God Is Situated - The All-Pervading Yet Localized Absolute
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not bound by physical location. He is entirely capable of being situated in His own transcendental abode while simultaneously pervading the entire cosmic manifestation. This simultaneous localization and all-pervasiveness demonstrates the inconceivable potency of the Absolute Truth.
Situated in His Spiritual Abode
Although God is the source and controller of everything, His primary residence remains in the spiritual sky. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares the Lord's situation to the sun, which remains in one place while illuminating the entire universe with its energies.
- In Bhagavad-gita the Lord says, mat-sthani sarva-bhutani na caham tesv avasthitah: "All living entities are living on Me or on My energy, but I am not everywhere." He is personally always situated in the spiritual world.
- As a fire, although existing in one place, can expand its light and heat everywhere, so the omnipotent Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although situated in His spiritual abode, expands Himself everywhere, in both the material and spiritual worlds, by His various energies.
- The inconceivable energies of the Lord are spread throughout the creation. He is all-pervading, and by His energy He sustains all planetary systems, yet through His pleasure potency He remains situated in His personal abode known as Goloka.
- The supreme cause of all causes, Narayana, is situated in His own abode in the spiritual world, but nevertheless He controls the entire cosmic manifestation according to the three modes of material nature-sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna.
Situated as the All-Pervading Supersoul
While the Lord enjoys pastimes in His supreme abode, He also accompanies every living entity in the material world. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the Lord expands as the Paramātmā, situating Himself in every heart and even within the atoms.
- As indicated in the Upanisads by the word ekatvam, although there are millions and millions of living entities, the Lord is situated as the Supersoul in every one of them. Nonetheless, He is one in many.
- As stated in the Brahma-samhita (5.38), andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham: the Lord is situated within the universe, within the heart of every living entity and also within the atom.
- The Lord in His Paramatma feature is situated within both the heart of the dog and that of a brahmana.
- The two words tasyai kasthayai are very significant. Everywhere, in every direction, in every heart and in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in His features as Brahman and Paramatma.
Situated in Pure Transcendence
When the Supreme Lord descends into the material world, He is never affected by it. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that God is always situated in His internal spiritual energy and is completely free from the contamination of the material modes.
- Although You engage Your energy in matter, You are always situated in Your original form and never fall from that position, for Your knowledge is infallible and always suitable to any situation. You are never bewildered by illusion.
- Although the Lord is connected with the material world, He is always situated in His spiritual energy and is always unattached to the functions of the material world.
- This is not at all astonishing, for the Lord is always situated in pure goodness. Formerly, during creation, He entered the dark universe and illuminated it by His spiritual effulgence.
- The Lord creates this material world by His external energy, but this external energy is in one sense not different from Him. Yet at the same time the Lord is not directly manifest in the external energy but is always situated in the spiritual energy.
Situated in Deity Forms
To give conditioned souls the opportunity to render service, the Lord mercifully situates Himself in the temple. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Deity form is not an idol, but a direct manifestation of the Lord situated locally to accept the love of His devotees.
- In the material world, the Lord is situated in different arca-murtis (Deities) in the temples just to decrease the material activities of the conditioned soul and increase his spiritual activities.
- The Supreme Lord is situated everywhere, and wherever He is situated is His temple.
- This is the omnipotence of the Lord: even though He is situated in His own abode, far, far away from earth, He can extend His hand to accept what anyone offers. That is His potency.
- The dress for the Deity should be first class, the food offered to Him must be first class, and the place where He is situated in the temple must be first class or even more than first class. Furthermore, the temple should always be as clean as glass.
Conclusion
To truly understand the absolute nature of God, one must grasp how He is simultaneously situated both everywhere and locally. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the Supreme Personality of Godhead remains blissfully situated in His eternal abode, Vaikuṇṭha, enjoying spiritual mellows with His pure devotees. At the same time, He is situated within the heart of every single living entity, directing their wanderings, and within the temple as the worshipable Deity to accept their service. Because the Lord is always situated in absolute, uncontaminated goodness, He is completely free from material illusion. A sincere soul who realizes this dual nature of the Lord abandons all material anxieties, understanding that the supreme protector is situated right within their own heart, ready to guide them back to His eternal, spiritual kingdom.
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