Why Did Brahma and Shiv immerse in Divine Love?
Why do Brahmā and Shiv, the foremost authorities on Brahm-gyan, delight in loving devotion to God?
📍 Where You Are in the Inquiry
In the previous article, we examined whether the individual soul becomes Brahm in the absolute sense. The scriptures establish that a Brahm-Gyani may attain Brahm, cross Maya (माया | māyā), and experience Divine Bliss, yet the soul does not become the Supreme Lord.
This raises a deeper question. If Brahm-Gyan grants liberation and Divine Bliss, why do the scriptures show the greatest Brahm-Gyanis longing for the love of Shri Krishna?
Rather than answering this through abstract reasoning, Shri Maharaj Ji directs us toward the testimony of Brahma and Shiv. Their lives reveal what even the highest knowledge comes to recognize when it encounters the sweetness of Divine Love.
Why Should We Listen to Brahma?
The scriptures present Brahma as the creator of the universe, the first recipient of the Vedas, and the first teacher of Brahm-Gyan (ब्रह्मज्ञान | brahmajñāna).
Shri Maharaj Ji explains that Brahma is a treasure house of spiritual knowledge. In the creation, the Vedas were revealed through Brahma. The knowledge that later guides seekers toward Brahm was first expressed through Brahma himself.
Even the greatest human genius cannot fully understand the smallest working of Brahma’s creation without Divine assistance. Human beings do not create new reality. They discover, combine, separate, and rearrange what already exists within creation.
A scientist may discover a hidden principle, but discovery is not creation. Columbus did not create America; he discovered what already existed. In the same way, research uncovers what God has already placed within creation.
Unlike scientists, who discover and rearrange what already exists, Brahma manifested the sun, moon, stars, and everything within his Brahmand without any raw material. Solely through Divine power.
Brahma Longed for the Dust of Braj
And here is a startling fact about the Creator Brahma. The very Brahma through whom the Vedas were revealed desired the footdust of the Gopis and Gops of Braj.
तपस्तप्त्वा सहस्राणि वर्षाणाम् पुनरपि ।
न लब्धं मम गोपीनां पदरेणुं यदिच्छया ॥
tapastaptvā sahasrāṇi varṣāṇām punar api |
na labdhaṁ mama gopīnāṁ padareṇuṁ yad icchayā ||
(Bhagavatam)
"Even after performing austerities for thousands of celestial years, I could not attain the footdust of the Gopis."
Brahma, the first teacher of Brahm-Gyan, did not consider his position, knowledge, or creative power to be the highest object of aspiration. He desired the dust of those simple residents of Braj who were immersed in Krishna’s Divine Love.
Why would Brahma desire this?
To understand that, Shri Maharaj Ji recalls the episode in which Brahma tried to test Shri Krishna.
Brahma Tried to Test Krishna
During Shri Krishna’s descension, Brahma heard that the Supreme Lord had appeared within his own creation. He wondered whether this child of Braj was truly the Supreme God.
The scriptures state:
सः सर्वज्ञः सर्ववित्
saḥ sarvajñaḥ sarvavit
"God is all-knowing and all-powerful."
Yet Brahma attempted to examine Krishna. He hid the cows, calves, and cowherd boys in a cave.
Shri Krishna then recreated them exactly as they had been. When Brahma returned, he saw the same calves, the same Gwalbals, the same Krishna, and the same playful scene continuing as before.
Shri Maharaj Ji explains that one who knows little cannot test an expert. In the same way, even an expert cannot test the One who is all-knowing.
Brahma Became Bewildered
Brahma could not understand what he was seeing. The calves and cowherd boys he had hidden were still hidden, yet they were also standing before Krishna exactly as before.
The one through whom the Vedas had been revealed could not grasp the Divine play unfolding before him. His own power and knowledge could not reveal Krishna’s true nature.
This bewilderment was not resolved by further analysis. Brahma surrendered.
Only through Krishna’s Grace did realization arise. Brahma saw Krishna everywhere and in everything. He understood that the cowherd boys, the calves, and the entire scene were not ordinary.
Then the truth became clear to him.
What Did Brahma Ask For?
After receiving this realization by grace, Brahma apologized. He did not ask for greater knowledge. He did not ask for greater creative power. He did not ask for a higher position.
He marveled at the fortune of the residents of Braj.
अहो भाग्यमहो भाग्यं नन्दगोपव्रजौकसाम् ।
यन्मित्रं परमाऽनन्दं पूर्णं ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥
aho bhāgyam aho bhāgyaṁ nanda-gopa-vrajaukasām |
yan-mitraṁ paramānandaṁ pūrṇaṁ brahma sanātanam ||
(Bhagavatam 10.14.32)
"Oh, how greatly fortunate are Nanda and the residents of Braj, whose friend is the eternal, complete Brahm and Supreme Bliss."
