"Fear" is a term that in modern English almost always means terror. However, in antiquity, fear did not always have these connotations. We discussed the fear aspect of Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita today in class and learned a lot. Because of the immensity of the divine, people are often overwhelmed when they come in contact with it. Glimpsing the infinite as a finite being can cause stress, and fear: a fear which is awe.
Arjuna's glimpse of Krishna had a similar allegory to Christianity. In the Gospel of Luke, the angels of the Lord reveal themselves to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. They had to tell the shepherds to "be not afraid," due to their majesty (since they are beyond human experience.)
So, whenever we come in contact with the divine, whether in writing or in reality (if that's your thing) then we should "be not afraid" and appreciate the divine for what it is.
Even though we know that we should not be afraid when we come in contact with the divine in any way possible, I think that this emotional reaction will still occur. It's overwhelming and an awe as you stated. But, being afraid does not mean we do not appreciate the divine or wont appreciate it after. Arjuna appreciated Sri Krishna in his true form but he was afraid and its completely natural, we are human. Our emotions are hard to control.
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