Q.1 How is God pragat (ever-present) in the Satpurush? If God is present everywhere, how can we limit Him to just being present in the Satpurush?
A. God: Physically Present on Earth

It is a fundamental belief of Hinduism that God is ever-present in everyone, everything, and everywhere. Yet, God cannot be physically seen in things like a tree, a chair, or even one’s brother for that matter. This is because God’s omnipresence is beyond the physical perception of the mind and senses. The Hindu scriptures provide a clear explanation on this matter. They guide the aspirant to the physical forms of God on Earth. The scriptures direct the aspirant to offer his devotion to these physical forms of God.
According to the Hindu scriptures, the presence of God is felt more or less according to the purity of the entity. For example, more light shines through a clear-glass light bulb than an opaque light bulb. Similarly, the Hindu scriptures state that due to their purity, God’s presence can be felt most completely in the God-realised Satpurush and in the murtis of God that he has installed in the mandirs.

God: Guides through the Satpurush

Because they are made out of stone or metal, the ceremoniously installed murtis of God appear to the non-believer to be just inanimate statues. However, God resides completely in these murtis. By offering prayers and devotion to the murtis of God, one does attain peace of mind and experience the bliss of God. However, the murtis do not give direct spiritual guidance to keep the aspirant on the path to God. This task of direct spiritual guidance is fulfilled by the God-realised Satpurush in whom God resides. The Shrimad Bhagwat states that, “One can offer one’s devotion to God through the Satpurush, as well as receive spiritual guidance and also be freed from one’s sins. (9:9:6)”

Identifying the Satpurush

It must also be clarified that this ‘God-realised Satpurush’ is not any ordinary person. The 11th canto of the Shrimad Bhagwat clearly states the virtues and spiritual state that such a God-realised Satpurush possesses. There are many people who falsely claim to be the Satpurush for selfish and deceitful reasons. Keeping these criteria in mind, one has to examine a person very carefully over a period of time before accepting him as the true God-realised Satpurush in whom God resides.

Q.2 Sometimes in extolling the guru doesn’t it seem that God is being belittled?
A. The guru plays an essential role in Hinduism. The guru is ultimately the one who leads the aspirant to God. In the Shrimad Bhagwat, Kapildev Bhagwan has said to his mother Devhuti:

Prasangam-ajaram pasham-atmanaha kavayo vidhuhu |
Sa eva sadhushu kruto moksha-dvaram-apavrutam ||
Shrimad Bhagwat (3:25:20)

Meaning, if a person maintains profound love towards the Ekantik Sadhu of God (the Guru) just as resolutely as he maintains profound love towards his own relatives, then the gateway to liberation is open for him.

Accordingly, the guru is the key to liberation for the aspirant if the aspirant develops profound love for the guru. But how can one develop profound love for the guru? Devotionally honoring the guru and singing his praises are ways that the devotee can develop more profound love for the guru. However, Shriji Maharaj has stated in the Vachanamrut, that an aspirant wishing to develop profound love with the Satpurush always obeys his each and every command. Only when the devotee is attached to the guru will he be able to detach himself from the world and attach himself to God. For this reason, all over India on Guru Purnima, Ashad sud 15, aspirants perform the pujan of the guru by rituals honoring the guru as well as singing shlokas from the Guru Gita praising the guru. One such prominent shloka is listed below:

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshvara
Gurur shakshat Parabramha tasmai shriguruvenamaha

The Guru is Brahma. The Guru is Vishnu. The Guru is Shiv. The Guru is God (Parabrahma). We bow to such a Guru.

Since God resides in the Satpurush (the guru) completely, it is not wrong for the devotee to praise the guru. For example, by praising the queen one does not belittle the king in anyway. Why? One praises the queen because of her relationship with the king. Similarly, by extolling the guru because of his relationship with God, one is not belittling God, because by praising the guru one is in fact praising God.

Q.3 How can I meet Pramukh Swami Maharaj?
A. Even at the age of 89, and with numerous health problems, Pramukh Swami Maharaj still constantly travels from city to city and village to village throughout the world to spread the message of social and religious harmony. Wherever he goes, he meets aspirants and inspires them to lead a God-centered life according to the ideals and beliefs of Hinduism. At the same time, he also advises the aspirants on their personal, social, or spiritual matters by personally meeting them and answering their letters.

In order to find out where Pramukh Swami Maharaj currently is, contact your local BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha mandir or Satsang center, whose contact information can be found in the Global Network section of www.swaminarayan.org.