Serving the Vaisnavas

Of all types of people to whom respect, reception, service and worship should be offered, the true Vaisnava, regardless of his varna or asrama, his age or position in society, is the most deserving, for his the most advanced in spiritual knowledge. Serving vaisnavas is an important anga of devotional service is the active element of sadhu sanga or association with devotees. Service to vaisnavas (vaisnava seva) consists of such things as giving a seat to a Vaisnava (reception), washing his feet (respect), hearing from him and assisting him in any way. Practically speaking, that vaisnava will be ones spiritual master, or any similarly spiritually advanced vaisnava.

1. The Vaisnava:

One should respect all Vaisnavas, and should associate with all true Vaisnavas, but one should perform seva or service, as mentioned above, to the advanced Vaisnava. Thus, in relating with other devotees, one must learn how to recogize devotee from non devotee, how to recognize the different standards of devotees and how to behave with the different types of devotees. In that way no offense will be committed, one will gather the fruits of true association or sadhu sanga, one of the most important factors for ones progress in devotional service.

General Character of the Vaisnava:

Sri Krsna dasa Kaviraja, the author of Caitanya caritamrta, says that all good qualities become manifest in the body of a Vaisnava and that only by the presence of these good qualities can one distinguish a Vaisnava from a non-Vaisnava:

sarva mahaguna gana vaisnava sarire

krsna bhakte krsnera guna sakali sancare

A Vaisnava is one who has developed all good transcendental qualities. All the good qualities of Krsna gradually develop in Krsna's devotees.

Cc madhya V.8, p.369

yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana

sarvais gunais tatra samasate surah

harav abhaktasya kuto mahad guna

mano rathenasati dhavato bahih

In one who has unflinching devotional faith in Krsna, all the good qualities of Krsna and the demigods are consistently manifest. However, he who has no devotion ot the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no good qualifications because he is engaged by mental concoction in material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord.

SB 5.18.12

titiksavah karunikah

suhrdah sarva dehinam

ajata satravah santah

sadhavah sadhu bhusanah

Devotees are always tolerant, forebearing and very merciful. They are the well wishers of every living entity. They follow the scriptural injunctions, and because they have no enemies, they are very peaceful.These are the decorations of devotees.

SB 3.25.21

krpalu akrta droha satyasara, sama

nirdosa vadanya mrdu suci akincana

sarvopakaraka KRSNAIKA SARANA

akama niriha sthira vijita sad guna

mitabhuk apramatta manada amani

gambhira karuna maitra, kavi, daksa mauni

He is very kind to everyone

He does not make anyone his enemy

He is truthful

He is equal to everyone

No one can find any fault in him.

He is magnanimous.

He is mild.

He is always clean.

He is without possessions.

He works for everyone's benefit.

He is very peaceful.

He is always surrendered to Krsna.

He has no material desires.

He is very meek.

He is steady.

He controls his senses.

He does not eat more than required.

He is not influenced by the Lord's illusory energy.

He offers respect to everyone.

He does not desire any respect for himself.

He is very grave.

He is merciful.

He is friendly.

He is poetic.

He is expert.

He is silent.

CC madhya V.8 P371

Of these characerisitsc, the principal characteristics (svarupa): surrendered to krsna, and the concomitant characteristics (tatastha) are all the others.

mahat seva dvaram ahur vimuktes

tamosvaram yositam sangi sangam

mahantas te samacittah prasanta

vimanyavah suhrdah sadhavo ye

ye va mayise krta sauhrdartha

janesu dehantara vartikesu

grhesu jayatmaja rati matsu

na priti yukta yavad arthas ca loke

Service to the great souls is the door to liberation from the material world, and association with women is the door to hell. Those who regard all as their friends, who are satisified in worshipping the Lord, who are devoid of anger, who recognize devotion to me as the goal of life, who have no taste for the talks of those who are attached to eating and drinking, who have not affection for house, family, wealth and sons, who have no desire for accumulating more than to support their bodies are termed mahat.

SB 5.2.2.-3

2. Three grades of Vaisnavas:

One can recognize a Vaisnava from a non vaisnava by the presence or absence of the above general characteristics. However, devotees of varying degrees of advancement will manifest these qualities in different degrees. The first class devotee will manifest all of the characterisitcs. The symptoms for discerning the level of advancement of the devotees are given below.

