Posted on: 31 Jan 2023
1. Who are Ishwara Kotulu and Jiva Kotulu?
[Smt. Lakshmi Lavanya K asked: Namaste Swami. "Bhakti is born through loyalty (నిష్ఠ). Bhakti becomes a feeling (bhaavam) when it is matured. When the feeling solidifies, it becomes mahaabhava. The last thing is love. Love is like a rope. If a devotee has love towards God, God will get caught and will not run away from him. An ordinary living being at the maximum can attain bhaava. Mahaabhaava and love are possible only for Ishwara Kotulu" Rama Krishna Paramahamsa. Who is Ishwara Kotulu? Who is Jiva Kotulu?]
Swami replied: All these words used by you and others are absorbed in one word called attraction to God, which depends on the divine personality of God. Koti means monkey and monkey has unstable mind due to which it can never fix its mind on God. Here, the word kotulu (monkeys) refers to God Rama, who is served by monkeys. This word indicates the importance of service and sacrifice for God.
2. Will it please You to guide people in the right direction even if they don’t ask me?
[Sometimes, people who are in contact with me, take wrong decisions which cause damage to themselves and they get mentally disturbed. Even if they don't ask me, would it please You to guide them to go in the right direction (by giving knowledge of pravrutti), or should I leave it as unnecessary for me?]
Swami replied: Propagation of divine knowledge is the divine service, which is a part of the final step called Practical devotion or Karma Yoga.