Swami Answers Devotees' Questions

[Śrī Anil asked: Pādanamaskāraṃ Swāmi, some questions raised in internet discussion forum is presented below. Please grace Your response to the same. At Your Lotus Divine Feet-anil]

1. The various Vāhans attributed to the gods and demigods. What does it actually signify?

Swāmi replied: The vehicle is either animal or bird indicates the soul. It signifies the service of the soul to God.

2. According to Hinduism, exactly who gave the knowledge of the Vedas & the Upaniṣads to the humans of the Earth for the first time and when?

Swāmi replied: God gave knowledge to humanity in the beginning of creation irrespective of region and religion.

3. How can man live by every word proceeding out of God’s mouth?

[Jesus Christ said: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Could You please provide some real-life examples of application of these verses?]

Swāmi replied: The word of God means the commandment of God that is given through divine constitution in order to protect justice in worldly life. Those, who did not follow His words could not live since they were killed by God. All demons are examples. Word is more important than bread because if one dies without bread, such a soul will not go to hell, but, if one dies by violation of His word, the soul goes to hell.

4. Why was Mohammad not a perfect avatār of God Viṣṇu?

Swāmi replied: Who said that He is not the perfect incarnation of God? The incarnation of God behaves as per the situation and preaches accordingly. We shall not misunderstand it.

5. How can a Kṛṣṇa devotee worship other gods when Gītā 7:20 clearly prohibits that?

Swāmi replied: The verse means that God shall be worshipped in any incarnation. Worship of angels is not the worship of God. Objection to worship of angels is not the objection to worship of various incarnations of God.

6. To which Hindu God should I pray to get a good husband?

Swāmi replied: You should pray God Rāma.

7. Are there any rules for reading Bhagavad Gītā like we can't eat onions and garlic or can't cut nails during that time period?

Swāmi replied: All these things are only superficial and are not important. Only devotion to God Kṛṣṇa is important.

8. In heaven will we stay with our family members and friends? Who will we spend time with besides God?

Swāmi replied: There are several devotees in divine bodies, who give a good devotional company to us.

9. Is it a sin for Christians to tell non-Christians that they're going to hell if they don't believe in Jesus?

Swāmi replied: Here Jesus means the God, who is present in all the incarnations. Jesus does not specify a particular form of God with a specific name. Jesus said that He will come again. Did He say that He will come again with the same name? God will be coming in different forms with different names.

10. How can one obediently live for the Kingdom of Heaven?

[Given that Jesus Christ asked people not to be attached to this world yet live for the Kingdom of Heaven through obedience to God, what changes in government and public services could help with that regards?]

Swāmi replied: Following justice and discarding injustice in every step will help in this direction. Such basic principle alone can satisfy God. Obedience means strict follow up of the divine constitution created by God and this is the essence of Pravṛtti. Devotion comes only in Nivṛtti. Obedience is also the basic form of devotion.

11. Can one chant (in mind) Mahāmṛtyuñjaya Mantra without receiving Guru dīkṣā?

Swāmi replied: There is no Mantra in this world. Mantra means any line of prose or poetry or song that spontaneously attaches you to God.

12. Where does the idea come from that the serpent that tempted Eve was Satan?

Swāmi replied: Ideas are always created by souls due to the given freedom by God.

13. Was Sai Bābā Hindu or Muslim?

Swāmi replied: He is the human incarnation of God, who came to unite all religions especially Hinduism and Islam, which were prevailing much in those days.

14. Is Judas in heaven or hell?

Swāmi replied: Since Judas repented and punished himself, he is free of the sin. Neither he has gone to hell nor to heaven. Since sin was ended, he did not go to hell. Since he has not done any meritorious deed, he has not gone to heaven also. He is born again on this earth, which is in between heaven and hell (not in physical sense but in the sense of the value).

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