WHY DO WE WORSHIP SRI KRISHNA AS THE SUPREME?

Love Duty Desire Fear Ascending to the Ultimate Religion of Pure Love of God

PASSION IGNORANCE GOODNESS

Puranas prescribe worship for people in different Modes

Worship in Mode of Ignorance

Worship in Mode of Ignorance Those fond of material prosperity approach Shiva for benedictions. (eg) Bhasmasura or Vrikasura Perform Severe Tapasya like cutting or piercing flesh smoke intoxicants like ‘bhang’ or ‘charas’ Indulge in Matsya, Maams, Madira, Maithun, Mura on Maha Sivaratri day to worship Durga Offer animals or chicken in sacrifice to please Kali

Worship in Mode of Passion Performed out of hankering for honor, desire for material assets, competitive mentality, desire to become the ultimate enjoyer (eg) Hiranyakashipu

Worship in Mode of Goodness Recommend worship of Vishnu, Rama or Krishna Worship performed simply by offering Tulasi, flowers, fruits or water with Love as recommended in Bhagavad gita Most essential ingredient is only LOVE or DEVOTION The result of such a worship is Purification of heart By guidance of a pure devotee, one can go beyond the three modes and return back home back to Godhead

Worship in Mode of Goodness

User Friendly Vedic Spirituality Flexibility wrt: 1.Sadhana: Karma, Jnana, Yoga, Bhakti 2.Sadhya: Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Krishna

In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (III, IX), the great sage Yajnavalkya is asked the critical question: kati devaḥ, how many devas are there? His answer progresses from three thousand and three, three hundred and three, thirty-three, six, three, two and finally One – and he answers as if there is no contradiction inherent in the various answers.

Why so many gods? 1. kämais tais tair håta-jïänäù prapadyante 'nya-devatäù taà taà niyamam ästhäya prakåtyä niyatäù svayä 2. yo yo yäà yäà tanuà bhaktaù çraddhayärcitum icchati tasya tasyäcaläà çraddhäà täm eva vidadhämy aham (Bhagavad Gita )

Why so many gods? 3. sa tayä çraddhayä yuktas tasyärädhanam éhate labhate ca tataù kämän mayaiva vihitän hi tän 4. antavat tu phalaà teñäà tad bhavaty alpa-medhasäm devän deva-yajo yänti mad-bhaktä yänti mäm api (Bhagavad Gita )

The compassionate logic of demigod worship Is 60% score good or bad? For one capable of scoring 40%, it is excellent For one capable of scoring 80%, it is undesirable Is demigod worship good or bad? For atheists and materialists, it is recommended For serious spiritual seekers, it is discouraged

The Vedic system of multi-level worship bears testimony to: 1.A unique concern for the individuality of the worshipper and 2. An unparalleled flexibility of the worshipable in making himself accessible

Vallabhacharya

Keshav Kashmiri

Chandi das

Is Krishna an Avatar of Vishnu ? eko vai narayana asin na brahma na isano napo nagni samau neme dyav-aprthivi na naksatrani na suryah sa “In the beginning of the creation there was only the Supreme Personality Narayana. There was no Brahma, no Shiva, no fire, no moon, no stars in the sky, no sun. ” (Maha Upanishad 1.1)

Is Krishna an Avatar of Vishnu ? narayanah paro devas tasmaj jatas caturmukhah tasmad rudro 'bhavad devah sa ca sarvajnatam gatah “Narayana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and from Him Brahma was born, from whom Shiva was born.” (Varaha Purana)

Is Krishna an Avatar of Vishnu ? narayanad brahma jayate, narayanad prajapatih prajayate, narayanad indro jayate, narayanad astau vasavo jayante, narayanad ekadasa rudra jayante, narayanad dvadasadityah "From Narayana, Brahma is born, and from Narayana, the patriarchs are also born. From Narayana, Indra is born, from Narayana the eight Vasus are born, from Narayana the eleven Rudras are born, from Narayana the twelve Adityas are born.” (Narayana Upanishad)

Is Krishna an Avatar of Vishnu ? Now having established Narayana as the source of Siva, Brahma, Indra and others, we can see how Sri Krishna is the original Narayana. eña vai bhagavän säkñäd ädyo näräyaëaù pumän mohayan mäyayä lokaà güòhaç carati våñëiñu “This Çré Kåñëa is no other than the inconceivable, original Personality of Godhead. He is the first Näräyaëa, the supreme enjoyer. But He is moving amongst the descendants of King Våñëi just like one of us and He is bewildering us with His self-created energy.” [SB ]

Krishna is the source of all Vishnus

Maha Visnu source of all universes Ksirodakasayi Visnu Supersoul in heart Garbhodakasayi Visnu within every universe

SRI KRISHNA, the cause of all causes BALARAM VASUDEVAPRADYUMNASANKARSHANAANIRUDDHA MAHA- VISHNU (KARANODAKASHAYI) GARBHODAKASHAYI VISHNU KSHIRODAKASHAYI VISHNU (PARAMATMA) VASUDEVAPRADYUMNASANKARSHANAANIRUDDHA NARAYANA

Krishna (The Avatari) Brahma Vishnu Shiva (Creator) (Maintainer) (Destroyer) Krishna (The Avatara)

“Brahmano’hi pratishta aham” [BG 14.27]

What I have spoken to you is but a mere indication of My infinite opulences [BG 10.40]

You are the eternal, transcendental original person, the unborn, the greatest. [BG ]

Everything emanates from Me. [BG 10.10]

The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service [BG 10.10]

Beauty Fame Wealth Knowledge RenunciationStrength