The Incarnating
Principle
The Lord continues, “Under my supervision, the mother nature gives
birth of all living and non living entities. This is the reason why the universe
continues its cycles (of creation, preservation and destruction). The deluded
men, not knowing Me in the guise of a human being, are not cognizant of My
highest nature (of eternal and immutable), or Me as the Supreme Godhead of all
beings.”
The Supreme Being is the master of the nature or her forces,
the all encompassing, all pervading Shakti or the divine power which gives
birth to everything. In a sense She is the mother of the Universe. In another
sense she is not different from the Supreme Being. In Sankhya philosophy, they are represented
as Purusha and Prakrti. These concepts are explained in
detail in Chapter thirteen. In Chapter seven the Lord even speaks about His
inferior and superior natures. The superior nature or Para Prakrti is
the mother of the Universe, and She is no different from the Supreme Being just
as the burning power of fire is no different from the fire itself. In another
sense She is the driving force of the Universe and even the Supreme Being cannot
act unless united with that power. That is the significance of the image of
mother Kali standing on the body of
the Lord Shiva – the union of the
power or Shakti with Brahman or the Supreme Being who is
inactive. However the Prakrti is
subservient to the will of the Supreme Being during any form of activity like
creation. So under the supervision of the cosmic will the cosmic force of
creation continues.
Now when the same cosmic power incarnates or
its power manifests in the world, very few can truly understand that power.
Those who do are liberated. The special manifestation comes for a special
purpose, and only fortunate few can understand that purpose at the time of the
advent, though as time goes on the purpose and the deeds become clearer and
clearer and serve as a great spiritual solace to millions in days to come.
Greater a manifestation, greater, longer and more pervasive is the impact.
However, very few can truly understand the manifestation. The incarnation has to
suffer many troubles in the hands of the mortals. Being all the time aware of
His true nature, He, out of love and compassion, withstands them all and carries
on with His duty in a completely detached manner. He is a universal teacher,
whose teachings are relevant not for a few years or few centuries, but which
provide succor for thousands of years to many a thirsty souls.
“Those who have hopes of inferior (worldly) nature, those who work
in vain (without any higher purpose, simply for the sake of name, fame, fortune
and various other worldly gains), those who are devoid of knowledge (of God),
the deluded ones, of monstrous and demonic nature, do not know Me. However those
great souls of divine nature, worship Me with concentrated mind, knowing Me to
be the most Ancient and Immutable. They always sing My praise, are determined to
endeavor (for attaining Me), bow down to Me with devotion out of reverence and
thus remain ever united with Me. Others worship Me through the
jnanayajna, sacrifice of knowledge, knowing me to be the One getting
divided into these myriad forms, or as the different names and forms themselves
pervading the entire universe.”
Self conceited, vain, possessed of pride, jealousy,
arrogance and other demonic qualities, cannot get a glimpse of the Supreme
Manifestation who is revealed to only those of pure minds. His devotees, who
constantly think of Him, consider Him as their only refuge, who worship Him in
various ways, are the fortunate ones to know Him by His grace. Those who are
dedicated to the path of knowledge, also get that ineffable bliss, by realizing
Him as present in all beings and He being present in everything and everywhere,
as different names and forms.
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