Why ishvara cannot be hidden?

What we say in vedanta is universe is of names and forms and behind names and forms is the reality.
Here it assumes that the thing with name and form whatever it may be is at first , we already know it.

Honestly we dont know anything. When we say any word, we only say the word, and know its meaning, but what is it? Do we have a word for what it is?

For eg: When we say tree, we know the tree form and trees function, but what is tree, then we get another word wood, what is wood we get another word cellulose, we keep on going into further names and forms, maybe atoms, then even smaller we say protons, even smaller then bosons, then we are simply limited by how much we can measure smallness.

Hence we never ever really know what the tree IS.

We have a word for anythings form, and its name and its meaning, which indicates its function, but do we have a means of knowledge for the very thing itself.

We DO have some vedantic words, such as truth. Or existence. Of course tree exists. Lets look at the same sentence differently, can we say existence has treeness.  ;)

We also have another vedantic word, jnanam, the truth of a known thing or of the knower.
A tree is a known thing. A flower is a known thing. But when we say tree or flower, we arent talking about the thing itself, rather we are talking about name and form of the thing.

Mere presence, itself, the universe itself, the thing itself, the reality itself, that which IS itself, for that which IS itself, we dont seem to have a word, but shAstra gives a word. Shastra calls it brahman, the non dual, that which is all, that which has various names and forms saguna brahman or ishvara.

But that which has a name and form is itself free from all names and forms, such as a clay is free of potness or mugness or jugness. hence truly speaking it is nirguna brahman.

Same way as that which IS, is free,That which I am is free.After I am also is a name and form and function w.r.t body mind.

I am free from all names and forms, from my own body mind.

In fact I am the truth of all things, that are called with a name and a form or just a name and a function. I am brahman which is ishvara.

It appears to be hidden, only due to ignorance, only ignorance can hide ishvara. What is here is ishvara, then how it can be hidden, only way is for someone to say I dont know what it is.

 That I dont know alone can hide it as though. I dont know makes the person say, It is, but what is it?
The knowledge reveals that the It and the searcher are one and the same

The seeker is what is sought.

5 features of bhakti

Blind thoughtless, emotional frenzy in the name of bhakti.
Therefore bhakti has been nowadays misunderstood as some kind of an emotional frenzy only.

Since this meaning has deviated from the original concept of bhakti found in the scriptures, it is worth knowing the important features of bhakti as visualized in our scriptures.

5 such important features of Bhakti --

1. Reverential appreciation of ishvara or bhagavan, as the cosmic intelligence behind the universe, because of which there is order, harmony and natural functioning of the entire universe of things and being.

Vedas our original scripture define this cosmic intelligence beautifully as the eternal, all pervading and the inherent intelligence, or consciousness principle. Since it is eternal all pervading, there is no specific form for ishvara. Which means ishvara should not be mistaken as a person, residing somewhere , with limbs like a human being. Such a specific form is not there for ishvara. Veda defines ishvara in several places and in mundaka upanishad , definition is given.

Bhagavan is the cosmic intelligence, for whom there are no limbs like eyes and ears, hands legs etc. Therefore reverential appreciation of this intelligence not in one place, but as inherent in the entire universe, is the first feature of bhakti.
And even though bhagavan in his original nature is formless, but for meditation, scriptures themselves give provisional form, for the sake of worship, but we should remember they are only provisional and temporary forms, to appreciate the formless one. Getting stuck and emotionally lost in any particular form, this kind of obsessive bhakti is considered an obstacle to transcending a form.
But later bhagavan should not be appreciated in one place, but must be recognized as the invisible intelligence pervading everywhere.

2. Reverential appreciation of the very universe itself, The universe must be the physical body of the lord, just as I am the conscious principle inherent in the entire body, bhagavan is the conscious principle inherent in the entire universe. Therefore appreciating the universe as vishvarupa ishvara. Not confining him to an idol, a photo or as a particular picture. And this reverential appreciation of the world is very very important. Because as even our appreciation of the whole universe consisting of good and bad, when I learn to reverentially appreciate my attachment and aversion will get diluted. Vishvarupa bhakti is the most important attitude which will help us reduce our attachment and aversion, which is more important for emotional balance . Neither attachement nor hatred, only attitude I have is reverential appreciation.
If the universe is called shiva, and visnu what is the difference?
Therefore the one who has called real bhakti, will not differentiate different forms. There is no question of comparison. Whichever compares deities, I will go to visnu and not shiva, strongly criticizes.

3. Reverential appreciation of ishvara as the source of the vedas, our primary scriptures.

Brhdaranyaka upanisad says. all the vedas, are like the breathing come out of the lord, bhagavan along with this creation has given out the scriptures also, this appreciation is very very important for a bhakta. Without scriptures we have no way of knowing god himself. All our instruments of knowledge are not able to come across or discover ishvara, indicating that bhagavan is not accesible using human instruments, if I have to know bhagavan only source is the scriptures, because god has given the scriptures to know bhagavan. In the absence of scriptures there is no possibility to know god. Therefore bhagavan is the source of the scriptures. Thats why we chanted dakshinamurit stotram. For a bhakta third feature is reverential appreciation of bhagavan as the source of scriptures.

