{"id":6184,"date":"2022-09-16T10:08:22","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T04:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/?p=6184"},"modified":"2024-02-29T17:26:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T11:56:53","slug":"chapter-1-who-is-a-vaisnava","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/writings\/books-pdfs\/prakrta-rasa-aranya-chedini\/chapter-1-who-is-a-vaisnava\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 1 – Who is a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pr\u0101k\u1e5bta-rasa \u0100ra\u1e47ya Chedin\u012b \u2013 Cutting the Jungle of Misconception<\/h1><\/div>

Chapter 1 – Who is a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava?<\/h2><\/div>

by \u015ar\u012bla Bhakti Gaurava Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n
\n

\u2018Who is a Vaisnava?\u2019 by Swami Narasingha answers a question from two devotees, \u201cWho is a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava?\u201d and Narasingha responds by quoting various \u015blokas from Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Ka\u1e47\u1e6dhah\u0101ra explaining the various levels of Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Devotee:<\/strong> What is the \u015b\u0101stric<\/em> definition of a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava?<\/p>\n

Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja:<\/strong><\/p>\n

grh\u012bta-vi\u1e63\u1e47u-d\u012bk\u1e63\u0101ko vi\u1e63\u1e47u-p\u016bj\u0101paro nara\u1e25
\n<\/em>vai\u1e63\u1e47avo \u2018bhihito \u2018bhij\u00f1airitaro \u2018sm\u0101davai\u1e63\u1e47ava\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOne who is initiated into the Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava mantra<\/em> and who is devoted to worshipping Lord Vi\u1e63\u1e47u\/K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava. One who is devoid of these practices is not a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava. (Hari-bhakti-vil\u0101sa, <\/em>1.55, quoted from Padma Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/em>)<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu explains three kinds of Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas.<\/p>\n

An ordinary Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava:<\/p>\n

prabhu-kahe, \u2018y\u0101\u1e45ra mukhe \u015buni eka-b\u0101ra
\n<\/em>k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-n\u0101ma, sei p\u016bjya, \u015bre\u1e63\u1e6dha sab\u0101k\u0101ra\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWho chants the Holy Name of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a just once may be considered a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava. Such a person is worshipable and is the topmost human being.\u201d (Cc. Madhya 15.106<\/em>)<\/p>\n

A superior Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava:<\/p>\n

\u2018k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-n\u0101ma\u2019 nirantara y\u0101\u00f1h\u0101ra vadane
\n<\/em>se vai\u1e63\u1e47ava-\u015bre\u1e63\u1e6dha, bhaja t\u0101\u1e45h\u0101ra cara\u1e47e<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cA person who is always chanting the Holy Name of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is a superior Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava and your duty is to serve his lotus feet.\u201d (Cc. Madhya 16.72<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The topmost Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava:<\/p>\n

y\u0101\u1e45h\u0101ra dar\u015bane mukhe \u0101ise k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-n\u0101ma
\n<\/em>t\u0101\u1e45h\u0101re j\u0101niha tumi \u2018vai\u1e63\u1e47ava-pradh\u0101na\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe topmost Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava is he whose very presence makes others chant the Holy Name of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Such a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava is superior to all others!\u201d (Cc. Madhya 16.74<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The heart of a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava is by nature softened due to the touch of the lotus feet of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. By nature a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava is paradu\u1e25kha-du\u1e25kh\u012b,<\/em> that is, he feels pain when he sees the suffering of others.<\/p>\n

mahad-vicalana\u1e41 n\u1e5b\u1e47\u0101m g\u1e5bhi\u1e47\u0101\u1e41 dina-cetas\u0101m
\n<\/em>ni\u1e25\u015breyas\u0101ya bhagav\u0101n kalpate n\u0101nyath\u0101 kvacit<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cO N\u0101rada, great persons like you visit the homes of family men, not to profit from them, but simply to bestow eternal auspiciousness upon them, even though they are often reluctant to hear anything for their spiritual benefit, being too materialistic. Otherwise you have no need to travel from one place to the next.\u201d (Bh\u0101g.10.8.4<\/em>)<\/p>\n

There are twelve such great Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas from the Vedic Age known as Mah\u0101janas:<\/p>\n

svayambh\u016br n\u0101rada\u1e25 \u015bambhu\u1e25 kum\u0101ra\u1e25 kapilo manu\u1e25
\n<\/em>prahl\u0101do janako bh\u012b\u1e63mo balir vaiy\u0101sakir vayam<\/em><\/p>\n

