appears in India more than anywhere else on this planet. But still Krishna is incarnating and sending his pure devotees into every country.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I would like to elaborate on why Krishna appeared in india only and not on any other places of this world..we all know that Saudi Arabia mecca is considered as auspicious place for god Allah.Israel for Jesus…Krishna(Vishnu), Shiva in india..God’ s bhakthi is not limited to places its about our heart and soul dedicating to God…instead of wasting our time in asking questions we must do yoga to keep our mind, body and soul fresh and live with simplicity…Jap Hare Krishna hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare ….hare ram hare ram ram ram hare hare…as this is powerful mantra and sound vi ration above material world which connects us to God…
AGSP… Hari Bol…Hari Bol…
Wonderful reminder…!!!
Some scientific reasoning… Our human eyes can see Visible range : 390 (red) to 700(violet) nanometers. Where as Total range : 0.1 Nanometers to 1 Kilometer.
Humans have so narrow range of operation and Lord Krishna who is working on extreme high energy levels obviously cannot be seen.
Merciful Krishna has given us Bhakti Yoga so that in that path He helps us to raise our energy levels to get glimpses of him…
This entire story repeats for Sound spectrum also. Thats why we cant even hear Him even though He is all pervasive… we cant even hear bats that talk at UltraSonic frequency what to talk to My Lord Krishna… Our best receptors cant hear Him…unless He chooses to change his frequency of visibility and audio…
Hari Bol Hari Bol
Thank u so much Prabhu for this very nice article which explains why so many people around us find it so hard to realize that Krishna is the Supreme personality of Godhead.
Jaya!!!
hari bol
I live in salt Lake City the local temple’s tulsis died
can you send me some tulsi seeds???????????
be glad to send a donation
thank you
Hare Krishna John
Srimati Tulsi Devi leaves because of a lack of devotion. It is not a question of seeds. You have to rekindle the spirit of pure unalloyed devotional service to Krishna there in Salt Lake City and you may be able to encourage Tulsi Devi to come back.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa