The Lord Controls The Universe But Know Who Controls The Lord!

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The Lord is the controller of the entire universe. The functions of creation, preservation and destruction are all performed by the Lord. But is the great Lord controlled by anyone? It is not surprising if he is controlled by the devotion of his devotees. Let's explore various accounts in which the Lord is controlled by the Bhakti or devotion of his devotees.

The Lord is under the control of his devotees

In Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 9 it is stated,

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
ahaṁ bhakta-parādhīno
hy asvatantra iva dvija
sādhubhir grasta-hṛdayo
bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyaḥ (9.4.63)

"I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devoid of material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts. What to speak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotee are very dear to Me."

In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 6 it is stated,

"O unconquerable Lord, although You cannot be conquered by anyone, You are certainly conquered by devotees who have control of the mind and senses. They can keep You under their control because You are causelessly merciful to devotees who desire no material profit from You. Indeed, You give Yourself to them, and because of this You also have full control over Your devotees."

Sri Srila Prabhupada says of the Bhakti Marga where the Lord is controlled by the devotion of his devotees, "But a devotee can control the Supreme Controller. Why shall they become one with God? They'll be God's father, God's controller. This is bhakti-mārga."

In the 'Parables of Sri Ramakrishna,' Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says, "God is under the control of His devotees. King Duryodhana was very attentive to Krishna and said to Him, "Please have your meal here." But the Lord went to Vidura's hut. He was very fond of His devotee. He ate Vidura's simple rice and greens as if they were celestial food."

Ramana Maharshi once said that he was afraid of two people for their intense devotion towards him. One was Ramanatha Brahmachari and the other was Mudhaliar Patti, both who served him food at any cost. They did not have anything to ask Ramana, but if they did, Ramana could not refuse. Such was their devotion. Once Ramanatha Brahmachari, refused food for his own father while carrying for Ramana, which he sought by the way of alms. Mudhaliar Patti when once asked why she had to toil in her old age with failing eyesight to visit Ramana. She answered, "What if I cannot see him, but he can always see me." Such was her devotion for Ramana.

Instances where the Lord is controlled by his devotees

Lord Krishna offered to go as a messenger of peace to the Kauravas for the sake of Pandavas. Furthermore he became the charioteer for Arjuna's in the battle of Kurukshetra. Lord Rama graciously ate the half eaten berries that Shabari offered him with devotion and love.

Lord Panduranga stood waiting patiently on a brick that his devotee threw towards Him while engaged in the service of his parents. Lord Krishna honoured his poor friend Sudama by washing his tired feet and eagerly eating the parched and beaten rice which Sudama had brought for him. Lord Krishna offered himself to the love and devotion of the Gopis. Numerous are the instances of the Lord submitting himself to the devotion of his devotees.

The story of Lord Shiva being beaten up

There is a beautiful legend from Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam where Lord Shiva suffered beatings from the king Arimarthana Pandian on account of his devotee, a poor old lady who sold Puttu, a delicacy made of rice flour and grated coconut. The king called for one person in each household to take part in the construction of the dam across river Vaigai that was flooding.

Lord Shiva in the form of a layman, Chokkan, went on behalf of his devotee, Vandhi the poor old woman for the building of the dam in return for puttu as salary. After working hard, Chokkan dozed off and the king who came there on inspection caught hold of the seelping Chokkan and beat him with a cane. It is said that the pain was felt by all beings on the earth. Lord Shiva then appeared in his true form and blessed Vandhi with Moksha after which the floods receded in the River Vaigai.

The story of Abirami Pattar

Subramanyam Iyer was the temple priest in the Thirukadaiyur temple, the abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Lord Amirthagateswarar and Goddess Abirami. He was completely lost in the devotion for Goddess Abirami that his ways appeared strange to many. So it was with the king too on one of his visits to the temple.

When enquired by the king, some said he was mad, while some others said that he was an ardent devotee. In order to know the truth, the king asked Subramanyam Iyer whether that day was a full moon day or a new moon day. Subramanyam Iyer, who was lost in the luminous form of the goddess, wrongly answered that it was a new moon day. The king told him that his head will be severed if the moon doesn't appear by six in the evening.

Subramanyam Iyer who then realised his mistake lit a huge fire and made a platform hung by hundred ropes and sat on it. He beseeched Goddess Abirami in verses to save him cutting off each rope at the end of a verse. At the completion of the 79th verse, Goddess Abirami removed her earring and threw up in the sky, which shone with luminosity like the moon. He was thus saved by the Goddess for his devotion.

The Lord, the controller of the universe is thus bound by the devotion of his devotees.