The Nature of Adhidaivika - Supernatural Disturbances
The term adhidaivika refers to a specific category of suffering within the material world—those miseries inflicted by higher powers or natural forces. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that unlike other forms of suffering that may seem manageable, adhidaivika miseries illustrate the complete helplessness of the conditioned soul against the forces of nature and the demigods.
Supernatural and Natural Disturbances
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines adhidaivika miseries as those originating from the demigods or the higher administration of the universe. These manifest as natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, and severe weather. He emphasizes that these events are not random but are overseen by the controlling deities of the cosmos.
- As far as the adhidaivika miseries are concerned, these are natural disasters that originate with the demigods of the higher planets. For instance, we sometimes suffer from severe cold or hot weather, thunderbolt, earthquakes and many natural disasters.
- There are sufferings called adhidaivika, over which we have no control whatsoever. These are caused by the demigods or acts of nature, and include famine, pestilence, flood, excessive heat or excessive cold, earthquakes, fire and so on.
- Adhidaivika, accident, which you have no control over. No sufferings you have control. That is not possible.
Part of the Threefold Miseries
Adhidaivika is one prong of the trident of material suffering, known as tāpa-traya. Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently groups it with adhyātmika (miseries of the body and mind) and adhibhautika (miseries from other living entities). He teaches that the material body is inherently subject to these three types of tribulation, and no one can escape them without spiritual elevation.
- Actually, anyone who has a material body has to accept suffering. There are three types of suffering in the material world: adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika.
- All three (adhidaivika, adhyatmika and adhibhautika) may assail one at one time, or one misery may be absent and the other present. Thus the living entity is full of anxiety, fearing misery from one side or the other.
- Mother nature is described as Goddess Durga, and she has got a trident in her hand. That is punishment. Three kinds of miserable condition: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika.
The Purpose of Punishment
These miseries are not without purpose. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the laws of nature, enforcing adhidaivika suffering, act as a correction for the rebellious soul. He notes that this continuous punishment is designed to remind the living entity of the temporary and miserable nature of the material world, encouraging them to turn toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- So long you are not Krsna conscious, the laws of nature will go on punishing you - three kinds of miserable conditions: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. This is the law.
- This maya's business is to give you always trouble, tri-tapa-yatana, adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika, just to kick you, those who are nondevotees, just to correct you to become a devotee of the Lord.
- The three kinds of miserable conditions-adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika (miseries inflicted by the body and mind itself, those inflicted by other living entities and natural disturbances) - were all absent during the reign of Ramacandra or Yudhisthira.
Technical and Sāṅkhya Definitions
In a more technical sense, Śrīla Prabhupāda sometimes uses adhidaivika to describe the "controlling deity" in the analysis of perception and existence. In this context, it refers to the divine administrator behind a sense organ, distinguishing it from the person (adhyātmika) and the object (adhibhautika).
- The controlled living entity is called the adhyatmic person, and the controller is called the adhidaivic person. All these positions in the material world are due to different fruitive activities.
- The individual person possessing different instruments of senses is called the adhyatmic person, and the individual controlling deity of the senses is called adhidaivic. The embodiment seen on the eyeballs is called the adhibhautic person.
- From the multitotal energy He further expands Himself into individuals in three dimensions, namely adhyatmic, adhidaivic and adhibhautic, as explained before (vyasti).
Conclusion
Understanding adhidaivika miseries is essential for dispelling the illusion of control. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that we are constantly vulnerable to forces far greater than ourselves—the demigods and material nature. Recognizing this helplessness is the first step toward surrendering to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, who alone can grant relief from the threefold miseries of material existence.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Adhidaivika. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience his teachings in their direct, verbatim form.