If bhakti is the eternal function of the soul, why can’t animals or plants develop devotion? Is human birth absolutely necessary, or is this a limitation imposed by Krishna’s own illusory energy? There are certain stories in Puranas of even animal have devotion.
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Hare Krishna,
The body is as a result of the karma done in previous life.
If the soul got the body of an animal or a plant. You can understand what kind of karma it has done.
One gets the body of plant or tree when one is totally interested in beautifying oneself... exposing naked and showing and flaunting off their bodies... thinking they are most beautiful people ...who take pride in their body their sole interest in in oneself but doesn't care for any one else. Such people become a tree in next life.
Well, You see Narad Muni cursed the Nala Kubera Manigreeva to become trees for 10,000 years.. because..they started to flaunt nakedly and disrespect the Maharshi but saying what for you got the body you need to enjoy your life and youth and made fun of the Narad muni ... This curse was apt because of pride in the body they forgot their original swaroopa and started to pridefully flaunt their naked bodies. So the curse was to stand naked for 10,000 years on the land and show off their bodies. and in this curse.. they ENJOYED NOTHING.
Trees give shelter and shade to others but they stand in sun and rain.
Trees give fruit to others but they cannot eat
Trees give shelter to birds, insects and rats that burrow and snakes that live in its tree holes. In this way.. they did good karma and accumulated peity for 10,000 years standing naked ...
King Bharata became a deer but was luck enough to remember his past pious activies... so he could stay closer to the ashramas of sages and was in constant association and was listening to the shastras and hymns and prayers, chantings of the sages and got back to his previous human from.
An animal form is given to those people who are missuing their life for just taste buds.. those who are less compassionate who kill others for taste buds, or enjoy recklessly and do activities which are barbaric in nature like doing himsa .. Animal kills others smaller animals to satisfy its hunger it wont see the pain or understand others feelings. If a person is doing harmful things to others and causing pain to others without having any sensitivity .. like if he is hunger, thirst, sex, anything any place no relationships noted.. these kind of people get the birth in animal kingdom. They lose the memory Of Krishna, they lose even the capacity to chant harinama which is essential for attaining again a human birth.
Animals and plants get benefit of hearing harinama when they get in contact with some pure devotee.
That is the reason we are asked to chant loud as that way these poor creatures and plants can get the benefit.
The trees, plants and soil , rocks in Vrindavan are totally different.. They are alive and they are all spiritual
You know Uddhava requested Lord Sri Krishna that He wants to live eternally as soil in the Land of Vrindavan.
Whole Vrindavan is nothing by Nityananda Balarama's expansion.
Just like Ananata Sesha is expanded and makes a bed for Lord to rest.. Nityananda Balarama expanded as Whole of Vrindavan for Lord and Shree Radharani to play and do leelas there. These plants and trees, animals chanted MAHAMANTRA when Shree Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu entered the Vraja... These are all devotees.
Human birth is necessary to be able to chant Mahamantra and to glorify Lord with the tongue.
Animals and plants can benefit by listening to the chanting done by humans loudly.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krsna
why can’t animals or plants develop devotion?
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir
yathādarśo malena ca
yatholbenāvṛto garbhas
tathā tenedam āvṛtam
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, or as the embryo is covered by the womb, the living entity is similarly covered by different degrees of this lust. ( BG 3.38)
There are three degrees of covering of the living entity by which his pure consciousness is obscured. This covering is but lust under different manifestations like smoke in the fire, dust on the mirror, and the womb about the embryo.
When lust is compared to smoke, it is understood that the fire of the living spark can be a little perceived. In other words, when the living entity exhibits his Kṛṣṇa consciousness slightly, he may be likened to the fire covered by smoke. This stage is like the beginning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The dust on the mirror refers to a cleansing process of the mirror of the mind by so many spiritual methods. The best process is to chant the holy names of the Lord.
The embryo covered by the womb is an analogy illustrating a helpless position, for the child in the womb is so helpless that he cannot even move. This stage of living condition can be compared to that of the trees. The trees are also living entities, but they have been put in such a condition of life by such a great exhibition of lust that they are almost void of all consciousness.
The covered mirror is compared to the birds and beasts, and
the smoke-covered fire is compared to the human being. In the form of a human being, the living entity may revive a little Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and, if he makes further development, the fire of spiritual life can be kindled in the human form of life. By careful handling of the smoke in the fire, fire can be made to blaze. Therefore the human form of life is a chance for the living entity to escape the entanglement of material existence. In the human form of life, one can conquer the enemy, lust, by cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness under able guidance. (Purport 3.38)
In general, lower forms of life is more or less like punishment for cultivating intense Lust. Example - Nalakuvera & Manigriva. Nature (material or spiritual) acts to fulfill the desires of living beings. In case of lower forms, material nature awards those material bodies to fulfill their lusty propensities. The eternal function of bhakti being pervesely transformed to Lust, results in lower material bodies.
Hence lower materialforms are not suitable for any yoga process.
Is human birth absolutely necessary
No, Bhakti is not dependent on Body or form as it is a natural dharma of pure living entities. In Goloka Vrindavana and in Bhauma Vrindavana the cows, calfs, peacocks, parrots, trees, creepers etc are pure and have variety of forms. They serve Sri Krsna in their respective forms eternally without an need for human form. Other examples -Hanuman, Garuda, Ananta Shesha,
There are also exceptional cases when highly sinful living entities in non-human form also received bhakti despite their impurity and practiced bhakti. This is due to mercy of Sri Krsna or Krsna's devotees or both.
Example -Kalia serpent, Yama Arjuna trees, Ahalya,
Only bhakti or Krsna can revive bhakti. So irrespective of form, if a living entity receives mercy of Krsna's devotees, then that mercy can transform the perverted lusty propensity back to pure desire of bhakti and that fortunate living being has opportunity to cultivate bhakti. Best example to understand this is Ajamila. he was extremely lusty and by association of Vishnudutas, his propensities transformed and he practiced bhakti at Haridwar.
Human form is special because it is awarded and suitable for cultivation of bhakti.
Hare Krsna