In his teachings, Prabhupada insists that we should worship only Krsna instead of worshipping different demigods. Why is then demigod worship recommended in some passages of the scriptures?
Often we think that the world we live in is just a playground created for our satisfaction. However, there is a higher purpose, which is explained in the Bhagavad-Gita. Right in the beginning, Krsna explains that we are not the body but eternal souls who come from outside of this material creation. The whole Bhagavad-Gita is then dedicated to explaining how we can reconnect to this eternal, spiritual nature through the process of Bhakti-Yoga.
We all have desires, and the Vedas offer a process for satisfying these desires through a process of worship of higher beings who maintain this world under the supervision of the Lord. Human beings should perform yajñas, or sacrifices to the demigods, and “The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all.” (Bg 3.11). This simple process allows us to live a simple, regulated life, where we can both satisfy our material desires and gradually increase our piety.
However, at the same time, the Bhagavad-Gita calls out attention to something superior. On Bg 7.23, it’s mentioned: “Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.”
As explained later, in the 9th chapter, worship of demigods makes one materially pious and gradually elevates him to the higher planets where the demigods live. One can then live there for a very long period of time in heavenly conditions and thus have opportunities to enjoy his senses. Bg 9.20, for example, mentions: te puṇyam āsādya surendra-lokam/ aśnanti divyān divi deva-bhogān: “Purified of sinful reactions, they take birth on the pious, heavenly planet of Indra, where they enjoy godly delights.”
However, this position is ultimately temporary. One can stay on the heavenly planets only until the karmic fruits of his pious actions are exhausted; after that one has to again take birth on Earth. Thus, elevation to higher planets by the worship of demigods is like going on a Ferris wheel which sometimes goes up and sometimes comes down.
This is hinted at in Bg 9.21: te taṁ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṁ viśālaṁ/ kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti: “When they have thus enjoyed vast heavenly sense pleasure and the results of their pious activities are exhausted, they return to this mortal planet again.”
Going to the higher planets is thus just like going on vacation to Thailand or another place: it can bring some pleasant experiences, but when the money finishes, one has to return home, back to his usual activities and struggles. In this way, this type of demigod worship doesn’t solve the real problems of life.
What is the solution then? yānti deva-vratā devān/ pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ/ bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā/ yānti mad-yājino ’pi mām. “Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me.” (Bg 9.25)
There are different places in this material world where one can go according to the type of worship he or she performs, but our ultimate goal is to leave this material universe and reach the spiritual planets, where we can finally find our true spiritual nature. Later, on Bg 15.6, it is mentioned that “That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world.” Different from the planets of the demigods, where one can stay for just a limited period of time, the spiritual planets are the original home of the soul, the place where one can live eternally without anxiety, in a position of full knowledge and bliss. The way to reach there is by the transcendental process of Bhakti-yoga, described in the Bhagavad-Gita, especially in the 9th chapter.
Prabhupada explains this process in a few words on his purport to Bg 9.22: “One who is unable to live for a moment without Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot but think of Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours a day, being engaged in devotional service by hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, worshiping, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, rendering other services, cultivating friendship and surrendering fully to the Lord. Such activities are all auspicious and full of spiritual potencies, which make the devotee perfect in self-realization, so that his only desire is to achieve the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a devotee undoubtedly approaches the Lord without difficulty. This is called yoga.”