Thursday, November 18, 2010

BUDDHA WORSHIP?

The impersonalists and the voidists also have to see the form of the
Absolute. In Buddhist temples there are forms of Lord Buddha in meditation,
but these are not worshiped like the forms of the Lord in Vaiñëava temples
(forms like Rädhä-Kåñëa, Sétä-Räma or Lakñmé-Näräyaëa). Amongst the
different sampradäyas (Vaiñëava sects) either Rädhä-Kåñëa or
Lakñmé-Näräyaëa is worshiped. Lord Çiva wants to see that form perfectly, just
as the devotees want to see it. I he words rüpaà priyatamaà svänäm are
specifically mentioned here, indicating that Lord Çiva wants to see that form
which is very dear to the devotees. The word svänäm is especially significant
because only the devotees are very, very dear to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. The jïänés, yogés and karmés are not particularly dear, for the karmés
simply want to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead as their order supplier.
The jïänés want to see Him to become one with Him, and the yogés want to see
Him partially represented within their heart as Paramätmä, but the bhaktas, or
the devotees, want to see Him in His complete perfection. As stated in
Brahma-saàhitä (5.30):
veëuà kvaëantam aravinda-daläyatäkñaà
barhävataàsam asitämbuda-sundaräìgam
kandarpa-koöi-kamanéya-viçeña-çobhaà
govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept at playing on His flute,
whose eyes are blooming like lotus petals, whose head is bedecked with peacock
feathers, whose beauty is tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and whose unique
loveliness charms millions of Cupids." Thus Lord Çiva's desire is to see the
Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is described in this way-that is, he
wants to see Him as He appears to the bhägavatas, the devotees. The
conclusion is that Lord Çiva wants to see Him in complete perfection and not
in the impersonalist or voidist way. Although the Lord is one in His various
forms (advaitam acyutam anädim), still His form as the young enjoyer of the
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gopés and companion of the cowherd boys (kiçora-mürti) is the most perfect
form. Thus Vaiñëavas accept the form of the Lord in His Våndävana pastimes
as the chief form.

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