it is said that Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures
I am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship the demigods, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to some particular deity. (Bhagavad-gita 7.21)
Endowed with such a faith, he seeks favors of a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone. (Bhagavad-gita 7.22)
Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet. (Bhagavad-gita 7.23)
my question is simply that all demigods we worship can't do anything without lord's power
lord has given power to everyone, all demigods worship the supreme personality of godhead to whom we call krsna, so if all worship him that means all demigods r devotee of lord, right?
nd the one who is the devotee of devotee is considered as a devotee, then if someone worship demigods to get the devotion of lord then still it is undesirable????
Replies
Hare Krsna Mataji,
PAMHO.
Sita also prayed to Gauri the moment She saw Ram in the pushpa vatika for the first time. They are displaying human characteristics by praying like this. But what is She asking for - God.
Same way, even gopis prayed to Ma Katyayani to get Krsna as their husband. They are praying to get the lord.
Both the incidents are to teach us humans that we can pray to demigods to give us the Lord. We are fallen souls, we will not get lord as our husband. We can pray to get bhakti from exalted empowered souls like demigods.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Hare Krsna mataji,
PAMHO.
All demigods are devotees of the lord, that is correct. Those favourable to the lord are demigods and those inimical are demons. Demigods are empowered by the lord to carry out specific functions (like Varuna for rain, Sun for light).
We humans can pray to demigods under 2 circumstances - 1) to get some favour from them (wealth, health, degree, spouse, child), 2) to get devotion of the lord from them, because they are not only devotees, they are empowered by the lord to carry out specific functions for Him.
Now tell me, how many people you know who fall in the second category? Everyone I know who prays to demigods falls in the 1st category.
If we are in the second category, then it is very much desired and encouraged. When we are praying to jivas who are devotees, why not to demigods who are devotees.
One rider here - demigods need not be pure devotees. These are souls who are favourable to the lord, but at the same time, had a desire to serve the unfortunate people of the world, that is why they are appointed as demigods. Pure devotee wants to serve only God, in whatever capacity God wants. They are not having any desire to serve anyone except the lord.
I hope I have been able to explain. Please ask if there are any doubts or if you want to say anything further.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD