Possessiveness about one's deity

[Viraja]

Hello,

Does anyone here feel possessive about one's deity (ishta)? As in, for example, a Krishna bhakta exclaiming over comments of another Krishna bhakta and feeling 'Hey, leave Sri Krishna to me! I am the Krishna bhakta here...!'. Does anyone feel an affinity akin to possessiveness towards one's ishta here?

Is that a negative emotion or a positive emotion?

Cheers!

 

[Poeticus]

opcorn:

 

[Viraja]

What are you saying, Maitra ji?

 

[Ashoka]

...not really :/ I can't really possess God. It kind of seems like a problem of ego (not that you are this way, I am just speaking in general terms). God doesn't really need a PR department lol.

 

[Vinayaka]

Hello,

Does anyone here feel possessive about one's deity (ishta)? As in, for example, a Krishna bhakta exclaiming over comments of another Krishna bhakta and feeling 'Hey, leave Sri Krishna to me! I am the Krishna bhakta here...!'. Does anyone feel an affinity akin to possessiveness towards one's ishta here?

Is that a negative emotion or a positive emotion?

Cheers!

In short, nope. Maybe about a local temple I'm actually more familiar with, but not a deity.

 

[Viraja]

But it is a true feeling..

I've heard once there was a great King who was a Krishna bhakta, and another poet (I forget the name) who both wrote some poetic works on Krishna. And the lord selected the poet's, though the king's was equally good (as revealed by the lord later). It is said the king felt jealous of the poet's devotion (although he was a splendid devotee of the lord)!.

 

[Poeticus]

What are you saying, Maitra ji?

Namaste, Virāja-ji:

Long time no see. How have you been? Jai Shri Krishna.

The popcorn smiley means that the thread will be interesting, meaning the topic of the thread is either fascinating, controversial, intriguing, thought provoking, and unique. By tomorrow evening, this thread will have many replies.

But, please allow me the opportunity to be the first to answer.

I, personally, am not one who believes in possession of a God. In fact, it is the Shri Gods who have possession over me!

Competition between Krishna Bhaktas is evident, though. It is something that must be addressed.

M.V.

 

[Poeticus]

Way to go, guys. I was supposed to be the first one to answer. But, nope. You all stole my thunder! Boo!

 

[Kalidas]

I can honestly say no. ANYONE can love Kali Maa...just not as much as I do , that was a joke.

I don't think viraja is saying that devotees CAN have possession of the deities but feel possessive. You can be possessive of something without actually having ownership over it (Lord of the rings My precious!). I am sure plenty of people feel it maybe even some of us do without knowing it or without "trying" to. Like a child who may get jealous when they realize mommy loves brother just as much as me? that's unpossible!(I spelled in unpossible on purpose).

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

Never. In fact, I will invite others to come along with me in my adventures not only with my Ishta Lord but with many Devas and Devi.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Viraja]

Namaste friends,

It is indeed a virtue to be able to get together in sat-sang with like-minded people praising any devata, but one's ishta in particular! Thank you all for the replies.

 

[Viraja]

I, personally, am not one who believes in possession of a God. In fact, it is the Shri Gods who have possession over me!

Very well said, MV ji! It is indeed god who possesses over his chosen devotee, not the other way around! In Tamil language, it is called 'Aatkollal' meaning 'being taken over by'.

 

[seeking4truth]

It is hard not to feel possessive sometimes. In prayer we repeatedly say 'My lord', 'my God', 'my savior', etc.
Unfortunately as long as the 'my' is at the front of your mind it becomes a barrier to real spiritual submission and nearness to God.

 

[Ashoka]

It is hard not to feel possessive sometimes. In prayer we repeatedly say 'My lord', 'my God', 'my savior', etc.
Unfortunately as long as the 'my' is at the front of your mind it becomes a barrier to real spiritual submission and nearness to God.

I agree with this. God doesn't belong to anyone, we belong to Him/Her/It/They (however you see God)

 

[Iti oj]

I can say this. My own experences suggest the gods are here for all man kind,

 

[StarryNightshade]

Since I believe God is universal, and Ganesha is one of Hinduism's most popular (if not the most popular) Ishta-Deva, I don't feel any possessiveness towards him or any others.

To be honest, possessiveness over one's deity seems really co-dependent in nature. Not very healthy, overall.

 

[Viraja]

I feel so possessive about my Rama...I don't know what to do. I really would love the satsang with other Rama devotees but really I want to be acclaimed for my bhakti for Rama.. I'm very much like the jealous king of the Krishna story although my bhakti would be much lesser than that great king!

Blessed are those that are devoid of such pangs..

The other day I saw 2 children playing with their dad circling around his legs and hugging him, taking turns. With each one's turn, the child said, "Dada is all mine", and the other one said, "No, he's mine" and they went on and on... It reminded to me of myself and my affinity for Rama.

 

[Maija]

Hello,

Does anyone here feel possessive about one's deity (ishta)? As in, for example, a Krishna bhakta exclaiming over comments of another Krishna bhakta and feeling 'Hey, leave Sri Krishna to me! I am the Krishna bhakta here...!'. Does anyone feel an affinity akin to possessiveness towards one's ishta here?

Is that a negative emotion or a positive emotion?

Cheers!

I dont see much positivity in these sentiments, what am I missing.. Would you not rather share your love for Sri Krishna with a friend creating a strong bond and fellowship?

Would you not rather them be as happy as you are in His holy prescence?

jai sri krishna
haribol

 

[Viraja]

I dont see much positivity in these sentiments, what am I missing.. Would you not rather share your love for Sri Krishna with a friend creating a strong bond and fellowship?

Would you not rather them be as happy as you are in His holy prescence?

jai sri krishna
haribol

Those are correct and wise questions, Maija.

I think my bhakti is tainted with need for acknowledgement.

I'll try to think along the lines stated by you.

 

[Jainarayan]

Hello,

Does anyone here feel possessive about one's deity (ishta)? As in, for example, a Krishna bhakta exclaiming over comments of another Krishna bhakta and feeling 'Hey, leave Sri Krishna to me! I am the Krishna bhakta here...!'. Does anyone feel an affinity akin to possessiveness towards one's ishta here?

Is that a negative emotion or a positive emotion?

Cheers!

No, I don't feel that only I have a claim on worshipping Krishna. It's certainly not my right to say who can worship him. That's beyond presumptuous on my part. Additionally I don't think it's anyone's right to tell someone else how they can or should worship.

I've never encountered anyone who has been possessive that way, but I have encountered a few people who have told me what I should or should not do in my worship, bhakti and/or sadhana.