Category:Taking Shelter of the Demigods
Theme Analysis
Taking shelter of the demigods is identified by Śrīla Prabhupāda as a symptom of spiritual bewilderment, characteristic of those driven by material desire and situated in the lower modes of nature. Drawing from the Bhagavad-gītā and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he establishes that the benefits obtained from demigod worship are inherently temporary and insufficient for the soul's ultimate liberation. True surrender belongs exclusively to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source and shelter of all demigods and the only one capable of delivering the soul from the ocean of material existence.
- Bewilderment and Temporary Rewards: The Bhagavad-gītā characterizes those who take shelter of demigods as alpa-medhasām — men of small intelligence — who, bewildered by material desire and situated in the modes of ignorance and passion, worship lesser powers for temporary material benefits. Such persons do not approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead and remain bound to the cycle of repeated birth and death.
- Scriptural Warnings and the Folly of Demigod Shelter: Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly warns that seeking the shelter of demigods in distress is as futile as trying to cross an ocean by holding the tail of a dog. The Bhagavad-gītā (BG 7.20) confirms that those driven by greed and lust forget the Supreme Lord and seek lesser deities, and the pure Vaiṣṇava ācārya Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura declares unequivocally that genuine bhakti demands complete abandonment of all such shelter.
- Illustrative Narratives from Śāstra: Specific episodes from the Purāṇas demonstrate the inadequacy of demigod shelter with vivid clarity. When Durvāsā Muni was pursued by the Sudarśana cakra, not a single demigod could protect him; when Arjuna momentarily doubted Kṛṣṇa's power, he mistakenly considered approaching Lord Śiva; and demonic personalities like Śālva misused demigod shelter purely to advance their destructive intentions.
- Exclusive Surrender to Kṛṣṇa as the Only True Shelter: Śrīla Prabhupāda affirms that one who desires to cross the ocean of nescience must seek the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead alone. Lord Viṣṇu is Himself the shelter of all demigods, and among the six symptoms of śaraṇāgati is the firm conviction that Kṛṣṇa alone is one's maintainer. Given Kṛṣṇa's infinite compassion, gratitude, and omnipotence, there is no rational basis for abandoning His shelter for any lesser power.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Taking Shelter of the Demigods Versus Directly Surrendering to Kṛṣṇa.
Pages in category "Taking Shelter of the Demigods"
The following 27 pages are in this category, out of 27 total.
A
- A Krsna conscious man does not take shelter of any person - man or demigod. Whatever he does in Krsna consciousness is sufficient in the discharge of his obligation. BG 1972 purports
- Anta-vat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam: "Less intelligent men take shelter of the demigods due to bewilderment and are satisfied with the temporary benefits they award"
H
- Hariscandra had no son and was therefore extremely morose. Once, therefore, following the advice of Narada, he took shelter of Varuna and said to him "My lord I have no son. Would you kindly give me one?"
- He (Arjuna) thought that since Krsna could not give protection to the brahmana, it was better to take shelter of Lord Siva. This is another instance of how a person takes shelter of the demigods
I
- If a dog is swimming in the water and one wants to cross the ocean by catching hold of the dog's tail, certainly he is foolish. Similarly, if in distress one seeks shelter of a demigod, he is foolish, for his efforts will be fruitless
- If you want to go to the higher planetary system, you can go. Then take shelter of the demigods, worship Indra, Candra, Varuna. They are trying to go to the moon planet, but one cannot go there unless he's qualified to go there
- It is said in the Bhagavatam that less intelligent people who have lost their spiritual sense take shelter of demigods for immediate fulfillment of material desires. BG 1972 purports
L
- Less intelligent men also take shelter of demigods and only derive benefits which endure for a limited period. Thus their religious principles and the benefits derived therefrom are only temporary
- Lord Visnu is the personified reservoir of all religious principles, and He is the shelter of all the demigods, the great pitas, and the people in general
O
- One who desires to cross the ocean of nescience should not seek the shelter of any demigod or anyone else but the fearless shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- One who wants to establish a good dynasty and be happy in the progress of temporary bodily relations should take shelter of the Pitas and the demigods in other pious planets
S
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Encouraged by the words of the sages, Indra killed Vrtrasura, and when he was killed the sinful reaction for killing a brahmana (brahma-hatya) certainly took shelter of Indra
- Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has said, anya-devasraya nai, tomare kahinu bhai, ei bhakti parama-karana: if one wants to become a pure, staunch devotee, one should not take shelter of any of the demigods or -goddesses
T
- Taking shelter of demigods, even those in the highest positions, like Brahma and Siva, is not advised herein. One should take shelter of the Supreme Godhead
- The chaste and very beautiful Sukanya could not distinguish her husband from the two Asvini-kumaras, for they were equally beautiful. Not understanding who her real husband was, she took shelter of the Asvini-kumaras
- The Krsna consciousness movement can very easily point out such foolish persons (persons who take shelter of the demigods), for they have been indicated in Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.15)
- The word atma-medhasa is used to indicate that by his (Durvasa Muni's) personal experience he would understand how great a Vaisnava the King was. When Durvasa Muni was chased by the Sudarsana cakra, he wanted to take shelter of Lord Brahma and Lord Siva
- There are six symptoms of surrender: (4) One should have the conviction that Krsna is one's maintainer, and one should not take shelter of any demigod for maintenance
- This is explained in the Bhagavad-gita: kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante ’nya-devatah (BG 7.20). "A person who loses his intelligence because of greed and lust forgets the Supreme Personality of Godhead and takes shelter of the demigods"
- This is the mantra by which the inhabitants of Plaksadvipa worship the Supreme Lord. Let us take shelter of the sun-god, who is a reflection of Lord Visnu, the all-expanding Supreme Personality of Godhead, the oldest of all persons
W
- When Ravana came to kidnap mother Sita and she saw him, she took shelter of the fire-god, Agni. The fire-god covered the body of mother Sita, and in this way she was protected from the hands of Ravana
- When the Sudarsana cakra attacked Durvasa Muni, he fled in fear of the weapon and sought shelter from all the great demigods in heaven. Not one of them was able to protect him, and therefore Durvasa Muni prayed to Lord Visnu for forgiveness
- Whoever fully surrenders unto Krsna can be saved from the cruel hands of material nature. The conditioned soul, however, sometimes wants to take shelter of a demigod, man-made god, pseudo incarnation or bogus svami or yogi