A Devotee Wants to Offer His Respectful Worshiping Feelings
This article explores the fundamental nature of loving devotion, as explained in the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda. In the material world, conditioned souls constantly seek to acquire and enjoy. However, the awakened spirit soul desires the exact opposite: to offer everything to the Supreme Lord. By understanding the proper etiquette, purity, and spontaneous desire to offer prayers and service, one can directly experience the blissful reciprocation of Kṛṣṇa.
The Foundation of Devotion
Vaiṣṇavism is defined by the conscious shift from wanting to enjoy the material world to wanting to serve and be enjoyed by the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that our real constitutional position is to offer everything to Kṛṣṇa. This intense desire is entirely independent of material circumstances. In the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, there is a factual account of a poor brāhmaṇa who had no money but mentally wanted to offer the most brilliant arcana worship, proving that pure devotion relies solely on consciousness.
- Our philosophy is different. We do not wish to become enjoyer. We want to be enjoyed. That is our real position. We want to serve Krsna. We want to offer everything to Krsna.
- We want to serve Krsna. We want to offer everything to Krsna. We do not want to enjoy anything ourself. That is Vaisnavism.
- A devotee wants to offer his respectful worshiping feelings; thus he wants to see the two-handed or four-handed Krsna form so he can reciprocate in loving service with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, there is a story... Not story. Fact. It is described there that one brahmana - he was a great devotee - he wanted to offer very brilliant service, arcana, in the temple worship. But he had no money.
The Etiquette of Offering
When approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee must learn the proper etiquette of offering. Just as one would ask a respected guest what they would like to eat, a devotee must offer Kṛṣṇa exactly what He requests in the Vedic scriptures, such as a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water. Furthermore, because God is all-pure, the offering must be pure and made with love. Even the poorest person can satisfy Kṛṣṇa if they sincerely want to offer something with devotion.
- If I go to your house, and if you want to offer me something to eat, you will ask me what I wish to eat. That is the etiquette. So similarly, we have to offer Krsna what Krsna likes to eat.
- If you want to offer me something, you inquire that "What shall I offer you? What do you like?" Similarly, if you invite Krsna to live in your house or temple, then you should ask Krsna, "Sir, what can I offer You?" Krsna said, patram puspam phalam toyam.
- If you want to offer to God, then - God is all-pure - the things you offer, that must be pure.
- If you are very, very poor man, you have nothing to offer to Krsna, but you want to offer something. So Krsna says - All right. Offer Me a little fruit, little flower.
Offering Prayers and Obeisances
Upon realizing the presence of the Supreme Lord or recognizing His divine representatives, a pure devotee instinctively wants to offer respectful obeisances and heartfelt prayers. Even if a devotee is a mere child like Dhruva Mahārāja and lacks sufficient knowledge or experience, the Lord is fully satisfied by their sincere intent. Great personalities like Kardama Muni and Bali Mahārāja practically demonstrated this standard by immediately wanting to offer their full respects the moment they perceived the Lord's supreme position.
- Although Dhruva Maharaja was a small boy, he wanted to offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in suitable language. But because he was inexperienced, he could not adjust himself immediately.
- Dhruva was only a child. He wanted to offer nice prayers to the Lord, but because he lacked sufficient knowledge, he hesitated.
- When Kardama Muni understood that his son, Kapila, was Visnu Himself, he wanted to offer his obeisances. Therefore, when Kapila was alone he offered his respects and expressed his mind.
- When Vamanadeva appeared before Bali Maharaja, Bali Maharaja immediately wanted to offer Him respectful obeisances, but he was unable to do so because of the presence of Sukracarya and other demoniac associates.
The Reciprocation of Loving Offerings
The desire to offer service to Kṛṣṇa is never one-sided; it invokes a profound, loving reciprocation. When devotees repent their past mistakes, as the brāhmaṇas did, they deeply yearn to personally offer their obeisances. Furthermore, the Lord is so pleased by these loving sentiments that He often wishes to offer His devotees immense benedictions in return. Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva wanted to offer Prahlāda Mahārāja an entire kingdom, and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu affectionately wanted to offer Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya first-class food, demonstrating the supreme sweetness of spiritual exchange.
- The brahmanas repented their sinful activities. They wanted to go personally to offer their obeisances unto Him, but being afraid of Kamsa, they could not go to Krsna and surrender unto Him.
- The history of the Jagannatha temple in Mahesa is as follows. One devotee of the name Dhruvananda went to see Lord Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra at Jagannatha Puri, wanting to offer food to Jagannathaji that he had cooked with his own hands.
- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also wanted to offer Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya first-class food; therefore, out of affection, He had the servers put first-class food on his plate again and again.
- Upon the death of Prahlada's father, Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva wanted to offer Prahlada his father's kingdom and even wanted to grant him liberation from material bondage, but Prahlada accepted neither.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the ultimate perfection of human life is to replace our desire to exploit the world with the desire to offer everything to God. When we cultivate the proper etiquette and purity, our offerings—no matter how simple—become a direct medium for exchanging love with Kṛṣṇa. By submissively offering our prayers and taking shelter of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, we enter into an eternal, reciprocal relationship with the Supreme Lord, Who generously rewards His devotees with unlimited spiritual bliss.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Wanting to Offer. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.