Category:Affection for Devotees of God
Theme Analysis
The relationship between the Supreme Lord and His devotees is defined by a transcendental reciprocity of affection. In this category, Srila Prabhupada explains that while God is generally neutral and equal to all living beings, He exhibits a specific "partiality" or special affection for those who surrender to Him. This divine affection manifests as the Lord personally giving direction from within the heart or appearing in His arca-vigraha form. Conversely, the devotee's affection is characterized by an expansion of love—not only for God but for all other devotees and living entities. This mutual exchange transforms ordinary familial affection into spiritual service, as seen in the examples of the gopis and Kunti Devi.
- Divine Partiality: Although the Lord has no friends or enemies, He is naturally affectionate to His pure devotees, favoring them like a father favors his children.
- Signs of Advancement: A key symptom of an advanced devotee is genuine affection for God-brothers and all living entities, transcending sectarian or material boundaries.
- Transformation of Love: When affection is directed toward Krsna, even parental attachment (as seen in the cowherd men) becomes transcendental, exceeding the love for one's own biological children.
- Reciprocation: The Lord responds to the devotee's love by appearing personally or acting as the Supersoul to remove ignorance and provide guidance.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Reciprocal Nature of Affection for Devotees of God.
Pages in category "Affection for Devotees of God"
The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total.
A
- Affection for God-brothers is nice, it is a good sign. Affection for God-brothers as well as for all other living entities, even they are not God-brothers, these signs are seen in the advanced devotees
- Although Duryodhana knew that the two generals (Bhisma and Drona) had some sort of affection for the Pandavas, he hoped that all such affection would now be completely given up by them, as was customary during the gambling performances. BG 1972 purports
- Although the cowherd men and cowherd women previously had more affection for Krsna than for their own children, now, for one year, their affection for their own sons continuously increased, for Krsna had now become their sons - SB 10.13.26
- As your (Kamsa's) younger sister, this poor girl Devaki is like your own daughter and deserves to be affectionately maintained. You are merciful, and therefore you should not kill her. Indeed, she deserves your affection - SB 10.1.45
I
- In displaying their (the gopis') affection, they had distinguished between Krsna and their sons, but now that distinction disappeared - SB 10.13.25
- In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that the Lord, being equally disposed toward every living being, has no enemies and no friends but that He has special affection for a devotee who always thinks of Him in love
P
- Prahlada Maharaja offered this prayer to the Lord for the sake of his father. As a Vaisnava son, despite all the inconveniences imposed upon him by his father, he could not forget his father's affection
- Previously, from the very beginning, the gopis had motherly affection for Krsna. Indeed, their affection for Krsna exceeded even their affection for their own sons - SB 10.13.25
T
- The actions of the Lord to favor His devotees are not disqualifications but signs of His natural affection
- The devotees worship all these forms (Lord Rama, Baladeva, Sankarsana, Narayana, Maha-Visnu and so forth) according to their liking, and the Lord, out of His affection, presents Himself as arca-vigraha
- The kind Supreme Personality of Godhead, due to His affection for His devotees, appeared before King Nabhi in His unconquerable and captivating form with four hands
- The Lord is equal in behavior to all living beings, but He is partial to His pure devotees, being very affectionate toward them. The city of Dvaraka was flourishing, being enriched with the best of things in the material world