God Always Exists Alone Without a Second
The Vedic literatures confirm that the Supreme Lord is the ultimate, singular cause of all causes. Before the material creation comes into being, and long after it is destroyed, the Absolute Truth remains intact in His personal form. Yet, out of His boundless desire to share His spiritual bliss, this singular Supreme Person eternally expands into infinite varieties of energies and living beings.
The Original Source of Everything
Before the cosmos existed, there was only the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this existence of the Lord before the creation is confirmed by the śrutis; because everything that be is an emanation from the Personality of Godhead, He always exists alone without a second. In the Vedic hymns it is stated that in the beginning there is only Viṣṇu and that He alone remains at the end. At the time of annihilation, the entire cosmic manifestation enters into the spiritual energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who alone remains as the origin of everything, and the Lord is therefore known as Śeṣa-nāga, as Ādi-puruṣa and by many other names. Confirming this absolute truth, Devakī prayed, "After the annihilation of the whole cosmic manifestation, You alone remain with Your transcendental name, form, quality and paraphernalia."
- This existence of the Lord before the creation is confirmed by the srutis. Because everything that be is an emanation from the Personality of Godhead, He always exists alone without a second.
- In the Vedic hymns it is stated that in the beginning there is only Visnu and that He alone remains at the end.
- At the time of annihilation, the entire cosmic manifestation enters into the spiritual energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Who alone remains as the origin of everything. The Lord is therefore known as Sesa-naga, as Adi-purusa and by many other names.
- Devaki prayed - After the annihilation of the whole cosmic manifestation, You (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) alone remain with Your transcendental name, form, quality and paraphernalia.
The Absolute Expanding into Many
Although the Supreme Lord is one, He chooses not to remain solitary. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that it is confirmed by the Śruti-mantra that the Absolute is one alone, and yet He becomes many as soon as He so desires; these manifold expansions of the Supreme Lord are manifested as plenary and separated portions. In the Vedas it is said that only the Lord alone exists, and all others' existences depend on Him, for He is the generating reservoir for everyone's existential capacity. The Atharva Veda (Mahā Upaniṣad) also states, "Only Nārāyaṇa existed in the beginning, when neither Brahmā, nor Śiva, nor fire, nor water, nor stars, nor sun, nor moon existed. The Lord does not remain alone but creates as He desires." In this connection, Kardama Muni's prayers nullify the impersonalist theory that everything is God, because he clearly says, "O Personality of Godhead, You are alone, but You have various energies."
- It is confirmed by the Sruti-mantra that the Absolute is one alone, and yet He becomes many as soon as He so desires. These manifold expansions of the Supreme Lord are manifested as plenary and separated portions.
- In the Vedas it is said that only the Lord alone exists, and all others' existences depend on Him. He is the generating reservoir for everyone's existential capacity; He is the Supreme Truth of all other categorical truths.
- The Atharva Veda (Maha Upanisad) also states, "Only Narayana existed in the beginning, when neither Brahma, nor Siva, nor fire, nor water, nor stars, nor sun, nor moon existed. The Lord does not remain alone but creates as He desires."
- In this verse (in SB 3.21.19) two important words nullify the impersonalist theory that everything is God. Here Kardama says: O Personality of Godhead, You are alone, but You have various energies.
The Supreme Master and Maintainer
Because all entities emanate from the Supreme Lord, He is the sole proprietor and maintainer of everyone. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the supreme ātmā, or Paramātmā, alone maintains all the individual minute beings, for the Supreme Lord wants to derive pleasure out of their affection. Because the Lord possesses in full the six opulences of wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation, He alone is beyond the spell of material nature. For the living entities struggling in the material world, the conditioned living entity has the defect of being always fearful, but simply by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can rid himself of this defect of material life, and therefore the Lord alone can be addressed as master. Consequently, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.14) concludes that it is the Supreme Personality of Godhead alone who is the master of all devotees, whose name one should always chant and who should always be meditated upon and worshiped regularly.
- The supreme atma, or soul, is the Lord Himself, and the minute atma is the living entity. The supreme atma, or Paramatma, alone maintains all the individual minute beings, for the Supreme Lord wants to derive pleasure out of their affection.
- Because the Lord possesses in full the six opulences of wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation, He alone is beyond the spell of material nature.
- The conditioned living entity has the defect of being always fearful, but simply by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can rid himself of this defect of material life. Therefore the Lord alone can be addressed as master.
- Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 1.2.14): It is the Supreme Personality of Godhead alone who is the master of all devotees, whose name one should always chant and who should always be meditated upon and worshiped regularly.
The Only Worshipable Object
Understanding the Lord's supreme position naturally leads one to direct all worship toward Him. Following the direction of a bona fide guru, a sincere seeker understands that there is no need to separately worship the demigods. Śrīla Prabhupāda references Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, who says, "By scrutinizingly reviewing all the revealed scriptures and judging them again and again, it is now concluded that Lord Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme Absolute Truth, and thus He alone should be worshiped." Similarly, the words sevya bhagavān in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta are important; Bhagavan indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, and Lord Viṣṇu alone is worshipable, meaning there is no need to worship demigods. The Lord Himself says in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.23), "Whatever a man may sacrifice to other gods, O son of Kuntī, is really meant for Me alone, but it is offered without true understanding." Ultimately, when the Lord advises in Bhagavad-gītā to worship Him alone, it is to be understood that worshiping Lord Kṛṣṇa includes worshiping all that is mentioned, because He includes everyone.
- Srila Jiva Goswami says: "By scrutinizingly reviewing all the revealed scriptures and judging them again and again, it is now concluded that Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute Truth, and thus He alone should be worshiped."
- The words sevya bhagavan in this verse of the Caitanya-caritamrta are important. Bhagavan indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu. Lord Visnu alone is worshipable. There is no need to worship demigods.
- The Lord says: "Whatever a man may sacrifice to other gods, O son of Kunti, is really meant for Me alone, but it is offered without true understanding."
- When the Lord advises in Bhagavad-gita to worship Him alone, it is to be understood that worshiping Lord Krsna includes worshiping all that is mentioned, because He, Lord Krsna, includes everyone.
Never Truly Alone
While philosophically God is the single origin, functionally and affectionately He is always surrounded by His entourage. Śrīla Prabhupāda paints a beautiful picture of the spiritual world, stating that a king is always accompanied by his ministers, secretaries and commanders, and Lord Viṣṇu is also accompanied by His followers—the demigods, great sages, saintly persons and so on; He is never alone. Even when viewing a painting or Deity, if it appears that the Lord is alone, it does not mean He is alone. In the highest Vaiṣṇava understanding, devotees do not worship Kṛṣṇa alone without Rādhārāṇī, nor do they worship Rāma without Sītā or Nārāyaṇa without Lakṣmī, because the Lord and the energy must be there. Ultimately, in the spiritual sky there are the very same varieties of pleasure, but they are all meant for the Lord; there the Lord alone is the supreme enjoyer and beneficiary, and all others are enjoyed by the Lord.
- A king is always accompanied by his ministers, secretaries and commanders, and Lord Visnu is also accompanied by His followers - the demigods, great sages, saintly persons and so on. He is never alone.
- Generally the Lord is standing. Anyway it can be done, paint it like that. Even when it appears that the Lord is alone, it does not mean He is alone.
- Vaisnava, they do not worship Krsna alone without Radharani. They do not worship Rama without Sita. They do not worship Narayana without Laksmi, because the Lord and the energy must be there.
- In the spiritual sky there are the very same varieties of pleasure (as material world), but they are all meant for the Lord. There the Lord alone is the supreme enjoyer and beneficiary, and all others are enjoyed by the Lord.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings harmoniously resolve the ultimate absolute paradox: God is exclusively one, yet He is wonderfully many. While the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, exists completely alone before the creation and after its annihilation, He mercifully expands into His limitless energies to manifest the spiritual and material worlds. Because He is the singular generating reservoir for all existences, He alone is the supreme master, the ultimate maintainer, and the exclusive object of our worship. Yet, in His eternal spiritual abode, the Lord is never truly alone; He is constantly surrounded by His divine potencies, like Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and endlessly glorified by His pure devotees, enjoying eternal, transcendental bliss as the sole beneficiary of all sacrifices.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God Alone. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.