Broadly speaking there are two categories of Vaisnavas: ordinary and real. There is a third category, the person who appears to be a Vaisnava but is not.

Ordinary:

The ordinary Vaisnavas are of three classes: those who believe in the philosophy but do not practice strictly; those who accept the markings of a vaisnava and respect the vaisnavas but do not practice strictly; and those who are from Vaisnava acarya families and wear the marks of a Vaisnava but do not practice strictly.

Real:

One is a real vaisnava to the extent that ones devotion is pure and genuine, and can be distributed in the same manner to others. One attains the status of a real Vaisnava when pure Krsna bhakti appears in the heart even to a very small degree.

False Vaisnava:

At the same time one should not give the respect due to a Vaisnava to a person who is not a Vaisnava of the two categories mentioned above. Such people, called fraudulent Vaisnavas, are those who wear the marks of a vaisnava for deception, such as those who disguise themselves as vaisnavas to introduce impersonalism and those who act as Vaisnavas for material enjoyment, money or position. These people should always be avoided. They are no different than materialists. They may be treated with the respect that one should offer to all men.

Sri Caitanya Siksamrta Tritiya Vrsti, Dvitiya Dhara, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur

Real Vaisnavas:

The real Vaisnavas may be subdivided according to chanting of the Holy Name, accordig to faith and according to realization of Krsna.

In relation to the chanting of the Holy Name Sri Caitanya has described three types of Vaisnavas:

a. prabhu kahe yanra mukhe suni ekabara

krsna nama pujya sei srestha savakara

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "whoever chants the holy name of Krsna just once is worshipable and is the topmost human being."

...Simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna once, a person becomes perfect. Such a person is understood to be a Vaisnava. With such faith and belief, one may begin a life of Krsna consciousness., but an ordinary person cannot chant the holy name of Krsna with such faith. .... One should understand that the name Krsna and Krsna are identical. Having such faith, one must continue to chant the holy name.

b. krsna nama nirantara yanhara vadane

se vaisnava srestha bhaja tanhara carane

A person who is always chanting the holy name of the Lord is to be considered a first class Vaisnava, and your duty is to serve his lotus feet.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that a vaisnava who is constantly chanting the holy name of the Lord should be considered to have attained the second platform of Vaisnavism Such a devotee is superior to a neophyte vaisnava who has just learned to chant the holy name of the Lord. A neophyte devotee simply tries to chant the holy name whereas the advanced devotee is accustomed to chanting and takes pleasure in it... Generally a devotee in the intermediate stage becomes a preacher. A neophyte devotee or an ordinary person should worship the madhyama bhagavata who is a via medium...The madhyama adhikari devotees should exchange obeisances between themselves.

CC Madhya v.6.p.195

c. yanhara darsane mukhe aise krsna nama

tanhare janiha tumi vaisnava pradhana

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "A first class vaisnava is he whose very presence makes others chant the holy name of Krsna."

If an observer immediately remembers the holy name of Krsna upon seeing a vaisnava that vaisnava should be considered a maha bhagavata a first class devotee. Such a vaisnava is always aware of his krsna conscious duty, and he is enlightened in self realization. He is always in love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna and this love is without adulteration. Because of this love he is always awake to transcendental realization. A neophyte and intermediate devotee should always be anxious to hear the mahabhagavata and serve him in every respect.

CC madhya v.6.p.197

Comparing the depth of faith of the devotees practiing sadhana bhakti , Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu has given the following classification of devotees:

a. yo bhavet kamala sraddhah

sa kanistho nigadyate

One whose faith is soft and pliable is called a neophyte, but by gradually following the process, he will rise to the platform of a first class devotee.

Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu 1.2.19

b. yah sastradisv anipunah

sraddhavan sa tu madhyamah

One who has attained the intermediate stage is not very advanced in sastric knowlege, but he has firm faith in the Lord. Such a person is very fortunate to be situated on the intermediate platform.

Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu 1.2.18

c. sastre yuktau ca nipunah

sarvatha drdha niscayah

praudhu sraddho' dhikari yah

sa bhaktav uttamo matah

One who is expert in logic and understanding of revealed scriptures, and who always has firm conviction and deep faith that is not blind, is to be considered a topmost devotee in devotional service.

Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu 1.2.17

According to their realization of the Krsna, Srimad Bhagavatam has listed the following types of devotees:

a. arcayam eva haraye yah pujam sraddhayehate

na tad bhaktesu canyesu sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah

A prakrta or materialistic devotee does not purposefully study the sastra and try to understand the actual standard of pure devotional service. Consequently he does not show proper respect to advanced devotees. He may, however, follow the regulative principles learned from his spiritual master or from his family who worships the Deity. He is to be considered on the material platform, although he is trying to advance in devotional service. Such a person is a bhakta praya or bhaktabhasa, for he is a little enlightened by Vaisnava philosophy. but does not show proper respect to the devotee and to others is known as a materialistic devotee.

Sb11.2.47

This type of Vaisnava may be classed as an ordinary Vaisnava rather than a real Vaisnava, but is qualified by some faith in the Lord.

b. isvare tad adhinesu balisesu dvisatsu ca

prema maitri krpopeksa yah karoti sa madhyamah

An intermediate, second class devotee shows love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is friendly to all devotees and is very merciful to neophytes and ignorant people. The intermediate devotee neglects those who are envious of devotional service.

SB11.2.46

The second class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with sastric reference, can gradually become a first class devotee by studying the sastras and associating with a first class devotee. However, if the second class doevtee does not advance himself by associating with a first class devotee, he makes no progress.

CC madhya V.8p.366

c. sarva bhutesu yah pasyed bhagavad bhavam atmanah

bhutani bhagavaty atmany esa bhagavatottamah

A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. Consequently he always sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes and understands that all things are situated in Him.

SB11.2.45

With great love and affection, the mahabhagavata observes the Supreme Personality of Godhead, devotional service and the devotee. He observes nothing beyond Krsna, Krsna consciousness and Krsna's devotees. The maha bhagavata knows that everyone is engaged in the Lord's service in different ways. He therefore descends to the middle platform to elevate everyone to the Krsna conscious position.

CC Madhya V6, p.198

3. Association:

Necessity:

One should associate with real Vaisnavas.

krsna bhakti janma mula haya sadhu sanga

krsna prema janme tenho punah mukhya anga

The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one's dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.

CC madhya V8, p373

The value of a moment's association with the devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which are for those who are meant for death.

SB1.18.13

Srila Jiva Goswami in his thesis Bhakti Sandarbha (202) has stated that uncontaminated devotional service is the objective of pure Vaisnavas and that one has to execute such service in the association of other devotees. By associating with devotes of Lord Krsna one develops a sense of Krsna consciousness and thus becomes inclined toward the loving service of the Lord. This is the process of approaching the Supreme Lord by gradual appreciation in devotional service. If one desires unalloyed devotional service, one must associate with devotees of Sri Krsna, for by such association only can a conditioned soul achieve a taste for transcendental love and thus revive his eternal relation with Godhead in a specific manifestation .....

Consequence of avoiding association with devotees:

The living entity is a social animal, and if one gives up the society of pure devotees, he must associate with nondevotees (asat sanga). By contacting nondevotees and engaging in nondevotional activities a so-called mature devotee will fall victim to the mad elephant offense. Whatever growth has taken place is quickly uprooted by such an offense. One should therefore be very careful to defend the creeper by fencing it in; that is, by following the regulative principles and associating with pure devotees.

CC Madhya v.7.p.340

Types of Association:

According to ones own level of advancement one will behave in a particular way, and according to the level of advancement of the other devotee one will behave in a particular way.

The inexperienced devotee, not being able to differentiate the types of devotees, must simply take shelter of the spiritual master with faith and follow the rules and regulations to the best of his ability. He should be trained to respect all Vaisnavas, but should remain under the shelter of the spiritual master or one appointed by him . By the mercy of the spiritual master he can advance to the intermediate stage.

The devotee in the highest category, as he is beyond the level of sadhana bhakti, does not depend upon following rules of respect for his advancement. However by nature he sees everyone equally as devotees of the Lord, and internally will give all respects to all. He may make distinctions only for practical purposes.

The devotee on the intermediate level (madhyama adhikari) is qualified to differentiate types of devotees and as stated in the verse above from Srimad Bhagavatam, he treats them in the proper way so that he may advance in sadhana bhakti. To the less advanced devotees he should show compassion; to equals he should show friednship; and to superior devotees he should offer all respects and services, and hear his instructions with great submission. The non devotees he avoids.

The pure devotee should execute devotional service by giving the greatest respect to the spiritual master and the acaryas. He should be compassionate to the poor and make friendship with persons who are his equals, but all his activites should be executed under regulation and with control of the senses.

