Miscellaneous - Religion   

Cosmic manifestation

CHENNAI: Those who tread the arduous path of Godliness rely for guidance on the teachings of the Upanishads and texts like the Bhagavad Gita. While revealing the philosophic truths of existence to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna declares that He is the incarnation of the all-pervading, omniscient and omnipotent Supreme Being.

He then reveals to Arjuna an incredible form that was a literal depiction of His all-inclusive supremacy. When Arjuna beheld this terrible and cosmic vision he was bewildered and afraid. The Lord declared to Arjuna, "By my grace, through my divine power, I have shown you this form of mine which none can see. This unique form of mine that you have seen is difficult to behold. Even the celestials are longing to see it. Neither by studying the Vedas nor performing yagnas, nor practising ceremonial rites or severe austerities, nor by giving alms/gifts nor by rituals can this form of Mine be seen by any one else."

Sri Goda Venkateswara Sastrigal pointed out in a discourse that this declaration of the Lord shows that the only qualification to see such a vision is the Lord's Sankalpam, His divine will. It is clear that anyone else who aspires to see it will not succeed despite the offer of penance, sacrifice or prayer.

Scriptures affirm that mankind can aspire to attain specific gains that are automatically attached to certain precise practices. For instance, it is claimed through the learning of Vedas the effects of accrued sins can be reduced; or one could attain the ordained benefits if one upheld certain vows and discipline.

The important fact to be noted here is that no penance, no knowledge of scriptures, no practice of yagas and yagnas, no prayer can merit a vision of this sort.

An overwhelmed Arjuna requests the Lord to revert to His original form.

That the Lord is ever ready to appease His devotees is evident from the gentle manner in which He reassures him. He entreats Arjuna not to be afraid or bewildered by the terrible form just unfolded and assumes His normal form.

Devotion to God leads one to renounce worldly gains that are recognised as worthless. The ultimate teaching of the Gita highlights the values of life and the importance of adhering to the code of dharma.

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