Why the Worshiper of the Demigods is Less Intelligent
Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly evaluates the position of demigod worshipers based on the philosophical conclusions of the Bhagavad-gītā. He explains that individuals who worship various demigods are driven by deep-rooted material desires and are thus described by Lord Kṛṣṇa as being bereft of intelligence, for they trade eternal spiritual life for temporary worldly gains.
The Root of Material Desires
The primary motivation for approaching demigods is material attachment. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that when the mind becomes distorted by lusty desires, a person seeks immediate fulfillment and therefore takes shelter of various demigods instead of surrendering to the Supreme Lord.
- As stated in Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.20), kamais tais: when one worships demigods, this is certainly because of deep-rooted desires he wants fulfilled by the mercy of those demigods. People are generally attached to the worship of demigods for some motive.
- Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.
- BST remarks in this connection (worshiping Krsna or Caitanya without worshiping the other) that atheist smartas, or worshipers of the five kinds of demigods, worship Lord Visnu for a little satisfaction in material success but have no respect for LCM.
Temporary Benedictions and Perishable Destinations
Any reward obtained within the material universe is subject to destruction. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that because the demigods themselves are part of the cosmic manifestation, their benedictions—as well as the worshipers who receive them—will ultimately vanish at the time of universal annihilation.
- The boons of the demigods are material and temporary. Both the material worlds and their inhabitants, including the demigods, and their worshipers, are bubbles in the cosmic ocean.
- The results achieved by the demigods' benedictions are perishable because within this material world the planets, the demigods and their worshipers are all perishable.
- The Bhagavad-gita says that the worshipers of the demigods are bereft of intelligence; their process of worship is very difficult, and at the same time the result obtained is flickering and temporary.
- The intelligent person is in Krsna consciousness, and he has no need to worship the paltry demigods for some immediate, temporary benefit. The demigods of this material world, as well as their worshipers, will vanish with the annihilation of this material world.
Ignorance of the Supreme Lord
Many people wrongly assume that all paths lead to the same goal and that demigods are independent competitors of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda refutes this by explaining that demigods are merely parts of the universal body of Lord Viṣṇu, and it is a sign of poor intelligence to try to supply food to the body through the ears or eyes rather than the stomach.
- Can anyone supply food to the body through the ears or eyes? They (worshipers of the demigods) do not know that these demigods are different parts of the universal body of the Supreme Lord.
- Worshipers of the demigods are less intelligent because they don't know to what part of the body food must be supplied. Some of them are so foolish that they claim that there are many parts & many ways to supply food. This isn't very sanguine.
- In their ignorance they (worshipers of the demigods) believe that each and every demigod is a separate God and a competitor of the Supreme Lord.
- In the Vedas the worship of different demigods and the performance of sacrifice are certainly, mentioned, but such worship is inferior because the worshipers do not know that the ultimate goal is Visnu.
The Ultimate Destination
The laws of nature dictate that a worshiper achieves the specific realm of the deity they worship. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while demigod worshipers are promoted to higher material planets, they remain bound by the cycle of birth and death, whereas pure devotees directly enter the eternal spiritual kingdom.
- It is clearly stated that the worshipers of demigods go to different planets in the material world, but the devotee of the Supreme Lord goes directly to the supreme planet of the Personality of Godhead.
- The Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.25) says, The worshipers of the demigods will be promoted to the respective planets of the demigods, but devotees of the Supreme Lord will go back home, back to Godhead.
- It is clear that as long as a living entity is a worshiper of a particular demigod, his consciousness is absorbed in thoughts of that demigod, and therefore he cannot get direct liberation, or entrance into the kingdom of God.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda systematically deconstructs the value of demigod worship, revealing it to be a path for those with limited intelligence and strong material attachments. Because the demigods themselves are part of the temporary cosmic manifestation, any boons they offer are destined to perish, leaving the worshiper entangled in the cycle of birth and death. Furthermore, such worshipers lack the true knowledge that all demigods are simply components of the Supreme Lord’s universal form. The ultimate tragedy of this path is that it prevents the soul from achieving liberation. To attain eternal life and true satisfaction, one must direct all devotion to the root of existence—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa—thereby guaranteeing an eternal return to the spiritual world.
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 Worshiper of the Demigods. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.