Few thoughts on the way devatā are depicted in Indian TV-film
1. Devatā do not have corporeal body. They are essentially antahkaraNa-based entities (sūkshma than bhautik body but jaDa than pure chètanā).
They do not frolick around in their halls watching humans etc.
1. Devatā do not have corporeal body. They are essentially antahkaraNa-based entities (sūkshma than bhautik body but jaDa than pure chètanā).
They do not frolick around in their halls watching humans etc.
2. The most essential aspect of having a bhautik body (5-mahābhūta, their tanmātra and Indriya of origin) is the presence of vivèka-buddhi.
The discriminatory intellect (which enables us to perceive dvaita - mine-not mine, me-not me) is very sharp while we are dèhadhāri.
The discriminatory intellect (which enables us to perceive dvaita - mine-not mine, me-not me) is very sharp while we are dèhadhāri.
3. Without bhautik body, there is awareness yes. But there is no vivèka-buddhi. Hence after our departure from this body, we too lose that quintessential ability
Without vivèka-buddhi, there is no “choice” (of performing karma)
Devatā too essentially are choice-less
Without vivèka-buddhi, there is no “choice” (of performing karma)
Devatā too essentially are choice-less
4. Being “choiceless” (may be a bad translation of nirvikalpa) has its own implications. Primarily, it is very difficult to “initiate action/karma”.
Not impossible. Because hiraNyagarbh brahmadéva creates existence by means of sankalpa alone. But it is very difficult.
Not impossible. Because hiraNyagarbh brahmadéva creates existence by means of sankalpa alone. But it is very difficult.
5. Showing this on TV is, I agree, difficult. Plus we tend to believe vishNu or shiva roam around and chitchat with their wives and/or other devatā like we do with ours in our home during this lockdown. 😀
6. But that is not the case. VishNu (or shiva or gaNapati or devi or Sūrya) is not “human”. Shrirāma or Shri KrishNa is. But vishNu isn’t. Hence when depicting the “Sakala-bhavana-vāsī”, due care is never taken.
7. To their credit, they tried it in opening scene of vishNu-purāNa where they showed sūrya born out of eyes, moon out of heart (where to show mind) etc. It is purusha-sukta.
But thereafter they reduced to stri-purush, class-struggle etc (manu’s story) which killed it for me
But thereafter they reduced to stri-purush, class-struggle etc (manu’s story) which killed it for me
8. Once we understand this “nirvikalpa” ness or devatā we will know why Brahmadèva or Shankara or any and all other dèvatās keep giving boons to trouble-makers.
Because there is no choice of not giving boon. Boon by devatā is natural and unchangeable consequence of their karma
Because there is no choice of not giving boon. Boon by devatā is natural and unchangeable consequence of their karma
9. Lastly - there is huge lack of understanding when it comes to terms like saguNa and nirguNa.
SaguNa = with form
NirguNa = formless
is an ERRONEOUS understanding.
vishNu is formless and all pervading. But yet saguNa.
only pure chètanā is nirguNa (ie puruSha).
SaguNa = with form
NirguNa = formless
is an ERRONEOUS understanding.
vishNu is formless and all pervading. But yet saguNa.
only pure chètanā is nirguNa (ie puruSha).
