Krishna

Published on August 18th, 2024 | by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

6

We Are An Imitation Of Krishna

Man is made after God. We are imitation of Krsna. Krsna is not imitation of us. The atheist class, they think that “They have painted a form of God according to one’s own feature of the body.” What is called? Anthropomorphism. But that is not the fact. Here in this material world we are getting different types of forms of body, 8,400,000’s. When we get this human form of body, it is just imitation of Krsna’s body.

Sri Brahma-samhita, Verse 32 Excerpt — Los Angeles, August 14, 1972

Prabhupada: Man is made after God. We are imitation of Krsna. Krsna is not imitation of us. The atheist class, they think that “They have painted a form of God according to one”s own feature of the body.” What is called? Anthropomorphism. But that is not the fact. Here in this material world we are getting different types of forms of body, 8,400,000″s. When we get this human form of body, it is just imitation of Krsna”s body. Krsna has got two hands; we have got two h ands. Krsna has got two legs; we have got two legs.

But the difference of this body and Krsna”s body is stated in this verse: angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti-manti [Bs 5.32]. Here, with our hands, we can catch something but we cannot walk.

But Krsna can walk with His hands. Or with our legs we can simply walk, but we cannot catch something. But Krsna can catch also. With our eyes we can see, but we cannot eat. But Krsna can see with His eyes and eat also and hear also. That is the explanation of this verse. Angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti-manti: [Bs 5.32] “Each and every limb has got the function of the other limbs.” That is called Absolute. He is not dependent. He is not dependent. Just like if we have lost our sight, we become dependent; no more we can see. But Krsna can see with His hand, with His leg. Try to understand. Therefore He is Absolute. This is the meaning of Absolute. Everything is complete.

Purnam adah. Purna means complete. So atheist will say that “You offer foodstuff. Where Krsna eats? The foodstuff is still there.” But they do not know that simply by seeing, Krsna can eat. And because He is complete, He eats and again keeps the thing complete. Purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate. He can take everything complete, again it remains complete. Just like when we take food, we finish it. No more. But Krsna can eat; at the same time, the things may remain as it is. Otherwise where is the difference between ourself and Krsna? That is the difference.

Why it is so? Ananda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya. Vigraha, His form is not like our form. When in the Vedas it is stated, “formless,” that means His form is not like our form- not that He is formless. The form is of different quality.

These are possible when the body is made of ananda-cinmaya-rasa. This body is material. It is not ananda-cinmaya-rasa. The material body is different from the spiritual body. That they do not know. So when the Vedas says nirakara, “formless,” that means He has no material form; He has got spiritual form. That spiritual form means full of bliss, ananda. Anandamayo “bhyasat. Vedanta-sutra.

By nature anandamaya. There is nothing nirananda. That is spiritual world, always full of bliss, full of knowledge, and eternity. That is spiritual. You live eternally and full of knowledge. Here so many things we do not know. It is full of ignorance, this body, and full of miseries. Moment after moment, we are, due to this body, we are always in miserable condition, threefold miseries- adhyatmika, adhibhautika… So people do not try to understand this philosophy, but in the Vedic literature, each and every line, there is philosophy. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavita.

So this is understanding of Krsna. When Krsna says that janma karma me divyam, “My appearance, disappearance, and activities, they are all transcendental,” so how it is transcendental? Because His body is different from us. The bodily limbs are different from us.

The activities of the body are different from us. And because He is full with all potency, in spite of all these transcendental qualities, He can present Himself as one of us. And those who are rascals, they think that “Krsna is like us.” Because He presents Himself as one of us by His omnipotency, the fools take him as one of us. Avajananti mam mudha. Mudha means rascals, foolish people.

Param bhavam ajanantah: “They do not know the transcendental nature of Me.” This is transcendental nature, angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti.

This is explained by Brahma. Brahma-samhita means… Brahma is the first living creature appeared in this universe, and after his realization, he is offering prayer. Realization means you should write, every one of you, what is your realization. What for this Back to Godhead is? You write your realization, what you have realized about Krsna. That is required. It is not passive. Always you should be active. Whenever you find time, you write. Never mind, two lines, four lines, but you write your realization. Sravanam kirtanam, writing or offering prayers, glories. This is one of the function of the Vaisnava. You are hearing, but you have to write also. Then write means smaranam, remembering what you have heard from your spiritual master, from the scripture. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh: [SB 7.5.23] about Visnu, not for others. Don”t write any nonsense thing for any nonsense man. Useless waste of time.

Visnu. Write about Visnu, Krsna. This is cultivation of Krsna consciousness. Hear, write, remember, try to understand. Don”t be dull, dull-headed. Very intelligent. Without being very intelligent, nobody can have full Krsna consciousness. It is for the most intelligent man. So that intelligence will come if you try to understand Krsna. We have got so many books. Always try to understand Krsna. Then you are liberated. Simply by… You cannot understand Krsna in full. He is unlimited; our knowledge is limited. But as far as you can, try to understand Krsna. These are the items.

Angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti-manti [Bs 5.32]. Venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam [Bs. 5.30]. He is engaged in playing on flute. It is not artists” painting that Krsna is painted as a very nice, beautiful young boy and He has got a flute. No. These are Vedic statement.

Now, the arati, begin. (end)

Tags: Anthropomorphism, imitation

About the Author

HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founded the Hare Krishna Movement in 1966 in New York. In only 11 years he spread the movement all over the world. He wrote more than 80 books including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanisad. Prabhupada's books constitute a complete library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.