Brahma further expressed that he would consider himself blessed to take birth in Braj even as a bird or some other creature, simply so that he might receive the footdust of Krishna’s devotees.
The first teacher of Brahm-Gyan, after encountering Krishna’s Divine Love, did not seek to remain merely in the greatness of knowledge. He longed for the love possessed by the residents of Braj.
Now Consider Lord Shiv
Now let us turn to Lord Shiv.
The scriptures revere Shiv as the supreme Brahm-Gyani and the bestower of liberation. He can destroy a universe in a moment by opening his third eye. He remains absorbed in Divine Love samadhi on Mount Kailash.
When Shri Ram appeared in Ayodhya, Shiv left Mount Kailash, disguised himself as an ascetic, and wandered through the streets of Ayodhya, longing for the Darshan of Shri Ram.
When Shri Krishna appeared in Gokul, Shiv came to Mother Yashoda’s doorway and begged to see her infant Krishna.
Mother Yashoda, seeing his unusual appearance with snakes and garlands of skulls, feared that her baby would be frightened and refused to show him Krishna.
The scriptures declare:
भयादस्याग्निस्तपति भयात्तपति सूर्यः ।
भयादिन्द्रश्च वायुश्च मृत्युर्धावति पञ्चमः ॥
bhayād asyāgnis tapati bhayāt tapati sūryaḥ |
bhayād indraś ca vāyuś ca mṛtyur dhāvati pañcamaḥ ||
"Out of fear of Him, fire burns, the sun shines, Indra, Vayu, and even death perform their functions."
Yet Mother Yashoda feared that this very child would be frightened by Shiv and refused to show her new born to such a frightening-looking ascetic.
Krishna Responded to Shiv’s Longing
When Mother Yashoda refused him, Shiv became disheartened and went to the bank of the Yamuna. There he prayed earnestly for Krishna’s Darshan.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches:
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ।
ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
(Bhagavad Gita 4.11)
"As people surrender unto Me, I reciprocate with them accordingly."
Shri Maharaj Ji explains that Krishna responded to Shiv’s longing. Krishna began to cry in such a way that Mother Yashoda could not console Him. Thinking the ascetic may have cast an evil spell on her child, she searched for Shiv and brought him back to undo it.
As soon as Shiv and Krishna saw one another, Krishna stopped crying.
Yet Shiv himself longed for Bhagavan’s Darshan and Divine Love.
And yet, later, during the Maharas, Lord Shiv assumed the form of a Gopi so that he could participate in Krishna's Divine Love.
What Do Brahma and Shiv Teach Us?
Brahma is the first teacher of Brahm-Gyan. Lord Shiv is revered as the supreme Brahm-Gyani and bestower of liberation.
Yet Lord Brahma longed for the footdust of the residents of Braj. Lord Shiv longed for the Darshan of Ram and Krishna and entered Krishna’s Maharas.
Their lives show that when the greatest Gyanis encounter Krishna’s Divine Love, they do not turn away from it. They are drawn toward it.
But What About Jeev Class of Gyanis?
A thoughtful reader may still ask: Brahma and Shiv are extraordinary Divine personalities. They are descensions of God Himself. Their examples are powerful, but do they answer the case of liberated Paramhansas who belong to the class of individual souls?
So, next let us turn toward the lives of liberated Paramhansas—souls who attained the highest realization and then became absorbed in Krishna’s Bliss.
What Does Their Testimony Reveal?
Brahm-Gyan is not false or material. It grants liberation, freedom from Maya, and eternal absence of pain.
Yet the scriptures show that Brahma and Shiv, the greatest Gyanis, became deeply attracted to Krishna’s Divine Love. Brahma desired the dust of Braj. Shiv longed for the Darshan of Ram and Krishna and entered the Maharas.
Their testimony reveals that Divine Love possesses a sweetness so extraordinary that even the greatest Brahm-Gyanis honor, desire, and immerse themselves in it.
This prepares the next question: if this is true of Brahma and Shiv, what about liberated Paramhansas belonging to the class of individual souls?
Go Deeper
- Do the Vedas Teach That the Soul Is Brahm?
- Demystifying the Diverse Roop of God
- Atma-Gyan, Brahm-Gyan, and Gyan Yog
Continue the Inquiry
(Part 5 of 7 — Gyan and Bhakti: The Culmination of All Spiritual Paths)
Brahma and Shiv bear remarkable witness to the greatness of Divine Love. Yet both are extraordinary Divine personalities (Gunavatar). A careful reader may still ask whether ordinary liberated souls, after attaining Brahm-Gyan, also become absorbed in Krishna’s Bliss. Shri Maharaj Ji next answers through the lives of liberated Paramhansas.
