Posted on: 11 Jan 2024
[Smt. Chhanda Chandra asked:- All forms of God are one and the same. In such a case, can we worship Rama through the path in which Krishna was worshipped? Can Gopikas worship Rama in their own illegal path through which Krishna was worshipped?]
Swami replied:- Suppose that one person has several different qualities, this is possible in the world. When you approach that person, you must choose the path that is related to that specific quality only through which you are dealing with him. Let us take the case of a police officer. In his house, some marriage function is going on. You will find him in civil dress and your conversation with him should be on worldly civil matters. You will not discuss criminal matters with him. If he is sitting in his office in official dress, you will discuss with him about a criminal case and at that time, you will not talk about politics. Similarly, the same God has several good qualities and you have to approach Him in the path related to that quality only in which you are interested. In fact, all the forms of God are embodiments of different good qualities and you have to approach that form of that quality through the corresponding path. If you approach Rama, He is the embodiment of justice and you should completely belong to Pravrutti following justice only, which is mandatory to every human being. Shurpanakha approached Rama with romantic love, which was not justified. Rama did not allow Shurpanakha. During the time of Krishna, the same Shurpanakha was born as Kubja and Krishna satisfied her with full romantic love. In the case of Rama, justice was more important than love in the path of Pravrutti. In the case of Krishna, love to God was more important than justice in the path of Nivrutti. Rama came to establish Pravrutti and Krishna came to help Nivrutti because Nivrutti was established by devotees and not by God. Hence, God only helps Nivrutti and does not establish Nivrutti. Justice is mandatory whereas love is optional.