Hare Krishna dear devotees. Dandavat pranams. I have a question regarding Lord Rama and Lord Krishna’s relationship. Some traditions like the Ramanandis say that Krishna is an expansion of Rama, and they even quote texts like Vashishta Samhita, Adhyatma Ramayana, or Sadasiva Samhita. But in Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta, as given by Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, and our ācāryas like the Six Goswamis, it is clear that Krishna is Svayam Bhagavan, the source of all incarnations, and Rama is one of His avatāras. My humble request: can you please guide me with scriptural references (from Vedabase – Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Brahma Samhita, etc.) and also explanations of how to properly respond when someone claims that Krishna is an avatāra of Rama? Especially, did Lord Rama anywhere in Valmiki Ramayana or Ram Gita say that He is the source of Krishna? And how should we understand the “Rama–Krishna tattva” in the light of Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures? Any help with links, verses, or lectures will be very valuable. Thank you so much. Your servant.
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Replies
Hare Krishna Divya Mata ji,
Why one should argue at all on this matter. Both are Lord only in different times. One is exhibiting all 16 kalas ( that is Krishna) and other is exhibiting only 12 kalas ( that is Shree Rama).. but even Shree Rama has the ability to exhibit all 16 kalas but in that avatar it is not required for HIM to exhibit all kalas. That doesn't make him less important than Krishna.
But Krishna is exhibiting all the 16 kalas so he SWAYAM bhagwan.
Krishnasthu swayam bhagwan. extra 4 kalas that Lord Sri Krishna is exhibiting are Venu madhuri.., leela madhuri. rupa madhuri and .. prema madhuri.. ( these extra kalas which are present even in Lord Rama ) but for that avatar of Lord Shree Raam he needn't exhibit all these 4 also.
Lord Shree Krishna exhibited all the 16 kalas... that makes HIM PARI POORNA AVATAR OR AVATAARI
if anyone argues - -- Oh Lord Rama is great and Sri Krishna is just HIS expansion...It is the devotee's love for that perticular swaroopa of Lord.
Don't argue don't defend in such cases. All are great all avatars are equal in potency and same to same in fullness and capacity.
If Diya Mehta is called Diyu at home ( She wears casuals and night wear) and at school DIV ( school dress) and at office she is wearing business casuals and called by her collegues as DM. Does that mean.. she is a different person???
she is the same person but her outfit is different at different places and she is called by different names but the person is the same.
She can sit casually on sofa or lie down on sofa ... and can shower love to her family but she cannot sit or lie down on sofa at the office... she has to maintain a maryada..
So is our Lord Shree Rama in that avatar he is called Maryada Purushottama is cannot be doing rasleela with 16,000 gopis' ..or cannot marry 16,108 or cannot play venu and attract gopis' and cows. There is a limitation for that avatar. He is has the potential to exhibit but he wont.
But for Shree Krishna Lord is exbhiting all the 16 kalas which includes Venu madhuri.. leela madhuri.. rupa madhuri and prema madhuri also so He is Paripoorna avatar or avataari of Lord.
ishvarah paramah krishnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaha
anadir adir govindaha
sarva-karana-karanam
Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He
is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes. ( Brahma Samhita Verse 1)
dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya
dīpāyate vivṛta-hetu-samāna-dharmā
yas tādṛg eva hi ca viṣṇutayā vibhāti
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
The light of one candle being communicated to other candles, although it burns separately in them, is the same in its quality. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda who exhibits Himself equally in the same mobile manner in His various manifestations. ( Brahma Samhita 5.46)
One becomes a fool if he argues on this saying Rama is great Krishna is greatest. All are the same Lord. One sect are very much devoted to Shree Rama another sect is very much in love with Sri Krishna. Beech mein hum fool kyon bane.. humein toh pata hai ki sab ek hi hai.
If I encounter such people.. I say yes Shree Rama is great.. Jai shree Krishna.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Mata ji,
Were there only 16000 gopis? I have heared in a recent Krishna Katha that there were 10,000 crore gopis, did you mean 16000 as different from other or like that? Can you please clarify my doubt?
There are many more. just gave you some number.
Oh ok thank you
Hare Krishna ,
I am sure that in video on my ashraya channel on the topic of glories of lord Narasimha, HG amogha lila prabhu clearly quoted a shloka in which he explained that lord Narasimha, lord Ram, are purn avatar and therefore GOD but krishna is param bhagvan,.
I don't know much about the scriptures and specific verses, since I am myself not an experienced devotee of anything, it is only something I have hared In these kathaa, so please if you get answer from an actual devotee take their words thank you
Thank you soo much prabhuji for your answer 🙏🙏 sure I will check amogh lila prabhu's video regarding this , if you anyone else knows the answer then he/she can reply too
Hare krishna 🙏