4. Reverential appreciation of the scriptures themselves as a gift from the lord, which is very very important for a bhakta as a guidemap for his life. A bhakta is one, who uses bhagavans scriptures a guide map for his life. I should have full faith and trust in the validity of scriptures and that is why for developing the reverence, daily they had brahmayagna, means worship of the scriptures themself, a bhakta should not confine to worship of bhagavan only, but he should worship scriptures themself as a gift from the lord, as the GPS. In lives journey bhagavan has given Gods positioning system, I will use scriptures as my guide. Brahma yagna means veda yagna.

Nowadays the importance of scriptures is coming down, traditional bhakti includes worship of scriptures and using the scriptures a guide map.

5. Most important features is, if I have to use scriptures as a guidemap, I will have to study the scriptures systematically, so that I can follow the lifestyle and code of conduct given by bhagavan, prescribing the lifestyle and code of conduct, I can be called a bhakta , worth the name, otherwise it becomes a mere Vesham for sometime, to get into an emotional frenzy, bhagavan himself says.

I have instructed all the bhaktas to follow a particular lifestyle and code of conduct through the scriptures, if a bhakta doesnt follow the scriptures, I look upon him as my very enemy, and even though he claims to be my bhakta, he is only a vesha bhakta, he is neither a vaishnava, nor shaiva, therefore the fifth feature of bhakti is systematic study of the scriptures.
And if I have to study the scriptures we do face a difficulty, because the scriptural literature is very vast. Later many secondary scriptures have come, they are called smriti granthas. We dont have time to study the whole thing, therefore in bhagavan in krsna avatara, condensed all the scriptures, bhagavad gita, bhagavan krsna has given as the condensed version of the scriptures, a bhakta who wants to be a true bhakta will have to study the scriptures and follow the instruction given. Scriptures talk about sat karmani, the appropriate actions of the panchamahayagna, and the right values to be followed, wrong habits to be given up, sat karmani, sat gunaH, helathy attitudes all of them a bhakta has to know and he should attempt to follow. Merely doing nama sankeertanam alone, is not traditional, traditional bhakti involves taking instruction from bhagavan in the scriptures, one who follows these instructions are dear to me. Bhakta must be one who cannot afford to hate anyone.
Hatred must be abolished. Like that every value bhagavan gives, we have to follow them.
Reverential study of the scriptures, not only it will help me become a true bhakta, it will remove several misconceptions regarding bhakta, because people dont study scriptures. When it is not informed bhakti, there will be several misconceptions. One of them is bhakta will never have problems in life. Bhagavan will take away all our papa karma, everything will be fine is a big misconception, the scriptures never make such a promise. The prarabdha karma will have to be experienced by everyone. According to the law of karma I should reap the result of my own action,but keep my bhakti intact, so that I will have confidence and courage, with your grace I will be able to conquer. Karmas are going to come.

And the second widely prevalent misconception is, promoted all over in several bhakti programs, everywhere what they promote is this, that a bhakta can get anything, just by sending application from bhagavan. He is exempt from all efforts. Bhagavan is a slave of bhakta, the moment you send the application, instantaneously all the channels will be full of miracle stories only.
Goals can be accomplished only by following appropriate effort in appropriate direction.
Two types of karmas are available, wordly activities and vaidika karma also. Laukika and vaidika karma we would have to put effort.


Bhakti is not a replacement for karma or hard work. if this is not understood and I keep on praying to bhagavan , and then things dont happen, i think that bhagavan will do some miracle, miracle will not happen regularly, since it regularly happen it is not miracle.

Many bhaktas began to question the efficacy of bhakti, many bhaktas , they question the efficacy of bhakti, they question the fairness of god, and the bhakti becomes so fragile and shaky that many bhaktas question the very existence of god. Mere emotional obsession, without scriptural study will be fragile and shaky. Therefore bhakti must be informed bhakti which means study of scriptures is a must. Effort is required to achieve the goal along with bhakti.

And if I need moksa, If a person wants moksa, a bhakta will need appropraite effort.
And what is the effort, the scriptures talk about, the appropriate effort is knowledge alone, real nature of god, world and myself, the truth behind, that truth tattva gnanena, tattvabodhena moksaH bhavati.

Bhakta must to karma for wordly benefits, and gnanam for moksa.

Without spiritual knowledge you can get moksa under one condition, you have to roll the sky like a carpet, and you should roll from one end to another submit to bhagavan.

How does gnanam come? Onlyby studying scriptures, not by giving an application to bhagavan.