Leela (लीला)
Leela (लीला | līlā) refers to the Divine actions and pastimes of God and God-realized Saints.
God's Leelas may appear contrary to His inherent Divine nature. God is beyond Maya and is not subject to material hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, or other material limitations. Yet when He descends into the world, He eats, drinks, sleeps, plays, grieves, longs, and performs other actions that may appear human.
These actions are not pretense. Through Yogamaya Shakti, God genuinely experiences these sentiments while remaining eternally beyond Maya.
God performs Leelas to give pleasure to His devotees and, at times, to set an example for Maya-bound Jeev to follow.
God-realized Saints are also governed by Yogamaya Shakti rather than Maya. They too may perform actions that outwardly appear material without being materially affected or bound by them. Their actions are therefore also called Leela.
Related Concepts
Go Deeper
- Does the Desireless God Actually Desire? — Explore how God can experience Divine desires and sentiments while remaining eternally complete and desireless.
- If God Is Everywhere, Why Does He Cry to Meet You? — Explore how God can genuinely long for His devotee.
