Almighty God - The Supreme Maintainer and Object of Devotion
People all over the world generally accept the concept of an Almighty God, recognizing a supreme power behind the wondrous workings of nature. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that simply accepting God as an abstract, powerful force is only the beginning of spiritual understanding. Through the Vedic literature, we learn exactly how the Supreme Personality of Godhead creates and maintains the cosmos, how human society should be organized to satisfy Him, and how this unconquerable Lord can actually be conquered by the pure love of His devotees.
The Supreme Creator and Maintainer
The material world, with its countless stars, planets, and complex ecosystems, is not a product of random chance. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Almighty God is the supreme father and engineer of everything. He effortlessly creates this temporary material exhibition and acts as the ultimate maintainer, kindly fulfilling the desires of all living entities, whether they are liberated or conditioned.
- Here (in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.4-5) the words yathedam asrjad vibhuh clearly indicate that the Supreme, the great, almighty Personality of Godhead, created this entire material world with its different varieties of planets, stars and so forth.
- The material creation is but a temporary exhibition of the material energy of the Almighty God.
- All living entities, both in the conditioned state and in the liberated state, are maintained by the Almighty Supreme Lord.
- The almighty Lord, being very kind to the living entity, as the father is kind to the son, fulfills the living entity's desire for his childish satisfaction.
Prayer for Pure Devotion
Because God is almighty, He can easily grant us immense wealth, power, or fame. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that asking the Lord for temporary material things is a sign of ignorance. To teach us how to approach the Absolute Truth, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left behind His Śikṣāṣṭaka prayers, establishing that the only thing we should beg from the Almighty God is the eternal opportunity to engage in His loving service.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches us in His Siksastaka: O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.
- O Almighty Lord! I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor have I any desire to enjoy beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service in my life, birth after birth.
- The almighty God awards the results we desire, and therefore we should desire that which is eternal, blissful, and full of knowledge. In devotional service we should not endeavor for that which is temporary and useless.
- The almighty Personality of Godhead, by His causeless mercy, descends on the earth and manifests activities almost on the line of the worldly men, but at the same time extraordinarily, because He is almighty.
Spiritual Leadership in Society
A society that forgets its relationship with the Supreme Father will always suffer from chaos and distress. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently stated that the leaders of the world must become conscious of the Almighty God. Whether they are political administrators (kṣatriyas) or spiritual teachers, it is their primary duty to cure the citizens' aversion to God and guide them toward the ultimate goal of self-realization.
- The leaders must know that the real disease of the people in general is their aversion to serve the almighty Godhead, Visnu.
- The ksatriyas, or the ruling administrators of any part of the universe, either on this planet or on other planets, are factually the representatives of the Almighty God, and they are meant to lead the subjects towards the path of God realization.
- If the leadership of world affairs is entrusted to the devotees of God, for which a worldwide organization under the name and style of ISKCON has been started, by the grace of the Almighty there can be a change of heart in human beings all over the world.
- The four classes of good men acknowledge the authority of the Almighty God, and therefore such good men (1) when they are in difficulty, (2) when they are in need of money, (3) when they are advanced in knowledge, intuitively take shelter of the Lord.
Conquering the Almighty with Love
The most beautiful and confidential aspect of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is how the Supreme Lord interacts with His pure devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the faithless challenge God's existence and power, the pure devotees simply love Him. Because Kṛṣṇa is completely bound by the affection of His surrendered servants, the Almighty God willingly allows Himself to be conquered by their pure love.
- The power of King Yudhisthira was loving affection, which the Lord (Krsna) could not deny. The almighty God is thus conquered only by loving service and nothing else.
- Yasoda was astonished (seeing all the universes in Krsna's mouth), but out of deep affection for Krsna she thought that the Almighty Godhead Narayana had kindly looked after her son just to protect Him from all the continuous calamities happening to Him.
- Brahmaji, being so questioned by Naradaji, congratulated him, for it is usual for the devotees to become very enthusiastic whenever they are questioned concerning the Almighty Personality of Godhead. That is the sign of a pure devotee of the Lord.
- The devotee believes in the almighty potency of the Lord, while the faithless say that the Lord is almighty but do not believe it.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly emphasizes that our human life is a rare opportunity provided by the Almighty God. If we misuse this chance by pursuing temporary material illusions, we remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death. However, by humbly engaging in pure devotional service and approaching the Lord with a heart full of love, we can easily attain the supreme shelter of the Almighty and return back home, back to Godhead.
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 Almighty God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.