Which Brahma are you? – My WordPress

The story of Lord (Lord means a type of controller) Brahma (considered by Hindus to be the engineer of the universe—he is called the creator god, but he really is putting together the supplied ingredients for planets, stars and all the soul’s material bodies) going to visit Krishna at Dvarka, India 5,000 years ago, is one of my favorite stories for reminding me of my insignificance.

I think of this story when I am confused with other Karnamritas. I get email for Karnamrita dasi the singer, and I get asked if I wrote the biography of Gaura-kishora das Babhaji, or other books. I am reminded of my dear friend Dr. Garuda who has to distinguish himself from another Garuda who is active on-line.

So which Karnamrita am I? That is a great question with superficial and deep answers. Who are any of us?

My guru, Shrila Prabhupada initiated 3 disciples with the name of Karnamrita das, and I am the middle one. So I could answer that I am the insignificant servant of Prabhupada (with one big head of fluff) who was initiated in Los Angeles in August 1970, or I could say I am the husband of Archana-siddhi the well-known devotee therapist and BTG author, or the I am the pujari, or I am the energy healer, counselor, etc. We all have so many ways in which we may be know or designated that are to our liking or not.

So which Karnamrita am I? That is a great question with superficial and deep answers. Who are any of us?

Lord Brahma is greeted by Krishna’s doorman in Dvarka at one of his palaces and asks,

“What is your name so I may tell Lord Krishna who has come, desiring his audience.”

“I am his devotee (Bhakta) Brahma,” was the reply.

Brahma may have wondered how the doorman didn’t recognize him by his four heads, but perhaps this doorkeeper was inexperienced. He assumed that many other demigods came to visit Shri Krishna in Dvarka, so perhaps the doorkeeper wanted to make sure he didn’t make a mistake.

After some time, the doorman returned and asked another question to the anxious Brahma, “Which Brahma are you?”

With the appearance of the doorman, Brahma was expecting to be let in. Thus he was taken back by the question and puzzled over the meaning. His great intelligence from his four heads was bewildered. What kind of a question was this? As far as he knew he was the only Brahma, so were there others? Brahma is not a man of few words, yet he found himself speechless in confusion.

Finally, he came up with a reply.

“I am the four-headed Brahma, the father of the four Kumaras.”

Soon he was escorted in through the incredibly opulent palace to the room where the regal Krishna was sitting comfortably on a royal throne.

Upon seeing Lord Krishna, Brahma offered him obeisances and appropriate worship, and then Shri Krishna honored him with welcoming words. He inquired from Brahma about the nature of his visit.

Brahma replied that he would tell him about the nature of his visit after Krishna helped with a doubt.

Brahma questioned the Lord thus, “Why did you ask which Brahma had come? Kindly tell me the purpose of such an inquiry. Are their other Brahmas besides me in this universe?

Krishna smiled at Brahma’s words and in meditation called all the Brahmas from the infinite universes. Immediately unlimited Brahmas arrived with their various numbers of heads. Some had ten, some twenty heads, fifty, a hundred a thousand, some ten thousand, one hundred thousand, some ten million and one hundred million. Their was no counting the number of heads.

Also arriving from each universe were the various manifestations of Lord Shiva with unlimited heads, and King Indras (Zeus) with thousands of eyes on their bodies.

Beholding the unlimited opulences of Krishna and feeling dwarfed by the manifestation of other Brahmas, our universe’s Brahma felt like a rabbit amidst many elephants.

I love what Brahma says next, “There are people who say, ‘I know everything about Krishna.’ Let them think in that way. As far as I am concerned, I do not wish to say very much about this matter. O my Lord, let me say this much. As far your opulences are concerned, they are all beyond the reach of my mind, body and words.” [SB 10.14.38]

The “Law of Contrast” is very important for all of us. Thinking of those greater than our self can help us to realize our true position, as tiny and insignificant. We all have a little bit of “Isha” or controlling power, yet in comparison to the many powerful people on this planet what is our position? Then there are the devas, and the Supreme Isvara, Lord Shri Krishna.

We are never the doer, but have to be empowered to do even simple things—what to speak of large accomplishments? We may appear great or devout to others and have influence, power, bhakti, wealth, education, good looks etc, yet as devotees, we have to remember that whatever opulence or Krishna consciousness we have been blessed with are given to us for service, not for any selfish purpose. We are all on the path of realizing this fact: We are givers or servants, not takers or masters.

As it is said in the Christian tradition, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” And for those of us living in America, Prabhupada told us something like, “What is the use of being American if you don’t do something wonderful.” We could easily say that for all devotees of Krishna. What is the use of being a devotee, unless we do something wonderful or become wonderful?

Being wonderful means being a pure devotee imbued with Prema, or at least making steady progress in Bhakti and sharing what we have to our utmost capacity. As a Gaudiya Vaishnavas I believe that the best use of our life energy is to chant the maha-mantra or the Hare Krishna mantra (which focuses the mind on God) purely and engage in devotional service to whom we consider the most intimate form of God, Krishna. We do our best to obtain perfection in love (Prema), and the results come by Krishna’s mercy (Krishna kripa).

So which Brahma (or small controller or creator) are you?