Land of the Gods

“Here is proof of the omnipotence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is above everyone. There are two classes of living entities - the demons and the demigods - and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is above them both. The demons believe in the “chance” theory of creation, whereas the demigods believe in creation by the hand of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The omnipotence of the Supreme Lord is proved here, for simply with one hand He lifted Mandara Mountain, the demigods and the demons, placed them on the back of Garuda and brought them to the ocean of milk. Now, the demigods, the devotees, would immediately accept this incident, knowing that the Lord can lift anything, however heavy it might be. But although demons were also carried along with the demigods, demons, upon hearing of this incident, would say that it is mythological.” (SB 8.6.38)

This section of Srimad-Bhagavatam contains a multitude of different personalities: The Supreme Lord, a flurry of incarnations, powerful demigods, aggressive demons, and a variety of other living entities. Their interactions and conversations help us to gain clarity on the universal hierarchy that exists.

Before allowing a doctor to operate on us, we present various enquiries and conduct rigorous research. Prior to attending an educational institution, we typically investigate its track record and question its suitability. When buying a used car, we’ll ask a reliable mechanic to do some key checks beforehand. So when it comes to divine worship, the most crucial decision in our entire life, it makes sense to clarify our understanding before we surrender. Unfortunately, many people don’t. Under the misconception that “all is one,” multitudes of people begin to worship personalities as divine without any substantial basis whatsoever. The task of identifying the Supreme is made even more difficult by dubious family traditions passed down through generations, and a mishmash of so-called gurus teaching their own concocted philosophies. Add to this confusion a mind-boggling range of deities, and you have a potent formula to baffle the uninformed observer.

The Srimad-Bhagavatam, through various pastimes, thus clarifies the distinction between God, His incarnations, the demigods and general living entities. When knowledge is received through an authentic line of saintly, self-realised teachers, one gains an accurate understanding. In matters of divine worship, our convictions must be set on the firm foundation of genuine spiritual preceptors (guru), saintly authorities (sadhu) and authentic scriptures (sastra).