The Second Offense

 “shivasya shri-vishnorya iha guna-nâmâdi sakalam,

dhiyâ bhinnam pashyet sa khalu harinâmâhitakarah”

 Meaning – “If we consider the qualities, name etc of Sri Vishnu and Sri Shiva as different from each other, it is not good for our Harinâm (= offense).”

 This indicates that we should not think that Sri Vishnu is a power and Sri Shiva is another power. Same goes for their names and qualities also. If we do make this distinction, we are endorsing polytheism – this displeases the Holy Name. Sri Vishnu is ‘the One without a second’). He is the Supreme Controller. Brahmâ, Shiva etc, are all His manifestations – no one has any independent power. To prove this Sri Brahma-Samhitâ has stated –

 “Milk transforms into curds; curds is non-different from milk. In the same manner He descends as Shambhu to destroy the world – I adore That Primeval Lord Sri Govinda.”

 Actually Sri Krishna is the Supreme Controller. Brahmâ, Shiva and the other devatâs have come from Him; so they are neither different from Him nor are they equal to Him. This is because He is the cause of all causes – Swayam Bhagavân (God Himself). As a result it is an offense to consider Sriman-Mahâdev a different controller or equal to Sri Krishna is an offense.

 The devotees who adore Sri Vishnu exclusively, consider Sri Shiva as a ‘Supreme Vaishnav’ and revere him. Some devotees consider him as Sri Vishnu’s gunâvatâr. The concluding part of Srimad-Bhâgavatam says –

 ‘Just as Gangâ is the greatest of all rivers, Sri Krishna is the supreme amongst devatâs, Shambhu (Shiva) is the foremost Vaishnav, and similarly Srimad-Bhâgavatam is the supreme most Purân.” – (S.B.12.13.16)

 The Third Offense –

If we disregard Sri Gurudev or consider him ordinary, we offend the Holy Name. This happens when we do not know the facts about Sri Gurudev. Then we take him in a worldly sense. Sri Krishna has Himself said to Sri Uddhav –

“Know Spiritual Master as non-different from me. Do not ever disregard him or consider him mundane and behave adversely towards him.” – (S.B.11.17.27)

 If we think of Sri Gurudev as a human being all our efforts become fruitless.

 Sri Nârad said -“The Spiritual Master is Sri Bhagavân manifested before us. He endows us with spiritual enlightenment. If we are as foolish as to consider him a mortal, all our spiritual efforts such as study of the scriptures become as useless as the Hasti-snân (elephant-bath).” – (S.B.7.15.26)

 This also indicates that –

 “When we adore the Spiritual Master as much as we love Sri Bhagavân, then we get all the inner meanings of the scriptures form that great soul”.

– (Shwetâshwatar Upanishad)

 Therefore we should always think about the good qualities of the Spiritual Master and sing his glory. We should consider his body as divine and not see any fault n him. We must realize that when we do not perform bhajan as per his instructions, and do not chant the mantras given by him, we disregard the Spiritual Master and it offends the Holy Name.

 (to be continued)