What exactly is a leela?

2:25 AM

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Q: What exactly is a leela (लीला)? Is there a scriptural definition of leela (लीला)?

When people cannot logically explain certain actions of Gods, their incarnations, Saints, Ṛṣis etc., they often use the term leela which is sometimes spelled as līlā and lIlA. I think the word translates to play, sport or pastimes. My questions are: Is there a scriptural definition of this wo...

Tezz

@sv. But speaking in absolute level.. every action of Vishnu in Vishnu Purana and every action of Shiva in Shiva Purana would be leela.. as respective Purana call Brahman as Vishnu and Shiva... and Brahman doesn't have any purpose...

So I haven't cited any verses...

But I would search for some specific verses which call specifically as Leela...

sv.

@Tezz So according to Visishtadvaita, your action can never be leela?

Tezz

@sv. Hmm.. yes.. as I'm always Jeeva in Vishistadvaita ..

sv.

@Tezz "every action of Vishnu in Vishnu Purana and every action of Shiva in Shiva Purana would be leela" -- in that case a verse saying all actions of Vishnu in VP etc. are leela will do.

Tezz

@sv. Oh ok..

sv.

2:30 AM

@Tezz Assuming you are Advaitin, what I said earlier holds true i.e., "But but what about your actions from others' point of view? Whether it's with or without purpose, others will attach a purpose to it. So others will call it 'your leela?'"

Tezz

Does verse saying "Vishnu is Brahman." works or not... as if he is Brahman he wouldn't have any purpose as stated by Brahma Sutras.. and his every activity will be Leela.. (indirect Pramana)..😀😀

@sv. It depends on who that other is... 1) if 'other' hasn't identified himself as Brahman he wouldn't call my activity as Leela.. 2) if 'other' is identified then he would see me as Brahman and he would call it as leela.. (as he sees by rising above law of Karma)...

sv.

@Tezz So what should a mere mortal like myself call an action of Krishna which I don't understand?

Tezz

@sv. "Assuming you are Advaitin.." and btw I'm very close to Advaita philosophy... ie. I believe everything that exists is Brahaman "sarva khalvidam Brahman"..

sv.

@Tezz "Does verse saying Vishnu is Brahman." - yes should work .. if u can also find another verse that says some actions are leela-s .. that would be nice.

@Tezz "1) if 'other' hasn't identified himself as Brahman he wouldn't call my activity as Leela" -- why are people on this forum calling Krishna's and Balarama's actions leelas?

Tezz

@sv. There may be two cases... if you regard Krishna as Brahman you can call his activity his Leela... if you do not then you may explain it as Karma of Vishnu or Krishnas past life Nara Narayana or action of Krishna in the very life itself etc..

@sv. They call their activity leela... because they are sure Krishna and Balarama are Brahman...

sv.

2:39 AM

@Tezz So does it mean we shouldn't be "judging" Krishna or Balarama once we accept them as supreme brahman? Whatever they do is fine? No one can question?

Tezz

@sv. For instance Shiva Purana doesn't call Vishnu as Brahman... and it shows certain stories which shows Vishnu as ignorant... like Vishnu not being able to find bottom of Shiva Linga etc...

sv.

@Tezz What about sin to a person who has realized brahman? Does it matter or not? He should worry about it or not?

Tezz

2:54 AM

@sv. "What about sin to a person who has realized brahman?"... first of one who realizes Brahman becomes Brahman (Brahma Veda Brahmaiva Bhavati)... so he wouldn't have any purpose after that time... so there is no thing such as paapa or punya to Brahman...

@sv. "So does it mean we shouldn't be "judging" Krishna or Balarama once we accept them as supreme brahman? Whatever they do is fine? No one can question?:... Hmm actually this is serious question... for instance Shiva Purana says Shiva is Brahman Vishnu Purana says Vishnu is Brahman.. then who is Brahman?... what do Vedas tell about name and form of Brahman... The principle 10 Upanishads just call Brahman by the name of Brahman...

