The One – Called By Many Names-Parabrahm Parmaatma, Maheshwar
H H Maa Purnananda
“Upadrashtaanumanta Cha Bharta Bhokta Maheshwarah; Parmaatmeti Chaapyukto Deheysminpurushah Parah.” – (Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta – 13/22)
The great Seers have so compassionately shown the Sacred Path of worship and Spiritual practices leading to Self-realization. Knowing the multiple thought-process of human minds, the Seers have introduced multiple forms of the One, Formless, All-pervading and Eternal Brahm, so that each individual may get well connected to at least one particular aspect of Brahm represented by a particular Form attributed to Brahm, although which is without attributes!
Often the devotees get confused when they happen to believe in more than one particular Form of the Formless Brahm, as to whether it is okay to worship many Vigrah-s (Idol) or is it necessary to have only one Vigrah on the Altar of their worship! A sincere study of the Scriptures that explain the symbolism of Idols and the ideals represented by Them, introduced through countless anecdotes, stories and episodes, would be of great help for removing all such doubts from the devotee’s unprepared mind. It will be quite immature on part of human clan to eliminate the whole voluminous world-of-Wisdom contained in the profound Scriptures. It is very important to pass over the ancient Wisdom generation after generation, so that the human society can be driven on the gracious Path of harmonious living and progress towards inner-unfoldment.
Apart from the Rishi's, the great Guru-s of yore have also sung the glory of various Vigrah-s in the moments of Their overwhelming experience of being face-to-face with the Divine. Such is the impact of these Holy Chants that even as the devotee merely repeats the Holy Chants, even he feels closeness to the Divine for a while at least! Those moments of simply being with the God and Goddess of his heart (Ishtadev) while chanting Their glory, are the hard-earned moments of his life; the best moments of life, most peaceful and fulfilling! The external objective happiness is then felt to be absolutely trivial to such a devotee, as compared to the inner joy thus enjoyed by him.
As much the devotee regularly and sincerely continues to worship the Divine, that much more and more he happens to develop closeness to his chosen Deity. His mind that earlier used to hanker for worldly happiness, now remains happier in the Divine company, and sooner or later, stops looking for external happiness. This is the time when the devotee would have to remind himself that his chosen Deity is one of the many Forms attributed to that One Reality, Brahm; and not that That alone is Brahm and other Divine Forms are not! Otherwise, he becomes a fanatic, more conditioned and bound, instead of leading himself towards liberation and Self-realization.
In the given Shlok, the Lord says that Supreme Purush in this body is the Onlooker, the Permitter, the Supporter, the Enjoyer, the Great Lord and the Supreme Self. It all depends upon the individual as to in which way he is able to acknowledge and experience the presence of the eternally present Supreme Self in him.
To make the seekers understand the all-pervasiveness, the omniscience and the omnipotence of the omnipresent Self, all these aspects are addressed with different attributes; as though these are the different multiple roles being played by that One, Singular, Non-dual, Supreme Self.
Similarly, also are presented these above-mentioned aspects in different multiple Forms, each having varied specific attributes, being called by suitable names; for the devotees to worship as specific Vigrah's (Idols), by the practice of particular means and methods. Therefore, it is wisdom to accept all the names, forms and attributes that have been advocated by various Guru-s in the large collection of Holy Scriptures for the convenience and benefit of the seekers and devotees.
It is right to say that whether the devotees call Him as Sree Ram, Sree Krishna, Bhagwaan Shiv, Sree Ishwara, Lord Brahma, Bhagwaan Vishnu or Sree Maheshwar; or, whether the seekers of the Param Purush (Supreme Self) call Him as Parmaatma, Parmeshwar or Parabrahm, all are addressing the One and only, One-without-a-second, self-same, Supreme Self – the Adviteeya Brahm.