This is in continuation of my article ‘Hindus Shradha:” An Unbreakable Faith Of Hindutva” Part 1,2,3 were published on September 12th,13th, and 15th, 2021

In my last article, I mentioned how Bhagwan Krishan has preached Arjun about Shradha/Faith. In this article too, I will continue Shree Krishna teaching about Shradha.

There are countless devotees around us engaging in devotion toward our Devatas (Celestial Gods), with unflinching Shradha and wonder, how people develop such high Shradha/Faith in the form of worship.

Shree Krishna Bhagwan

In Chapter 7 (Jnana Vijnana Yog) of Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna says that “He is the creator of the Shradha/Faith in the celestial gods as well“. When Krishna finds devotees worshiping the devatas for the fulfillment of their material desires, He helps them in their devotion and steadies their Shradha. The ability to create Shraddha or faith is beyond the capacity of the celestial gods; it is the indwelling Paramatta or the Supreme Soul who inspires Shradha /Faith in the hearts of the devotees. 

यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्त: श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति |
तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ||7.21||

yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śhraddhayārchitum ichchhati
tasya tasyāchalāṁ śhraddhāṁ tām eva vidadhāmyaham

Whatever celestial form a devotee seeks to worship with Shradha/Faith, I steady the Shradha/faith of such a devotee in that form

Our eternal parent Bhagwan/God is aware of our ignorance. Hence, when Bhagwan finds that some souls engage in worship of the celestial gods for material gains, He helps them by steading their faith. He is aware that this experience will help in the evolution of the soul, and once they acquire true knowledge that the Supreme Lord is the summum bonum or the highest good of everything, they will surrender to Him.

Shree Krishna further reiterates in the same chapter that the celestial Gods can grant wishes if Bhagwan/God permits it. Krishna emphasis the word Labhate means “to obtain.” Shree Krishna has the capacity to fulfill the material desires of their devotees as they have full Shradha on him. The devotees with mediocre understanding may think that they have obtained their desired material objects by pleasing the devatas (celestial gods). Bhagwan Krishna has also mentioned that being Supreme Lord can facilitate everything in this universe.

स तया श्रद्धया युक्तस्तस्याराधनमीहते |
लभते च तत: कामान्मयैव विहितान्हि तान् || 7.22||

sa tayā śhraddhayā yuktas tasyārādhanam īhate
labhate cha tataḥ kāmān mayaiva vihitān hi tān

Endowed with Shradha/Faith, the devotee worships a particular Devata (Celestial God) and obtains the objects of desire. But in reality, I alone arrange these benefits.

In Chapter 9 (Raja Vidhya Yog) of Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna continued to preach Arjuna on Shradha. Bhagwan/God told him that his devotees are also endowed with Shradha/Faith, and they may have their supplications answered by the Devatas (Celestial Gods). Krishna mentioned that devotees don’t realize that the Devatas (Celestial God) beings receive their powers from Himself.  Hence, they also worship the Supreme Divine Personality, albeit indirectly. 

येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विता: |
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ||9.23||

ye ’pyanya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ
te ’pi mām eva kaunteya yajantyavidhi-pūrvakam

 O son of Kunti, even those devotees who faithfully (Shradha) worship other gods also worship Me. But they do so by the wrong method.

In Chapter 12 Bhakti Yog, of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna Ji said that “Bhagwan/God is perfect and complete, and is the possessor of unlimited energies”.  Bhagwan’s personality is replete with Divine Names, Forms, Pastimes, Virtues, Associates, and Abodes.  However, He is realized in varying levels of closeness, as the Brahman (formless all-pervading manifestation of God), the Paramatta (the Supreme Soul seated in the heart of all living beings, distinct from the individual soul), and Bhagavan (the personal manifestation of God that descends upon the earth).

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते |
श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मता: ||12.2||

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
mayy āveśhya mano ye māṁ nitya-yuktā upāsate
śhraddhayā parayopetās te me yuktatamā matāḥ

The Blessed Lord said: Those who fix their minds on Me and always engage in My devotion with steadfast Shradha/Faith, I consider them to be the best yogis.

Shradha/Faith is connected with “Enthusiasm and Confidence”. Shradha flourishes energy within humans without which humans may feel dull. The disgrace of commitment will become low. It is right to say that “The more Shradha one has, the more chances are there for his progress”. Humans are not intrigued just in ostensible conviction, as though confidence were a sincere belief with little pertinence to one’s lives.

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