Antaraṅgā-śakti - God's Internal Energy
The Vedic scriptures describe the Absolute Truth as possessing multi-energies (parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate). Śrīla Prabhupāda categorizes these into three main divisions: the external energy (bahiraṅgā-śakti) which manifests the material world; the marginal energy (taṭasthā-śakti) comprising the living entities; and the internal energy (antaraṅgā-śakti), which constitutes the eternal spiritual kingdom. Understanding the function of God's internal energy is crucial for understanding the nature of the Supreme Lord and the destination of the liberated soul.
Internal Energy's Superior Nature
The internal energy is the Lord's personal potency. Unlike the external energy, which creates the temporary material cosmos characterized by ignorance and misery, the internal energy creates the Vaikuṇṭhalokas—the spiritual planets free from anxiety. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord is always associated with this internal energy. Even when He descends to the material world, He does not accept a material body but appears through His internal potency, maintaining His transcendental position above the modes of nature.
- The external energy of the Lord is called the material world, and the kingdom of the internal energy of the Lord is called Vaikuntha, or the kingdom of God. In the Vaikuntha world there is no disharmony between the Lord and the residents.
- The appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in this material world is a manifestation of His internal energy. He is the master of the material energy.
- He (God) is always associated with the internal energy, but He is always aloof from the material energy.
The Marginal Soul's Shelter
The living entities are products of the marginal energy, meaning they are situated between the internal and external potencies. They have the independence to choose their shelter. When a soul misuses this independence, they fall into the external energy (Maya). However, the goal of human life is to return to the shelter of the internal energy. In the Bhagavad-gītā, a mahātmā (great soul) is defined as one who has taken shelter of this daivīm prakṛtim, or divine nature. Under the protection of the internal energy, the soul is fearless and engaged in eternal devotional service.
- In Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.13) the word mahatma describes the pure devotee of the Lord: mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah. A mahatma is always under the guidance of the internal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The living entities, who are residents of the spiritual as well as the material expansions, are His (God's) marginal energy (tatastha-sakti), and they are at liberty to live in either of the energies, external or internal.
- When one is under the shelter of this internal potency, the darkness of material ignorance is at once dissipated. And even those who are atmarama, or fixed in trance, take shelter of this maya, or internal energy.
The Pleasure Potency
The internal energy is also known as the hlādinī-śakti, or the pleasure-giving potency of the Lord. It is personified as the Goddess of Fortune, Lakṣmī, and in the highest sense, as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. All the goddesses of fortune are manifestations of this internal energy, serving the Lord in various relationships. When a devotee engages in service, they are actually acting under the direction of this internal energy, assisting the Lord's consort in pleasing Him.
- All these goddesses of fortune are manifestations of His (God's) transcendental pleasure potency (hladini-sakti) in His internal energy.
- Maha-Laksmi, the supreme energy of the Lord, is experienced in different ways. She is divided into material and spiritual potencies, and in both features she acts as the willing energy, creative energy and the internal energy.
- The devotee always prays to the Lord and His internal energy (consort) so that he may engage in Their transcendental loving service.
A Caution for Neophytes
While the activities of the internal energy—such as the rāsa-līlā—are the summit of spiritual perfection, Śrīla Prabhupāda issues a strong caution. Neophyte devotees should not foolishly jump to these confidential topics without first understanding the Lord's greatness through His external and marginal energies. One must first realize the Lord's omnipotence as the creator and controller before attempting to enter the intimate pastimes of His internal potency.
- The neophyte devotee, instead of jumping at once to the platform of transcendental pastimes presented by the internal energy of the Lord, may know how great the Supreme Lord is by inquiring about the process of His creative energy.
- They (fanatics) should not foolishly jump up to the activities of the internal energy, falsely attracted by the Lord's internal potential activities like His rasa-lila.
- One who is able to understand the intricacies of all these energies (internal, external and marginal) of the Supreme Lord can no longer remain an empiric impersonalist under the influence of a poor fund of knowledge.
Conclusion
God's internal energy is the sanctuary of the soul. It is the realm of eternal life, knowledge, and bliss. By chanting the holy names and following the regulatory principles, a living entity transfers their consciousness from the external energy to the internal energy. As Śrīla Prabhupāda states, the very same energy that acts as māyā to cover the conditioned soul acts as yogamāyā to liberate the surrendered soul, guiding them back home, back to Godhead.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God's Internal Energy. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.