Brahm\u0101, N\u0101rada, \u015aiva, the four Kum\u0101ras, Kapiladeva, Svayambhuva Manu, Prahl\u0101da, Janaka Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, Bh\u012b\u1e63ma, Bali Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b and I (Yamar\u0101ja) know the real transcendental principles of religion. (Bh\u0101g. 6.3.20<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Prahl\u0101da is the best of the devotees:<\/p>\n

kv\u0101ha\u1e41 r\u0101ja\u1e25-prabhava \u012b\u015ba tamo \u2018dhike\u2019smin
\n<\/em>j\u0101ta\u1e25 suretara-kule kva tav\u0101nukamp\u0101
\n<\/em>na brahma\u1e47o na tu bhavasya na vai ram\u0101y\u0101
\n<\/em>yan me \u2018rpita\u1e25 \u015birasi padma-kara\u1e25 pras\u0101da\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cO my Lord, because I was born in a family full of the hellish material qualities of passion and ignorance, what is my position? And what is to be said of Your causeless mercy, which You never offered even to Lord Brahm\u0101, Lord \u015aiva, or the Goddess of Fortune, Lak\u1e63m\u012b? You never put Your lotus hand upon their heads, but You have put it on mine.\u201d (Bh\u0101g. 7.9.26<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Better than Prahl\u0101da are the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas:<\/p>\n

na tu prahl\u0101dasya g\u1e5bhe para\u1e41 brahma vasati
\n<\/em>na ca tad dar\u015ban\u0101rtha\u1e41 munayas tad g\u1e5bh\u0101n abhiyanti
\n<\/em>na ca tasya brahma m\u0101tuley\u0101di r\u016bpe\u1e47a varttate
\n<\/em>na ca svayam eva prasannam
\n<\/em>ato yuyam eva tato \u2018pyasmatto \u2018pi bh\u016bri-bh\u0101g\u0101 iti bh\u0101va\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead did not personally remain in Prahl\u0101da\u2019s home, although He stayed in the home of the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas. Great sages did not travel to Prahl\u0101da\u2019s home to see the Supreme Lord, but for this purpose they did visit the home of the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas. The Supreme Lord did not become the intimate relative of Prahl\u0101da Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, He was the maternal cousin of the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas. He also did not personally express great pleasure at the daily activities of Prahl\u0101da as He did with the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas. For all these reasons, N\u0101rada Muni has said that the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas were more fortunate than either himself or Prahl\u0101da.\u201d (Laghu-Bh\u0101gavat\u0101m\u1e5bta, Uttara-kha\u1e47\u1e0da 19<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The Y\u0101davas are superior to the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas:<\/p>\n

sad\u0101ti san-nik\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e6datv\u0101t mamat\u0101dhikyato hare\u1e25
\n<\/em>p\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davebhyo\u2019pi y\u0101dava\u1e25 kecit \u015bre\u1e63\u1e6dhatam\u0101 mat\u0101\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of their constant intimate association with Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and close ties with Him, some members of the Yadu dynasty are more exalted than the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0davas.\u201d (Laghu-Bh\u0101gavat\u0101m\u1e5bta, Uttara-kha\u1e47\u1e0da 18<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Uddhava is superior to the Y\u0101davas:<\/p>\n

na tath\u0101 me priyatama \u0101tma-yonir na \u015ba\u1e45kara\u1e25
\n<\/em>na ca sa\u1e45kar\u1e63a\u1e47o na \u015br\u012br naiv\u0101tm\u0101 ca yath\u0101 bhavan<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cO Uddhava, Brahm\u0101, \u015aiva, Sa\u1e45kar\u1e63a\u1e47a, Lak\u1e63m\u012b-dev\u012b and even My own self are not as dear to Me as you are.\u201d (Bh\u0101g. 11.14.15<\/em>)<\/p>\n

noddhava \u2018\u1e47v api man-ny\u016bno yad gu\u1e47air n\u0101rdita\u1e25 prabhu\u1e25
\n<\/em>ato mad-vayuna\u1e41 loka\u1e41 gr\u0101hayann iha ti\u1e63\u1e6dhatu<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cUddhava is not inferior to Me in any way. He is never affected by the modes of material nature. As such he may remain in this world to disseminate specific knowledge about the Personality of Godhead.\u201d (Bh\u0101g. 3.4.31<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The gop\u012bs<\/em> are superior to Uddhava:<\/p>\n

