Posted on: 12 Sep 2006
[Shri Ramanath asked Swami whether Akkalkot Maharaj whose birth is not known is the fullest human incarnation as His devotees say. Following is Swami’s reply]:
For any concept, the scripture is valued. Otherwise everybody speaks whatever he likes and gives his own logic. The advocate has to quote the constitution and apply the logic in that line. Otherwise the argument has no base. The scriptures say that Sri Krishna is the fullest human incarnation (Shri Krishno Nanya Evahi). This is agreed by all since it has scriptural basis. But Krishna was born to Devaki. Therefore, the concept of fullest human incarnation is not related to the birth of the human body from the womb of the mother. The Gita says that birth must have death and death must have birth (Dhruvam Janma Mrutasyacha). Shri Akkalkot Maharaj died by leaving His divine body as everybody knows it. According to the Gita, the human body of Maharaj must have taken birth. If you argue that His divine body was not from the womb of the mother but it was created by the will of God, how does it matter? Even the human body in the womb of a mother is created by the will of the God only as per the Gita (Aham Bija Pradhah Pita, Sambhavah Sarva Bhutanam…). Thus, this point is common to both. Both the human bodies (created by God or created in the womb) are made of the very same five elements. In this aspect also there is no difference. Therefore, the divinity of Maharaj is not in the external human body but it is in God present in that human body. The human body is like a paper cover. Inside the cover, a gold foil is present. When water falls, the cover is spoiled but the gold foil is not at all affected. Similarly, birth and death are only for the external human body and not for the internal eternal God.
Even if you take Lord Datta with three faces and six hands, these are only in the energetic body which has the facility of taking any desired form. No human incarnation of Lord Datta has three faces and six hands. There is no difference between the human body and the energetic body. The former is made of five elements and the latter is made of one element called as fire that represents energy. For a scientist there is no difference between matter and energy. Even in the energetic form God is present in hidden state. The value of that human body or that energetic body is only due to the presence of God in it. The value of a wooden box carrying diamonds is due to diamonds only. The human body is the most convenient for the human beings through which God is given (Datta) to the humanity. The six hands represent the six changes (Shat Vikaras) of the external gross body. The three faces represent the three qualities by which the subtle body (Jeeva) is made of. The awareness or self (Atman) is always the content of the subtle body and therefore, we need not speak about the Atman separately. The causal body (Atman) and the subtle body (Jeeva) put together are called as the internal body (Jeevaatman). Brahma stands for Rajas, Vishnu stands for Satvam and Shiva stands for Tamas. The Lord plays with the help of this external gross body and the internal body. The anger and vulgar language used by many human incarnations of Datta indicates Rajas. The smoking leading to a trance state, represents Tamas which is also present in many human incarnations of Datta. Even Datta is very harsh to the devotees by beating with stick (Rajas) and drinks wine with prostitutes (Tamas). The amazing knowledge coming from the human incarnations of Datta or Datta is Sattvam. The whole divine play takes place with the help of these three qualities. The knowledge is for the guidance of devotees. The Rajas and Tamas are for testing the faith of devotees or to throw away the undeserving devotees.
Jnana Mulam Guruh Brahma,
Gana Mulam Guruh Vishnuh,
Dhyana Mulam Guruh Sambhuh,
Dana Mulam Guruh Dattah.
The knowledge indicates Brahma
Devotional songs (bhajans) denote Vishnu
Meditation which means the concentration of love on God, represents Shiva.
When all these three are full, then Datta, the sacrifice in practice appears.