Page 32 - Sri Ramanujacharya Sahasrabdhi - 1000th year anniversary of Ramanujacarya

the name Rāma refers to Lord Rāmacandra. Actually there is no differ-
ence between Balarāma and Lord Rāma. It does not ma er whether
one refers to Balarāma or to Lord Rāmacandra when chan ng Hare

Rāma, for there is no difference between Them. However, it is offensive
to think that Balarāma is superior to Lord Rāmacandra or vice versa.
Neophyte devotees do not understand this śāstric conclusion, and con-
sequently they unnecessarily create an offensive situa on. In text 154
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu clarified this in a very lucid way: īśvaratve
bheda mānile haya aparādha. “It is offensive for one to differen ate
between the forms of the Lord.” On the other hand, one should not
think that the forms of the Lord are the same as the forms of the demi-
gods. This is certainly offensive, as confirmed by the Vaiṣṇava-tantra:
yas tu nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ brahma-rudrādi-daivataiḥ
samatvenaiva vīkṣeta sa pāṣaṇḍī bhaved dhruvam
“A pāṣaṇḍī is one who considers the great demigods such as Lord
Brahmā and Lord Śiva equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Nārāyaṇa.” (Hari-bhak -vilāsa 7.117)
The conclusion is that we should neither differen ate between the
forms of the Lord nor equate the forms of the Lord with the forms of

demigods or human beings. For instance, some mes foolish sannyāsīs,
thinking the body of the Lord to be material, equate daridra-nārāyaṇa
with Nārāyaṇa, and this is certainly offensive. Unless one is instructed
by a bona fide spiritual master, he cannot perfectly understand these
different forms. The Brahma-saṁhitā confirms, vedeṣu durlabham
adurlabham ātma-bhaktau. One cannot understand the differences be-
tween the forms of the Lord simply by academic study or by reading
Vedic literature. One must learn from a realized devotee. Only then can

one learn how to dis nguish between one form of the Lord and anoth-
er. The conclusion is that there is no difference between the forms of
the Lord, but there is a difference between His forms and those of the
demigods.)
CC Madhya 9.156 — “ ‘When the jewel known as vaidūrya touches vari-
ous other materials, it appears to be separated into different colors,

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