58
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
upon receiving some treasure becomes at once happy, so, when one attains to devotional service, automatically the pains of material existence are vanquished. As one advances in devotional service, one attains love of Godhead, and as he advances in the love for the Supreme he becomes free from all material bondage. The disappearance of poverty and liberation from bondage are not, however, the end results of love of Krishna. Actually, the love of Krishna, love of God, exists in relishing the reciprocation of loving service. In all Vedic literature one will find that attainment of this loving relationship between the Supreme Lord and the living entities is the function of devotional service. Our actual function is devotional service, and our ultimate goal of achievement is love of Godhead. Therefore, in all Vedic literature Krishna is the ultimate center. By knowledge of Krishna all problems of life are solved.
The Lord said that, according to  Padma Purana , there are different  Puranas  for worshipping different types of demigods; but such indications for worship only bewilder persons into thinking that the demigods are supreme. And yet, if the  Puranas  are scrutinized and studied it will be found that Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the only Object of worship. For example, in the  Markandio Purana  there is mention of Devi worship, worship of the goddess Durga or Kali. But in that same  Chandika  it is also stated that all these demigods—even in the shape of Durga or Kali—are different energies of Vishnu. Therefore, even the study of the  Puranas  will reveal Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to be the only Object of worship.
The conclusion is that, directly or indirectly, all types of worship are more or less indicating a worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. In the  Bhagavad Gita  it is confirmed that anyone who worships the demigods is in fact only worshipping Krishna, because the demigods are different parts of the Body of Vishnu, or Krishna. That such worship of demigods is really irregular is also clearly stated in the  Bhagavad Gita .
Srimad Bhagwatam  confirms this by the question: What is the object of worshipping the different types of demigods? In Vedic literature there are various divisions of ritualistic activities. One is called  Karmakanda , or purely ritualistic activities; another is called  Upasana-kanda , or speculating on the Supreme Absolute Truth. What then is the purpose of the ritualistic sections of Vedic literature, and what is the purpose of different mantras or hymns indicating the worship of different types of demigods? And what is the purpose of philosophical speculation on the subject of the Absolute Truth? The  Srimad Bhagwatam  replies that all these different methods defined in Vedic literature indicate the worship of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu. They are all indirect ways