Energies of Lord Krishna

By Jaya Gaursundar Dasa GauraVanacari

God is one. Moreover, according to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that one God is Krishna, the cowherd boy of Vrindavan, who chooses to expand Himself unlimitedly still remain the same one Supreme Person, just to increase His own pleasure. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.28) designates this original Godhead as svayam bhagavān: Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead has three primary energies. The first is antarańga–śakti, or the internal potency. The second is known as taṭastha–śakti, the marginal potency or ‘jiva sakti’. The living entities constitute the marginal potency, and they are situated between the internal and external Potencies yet the living entity is also spiritual. The third is called bahirańga–śakti, or ‘māyā sakti’ illusory Potency or the external potency / energy known as illusion, which consists of fruitive activity (karma).

Viṣṇu Purāṇa (6.7.61): viṣṇu-śaktiḥ parā proktā kṣetrajñākhyā tathā parā avidyā-karma-saṁjñānyātṛtīyā śaktir iṣyate -Lord Kṛṣṇa naturally has three energetic transformations. He is embodiment of multifarious, inconceivable spiritual potencies. parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate! svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca!!(Svetasvatra Up 6:8) – Each potency acts quite naturally (svābhāvikī) in sequences providing Him full knowledge (jñāna), power (bala) and pastimes (kriyā). parā sakti’ : Also known as internal potency ‘antaranga śakti’ Although this inherent spiritual potency is one, it manifests in three features Bala : strength and opulence called ‘sandhini’, jñāna: knowledge called ‘samvit’ and kriyā : pastimes known as ‘hlādini’. Kṛṣṇa says: daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā — This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. Being conducted by divine will, material nature, although inferior, acts so wonderfully in the construction and destruction of the cosmic manifestation. The Vedas confirm this as follows: māyāṁ tu prakṛtiṁ vidyān māyinaṁ tu maheśvaram. “Although māyā [illusion] is false or temporary, the background of māyā is the supreme magician, the Personality of Godhead, who is Maheśvara, the supreme controller.” (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 4.10) hlādinyā saṁvid-āśliṣṭaḥ sac-cid-ānanda īśvaraḥ –The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller, is always full of transcendental bliss and is accompanied by the potencies known as hlādinī and saṁvit. (CC Madhya 18.114)