Why do we have to pray to different forms of God for solving different kinds of problems?

[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on March 21, 2021, in which several devotees participated. The questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[Smt. Lochana asked: Swami, when Paramātmā is only one, why do You suggest us to pray to Lord Hanumān during the astrological period of Saturn (Śani daśā)? and to Lord Subrahmaṇya Swami, during the astrological period of Rāhu (Rāhu daśā)?

Smt. Padmaram asked: When Lord Datta, who is the source of all qualities (guṇas) is the one who is present in all the various forms of God, is it not sufficient to pray to Him directly, in all cases?]

Swāmi replied: A police officer is in a serious mood when he is in his official khaki uniform. At that time, if you register a complaint with him about some crime you have witnessed, he will seriously attend to it. The same officer may later go home and might be wearing casual clothes and playing with his children. At that time, he might not receive your complaint seriously. The person is one and the same and only the dress differs. The dress is the external form of the body (Vāsāṃsi jīrṇāni…—Gītā) and it inspires a certain quality (guṇa). Similarly, the inner God Datta is one and the same in every Incarnation of God (Deities). Only the external forms are different.

Spiritual beginners (pravṛtti) aspire for some worldly fruits. God Datta grants them their desires because defects are inevitable in the beginning stage. In the advanced stage of spiritual knowledge (nivṛtti), the devotee’s devotion must be free of the aspiration for any fruit from God. In pravṛtti, the bond with God is only a temporary business-bond. It is like your bond with a shopkeeper from whom you purchase certain items by paying money. In nivṛtti, the bond with God is permanent, like a family bond. In this permanent bond, you need not ask for anything from God. You realize that God, as the head of the family, already knows what to do for His family member, even without asking. The path of nivṛtti is the safest and its fruit is the greatest (nivṛttistu mahāphalā…).

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