280 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 20
powerful jiva, or living entity, is a representation of one of the parts of
His body. We are naturally subordinate to powerful living entities, and
therefore we can worship the various demigods as living beings who are
powerful representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Although the worship of the sun-god is recommended in this mantra, He
is worshiped not as the Supreme Personality of Godhead but as His
powerful representative.
In the Katha Upanisad (1.3.1) it is said:
rtam pibantau sukrtasya loke
guham pravistau parame parardhe
chayatapau brahmavido vadanti
paficagnayo ye ca tri-naciketah
‘‘O Naciketa, the expansions of Lord Visnu as the tiny living entity and
the Supersoul are both situated within the cave of the heart of this body.
Having entered that cavity, the living entity, resting on the chief of the
life airs, enjoys the results of activities, and the Supersoul, acting as wit-
ness enables him to enjoy them. Those who are well-versed in knowledge
of Brahman and those householders who carefully follow the Vedic
regulations say that the difference between the two is like the difference
between a shadow and the sun.”
In the Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.16) it is said:
sa visvakrd visvavidatmayonih
jnah kalakaro guni sarvavid yah
pradhdéna-ksetrajria-patir gunesah
samsara-moksa-sthiti-bandha-hetuh
“The Supreme Lord, the creator of this cosmic manifestation, knows
every nook and corner of His creation. Although He is the cause of cre-
ation, there is no cause for His appearance. He is fully aware of every-
thing. He is the Supersoul, the master of all transcendental qualities, and
He is the master of this cosmic manifestation in regard to bondage to the
conditional state of material existence and liberation from that bondage.”
Similarly, in the Taittiriya Upanisad (2.8) it is said:
