Swami Answers Questions of Devotees

O Learned and Devoted Servants of God

1. Can I sing the Durgaashtakam?

[Master Samadrito asked: Paadanamaskaram Swami! Last time, during our visit, You suggested me to restrict my worship for Goddess Parvati/Durga only for 10 days during the Dussera festival. I am trying my best to follow Your suggestion. Now, among various ashtakams, You have gifted us a wonderful Durgaashtakam also, which I like very much. You have given this ashtakam a very calm and peaceful form too. With Your permission, can I sing this ashtakam? At the same time, I am feeling that I am not abiding by my Sadguru’s suggestion. Please remove my conflict in mind. At Your divine lotus feet always, Samadrito.]

Swami replied:- Ladies can sing the bhajans on Goddess Parvati/Durga daily if they like. Mental liking is very important. Small boys also can sing bhajans on Goddess Durga because they are immature about the feminine beauty.

2. Can You please explain the problems of worshipping the ferocious form of Goddess Kaali?

[Smt. Chhanda asked:- Paadanamskaram O, Lord Datta! You have given all of us a wonderful explanation for not worshipping the ferocious form of Goddess Kaali. In Bengal, as we all know, people mainly worship various forms of Goddess Kali only. During my visit to hometown this Dussera, I was trying to tell Your explanation. But people are very rigid about it. They rejected the idea in a very straight forward way. A very few although listened to the explanation and told me that since You have suggested, it might be correct. I would like to request You to please explain once again giving every detail of the problems that we may have to face, but which is not a problem at all for any ferocious form of God or Goddess.]

Swami replied:- Goddess Durga is a somewhat peaceful form of Goddess Kaali. People liking such ferocious nature have introduced this form of worship. The same Kaali in a peaceful motherly form can be worshipped by everyone. The quality and form of the deity are important because they provoke the same qualities in the devotee worshipping that form. Although every form of Shakti is one and the same, it is better to worship Shakti, who is smiling in a peaceful and motherly affectionate mode because she does not tolerate the perverted mind of any soul.

3. Is the soul God because both are beyond the three qualities?

[The Gita says ‘…Natvaham teshu…’ meaning that the Lord is beyond three qualities (Maya). Gita also says ‘Gunebhyascha Param…’ meaning soul in any human being is also beyond three qualities (Avidya). By these two verses, people get confused that the soul is God. In a discussion, this topic came out and requested me to bring a clear explanation for this from You. Though I shared the relevant link for this, can I still request You to kindly give a written explanation again?]

Swami replied:- Both soul and God are beyond three qualities. Does it mean that both are one and the same? The Prime Minister lives in Delhi, which is beyond Mumbai and a beggar also lives in Dehli, which is beyond Mumbai. Does it mean that both the Prime Minister and beggar are one and the same?

4. Please reply to the following comment made by a highest-ranking scientist.

[One of our highest-ranking scientists said that using science (gamma photon), now we can see the past, present and future. Hence, there is no need of any Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara now. Please suggest an apt reply for this comment. At Your divine lotus feet, chhanda always.]

Swami replied:- The omnipotent God can see the past, present and future of any soul and the entire creation without gamma photons. We need gamma photons for the same, but little purpose. That is the difference between God and us.

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