Regarding Krishna's appearance
November 13 , 2007
Hare Krishna.
Thanks so much for sending your kind appreciations of the wonderful service offered by the sincere devotees at Krishna.com. I myself am amazed by how dedicated and selfless they are in their service to spread the teachings of Krishna consciousness using todays modern technology.
Please do not be confused, for in Krishna everything is perfectly resolved. I would suspect that the statements you have heard regarding Krishna's appearance by various devotees relate more to His not taking birth like the conditioned soul does. For as you so expertly pointed out Srimad Bhagavatam clearly states that Lord Krishna resided within womb of Mother Devaki and took birth. But He did not take birth like you and I take birth, for it is clearly stated that he was transferred from the transcendental mind of Vasudeva to Devaki's mind by initiation. As He was not conceived in a conventional way, similarly his appearance was not conventional. After his manifestation from the womb of Devaki He immediately displayed his four armed Visnu form before Vasudeva and Devaki.
So generally when devotees say that Krishna did not take birth from the womb, their point is more directed to those who would wrongly equate Krishna transcendental appearance with birth as the materialist knows it. Such a misunderstanding on their part would lead to their not comprehending Lord Krishna supreme position and transcendental appearance, but rather to their considering Him an ordinary human being. Although I am certainly not a linguistic scholar, I would suspect that a lot of this apparent confusion comes from the difficulties involved in presenting the advanced spiritual concepts available through the Sanskrit language into English. Unfortunately, the English language lacks the subtleties required to perfectly convey all these fine distinctions.
An interesting point in this regard. Just the other day I was reading the chapters of Caitanya Caritamrita wherein Lord Caitanya is instructing Sanatan Goswami. Lord Caitanya was explaining the different symptoms of love experienced by Lord Krishna's most intimate associates, particularily those loving sentiments expressed by mad talk. In his purport to this verse Srila Prabhupada says simply, there are not English equivalents for these words.
Please continue with your thoughtful study of Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Srimad Bhagavatam, for this combined with regulated chanting of the Holy Name and taking shelter of the association of devotees are our only true solace in this fallen age of quarrel and hypocrisy.
Sincerely,
Dulal Chandra dasa
Thanks so much for sending your kind appreciations of the wonderful service offered by the sincere devotees at Krishna.com. I myself am amazed by how dedicated and selfless they are in their service to spread the teachings of Krishna consciousness using todays modern technology.
Please do not be confused, for in Krishna everything is perfectly resolved. I would suspect that the statements you have heard regarding Krishna's appearance by various devotees relate more to His not taking birth like the conditioned soul does. For as you so expertly pointed out Srimad Bhagavatam clearly states that Lord Krishna resided within womb of Mother Devaki and took birth. But He did not take birth like you and I take birth, for it is clearly stated that he was transferred from the transcendental mind of Vasudeva to Devaki's mind by initiation. As He was not conceived in a conventional way, similarly his appearance was not conventional. After his manifestation from the womb of Devaki He immediately displayed his four armed Visnu form before Vasudeva and Devaki.
So generally when devotees say that Krishna did not take birth from the womb, their point is more directed to those who would wrongly equate Krishna transcendental appearance with birth as the materialist knows it. Such a misunderstanding on their part would lead to their not comprehending Lord Krishna supreme position and transcendental appearance, but rather to their considering Him an ordinary human being. Although I am certainly not a linguistic scholar, I would suspect that a lot of this apparent confusion comes from the difficulties involved in presenting the advanced spiritual concepts available through the Sanskrit language into English. Unfortunately, the English language lacks the subtleties required to perfectly convey all these fine distinctions.
An interesting point in this regard. Just the other day I was reading the chapters of Caitanya Caritamrita wherein Lord Caitanya is instructing Sanatan Goswami. Lord Caitanya was explaining the different symptoms of love experienced by Lord Krishna's most intimate associates, particularily those loving sentiments expressed by mad talk. In his purport to this verse Srila Prabhupada says simply, there are not English equivalents for these words.
Please continue with your thoughtful study of Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Srimad Bhagavatam, for this combined with regulated chanting of the Holy Name and taking shelter of the association of devotees are our only true solace in this fallen age of quarrel and hypocrisy.
Sincerely,
Dulal Chandra dasa