3.29.17

It is advised that an advanced devotee should be tolerant. He should show compassion to persons who are ignorant or innocent. A preacher devotee is meant to show mercy to innocent persons who can be elevated to devotional service. Everyone by constitutional position, is an eternal servant of God. As for a devotee's treatment of other devotee who are his equals, he should maintain friendship with them. His general view should be to see every living entity as part of the Supreme Lord. It is said, therefore, that a saintly person is always tolerant and merciful, he is a friend to everyone, never an enemy to anyone, and he is peaceful.

SB4.11.13

Thus with sincere but less advanced devotees the madhyama adhikari should give respectful treatment and give good instructions for advancement in devotional service.

With equals he should be straightforward, respectful and friendly. He should live together with them , take prasadam together and sing the name of the Lord together and share realization of Krsna together.

To the advanced category of Vaisnava he should offer all types of respect and worship with great devotion, and should offer him worship and service to the best of his ability (vaisnava seva). And most important, in the association of the advanced devotee he should practice the devotional anga of sravana , hearing from him Srimad Bhagavatam with great attention.

krsnet yasya giri tem manasadriyeta

disasti cet pranatibhis ca bhajantam isam

susrusaya bhajanan vijnam ananyam anya

nindadi sunya hrdam ipsita sanga labdhya

One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krsna (kanistha adhikari); one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation and is engaged in worshiping the deity (madhyama adhikari); and one should associate with and faithfully serve that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others (uttama adhikari). Srila Rupa Goswmai

Nectar of Instruction

Treatment of Vaisnavas--Respect:

All vaisnavas may be shown respect. Srila Bhaktivinode says that one should give outward respect to the ordinary Vaisnava (listed above. According to the level of the devotee being received, the respect may be more elaborate. This will be according to the procedures outlined for respect and reception of guests. Thus to the lowest class of Vaisnava and to the ordinary Vaisnava one should offer at least polite words, and give outward respect, but one may avoid their association.

Even if one is a vaisnava, if he is not of good character his company should be avoided, although he may be offered the respect of a Vaisnava. Anyone who accepts Visnu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is accepted as a Vaisnava but a Vaisnava is expected to develop all the good qualities of the demigods.

SB3.29.16

Necessity of Showing Respect:

To other types of Vaisnavas, at least one must offer sincere respect in the proper way and friendship.

vaisnavo vaisnavam drstva dandavat pranamed bhuvi

ubhayor antara visnuh sankha cakra gadadharah

Vaisnavas, on seeing one another, should pay their obeisances to each other without reservations, for both should be conscious that Visnu is residing within both of them. Tejodravina Pancaratra

drsta bhagavatam daivat sammukhe yo na yati hi

na grhnati haris tasya pujam dvadasa varsikim

If one sees a devotee of the Lord but does not approach and respect him properly the Lord will not accept ones puja for twelve years.

Skanda Purana

A devotee of the Lord does not demand respect from anyone, but wherever he goes he is honored by everyone throughout the whole world with all respect.

SB4.9.47

tatas ca vaisnavah praptah santarpya vacanamrtaih

sad bandhur iva sammanyo'nyatha dosa mahan srmtah

When a vaisnava comes one should treat him as a friend and say kind words. To do otherwise is a great fault.

vaisnavam cagatam viksyabhigamyalingya vaisnavam

vaidesikam prinayeyur darsayantah sva vaisnavan

When one sees a devotee coming from another locality one should go to him, embrace him, introduce him to ones fellow vaisnavas and make him feel comfortable.

Brhan Naradiya Purana

vipram bhagavatam drstva dinam aturam anasam

na karoti paritranam kesavo na prasidati

One who sees a devotee of the Lord in great trouble and anxiety but does not relieve him of his troubles reaps the displeasure of the Lord.

Hari Bhakti Vilasa

The householder should sincerely welcome the vaisnava to his house according to the rules of reception.

yo na grhnati bhupala vaisnavam grham agatam

tad grham pitrbhis tyaktam smasanam iva bhisanam

athavabhyagatam durat yo narcayati vaisnavam

svasaktya nrpa sardula nanyah papa ratas tatah

Skanda Purana

If one does not receive a vaisnava who has come to ones house, that house becomes like a crematorium, which the forefathers will avoid.

There is no greater sinner than one who does not receive according to his means a vaisnava who has come from a distant place.