“Why don’t You show Yourself to all?”

“Why don’t You show Yourself to all?”

Is it so easy to manifest HIM, our Chosen Lord, in front of us in physical? …For Maladasa, an innocent cowherd, it was…as his unflinching faith coupled with persistent yearning won him His physical darshan…a story from the Mahabharata times as recounted by Bhagawan Himself…

There was a cowherd called Maladasa who was determined to see the Lord, as He was described in the sacred texts he had heard expounded in the village temple by a pandit. So he prayed fervently to the “black Lord riding on the white bird” all the time his cows were pasturing in the fields.

Eleven days passed; but, there was no sign of the “black Lord riding the white bird,” He had forgotten to take food and drink during all those days and so, had become weak, too weak to walk or talk. At last, the Lord melted at his entreaties and presented Himself before him as an old Brahmin; but the Brahmin was not riding a white bird, nor was he black, beautifully black, as the pandit had described. So, he asked the Brahmin to come the next day at seven in the morning, so that he may bring the pandit and verify whether He was the Lord Himself.

The pandit laughed at the whole affair and refused to take part in it, but Maladasa was so importunate that he agreed. The entire village turned out on the river bank the next day, long before seven o’clock. The Brahmin was there, exactly as he had promised and Maladasa showed Him to all. But, they could not see him!

They began to laugh at the cowherd’s antics and threatened him with a severe beating for bringing them along as butts for his joke. Maladasa could see the Brahmin clearly but no one else could. At last, he got so enraged that he walked up to the old Brahmin and gave him a whacking blow on the cheek, saying, “Why don’t you show yourself to all?”

That blow changed the entire scene. Krishna appeared in resplendent robes, smiling face, captivating form and the white bird. As the astounded villagers were recovering from the amazement, the Vimana (heavenly chariot), floated down from the sky and Krishna asked Maladasa to sit inside it. Then, with the Lord by his side Maladasa rose up and soon was out of sight.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Why Dont You Show Yourself to All Guide

Many devotees have often wondered, “Why don’t You show Yourself to all?” This question arises from a deep longing to experience the Divine directly. Human beings believe that if God were to appear before everyone, faith would become easy and doubts would disappear. Yet, the Divine works in ways that help humanity grow inwardly rather than depend only on outer experiences.

The answer to Why don’t You show Yourself to all? lies in the fact that God is already present everywhere. The sun shines equally on all, but a person who keeps the doors closed cannot receive its light. In the same way, the Divine presence fills the entire universe, but only a pure and receptive heart can recognize it. God does not hide from humanity; rather, people fail to perceive Him because their minds are distracted by worldly desires, ego, and attachments.

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often explained that spiritual vision is different from physical vision. Physical eyes can see forms and objects, but spiritual awareness allows one to experience God in every being and every situation. If the Divine were to reveal Himself outwardly to everyone, many would still doubt, question, or fail to understand. History has shown that even when saints and avatars walked among people, not everyone recognized their greatness.

When devotees ask, Why don’t You show Yourself to all?, they may imagine a spectacular vision or miracle. However, God’s greatest revelation often comes through love, compassion, and inner transformation. A heart filled with selfless service, humility, and devotion begins to feel the Divine presence naturally. Such an experience is far more valuable than a temporary vision because it changes one’s entire outlook on life.

The scriptures teach that faith grows through sincere effort. Prayer, meditation, and righteous living gradually remove the veil that covers spiritual understanding. As the mind becomes calm and pure, the seeker realizes that God was never absent. The Divine was guiding, protecting, and loving them all along. This realization answers the question Why don’t You show Yourself to all? in a profound way. God is already showing Himself through nature, through noble people, through acts of kindness, and through the voice of conscience.

The mission of Devotional India is to inspire seekers to look beyond external appearances and discover the Divine within. True spirituality is not merely about seeing God with the eyes; it is about feeling God with the heart. When love becomes unconditional and service becomes selfless, the presence of God becomes unmistakable.

Therefore, instead of repeatedly asking Why don’t You show Yourself to all?, a devotee can ask, “How can I purify myself so that I may recognize You everywhere?” The moment this transformation occurs, the seeker realizes that God has always been visible. The Divine reveals Himself according to the purity, faith, and love of the devotee. This eternal truth continues to inspire countless spiritual aspirants through the teachings shared by Devotional India.