\u0101s\u0101m aho cara\u1e47a-re\u1e47u-ju\u1e63\u0101m aha\u1e41 sy\u0101\u1e41
\n<\/em>v\u1e5bnd\u0101vane kim api gulam-latau\u1e63adhin\u0101m
\n<\/em>y\u0101 dustyaja\u1e41 sva-janam \u0101rya-patha\u1e41 ca hitv\u0101
\n<\/em>bhejur mukunda-padavi\u1e41 \u015brutibhir vim\u1e5bgy\u0101m<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cO when will that day be mine, when I can take the dust of the lotus feet of those great souls known as the gop\u012bs<\/em> on my head. When will the day come when I shall take birth as a creeper in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, so that I can take the dust of the lotus feet of the gop\u012bs<\/em> on my head? Those great souls gave up society, friendship, love, their very relatives \u2014even the Vedic principles\u2014 to surrender to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, who is known as Mukunda. Such devotion as exhibited by these exalted inhabitants of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana is only hinted at in the Vedas<\/em>.\u201d (Bh\u0101g. 10.47.61<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The gop\u012bs<\/em> are superior to the Lak\u1e63m\u012bs in Vaiku\u1e47\u1e6dha:<\/p>\n

na tath\u0101 me priyatamo brahm\u0101 rudra\u015b ca p\u0101rthiva
\n<\/em>na ca lak\u1e63m\u012br na c\u0101tm\u0101 ca yath\u0101 gop\u012bjano mama<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNot even Brahm\u0101, \u015aiva, Lak\u1e63m\u012b or even My own self is as dear to Me as are the gop\u012bs<\/em> of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana.\u201d (\u0100di-Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/em>)<\/p>\n

R\u0101dh\u0101r\u0101\u1e47\u012b is the best of all devotees:<\/p>\n

yath\u0101 r\u0101dh\u0101 priy\u0101 vi\u1e63\u1e47os-tasy\u0101\u1e25 ku\u1e47\u1e0da\u1e41 priya\u1e41 tath\u0101
\n<\/em>sarva gop\u012b\u1e63u saivaik\u0101 vi\u1e63\u1e47or-atyanta-vallabh\u0101<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c\u015ar\u012bmat\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101r\u0101\u1e47\u012b is dear to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, and Her ku\u1e47\u1e0da<\/em>, known as R\u0101dh\u0101-ku\u1e47\u1e0da is similarly dear to Him. It is the favorite place of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Of all the gop\u012bs,<\/em> \u015ar\u012bmat\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101r\u0101\u1e47\u012b is the most dear to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.\u201d (Laghu-bh\u0101gavat\u0101m\u1e5bta, 45<\/em>)<\/p>\n

karmibhya\u1e25 parito hare\u1e25 priyatay\u0101 vyakti\u1e41 yayur j\u00f1\u0101ninas-
\n<\/em>tebhyo j\u00f1\u0101na-vimukta-bhakti-param\u0101\u1e25 premaika-ni\u1e63\u1e6dh\u0101s-tata\u1e25
\n<\/em>tebhyas-t\u0101\u1e25 pa\u015bu-p\u0101la-pa\u1e45kaja-d\u1e5b\u015bas t\u0101bhy\u0101pi s\u0101 r\u0101dhik\u0101
\n<\/em>pre\u1e63\u1e6dh\u0101 tad-vadiya\u1e41 tad\u012bya-saras\u012b t\u0101\u1e41 n\u0101\u015brayet ka\u1e25 k\u1e5bt\u012b <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the scriptures it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, one who is advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge, j\u00f1\u0101nis<\/em> may take to devotional service. He is superior to others. However, one who has actually attained prema,<\/em> pure love of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, is superior to him. The gop\u012bs<\/em> are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are totally dependent on K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gop\u012bs,<\/em> \u015ar\u012bmat\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101r\u0101\u1e47\u012b is the most dear to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Her ku\u1e47\u1e0da,<\/em> or lake, is as profoundly dear to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as is this most beloved of the gop\u012bs.<\/em> Who then, will not reside at R\u0101dh\u0101-ku\u1e47\u1e0da, and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings, (aprak\u1e5bta-bh\u0101va<\/em>) render loving service to the divine couple, \u015ar\u012b \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101-Govinda, who perform Their a\u1e63\u1e6da-k\u0101l\u012bya-l\u012bl\u0101.<\/em> Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of R\u0101dh\u0101-ku\u1e47\u1e0da are the most fortunate souls in the universe.\u201d (Upade\u015b\u0101m\u1e5bta 10, \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The above ontology on the topic of Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava was first compiled in the book Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Ka\u1e47\u1e6dhah\u0101ra,<\/em> under the chapter Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava-tattva<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cPr\u0101k\u1e5bta-rasa \u0100ra\u1e47ya Chedin\u012b \u2013 Cutting the Jungle of Misconception\u201d is a compilation of twenty-one articles written in the later 90\u2019s and early 2000s by \u015ar\u012bla B.G. Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja. This book exposes various philosophical misconceptions that are prevalent within the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava world at present, and establishes the proper understanding according to guru, s\u0101dhu and \u015b\u0101stra.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[216],"tags":[206,217],"krishna_talk_article":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6184"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6184"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11446,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6184\/revisions\/11446"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6184"},{"taxonomy":"krishna_talk_article","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/krishna_talk_article?post=6184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}