03 Feb 2005
The real characteristic properties of the Lord as declared by the Veda are the Special Knowledge (Prajnana), the Love (Rasa or Prema) and the Bliss (Ananda). The Veda also says that these three characteristics must be experienced by others if the possessor really has those characteristics. The characteristic property of the fire is heat. Any person who is near the fire should experience the heat and only then can we say that fire is hot. Similarly the Lord in human form must make others experience the Jnana, Prema and Ananda. The the Veda says “Esha Hyeva Anandayati”, which means that He creates Bliss in the hearts of others. The Lord should not be recognized merely by miracles because even demons performed these miracles. Miracles are only associated property like jewels. Moreover the Lord in human form always hesitates to perform the miracles unless a special emergency arises. The reason for this is that the Lord is dwelling in the human form, which is a product of this nature (Prakriti). He is living in this nature. Therefore the Lord follows the rules of nature and these rules were formulated by Him alone. No administrator likes to contradict his own rules. Even in an emergency, when He voilates the rules of the nature, He keeps the violation secret. When the administrator violates his own rule, he will not boast about his violation. He maintains the secrecy of the violation. Only demons violate the rules of the nature frequently and also advertise about the violation because they did not frame the rules. When Lord Krishna made an artificial sunset by covering the sun with His Sudarshana Chakra, He kept it secret. People thought that the sun was covered by a cloud. Violating His own rule itself is a mistake. Exhibition of the violation of His own rule by Himself will be another mistake.
In that situation the life of Arjuna, who was His closest devotee was under threat. In that emergency the Lord violated Prakriti [nature] and used His super power (Maya). In the eighteen days of the Mahabharatha war He never used His super power. Bhishma wounded the Lord with severe arrows. Even then the Lord did not use His super power. Therefore miracles are not the real characteristics of the Lord. Rama never performed miracles except in the case of ‘Ahalya’ and in breaking the bow of Shiva. Krishna also performed miracles in His childhood only to save His own life and to save the lives of His devotees. All these situations were the cases of unavoidable emergency.