In the midst of this vast and complex universe, the eternal question that has perplexed humanity throughout the ages is – who is God? Or Who is Krishna? Countless philosophies and religions have attempted to define and understand the Supreme Truth, yet often their conceptions are limited by imperfect knowledge or coloured by individual or cultural biases.
However, the timeless wisdom of the Vedic scriptures, as presented by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), reveals a profound and comprehensive understanding of the Supreme Absolute Truth – Lord Sri Krishna. Far from being an ordinary man or a mythological figure, Krishna is the eternal, all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of all that exists.
The Bhagavad-gita, an essential scripture for understanding Krishna’s divine nature, declares: “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me.” (Bhagavad-Gita 10.8) This establishes Krishna as the original cause of all creation, the reservoir of all opulences, and the basis of everything that we perceive as reality.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead
According to the teachings of ISKCON, God is referred to as the Supreme Personality of Godhead or Krishna. “Of entities, I am the Lord, the witness, the Supreme Self, the basis of all that exists.” (Bhagavad-Gita 9.18) He is the eternal, all-attractive, all-powerful, and all-knowing source of everything that exists. “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me.” (Bhagavad-Gita 10.8)
The Absolute Truth
Krishna is described as the Absolute Truth, comprising three aspects: Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. “The Personality of Godhead is perfectly depicted in the Vedic literature.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.28) This is exemplified in the story of Lord Krishna exhibiting His universal form to Arjuna, revealing His opulences as the Supreme Absolute Truth. (Bhagavad-Gita 11.9-11.32)
The Source of All Emanations
“It is I who am the creator of the entire cosmic manifestation.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.58) This is seen when Krishna reveals to Brahma how innumerable universes emanate from the pores of His transcendental body. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.11)
God as per Scriptures
Here are references about Krishna from the scriptures:
- “Krishna, who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.”
- Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.1.1:
“O my Lord, Sri Krishna, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Sri Krishna because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. - In the Mokṣa-dharma section of the Mahābhārata, Krishna also says,
prajāpatiṁ ca rudraṁ cāpy
aham eva sṛjāmi vai
tau hi māṁ na vijānīto
mama māyā-vimohitau
“The patriarchs, Śiva and others are created by Me, though they do not know that they are created by Me because they are deluded by My illusory energy.”
- Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita 10.8: “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.”
The three absolute energies of Krishna, help explain the nature of the soul, the distinction between matter and spirit.
God as per Acharya Declaration
ISKCON follows the teachings of acharyas like Lord Chaitanya who declared: “Krishna is the Lord of all, the Supersoul of every living being, and the Supreme Truth from whom everything emanates.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 5.142)
God Seen by Realized Souls
In the pastimes of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), his profound vision and deep devotion to Krishna were evident in his ability to see the presence of Krishna in everything around him. Prabhupada’s spiritual realization allowed him to perceive the divine hand of Krishna in all aspects of life, from the beauty of nature to the interactions between individuals. His unwavering faith and connection to Krishna enabled him to see beyond the material facade and recognize the underlying spiritual essence that permeates all existence. Through his teachings and example, Prabhupada inspired countless followers to cultivate a similar vision of seeing Krishna’s presence in every moment and every being, thus deepening their own spiritual connection to the Supreme Lord.
God is Equal Yet the Controller
Krisha as a simple Gopa, played with equal level with His friends and as the Supreme controller controls all the demigods as Supreme Lord Visnu. Though the supreme controller, the Lord remains equally disposed towards all, as exemplified when He assured the gopas (cowherds) that He is no one’s subordinate, yet no one is superior to Him either. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.32-33)
The All-Attractive Lord
The Supreme Lord possesses unlimited transcendental qualities that attract all living beings. “It is the Lord’s internal potency that is saturated with the condensed spiritual bliss.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.34) The attractive nature of the Lord is depicted in the Srimad-Bhagavatam’s description of Krishna’s transcendental beauty and pastimes that captivate even the mind of the mother of the universe, Srimati Radharani. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.33.2-5)
God is All-Spiritual
“The Supreme Lord is situated in pure goodness.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.23) This was revealed when the Lord appeared before mother Yasoda, who could perceive His cosmic universal form comprised of pure spiritual energy. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.34-38)
There is No One Above God
Krishna is the ultimate object of worship, being the all-pervading source of everything. As declared in the Srimad Bhagavatam, “Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme Soul, the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Brahman.” No one is equal or superior to Him. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28)
God is God Always
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it is demonstrated how Krishna, as the supreme personality of Godhead, always displays His divine nature in countless ways. One such instance is when Krishna, as a child, released the two sons of Kuvera, named Nalakuvara and Manigriva, who had been cursed to become trees. Despite appearing as a playful child, Krishna’s action of freeing them from their curse reveals His omnipotence and compassion. This account emphasizes that Krishna is not bound by worldly limitations and is always in control of the universe, showcasing His divine nature as the ultimate Godhead.
In the cosmic drama of existence, Lord Sri Krishna stands as the supreme actor, director, and ultimate reality – the fountainhead of all spiritual and material worlds. His divine pastimes, as revealed in sacred texts like the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad-gita, offer a breathtaking glimpse into His transcendental nature, wherein He displays inconceivable potencies, opulences, and qualities that defy mundane comprehension.
Yet, Krishna’s supremacy is not merely a theoretical concept; it is a tangible, experiential reality that can be realized through the process of bhakti-yoga – the science of developing pure love for the Supreme Lord through devotional service. By sincerely embracing this path under the guidance of ISKCON’s teachings, one can gradually awaken their dormant love for Krishna and experience the sublime bliss of an eternal, loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Indeed, Krishna is not just another religious figure or philosophical concept – He is the all-attractive Supreme Absolute Truth, the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss. Recognizing and surrendering to His supreme position is the highest perfection of life, the ultimate goal of all spiritual pursuits.
As the Vedic scriptures declare, “There is no truth superior to Lord Krishna.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.14.23) May we all embark on this sublime journey of self-realization, guided by the timeless wisdom of ISKCON, to attain the supreme perfection of life – loving devotional service unto the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
