Question: What are demigods? Why can’t we pray to them? I am a bit confused about this issue. Is Lord Ganesha a demigod? If he is, then why do people look up to him as the clearer of obstacles? Why is it said that one has to pray to him first, before approaching other Gods? Please clarify my doubts!!
Answer by Romapada Swami:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supreme powerful and the source of everything and everyone in existence. The demigods are powerful living entities who are appointed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the management of universal affairs, just as officers and directors appointed by the government for different affairs of the State. Demigods are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord; they act under His will and derive all their powers from Him.
From the Vedic literature, we understand that there are 33 million demigods including administrative demigods such as Indra, Candra, Varuna, etc., who are in charge of the supply of water, air, and all such administrative affairs for the smooth functioning of the universe, and primal demigods including Brahma, Siva, Ganesha, etc. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of all demigods, is Lord Sri Krishna as confirmed in various Vedic scriptures.
In the Vedic literature, there are recommendations for worshiping different demigods for different purposes, such as worshiping Ganesha to remove obstacles. Demigod worship is not forbidden, but doing so for temporary material benefits or with an improper understanding of their actual position is described in Bhagavad-gita as a less intelligent position. Most people approach demigods to quickly achieve some material benefit. But an intelligent person understands that both the demigods and the results achieved by their benedictions are all perishable.
Also, in general demigod worshipers have a misunderstanding that the demigods are equal or independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But the fact is that the demigods themselves derive their powers from the Supreme Lord, and it is the Supreme Lord Who actually bestows benedictions, through the agency of the demigods. Thus, demigod worshipers are indirectly worshiping the Supreme Lord, but in an improper way, as described in Bhagavad-gita (avidhi-purvakam) and with an improper understanding. Srila Prabhupada once compared this with someone trying to bribe a government officer for some immediate benefit rather than approach the head of the state, i.e. the person from whom the government officer derives his power. The proper method is to depend on the Supreme Lord and follow His orders. An intelligent person directly worships the Supreme Source of all, knowing that this will satisfy everyone just as one would water the root of the tree and thereby satisfy all parts of the tree or feed the stomach rather than trying to separately nourish each part of the body.
Thus a devotee simply concentrates on pleasing the Supreme Lord; however, sometimes they may worship the demigods also in order to be able to properly execute their duties in service to the Supreme Lord. For instance, the gopis prayed to goddess Katyayani for obtaining Krishna as their husband; or a devotee without material motives might pray to Lord Ganesha for removing the obstacles on the path of one’s attaining pure Krishna-bhakti. Such worship must be carefully performed with a proper understanding of the actual position of the demigods in relation to Krishna and not for some temporary material boon. Generally, this clear understanding and purity of motive are absent, and therefore such worship is not recommended. (Cf. Bg 4.12, 7.20-23, 9.23)
