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God's infinite glory

CHENNAI: : The teaching of the eternal truth bears repetition because it is by knowing it that man can be liberated from bondage. This can be seen in the Bhagavad Gita wherein Lord Krishna told Arjuna that He was repeating what He had taught earlier out of solicitude for his welfare. There are elaborate descriptions of the Lord's splendour in this text. But, can one speak about one's own glory? Though this is frowned upon in the world, the case of the Almighty is an exception because He has created the entire cosmos. As He is the creator no one will know the extent of His infinite magnificence, how He incarnates, and how He creates and sustains the universe.

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said the Lord had stated that the celestials and the great sages also did not know the secret of His birth for He was the prime cause even with respect to them. One may ask what is the use of knowing God's glory. Krishna has clarified, "He who knows Me in reality as without beginning, the unborn and the Master of the worlds — he among mortals overcomes delusion, and is freed from all sins."

This doubt is bound to arise: if even the celestials and the sages do not know God's true nature, how can man dare to aspire to know Him?

In the case of the celestials they are engaged in their duties. As they enjoy the fruit of their merit, heavenly life is blissful without sorrows and hence they do not develop detachment, which is essential for spiritual aspiration. As for the sages they put the welfare of humanity above theirs. God hence revealed His glory to mankind. Such is the greatness of human birth that no one who is blessed to be born as one should fritter it away in just materialistic pursuits, which will lead to more births.

In another context Krishna had declared, "In the very last of all births the enlightened soul worships Me realising that all this is God. Such a great soul is rare."

There are many, who have intense desire for liberation and are totally dedicated to this pursuit but are unable to realise God. This shows that unless the Lord wills one cannot realise Him. How does God reveal Himself to the spiritual seeker? He comes in the form of the Guru, when the aspirant is ready to receive spiritual knowledge.

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