The Gita Ch-7. Gyan-Vigyan Yoga. -- Science of Self Knowledge.

.......contd.

"Out of above four types of people the wise and the self-realized are most dear to Me. They offer me daily prayers and are steadfast in their faith in Me. All such noble devotees are my manifest forms, because they have achieved the highest goal of human life. They live a divine life of total surrender to Me". (Verse-17 & 18).

In next verse Lord once again reminds, "After many cycles of births and deaths one isolated soul by following the path of self-knowledge and one pointed devotion, realizes Me. Such a person knows that all gross bodies in this world, (living and non living) are manifestations of Universal Lord Vishnu or Vasudeva. It is very difficult to find such a great soul (Mahatma)". (Verse No 19). 

When one studies the evolution of Hindu scriptures one can easily understand the worship of many Deity Gods and Goddesses which one observes today. All Devas and Devies could be classified into 3 broad groups. 

3 Groups of Devas in Hinduism.

1st group: The Vedic Devas:- Natural elements like the Sun, Moon, Land, Rivers, Mountains, Fire, Air, Water, Trees, Food, Fruits, Seeds etc.,. are worshipped as Gods and Goddesses since Vedic times. 

2nd group: The Upanishad Devas. These are Mothers, Fathers, Teachers and Guests. They must be respected as living Human Devas near us and worshipped daily. These living human Devas help all young children and ignorant students at all places. This is the real cultural heritage of Hinduism. Parents and teachers are looked upon as manifest human Devas (Angles) staying nearby (Upa-Nivasati) in every home. They are nearby Gods and Goddesses and easily comprehensible by average people.

3rd group: These are mystic and imaginary Devas. The idols in Hindu temples of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Rama, Sita, Hanuman, Shiva, Ganesha, Parvati, Kali, Durga, Saraswati etc.,. are imaginary Devas. They personify divine qualities and activities going on in mother nature. These are only a few names out of innumerable Devas and Devies described in the 18 Puranas. These idols give a message that such qualities can be developed by any human being. They symbolize super-human qualities seen in a few males and females. Their qualities, powers, help, and sometimes punishments also can be perceived by 5 senses and experienced by the conscious mind.

Lord says, "Average people, whose intellect and wisdom is covered in layers of worldly desires worship such Devas and Devies. Their actions are guided by some desires. I nourish their faith in these Devas by showing the results of their worship and sacrifices. This increases their faith in idols of the Devas. (Verse 20).

Most people have many desires but are ignorant about One God and true Religion. They worship different Devas and observe some discipline (Niyama) according to the religious beliefs implanted from birth and a genetic mixture of the 3 (Goons) qualities. They worship many physical objects like money (Laxmiji), Trees, Animals, Idols, Gurus and Parents with good faith. 

Lord says "I nourish their faith according to their beliefs, emotions and desires. Equipped with such faiths people worship many deities to get desired results. They have great faith and devotion in these deities". (Verse-21).

"Due to the faith given by Me towards different deities, ignorant people worship them to get desired fruits. This is my perfect design and arrangement". (Verse 22).

"The material results gained by the people of lower intellect are short lived and temporary. Those who worship Devas see the Devas only. But those who try to seek Me, the infinite one, do SEE ME". 

The Devas have limited powers. They give material fruits having short duration. But those who worship One Supreme reach the supreme, and live a long, blissful and eternal life. (Verse-23).

"I am formless, unmanifest and eternal. But ignorant and stupid (Fools) believe my different bodies as my manifest forms. They are unable to know and understand my supreme invisible, eternal and unmanifest form". (Verse 24).

"My divine light is not present everywhere and not visible to everyone. The fools (ignorant people) do not know my hidden divine qualities ever in union with Yoga-Maya. So they are not able to know my unborn and invisible form and hidden divine qualities". (Verse 25). 

The ignorant worshippers do not understand My changeless, perfect and unmanifest form. They believe that I am visible by my Deva Forms only. I am not visible to everyone because of the veil of Maya. Even great Yogis do not understand my Maya. Such lost path Yogis do not know my inborn, immutable and magnificent form nor they know My loving and merciful nature.

"I am eternal Spirit and TIME. Therefor I know all things and beings that existed in the past, exists in the present and will exist in the future; but nobody really knows Me". (Verse-26)

"People at birth (young age) are wrapped in illusions and duality arising from attachments to material objects. The five senses and mind attached to sense objects remain in desires of likes and dislikes (Ragas and Dweshas). (Verse No. 27)

"But those, liberated from the sins arising from above duality live a holy and chaste life. They are My true devotees who are steadfast in their vows of morality, worship only Me ". (Verse No. 28)