Who can be called Bhagvan?
Maharishi Parashara was the author of many ancient
Indian texts. He is accredited as the author of the first Purana, the Vishnu
Purana, before his son Vyasa wrote it in its present form. He was the grandson
of Vasishtha, the son of Śakti Maharṣi, and the father of Vyasa.
ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य वीर्यस्य यशसः श्रियः।
ज्ञान-वैराग्ययोश्चैव षण्णां भग इतीरणा॥
aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya
yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ
jñāna-vairāgyayoś caiva ṣaṇṇāṁ
bhagam itīṅganā
The term ‘Bhagavan’ or God, is
thus defined by Parasara Muni as one who is full in six opulences—
1.
who has unlimited strength
2.
fame
3.
wealth
4.
knowledge
5.
beauty and
6. renunciation.
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Prashar Lake with blue and clear waters is held sacred to the sage Prashar and he is regarded to have meditated there.
*** At a distance of 65 km from Kullu, 51 km from Mandi and 103 km from Manali, Prashar Lake is a beautiful lake situated at an altitude of 2730 m in Mandi district.
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This is a very simple but comprehensive
definition of God or Bhagavan. In fact, the etymological meaning of the word
Bhagavan is “one who possesses all opulences” (bhaga – opulences; van –
one who possesses).
While Shri Kṛṣṇa was
present on this earth, He displayed all six opulences. Therefore great sages
like Parāśara Muni have all accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
And as far as the strength of Krishna is concerned, He demonstrated superhuman acts such as the
lifting of the Goverdhan Hill and killing of Puthana and other demons even as a
child. No one in history could ever match His strength
Further, Krishna’s fame is spread all over the world. People in every part of the world know
about Krishna, even 5000 years after He wound up His pastimes on this planet.
Thus His fame surpasses that of any other.
As such no one can equal the richness of Krishna since everything belongs to Him. As a king he builds 16,108
palaces for each of his wives. An ordinary man can-not maintain one wife.
Krishna’s wisdom is acclaimed all over the world. What he spoke
in less than an hour to Arjuna, in the battlefield of Kurushetra, became the
summary of all Vedic literature. We study it as Bhagvad Gita.
His beauty is legendary. Every one is attracted to
his form even today.
Krishna’s renunciation is demonstrated by the fact that although He
has created this world, He is not attached to it. We are born in this world for
a few years and during that temporary period we claim many things as our own.
Thus His renunciation is unparalleled and hence He is worshipped by great sages
and renouncers. All his girl-friends (gopis) in Vrindaan and 16,108 wives could
not agitate him.
- Lord Ram also qualifies in the above definition and displays all the six
opulence. In fact all the avtars or incarnations
of Vishnu that the scriptures identify
are all ‘Bhagvan’.
- Sometimes people use this term for any great personality like Narad Muni,
Valmiki etc. if they display any one of the above opulence. But, that is more
out of respect than anything else. They are not Bhagvan.
- We must not consider Devtas to be Bhagvan. None
of our scriptures accept it.
- The trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are considered to be equal in certain Panths (sects). They use
this term for all three of them.
- But generally Lord Shiva is called Mahadev.
This is the definition of Bhagavān. There are many rascals who advertise themselves as Bhagavān. Sometimes certain people show some magic or jugglery and fool innocent public. We must be aware of them and reject them as fraud immediately.
Maharishi Parashar
is credited with being the seer of many verses of Rig Veda, compiler of Parashara Smṛti & Vishnu Puran. He is also the compiler of many foundation texts on astrology, botany & medicine.
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Vyasdev and Bhagvad Puran's Perspective
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Vyasdev is the
compiler of all the Vedas and the Puranas. He also wrote the Bhagvad Puran to
guide the general mass of people who cannot understand the complicated Vedic
literature. Let us see what this scripture says.
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute
Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and
destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly
conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent….. (Bhagavad Puran
1.1.1)
Shri krishna is
Supreme God Himself.(Bhagvad Puran 1.3.28)
 | Trimurti at Elephanta cave, from between the 9th and 11th
centuries |
The Supreme Person is
indirectly associated with the three modes of material nature(tree guna),
namely passion(rajas), goodness (satva) and ignorance(tamas), and just for
the material world’s creation, maintenance and destruction He accepts the
three qualitative forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. Of these three, all human beings can derive
ultimate benefit from Viṣṇu, the form of goodness (satva). (Bhagavad Puran 1.2.23) Śukadeva Gosvāmī said:
Thus questioned by the most affectionate Uddhava, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme
controller of all controllers, who takes the entire universe as His plaything
and assumes the three forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva, began to reply, lovingly displaying His all-attractive
smile. (Bhagvad Puran 11.29.7)
Thus lord Shiva and Bramhaji can also be worshiped
as Bhagvan. And one will not go wrong by worshipping them as such.
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