God Is The Maintainer - The Supreme Sustainer of All
Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly reminds humanity of a fundamental truth found throughout the Vedic literatures: we are not independent. The entire cosmic manifestation, along with the millions of species of life inhabiting it, relies entirely on the supreme maintenance of the Personality of Godhead. Recognizing God as the ultimate maintainer is the beginning of true spiritual intelligence.
The Supreme Maintainer of All
The Kaṭha Upaniṣad declares eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān: there is one supreme eternal who maintains the countless other eternals. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this is the primary distinction between the Supreme Lord and the ordinary living entities.
- According to the Katha Upanisad, the one Lord is the leader of the innumerable living entities. The living entities are maintained by the Lord (eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman). The Lord is called the supreme Bhuta-bhrt, or maintainer of all living beings.
- What is the difference between God and ourself? God is also a living entity like us, but He's the chief living entity. He's maintaining all others. Therefore we have to ask God, "Give us our daily bread." He's the maintainer.
- One living being is providing, maintaining all other living beings. So our position is being maintained by God and God is maintainer. Our position is being predominated and God is predominator.
- In the dictionary, English dictionary, God means Supreme Being. So Supreme Being, He's also living being. He's not a dead stone. The difference is that He is the maintainer, and we are maintained. He is the ruler; we are ruled.
Viṣṇu: The Maintainer of the Universe
In the management of the material world, the Supreme Lord empowers different deities for creation and destruction, but He personally assumes the role of maintainer. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that this administrative function of Lord Viṣṇu is a display of His supreme mercy.
- Sthana: the maintenance of the universe by the Personality of Godhead, Visnu. Visnu’s function is more important and His glory greater than Brahma’s and Lord Siva’s, for although Brahma is the creator and Lord Siva the destroyer, Visnu is the maintainer.
- Siva is one of the many sons of Brahma, and he annihilates the creation. Therefore the original creator of the universe is Visnu, and He is also the maintainer of the created beings by His causeless mercy.
- Ksirodakasayi Visnu is the universal form of the Lord and is the Supersoul within every living entity. He is known as Ksirodakasayi because He is the Lord who lies on the ocean of milk. He is the maintainer and master of the universe.
- The Visnu who is the plenary portion of the Garbhodakasayi Visnu is the Supersoul of the universal life, and He is known as the maintainer of the universe or Ksirodakasayi Visnu.
The Transcendent Sustainer
Although the Lord permeates the entire cosmic manifestation as the Supersoul and maintains everything from the planets down to the individual atoms, He is never entangled. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Lord's maintenance is purely transcendental.
- The Lord explains this fact (everything happens by His supreme will): although He is the maintainer and sustainer of all material manifestation, He does not touch this material manifestation.
- The Supersoul is the original source of all senses, yet He is without senses. He is unattached, although He is the maintainer of all living beings. He transcends the modes of nature, and He is the master of all modes of material nature.
- He has all the six opulences in full and beyond comparison, He is the master of material nature, His intelligence is not broken under any circumstances, and He stands aloof, although He is the maintainer of the whole creation.
- The Supreme Lord is the leader and maintainer of all living entities. His pastimes are transcendental to any material activity. Such pastimes of the Lord cannot be dragged to the level of the conditional activities of the living entities.
The Duty of the Maintained
Because the living entity is entirely sustained by the Lord, claiming false independence is a symptom of illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the only sane response to the Lord's boundless maintenance is to offer Him loving service and sacrifice.
- Everyone should engage in devotional service to the Supreme Lord, who is the maintainer of this whole universe.
- The Lord is the supreme maintainer. Living entities are meant to serve Him by offering sacrifices, for He is the rightful enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices.
- Without the sanction of the Supreme Soul, the individual soul cannot do anything. The individual is bhukta, or the sustained, and the Lord is bhokta, or the maintainer.
- A person who is in perfect knowledge of Vedanta becomes a servitor of the Supreme Lord, who is the maintainer and sustainer of the whole cosmic manifestation.
Conclusion
The illusion of material life is the false belief that we can maintain ourselves independently through our own economic development or scientific advancement. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that whether one is a tiny insect, a human being, or the King of Heaven, everyone is absolutely dependent on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the ultimate bhūta-bhṛt (maintainer of all living beings). Operating seamlessly as the Paramātmā, the Lord supplies the necessary air, water, heat, and intelligence for the entire cosmic manifestation to function, yet He remains eternally aloof and unaffected by it. By recognizing that God is the supreme predominator and the infallible maintainer, a person awakens to perfect knowledge. Abandoning the futile struggle for independent existence, the wise soul gratefully dedicates their life to the loving devotional service of the Lord, knowing that the supreme maintainer always gives special protection to His surrendered devotees.
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 Is The Maintainer. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.