Hare Krishna Prabhujies and Matajies!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Today I would like to request you for your valuable inputs regarding Lord Krishna's forms. Krishna declares in Bhagavad Gita that His two-handed Syamasundara form is difficult to behold even for the demigods.
sri-bhagavan uvaca
su-durdarsam idam rupam
drstavan asi yan mama
deva apy asya rupasya
nityam darsana-kanksinah (B.G.11.52)
Translation: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, this form of Mine you are now seeing is very difficult to behold. Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form, which is so dear.
My questions are:
a. Why the demigods couldn't have the opportunity to see Krishna's two-handed Syamasundara form?
b. Weren't the demigods able to visit planet earth and see Krishna in two-handed form while He spent His glorious past time on earth?
c. Is Krishna's eternal form four-handed?
I will appreciate your valuable time and spiritual insights.
Please accept my dandvat pranam!
Your insignificant servant,
Amal
Replies
SB 1.9.24 — May my Lord, who is four-handed and whose beautifully decorated lotus face, with eyes as red as the rising sun, is smiling, kindly await me at that moment when I quit this material body.
This is specific form of the Lord which Bhismadev worships
SB 1.9.24 - Purport His worshipable Deity was four-handed Narayana, but he knew that four-handed Narayana is a plenary expansion of Lord Krsna(Two Handed).
BG 11.51 - Purport the words manusam rupam clearly indicate the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be originally two-handed.
SB 8.18.12 — The Lord appeared in His original form, with ornaments and weapons in His hands.Although this ever-existing form is not visible in the material world, He nonetheless appeared in this form. Then, in the presence of His father and mother, He assumed the form of Vāmana, a brāhmaṇa-dwarf, a brahmacārī, just like a theatrical actor.
.
just like a theatrical actor.
just like a theatrical actor.
just like a theatrical actor.
Hare Krsna :)
SB 8.18.12 - Purport - One has to understand the transcendental appearance of the Lord in His original transcendental body (sac-cid-Ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]).
ishvarah paramah krshnah
sac-cid-aananda-vigrahah
anaadir aadir govindah
sarva-kaarana-kaaranam
Translation : 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.
The detailed purport gives more clarity on who is Krsna, his form and attributes. It also throws light on Visnu aspect also.
SB 8.18.12 : The Lord appeared in His original form, with ornaments and weapons in His hands.
There is no equivalent word in the sanskrit verse which is translated as "original". The word has been used in translation as original form in place of transcendental body which is used in the word to word meaning for translation of vapuh. Hence one can understand that the "original" refers to the "transcendentality" or the "purity" of the form.
I am not saying that Krsna doesnt manifest four handed form. He does manifest unlimited forms. Devotees are charmed by His forms, they worship lord in all forms. But when Krsna doesn't need to manifest any other form and He is in His own natural form it is two handed form.
If the question is - Is Krishna's four-handed form eternal ?
Yes Krsna's four handed form is transcendental and eternal.
If the question is - Is Krishna's eternal form four-handed ?
Krsna originally naturally eternally is in his transcendental two handed form
YAS Bharat
Hare Krishna Dean Prabhu!
Thank you for your valuable time to eradicate my deep darkness in understanding scriptures. I sincerely offer my dandvat pranam to you for your generous help. Your responses are always very rich and supported by scriptures. Thank you!
Your insignificant servant,
Amal
.
Hare Krsna :)
SB 8.18.12 - (Purport) "An actor changes dress to play different parts, but is always the same man. Similarly, as described in the Brahma-samhita (5.33, 39), the Lord assumes many thousands and millions of forms (advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam). He is always present with innumerable incarnations (ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu). Nonetheless, although He appears in various incarnations, they are not different from one another. He is the same person, with the same potency, the same eternity and the same spiritual existence, but He can simultaneously assume various forms."
There are so many incarnations of the lord in which he has appeared in so many forms all of which are supreme personality of godhead. Like an actor who has played so many roles in so many costumes. So one may question what is the original appearance of this actor when he is not acting ? This is answered by lord Brahma as below
Brahma-samhita - 5.30-31
venum kvanantam aravinda-dalaayataaksham-
barhaavatamsam asitaambuda-sundaraangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-vishesha-shobham
govindam aadi-purusham tam aham bhajaami
aalola-candraka-lasad-vanamaalya-vamshi-
ratnaangadam pranaya-keli-kalaa-vilaasam
shyaamam tri-bhanga-lalitam niyata-prakaasham
govindam aadi-purusham tam aham bhajaami
The words aadi-purusham is translated(in word to word meanings) to The Original person by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. Full Translation of the verses is as below
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock's feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids. BS - 5.30
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of Syamasundara is eternally manifest.
Two-handed three-fold bending form of Syamasundara Krsna and Flute playing of Syamasundara Krsna are the original attributes of Original Supreme personality of Godhead
He may take other forms for various reasons like
SB 10.3.44 — I have shown you this form of Viṣṇu just to remind you of My previous births. Otherwise, if I appeared like an ordinary human child, you would not believe that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, has indeed appeared.
YAS Bharat
SB 10.3.9-10 — Vasudeva then saw the newborn child, who had very wonderful lotuslike eyes and who bore in His four hands the four weapons śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma. On His chest was the mark of Śrīvatsa and on His neck the brilliant Kaustubha gem. Dressed in yellow, His body blackish like a dense cloud, His scattered hair fully grown, and His helmet and earrings sparkling uncommonly with the valuable gem Vaidūrya, the child, decorated with a brilliant belt, armlets, bangles and other ornaments, appeared very wonderful.
Hare Krishna :)
Lord in the vishnu murti form has four arms. Krishna has two arms. Lord can have any number of arms. But the original supreme personality of godhead - Krishna has only two arms.
YAS Bharat