Central Insights:
- Solving the misinterpretations behind the scriptures
Key Points:
- God has a form, and His form is divine
- God is said to be one without form to differentiate Him from the forms of Māyā and is said to be one without qualities to differentiate Him from the qualities of Māyā.
Explanation
In this Vachanamrut, Shriji Maharaj uses the example of the Bhagvat to discuss the terminology used in scriptures. Scriptures sometimes describe God as having form (Sagun), and at other times as formless (Nirgun). This can lead the reader to mistakenly perceive God as being material in nature. However, the true nature of the God is not easily grasped by ordinary beings solely based on scriptural words.
So, is God sākār or nirākār? Does He possess a material body or a divine one? Scriptures contain various expressions that can be interpreted in multiple ways, leading to what is termed as “scriptural deception.” To determine the true nature of the God, Shriji Maharaj clarifies that the divine form of God is sākār and He possesses a divine body. Even a mass of light cannot exist without a form. Similarly, entities like Agni (fire) and Varuna (water) manifest through forms. The true essence is revealed when God incarnates.
Shriji Maharaj illustrates with the example of Lord Krishna. This debate is among the believers, not atheists. Devotees unanimously acknowledge Lord Krishna as God, as described by Vyasa in the scriptures. Therefore, Maharaj refers to Lord Krishna. According to scriptural authors and Vyasa’s perspective, Lord Krishna is always sākār and divine, not formless or material.
When Arjuna went to the abode of Bhūmapuruṣa to retrieve the Brahmin’s son, he transcended the material realms with Krishna on a chariot. The divine chariot and Krishna’s divine influence enabled them to surpass material boundaries. If Krishna’s form were material, it couldn’t transcend Maya. However, even the chariot, influenced by Krishna, crossed Maya. Had Krishna been formless, He would have become a mass of light upon reaching the divine abode, but this did not happen. Thus, the true form is proven to be sākār.
Therefore, when encountering scriptural deception, one should not be misled. It is essential to understand that the scriptures speak of the glory of God’s divine form. God is always sākār and divine, devoid of any material nature.
Glossary
| Arjuna – A devotee and companion of Bhagwan Krishna. |
| Bhumapurush – A divine form of Bhagwan Narayan Arjuna, guided by Lord Krishna, transcended material realms to visit Bhūmapuruṣa loka |
| Divine Chariot – The chariot used by Krishna and Arjuna to transcend material boundaries. |
| Formless (Mass of Light) – A state sometimes attributed to God in scriptures to indicate God’s transcendence. |
| Material Nature – The realm of physical, perishable forms governed by Maya. |
| Maya – The illusory material nature. |
| Nirakar – God as being without a material form. |
| Nirgun – Beyond the three qualities of Maya |
| Sakar – God as possessing a divine form. |
| Satpurush – A true saint or spiritual guide |
| Scriptural Deception – Misinterpretation or misunderstanding of scriptural terminology. |
| Scriptural Terminology – Words used in scriptures that describe God as both sakar (with form) and nirakar (formless). |
| Vyasa – The author of many scriptures, including the Mahabharata and Puranas. |