Then why do Vishnu Purana call Vishnu as Brahman who is of four hands blue colour.. Vedas do not assert any form to Brahman..

Then why do the Puranas do?...

Vedas call Brahman as being beyond mind...

Then why do Puranas have stories of Shiva and Vishnu..?

So there are certain things which appear contradictory ...

I think one should have personal views regarding this..

For instance. Swami Dayananda Saraswati completely rejects Puranas.. and calls all Puranas as fake and contradictory views to Vedas...

@sv. Personally speaking I consider Puranas as authentic.. and I try to solve all contradictions going through Advaita philosophy...

In Advaita philosophy there are three levels of reality 1) Paramartaha 2) Vyavaharika 3) Pratibhasika...

In Paramartha level everything is just Brahman...

"So does it mean we shouldn't be "judging" Krishna or Balarama." Going through Vyavahrika level you may judge them...

I discuss about three levels of reality in my answer here:

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A: What is the Position of Maya(illusion) as per Advaita doctrine? (Or According to Advaita is Maya superior to Supreme brahman?)

Maya can never be supreme as it operates only in Vyavaharik level. According to Advaita there are three levels of reality: 1) Paramarthika Satyam 2) Vyavaharik Satyam 3) Pratibhasik Satyam Paramarthika Satyam: This is the absolute reality. In this level neither Ishwara nor Maya exists...

And also here about whether Universe is unreal or unworthy:

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A: According to ShankarAchArya in Advaita, is the universe "unreal" or "unworthy"?

There is a common popular misconception in People that according to Advaita World doesn't exist at all. It is not true. When we are deciding reality of things as per Advaita. Then, Advaita itself gives three level of reality to us: 1)Paramarthika Satyam/ Absolute Reality level 2)Vyavahar...

Pandya

3:23 AM

@Tezz Excellent! Explaining Leela from Brahma Sutra is verily appreciable.

Tezz

3:36 AM

@Pandya Thank You!...

@Pandya btw:

in Vedanta and Philosophy, Oct 7 at 17:26, by Keshav Srinivasan

@Tezz I think you've been reading too many archaic English translations of books, haha. Nobody says "verily" anymore.

Haha..😀😀

Pandya

:)

The Destroyer

5:19 AM

@Tezz "But Advaitically speaking if a person does some activity after fully identifying himself as Brahman (I am Brahman), then his activity would be also like that of play or sport as he wouldn't have any purpose to do anything. In such case we can say that persons activity as Leela." So, even actions of Jeevanmukta are leelas?

@sv. Puranas are the most interpolated scriptures and many times this "Leela" concept is misused. Simple logic why we shouldn't question them are because we don't understand with limited intelligence. His every action may have some hidden future purpose. Even creating sectarian puranas are His leela. How can two persons can fight if Lord has only one name and how can karma of them work without any such delusions. So, Lord Himself used His maya and deluded us.

We can only guess some reasons for his actions but can't know exact answers.

Even Jeevanmukta can't explain exactly these things due to our ignorance.

Tezz

4:51 PM

@TheDestroyer if one fully identifies himself as Brahman then he is same as Brahman... so his actions can be called Leela as he wouldn't have any purpose of his activity... so if one is really Jeevanmukta his actions would be called Leela..

sv.

@Tezz Thanks for adding SB references in your answer. Looks better now :P

Tezz

@sv. Ok.. 😀😀

sv.

@Tezz Do you consider SB a Vaishnava text? b/w VP and SB, which is less prone to interpolations?

Tezz

@sv. Yes certainly Srimad Bhagvata is Vaishnava Purana... like Linga Purana is Shaiva Purana...

@sv. I think Vishnu Purana is less subject to interpolation.... but I think there is not so necessary to interpolate Puranas... they are sectarian by nature... (and that is also Leela of Brahman ( as @TheDestroyer said)... 😀😀

sv.

5:08 PM

@Tezz Ok.

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What exactly is a leela?