We have to examine statements of scriptures in details. Some brahmas could not be qualified for the spiritual world. Yet they are given the post of brahma because they are qualified for creation though they may still be misra bhaktas. There is no automatic access to the spiritual world. There is a requirement of qualification.
The demigods also have anarthas but lesser than the people on earth. So we respect them. Though the post of brahma is there they are not all on the same level. Generally he will have the qualification to go to spiritual world. But there are exceptions to the rule. To go to the spiritual world you should have prema. They are all individuals however. They might not comply to the general rule.
In bhakti also we have kanishta, madhyama and uttama – but even in them there are different kinds of devotees. Karma misra devotees can go to spiritual world and get salokya. Santa rasa but not real prema. For everything we have general rules; and exceptions are there for everything.
Ultimately behind everything is the Supreme Lord. He doesn’t usually interfere with the material world or the karmas of the people. But if one becomes a devotee the Lord interferes. Like a chandala chants the holy name all his sins are gone.
Whole bhakti is in one sense exceptional. It does something remarkable. Because it is connected to the Supreme Lord. He can do anything. He is the Lord of the spiritual and material worlds. Krishna can show mercy and do something extra ordinary for devotees. For putana if he did what about the devotees!
Generally devotees go through sadhana, bhava and prema. Lord doesn’t generally interfere with that. General outline is there for our benefit but there is flexibility because ultimately bhakti is about relationship between the Lord and the devotee. So there cannot be any rules even if it is vaidhi bhakti, it cannot be really governed by rules. Because even the Lord is surrendered to the devotee.
In case of Ambarish maharaj, Lord says that the devotee is in Me and I am in My devotee. I am under the control of My devotee. That’s not even raganuga bhakti. That’s vaidhi bhakti. Its Vishnu speaking in relationship with devotee. It is not Krishna speaking. But even He has got such surrender to the devotees. So He does extraordinary things with devotees. He has given His sudarshan cakra to ambarish to protect him.
Krishna does even more remarkable things. Like getting tied up by mother yasoda. There is an unpredictable factor of the Supreme Lord, of what He can do for the devotees. It is somewhat flexible because of the Supreme Lord. Nevertheless we follow the general guidance.
Lecture on SB 11.3.9-12, 25th January 2020, ISKCON CHENNAI
Very nice explanation by Maharaja. Thank you pr for sharing with us.
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