God Began - The Eternal Pastimes and Cosmic Actions
The Supreme Absolute Truth is not a static entity; He is the supreme energetic actor who continually initiates cosmic manifestations and eternal pastimes. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when we read that God "began" to act, we are witnessing the dynamic, personal nature of the Lord, who consciously engages in diverse activities for the ultimate benefit of all living entities.
Initiating Creation and Guidance
The Lord's activities commence at the very origin of the universe and continue continuously within the heart of every individual. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Kṛṣṇa begins the cosmic creation at the start of each millennium, and as the Supersoul, He actively begins to guide any soul who takes up the path of self-realization.
- O son of Kunti, at the end of the millennium all the living entities merge into My nature, and again when the time of creation is ripe, I begin creation by the agency of My external energy.
- As the individual soul begins the process of devotional service and gradually begins to develop his Krsna consciousness, the Supersoul who is seated within begins to help him dust all the impurities from the mirror of the mind.
- Satam gatih, the path of the eternal, is very interesting to persons who are after liberation, and His Lordship Kapila began to speak about that path.
- To begin, the Lord says that by yoga practice one can make progress towards understanding the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Sweetness of Childhood Pastimes
When the Lord descends to Vṛndāvana, He perfectly plays the role of an ordinary child to exchange love with His pure devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how the residents of Gokula were immersed in transcendental bliss when Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma began to crawl, walk, and playfully tend the small calves.
- After a short time passed, both brothers, Rama and Krsna, began to crawl on the ground of Vraja with the strength of Their hands and knees and thus enjoy Their childhood play.
- Within a very short time both Rama and Krsna began to walk very easily in Gokula on Their legs, by Their own strength, without the need to crawl - SB 10.8.26.
- Not far away from Their residential quarters, both Krsna and Balarama, equipped with all kinds of playthings, played with other cowherd boys and began to tend the small calves.
- When Baladeva saw this attachment (the cows' constant attachment to those calves (Krsna's expansions) that were grown up and had stopped sucking milk), He was unable to understand the reason for it, and thus He began to consider.
Exhibiting Supreme Power
The Lord's actions also demonstrate His inconceivable strength and ability to play any role flawlessly. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that whether the Lord assumes the form of a gigantic boar who begins searching for the earth, or as Balarāma who begins dragging an entire city, His prowess remains absolute and unmatched.
- Since He had assumed the form of a boar, He began to search out the earth by smelling, just like a hog. The Lord can perfectly play the part of any living entity.
- He (Balarama) stood up steadily and, taking His plow in His hand, began striking the earth with it, separating the whole city of Hastinapura from the earth, and then He began to drag the city toward the flowing water of the river Ganges.
- Immediately upon entering the Talavana, Balarama began to yank the trees with His arms, exhibiting the strength of an elephant. Because of this jerking, all the ripe fruits fell down on the ground.
- Lord Sankarsana, with His thousands of raised hoods, began to radiate an effulgence from the glowing stones on His head.
Inaugurating the Saṅkīrtana Movement
Five hundred years ago, the Supreme Lord descended to begin the most magnanimous spiritual movement in history. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates, out of deep compassion, began dancing, preaching, and touring to inundate the entire world with the ecstatic love of God.
- Seeing the activities of the world, the Acarya (Advaita) felt compassion and began to ponder how He could act for the people's benefit.
- When Lord Nityananda returned to Bengal to preach the cult of bhakti, love of Godhead, He began touring all over the country.
- Lord Nityananda Prabhu first influenced all the devotees to dance, and finally He Himself began dancing, thus inundating the entire world in ecstatic love.
- Upon reaching the temple of Bindu Madhava, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, seeing the beauty of Lord Bindu Madhava, became overwhelmed in ecstatic love. He then began to dance in the courtyard of the temple.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Vedic literatures reveal that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is never a stagnant, inactive force, but the dynamic initiator of all cosmic and transcendental events. On a universal scale, the Lord continuously begins the process of creation and actively steps into the hearts of the conditioned souls as the Supersoul, beginning to purify the minds of anyone who turns toward Him in devotional service. Beyond His cosmic duties, the Lord descends to the material world to begin enchanting pastimes that captivate the hearts of His devotees. In the sacred land of Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma delighted Their parents and friends as They began to crawl, walk, and play just like ordinary human children. In other majestic incarnations, the Lord began displays of unimaginable physical power, such as Lord Varāha smelling out the submerged earth or Balarāma dragging the city of Hastināpura. Finally, displaying the absolute zenith of divine compassion, the Lord descended as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and, alongside Lord Nityānanda and Advaita Ācārya, began the saṅkīrtana movement, dancing in ecstasy and touring the land to freely distribute the ultimate perfection of life—pure love of 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 God Began. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.