Elevation to the Heavenly Planets - A Pure Devotee's Indifference
The Vedas contain vast sections dedicated to improving one's material condition both in this life and the next. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while fruitive workers strive tirelessly for elevation to the heavenly planets, a pure devotee completely rejects such temporary rewards in favor of eternal service to the Supreme Lord.
The Allure of Fruitive Sacrifices
For those lacking complete spiritual knowledge, the prospect of ascending to higher planetary systems is deeply attractive. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the Vedas offer flowery promises and specific ritualistic sacrifices designed to elevate pious individuals to the realms of the demigods.
- Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to the heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, and so forth.
- In the Vedas many sacrifices are recommended for elevation to the heavenly planets, especially the jyotistoma sacrifices.
- Thus on the strength of their pious merit, they are elevated to heavenly planets. Actually those who perform sacrifices strictly according to Vedic injunctions are elevated to the moon and planets above the moon.
- After performing various sacrificial rituals for elevation to the heavenly planets, the karmis go there and enjoy themselves with the demigods to the extent that they have obtained the results of pious activities - Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.10.23.
The Temporary Nature of Heavenly Opulence
The fundamental defect of heavenly planets is that they are still within the material universe. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that regardless of the immense longevity and material prosperity found on these higher planets, the karmī must inevitably return to the lower planetary systems once their pious credits are exhausted.
- Suppose if one performs a ritualistic ceremony and is elevated to the heavenly planet, Satyaloka, Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka . . . there are so many higher planets, up to Brahmaloka. But Krsna says, he has to come back again.
- If you want to go to the higher planetary system where the demigods live, you can go. Therefore the karmis, by performing Vedic ritualistic ceremonies, they want elevation to the higher planetary system where the prolongation of life is very, very big.
- King Barhisman was engaged in different types of sacrifice for elevation to the heavenly planets. People generally are attracted by these activities, and very rarely is a person attracted to devotional service, as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirms.
- Even from material prosperity, if one is situated in the modes of goodness, then he can be elevated to the higher planetary system - Svargaloka, Janaloka, Maharloka, Tapoloka, Brahmaloka, Satyaloka.
The Pure Devotee's Detachment
Those who have tasted the nectar of the holy names lose all appetite for material sense gratification. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that a pure devotee is never interested in the flowery promises of the Vedas or the opulence of the demigods, considering such heavenly elevation to be a complete waste of time.
- A pure devotee is never interested in elevation to the heavenly planets, even though such places are extremely dear even to the demigods.
- A pure devotee who has been trained in the practice of chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord and His fame, qualities, form, paraphernalia and so on is never interested in elevation to the heavenly planets.
- Such devotees are not interested even in so-called liberation, and they certainly have no interest in material activities for elevation to the heavenly planets for sense gratification.
- When a devotee is situated on the platform of santa-rasa, he desires neither elevation to the heavenly planets nor liberation. These are the results of karma and jnana, and the devotee considers them no better than hell.
The Supreme Goal Beyond Heaven
The consciousness of a pure Vaiṣṇava is entirely fixed on the lotus feet of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that because devotees are fully satisfied in their loving service, they view the heavenly planets, impersonal liberation, and even the hellish planets as being on the exact same insignificant level.
- A person who is a devotee of Narayana is not afraid of a hellish condition, because he considers it the same as elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation. The devotees of Lord Narayana are accustomed to seeing all these things on the same level.
- Elevation to the heavenly planets, liberation from material bondage, and condemnation to hell are all equal to the devotee. The devotee's only desire is to be attached to the lotus feet of Krsna and to engage in His transcendental loving service.
- Inhabitants of Vrndavana never desired anything like elevation to the heavenly planets or merging into the effulgence of Brahman to become one with the Absolute Truth because of their great desire to love Krsna.
- Maharaja Nabhi is so desirous of having a son that he is worshiping You for a son, although You can offer him any exalted position, including elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation back to Godhead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully delineates the stark difference between the aspirations of fruitive workers (karmīs) and the desires of pure devotees. The karma-kāṇḍa sections of the Vedas certainly provide a scientific method for elevation to the heavenly planets, offering immense material prosperity, prolonged life, and the association of demigods in realms like Svargaloka and Brahmaloka. However, this path is ultimately a grand illusion; because these planets remain within the material universe, the residents are inevitably forced to fall back down once their pious merit is exhausted. Recognizing this fatal flaw, a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa entirely rejects the flowery promises of fruitive sacrifice. Trained in the sublime process of chanting and hearing the holy names, the devotee views heavenly elevation, impersonal liberation, and hellish condemnation with equal indifference. Their consciousness is firmly anchored beyond the material cosmos, desiring only to eternally serve and satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the pure, unalloyed spirit of Vṛndāvana.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Elevation to the Heavenly Planets. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.