Meaning of ‘BHAGWAN’.

(By: His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj) 

 

If we accept the concept of Bhagwan, then we have to accept the concept of ‘Bhaga’ also. If we use the word ‘dhanawan’ (wealth) but exclude the word ‘dhana’ (wealth), then the word ‘dhanawan’ becomes meaningless. It is the same situation with ‘bhaga’ and ‘Bhagwan’. He who possesses dhana (wealth) is dhanawan. Similarly, He who possesses bhaga is Bhagwan. Bhaga means majesty (aishvarya) or potency (shakti). Therefore, Bhagwan is He who possesses majesty and potency. The word Bhagwan does not specifically define the type of potency or energy involved. Therefore, Bhagwan is He who possesses all kinds of potencies or energies that could possibly exist. Thus Bhagwan is the Omnipotent one. As per Vishnu Purana (6.5.47), One who possesses all majesty or wealth, all potency or strength, all fame, all beauty, all knowledge and all renunciation is known as Bhagwan.

 

The fact that Bhagwan possesses all beauty implies that He is beautiful; therefore, He must possess form. However, in saying that He must possess form, we should not attempt to confine Him by the perishable limits of length, breadth and height. The internal potency (chit-shakti) of Bhagwan has as its reflection the material energy, which is subject to change and destruction. We must not attribute those faults to that which is being reflected, i.e. Bhagwan, Who has a transcendental spiritual Form. To do so would be foolish. Actually, Ultimate Existence is beyond the power of human intellect. The reflection has no real existence to speak of, but if the reflection gives the appearance of reality, then we must understand it to be a shadow reality – an unreal reality! Since a shadow is not real, we should not expect to derive true knowledge of reality from it.

 

In certain texts, it is stated that Bhagwan does not have limbs, yet He accepts and moves. He can see without eyes, He can hear without ears, etc. The meaning of these apparently contradictory statements is that Bhagwan does not have a material form like ours, which is made up of material elements. On the contrary, He has a transcendental spiritual Form. In truth, because Govinda, the Cause of all causes, possesses form, we see so many forms in the universe. Without there being form in the cause, there can be no form in the effect; without there being form in the source, there can be no form in the reflection. Logically, something cannot come from nothing.

 

Now, if we admit to existence of Bhagwan, we also have to admit to the existence of His energy or shakti. We cannot admit the existence of Bhagwan without shakti.  Even though Bhagwan is omnipotent, there are three predominating shakti’s known respectively as internal potency (chit-shakti), the external potency (maya shakti) and poised in between these two are His manifested living beings known as tattastha or jiva shakti. The shakti that takes us to the heart of Bhagwan is known as Antaranga shakti (internal potency). The shakti which overwhelms and enchants us with His external features, taking us away from Bhagwan, is known as bahiranga shakti (external potency). The internal potency takes us towards, and the external potency takes us away from Bhagwan. The internal potency performs the unalloyed service of Bhagwan; thus it is referred to by the term ‘bhakta’ (devotee). Bhakta and Bhagwan are one non-dual substance. That one substance is composed of two moods or aspects: the predominating and the predominated, the enjoyer and the enjoyed, the served and the servitor, the object of worship and the worshipper.

 

Since Bhagwan is beyond of our limited intellect, we cannot know Him by virtue of our merit alone. If that we so, then the very logic of Sri Bhagwan being all-opulent Supreme Lord, Omnipotent and Infinite, becomes negated. The only way of knowing Bhagwan is by the desire of Bhagwan Himself. To act according to the desire of Bhagwan is to have ‘priti’ (affection), or bhakti. If we act according to Bhagwan’s desire or in other words, if we follow the course laid down by Bhagwan in ‘shruti’s’ and ‘smriti’s’, then this will be the very means of achieving the grace of Bhagwan. That being said, how are we to know those rules laid down in the scriptures that are dear to Bhagwan? The answer to this is, we must seek the company or devotees and take the shelter of a pure devotee of Bhagwan.

 

There are two types of bhakti – vaidhi bhakti and raganuga bhakti. The first is the trodden path of scriptural rules and regulations, and the second is the blazing fire of transcendental love and passion. Bhagwan can only be caught by raganuga bhakti.  For e.g. Nanda Maharaja and Mother Yashoda have trapped the Infinite with their pure love. If one could even reach the doors of such a devotee, would there then be any doubt that he or she would definitely have darshana of Bhagwan? Please understand that the devotee of Bhagwan always desires to please Bhagwan. If anyone else tries to please Bhagwan, then the devotee becomes that person’s slave.

 

Then again Bhagwan wants the devotee to be happy. If one loves the devotee, then that person captures Bhagwan. That is why those who love and serve Bhagwan’s devotee can easily win the blessings of Bhagwan’s grace. Remember the saying, “If you love me, love my dog’.

 

It is not difficult to love Bhagwan. Knowledge, wealth, beauty, power, etc. are not required in this love. As per Sreemad Bhagwatam (1.8.26),” Those who are intoxicated with their birth (social status), wealth, learning and beauty are incapable of uttering the Name of Krishna, which can be taken by those who are bereft of all material assets’.

 

If all the pride in the world should occupy all the space in my heart, if I expend all my energies to chase after wealth, sex and power, then how can Sree Bhagwan find a place in such as my heart? Although a welcome sign hangs at the gate, the inside is cluttered up with so much rubbish that the invited guest has to turn away, being unable to find a place to sit. In like manner, it is no use to externally extend a welcome to Bhagwan if the inside is clogged up with unwanted desires. Bhagwan may very well come, but He will go away without finding a place to sit.