National Geographic, August 3, 2010: Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic. A rare mother ship cloud formation hovers over Childress, Texas. Tornado chasers there spent seven hours and 150 miles (240 kilometers) tracking the supercell thunderstorm that produced this cloud formation. Supercell thunderstorms are known to spawn tornadoes with winds exceeding 200 miles an hour (322 kilometers an hour).
Teachings of Lord Kapila, Chapter 17 — […] There are many events in nature that cause fear. There are great cyclones and tornadoes. There is excessive heat and excessive rain. There is flood and famine and war. Yet people are thinking of being happy on this planet.
Modern scientists say that there are no demigods and that there is no God, that all events are being carried out by nature. It is true that nature is working, but nature, after all, is nothing but matter. Matter cannot work without being directed by a living being.
We cannot say that matter works independently. In the ocean we always see that there are great waves moving. Water is dull matter, but the air is pushing these great waves and dashing them onto the earth. Scientists say that nature works in this way and that, but nature is not independent. We receive information from authoritative sastras that nature is moving under the direction of the demigods.
So we cannot say that these processes are automatically taking place. Scientists admit that nature is working in a wonderful way, but, after all, nature is not under their control. The scientists may accept or defy Krishna, but they cannot defy the activities of nature. Everyone is subordinate to nature. Nature, however, is working under the direction of God; therefore everyone is subordinate to God.
The sun, oceans, land, space and everything else in material creation are but manifestations of Krishna’s external energy. Nothing is independent of Krishna or His energy. In Brahma-samhita (5.44) it is said that material nature is so powerful that it can create, maintain and destroy in itself: Srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka. However, material nature is working just like a shadow.
If we place our hand before a light, we can see its shadow move on a wall. Similarly, material nature is working due to the touch of spirit soul. It is not possible for an automobile to drive itself.
A person, a spirit soul, must be within to push certain buttons. Due to the touch of the spirit soul, the machine is moving. The entire universe is similarly moving due to the touch of God.
According to the sastras, the wind is blowing, the water is moving, the sun is shining and the earth is revolving under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If the directors of the different material elements do not work properly, they are punished by their master, Krishna.
When Krishna was present on this earth, He saw that Lord Indra, the lord of the heavens and of rain, was somewhat puffed up. Krishna therefore advised His father Nanda Maharaja not to bother worshiping Indra. He told His father, “There is no need to offer sacrifices to Indra.
It is better to worship Govardhana Hill, which is the representative of God. The cows receive their grass and grains from Govardhana Hill; therefore it is better to worship it.” At first, Nanda Maharaja was not willing to do this, but out of affection for Krishna, he finally agreed.
When Indra saw that Nanda Maharaja was worshiping Govardhana Hill, he became very angry and sent vicious clouds to inundate all of Vrndavana with a flood. Krishna then showed Indra that his power was not even competent to deal with the little finger of His left hand.
Therefore Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill with the small finger of His left hand and used it as an umbrella to save all the people of Vrndavana from Indra’s torrents. All of this is related in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Thus everyone is a servant. No one can actually claim to be master. If we simply take shelter of Krishna, we do not have to offer sacrifices to various demigods. If we water the root of a tree, we do not have to water the branches, twigs, flowers or fruits.
If we supply food to the stomach, we do not have to feed the eyes, hands and legs separately. Similarly, if we worship Krishna, the source of everything, no other worship is necessary. Full Chapter
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