Bunch of Hooks

[Paramhamsa Vani]

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Attachment to non-eternal things is the cause of bondage. Love for the eternal Supreme Lord, Who is All-Existence, All-Knowledge and All-Bliss, is the cause of emancipation. Conditioned souls are drowning in a deep ocean or deep pit from which their release is almost impossible. The Supreme Lord, out of compassion, descends into that deep ocean or pit to rescue the fallen souls, taking various Forms. These Forms are compared with hooks. For instance, if a bucket falls into a deep well, to lift the bucket a bunch of hooks, tightly fastened with a strong rope, is dropped into the well. Then by turning the rope throughout the well, one of the hooks catches the bucket. By drawing up the rope, the bucket will be lifted from the deep well. As every conscious being has got relative independence of will and taste, he can catch hold of any Form of God tightly as per his liking. Then he will be taken out from the ocean. So, God descends into this world in so many Forms (Fish, Tortoise, Boar, Narsimhadeva, Vamana, etc.) to attract the conditioned souls. Whomever they like, they can catch hold of. Catching should be sincere and steadfast. Like God, realised personal associates of God also may descend to rescue the fallen souls. The instance of the fastening of Gopala by mother Yasoda will be a satisfactory reply.

--- Jagad-guru His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj