Question:
In this purport from CC Adi 1.47, I don’t understand the purport…
https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/adi/1/47/
Why the different deities have different roles? Aren’t they all one- svayam bhagwan krsna? Is Gopinath vigraha superior to all deities?
“Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī is the ideal spiritual master, for he delivers one the shelter of the lotus feet of Madana-mohana. Even though one may be unable to travel on the field of Vṛndāvana due to forgetfulness of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can get an adequate opportunity to stay in Vṛndāvana and derive all spiritual benefits by the mercy of Sanātana Gosvāmī. Śrī Govindajī acts exactly like the śikṣā-guru (instructing spiritual master) by teaching Arjuna the Bhagavad-gītā. He is the original preceptor, for He gives us instructions and an opportunity to serve Him. The initiating spiritual master is a personal manifestation of Śrīla Madana-mohana vigraha, whereas the instructing spiritual master is a personal representative of Śrīla Govindadeva vigraha. Both of these Deities are worshiped at Vṛndāvana. Śrīla Gopīnātha is the ultimate attraction in spiritual realization.”
Answer:
Yes, Krishna is one. Just like a multi-faceted diamond shines in different colours, similarly Krishna manifests differently according to the need and desire of the devotee…
Take for example, a man… in the business world he may be called as “Mr. Rana”, by his friends as “Arpit”, by his wife as “honey” by his juniors as “sir”, by his friends as “Arpi”, by his kids as “dad”… and so on. It is not that the person is different, he is the same person, but manifesting differently to different people… he’s doing business in one place, obeying instructions in another place, and so on…
For example, we have Sri Radha Khirchor Gopinath on the altar, but to the person who is an atheist They manifest as a statue, to a person fearful of his mistakes, They appear as the Lawgivers… to a person in the mood of awe and reverence or not yet pure devotee… as Sri Lakshmi Narayana, in Their opulence etc.
What to speak of the deity… even Krishna will manifest Himself as the ishta deva of His devotee… for example to Murari Gupta, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu manifested as Lord Ramachandra as Murari Gupta is an incarnation of Hanuman… to one devotee as Varahadeva, to another as Narasimhadeva… when Krishna disappeared during the Rasa Lila, He tried to conceal Himself by appearing as Four-handed Narayana… but the Gopis’ love was so intense he couldn’t contain himself and appeared as Shyamasundar Krishna!
You will find many such instructions in the scriptures.
Please continue reading scrutinizingly and in a prayerful mood… does this help? Are there any other questions?
Lord Chaitanya Instructs Sanatana Goswami
Sri Radha Madana-Mohana, now in Karauli, Rajasthan, India
Sri Radha Govindaji, now in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Sri Radha Gopinath, now in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Freedom through Genuine Spiritual Progress 