God As Puruṣottama - The Supreme Personality of Godhead
When studying the Vedic literatures, one encounters many names for the Absolute Truth. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the highest and most complete understanding of God is encapsulated in the name Puruṣottama. By analyzing this specific name, we can understand the Lord's position as the ultimate enjoyer, the supreme authority, and the highest object of pure devotional service.
The Best of All Living Entities
To understand the name Puruṣottama, Śrīla Prabhupāda breaks down its Sanskrit roots. Puruṣa means "the enjoyer" or "the person," and uttama means "the best" or "the greatest." Therefore, the Lord is not an impersonal void or a formless energy; He is the supreme, transcendental person. He is the master of the material world and is never controlled by material nature.
- The Lord is here (in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.20.27) addressed as akhila-purusottama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord of the entire creation. purusa means "the enjoyer," and uttama means "the best."
- Lord Visnu is the master of this material world, and there is no question of His being controlled by material nature. Consequently, He is addressed here (in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.20.27) as purusottama, the best of all living entities - namely visnu-tattvas and jiva-tattvas.
- The Lord is known as Purusottama because He is transcendental to both material and spiritual existence. That He is the cause of all causes means that He is the cause of the spiritual world and of the material world as well.
- The Padma Purana explains: The same Personality of Godhead, Purusottama, the original person, who is always devoid of material qualities and contamination, can exhibit Himself in various forms and at the same time lie down in one form.
Beyond Brahman and Paramātmā
Many philosophers mistake the impersonal Brahman effulgence or the Paramātmā (Supersoul) as the ultimate truth. Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently corrects this by explaining that Puruṣottama is the source of both. Just as the sun's rays are secondary to the sun globe itself, the impersonal energy is secondary to the original Supreme Person.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Purusottama, is above both impersonal Brahman and the partial realization of Paramatma.
- Although Paramatma and Brahman are subordinate to Bhagavan, because Bhagavan is Purusottama or the Superperson, He is the source of the Supersoul also.
- They (the impersonalists) should know that the rays of the sun are secondary to the sun, and similarly the impersonal gigantic form of the Lord is also secondary to the personal form as Purusottama. The Brahma-samhita (BS 5.38) confirms this statement.
- The Maha-Visnu, throws His glance over prakrti, or material nature, but the Purusottama existed even before that. The Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad therefore confirms the statement of the Bhagavad-gita that Lord Krsna is the Supreme Person (Purusottama).
The Supreme Authority and Sanctioner
Because Puruṣottama is the greatest person, He is the ultimate authority. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that when Arjuna was bewildered on the battlefield, he specifically addressed Lord Kṛṣṇa as Puruṣottama to hear definitive answers from the highest source. Furthermore, while Puruṣottama sanctions the activities of all living entities, He remains aloof and is never acting merely as our servant or "order-supplier."
- Arjuna has addressed the Supreme Lord as Purusottama, Supreme Personality, which means that he was putting these (Bhagavad-Gita 8.1) questions not simply to a friend but to the Supreme Person, knowing Him to be the supreme authority able to give definitive answers.
- Whatever we are getting for our sense enjoyment, that is with the sanction, the Supreme Person. The paramatma feature is madhyama purusa. He is purusottama.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Purusottama, only gives them a chance to act according to their desires. Therefore, the living entities act by taking advantage of the facility given by the Lord.
- God is great, and He cannot be simply an order supplier of the individual selves; therefore the Superself cannot be a full representation of the Supreme Self, Purusottama, the Absolute Personality of Godhead.
Unmotivated Service to the Supreme Person
Since Puruṣottama is the absolute highest truth, the goal of life is to serve Him without any material motives. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that pure devotional service (anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam) is meant exclusively for Puruṣottama. By reviving our eternal relationship with Him, we can end our material existence and return to the spiritual world.
- Anyabhilasita-sunyam: (CC Madhya 19.167) he (a devotee of God) has no desire to fulfill by rendering devotional service. Such devotional service is meant for the purusottama, the Supreme Personality, and not for anyone else.
- Purusottama, the greatest, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, or Lord Visnu, is always worshiped by others. Prthu Maharaja therefore decided to engage in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Visnu.
- For everyone living as a householder in one of the higher social orders (brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya), this worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Purusottama, the original person, is recommended as the only auspicious path.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully concludes that our natural constitutional position is to be with the Supreme Person. By understanding the absolute supremacy of Puruṣottama, transcending both the impersonal Brahman and the localized Paramātmā, the pure devotee ultimately returns home, back to Godhead, to enjoy eternal life with the sanātana-puruṣa, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
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 God As Purusottama. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.