Satpurush

How is God pragat (ever-present) in the Satpurush? If God is present everywhere, how can we limit Him to just being present in the Satpurush?
God: Physically Present on Earth
It is a fundamental belief of Hinduism that God is ever-present in everyone, everything, and everywhere. Yet, God cannot be physically seen in things like a tree, a chair, or even one’s brother for that matter. This is because God’s omnipresence is beyond the physical perception of the mind and senses. The Hindu scriptures provide a clear explanation on this matter. They guide the aspirant to the physical forms of God on Earth. The scriptures direct the aspirant to offer his devotion to these physical forms of God.
    According to the Hindu scriptures, the presence of God is felt more or less according to the purity of the entity. For example, more light shines through a clear-glass light bulb than an opaque light bulb. Similarly, the Hindu scriptures state that due to their purity, God’s presence can be felt most completely in the God-realised Satpurush and in the murtis of God that he has installed in the mandirs.

God: Guides through the Satpurush
Because they are made out of stone or metal, the ceremoniously installed murtis of God appear to the non-believer to be just inanimate statues. However, God resides completely in these murtis. By offering prayers and devotion to the murtis of God, one does attain peace of mind and experience the bliss of God. However, the murtis do not give direct spiritual guidance to keep the aspirant on the path to God. This task of direct spiritual guidance is fulfilled by the God-realised Satpurush in whom God resides. The Shrimad Bhagwat states that, “One can offer one’s devotion to God through the Satpurush, as well as receive spiritual guidance and also be freed from one’s sins. (9:9:6)”

Identifying the Satpurush
It must also be clarified that this ‘God-realised Satpurush’ is not any ordinary person. The 11th canto of the Shrimad Bhagwat clearly states the virtues and spiritual state that such a God-realised Satpurush possesses. There are many people who falsely claim to be the Satpurush for selfish and deceitful reasons. Keeping these criteria in mind, one has to examine a person very carefully over a period of time before accepting him as the true God-realised Satpurush in whom God resides.