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Post by govinda on Sept 21, 2014 14:30:52 GMT -5
In chapter 22 of Madhya lila it is stated:
śāstra-yuktye sunipuṇa, dṛḍha-śraddhā yāṅra
’uttama-adhikārī’ sei tāraye saṁsāra
“One who is expert in logic, argument and the revealed scriptures and who has firm faith in Kṛṣṇa is classified as a topmost devotee. He can deliver the whole world."
śāstre yuktau ca nipuṇaḥ
sarvathā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ
prauḍha-śraddho ‘dhikārī yaḥ
sa bhaktāv uttamo mataḥ
“‘One who is expert in logic and in understanding the 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.’
Madhya 22.66-67
Verse 22.67 is a quote from BRS describing an uttama adhikari practicing vaidhi-bhakti. This is explained on page 126, chapter 4 of "The Realization and Manifestation of Your Eternal Identity".
So it appears that an uttama on the vaidhi-bhakti platform can deliver the world. Can this be true?
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Post by Uttamasloka on Sept 21, 2014 18:45:23 GMT -5
This brings up the issue of exactly what is an uttama-adhikari? As you just quoted, according to BRS, it is someone who is qualified for vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti, ie: one who is still a practitioner/sadhaka and not fully realized, nor is he on the path of raganuga-bhakti. However, Srila Prabhupada and other acaryas have often used the term uttama-adhikari to indicate a fully realized devotee at the stage of prema-bhakti or at least bhava-bhakti. They don't always indicate an advanced practitioner.
So the first thing is that we always have to examine the context wherein we find this term being used so we can understand the type of devotee being referred to. It seems that when they are referring to a fully realized devotee they mean an "uttama-bhakta" as opposed to an uttama-adhikari as described in BRS. On the other hand, one who has the qualities described in CC, 2.22.66-67 certainly could deliver the whole world, meaning they are advanced enough to instill bhakti in the hearts of conditioned souls if those souls are ready and willing.
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Post by govinda on Sept 22, 2014 3:22:16 GMT -5
So it seems that the term "uttama-adhikari" can apply to any devotee from an expert vaidhi-bhakta with deep faith up to a maha-bhagavata. It may be that the type of uttama-adhikari that can deliver the entire world is more than a vaidhi-bhakta, and that the extra qualifications are just not mentioned in Madhya lila, chapter 22. An uttama vaidhi-bhakta would only be able to give theoretical teachings on raganuga bhakti.
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Post by Uttamasloka on Sept 22, 2014 14:49:11 GMT -5
So it seems that the term "uttama-adhikari" can apply to any devotee from an expert vaidhi-bhakta with deep faith up to a maha-bhagavata. Correct. That is based on the variable usage of that term by the acaryas. But in BRS it states clearly that a vaidhi-bhakta at that level can deliver the whole world. Not necessarily. Because he/she is at a very advanced stage their teachings would be imbued with strong bhakti and deep realizations, albeit with a vaidhi mood. One cannot get to that stage based solely on theoretical knowledge. |
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Post by govinda on Sept 23, 2014 9:17:35 GMT -5
Thanks for your insights.
Certainly Mahaprabhu said an uttama-adhikari can deliver the entire world. I haven't seen this anywhere in BRS. However in Prabhupada's NOD he says, " Thus, being fully trained to preach and become a spiritual master himself, he is considered first class. "
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Post by Uttamasloka on Sept 23, 2014 10:49:30 GMT -5
Thanks for your insights. Certainly Mahaprabhu said an uttama-adhikari can deliver the entire world. I haven't seen this anywhere in BRS. " You're right, that was in CC not BRS. |
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Vrindavan das
Junior Member
"This crying is the last word in the progressive path of devotional service." - SB 3.4.35 purport
Posts: 57
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Post by Vrindavan das on Jun 10, 2015 3:46:47 GMT -5
"Even a single pure Vaisnava, jane jane, he can deliver the whole world, he has such potency. This is the Vedic conclusion."
Vaisnava Sharana is a well-loved vaisnava song, part of a larger work glorifing the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, composed by Devakinandana dasa, who, it is understood, was known as Gopal Chapal prior to receiving Mahaprabhu's grace and becoming a Vaisnava himself.
The translation here is from a lecture by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami given in 1986.
Why glorify the vaisnavas?
It is explained by Sriman Mahaprabhu in Sri Caitanya bhagavata, (antya lila 3rd chapter)
ei satya kahi toma sabara kevala
na janiya ninda yeba karila sakala
ara yadi nindya-karma kabhu na acare
nirantara visnu-vaisnava stuti kare
e sakala papa ghuce ei se upaya
koti prayascitte o anyatha nahi yaya
*What I say is the truth, if a person has committed blasphemy stops blaspheming others and instead praises Lord Visnu and the Vaisnavas, then all of that persons sins and aparadhas will be destroyed. That is the correct way to destroy them. Otherwise crores of ritual atonements will not destroy them.
Why this prayer ?
The poem known as Vaisnava Sharana is chanted on a daily basis by many Gaudiya Vaisnavas, as it is known help purify it’s chanter of Vaisnava aparadha, and also to prevent future offenses.
This poem is actually the final portion of a much larger work, Vaisnava-vandana, a prayer mentioning by name many of Mahaprabhu’s most important associates. It was written by Sri Devakinandana das Thakur.
***VAISHNAVA SHARANA***
translation by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja.
Vrndavana-basi jata vaisnavera gana
Prathame vandana kori sabara carana
*The Vaisnavas residing in Vrindavan, first I pay obeisances at their lotus feet. I worship their lotus feet.
Nilacala basi jata mahaprabhur gana
Bhumite padiya bandon sabara carana
*Mahaprabhur gana, the associates of Mahaprabhu, the Vaisnavas residing in Nilacala dhama, Jagannath Puri dhama, I, falling flat on the ground, worship their lotus feet.
Navadvipa-basi jata mahaprabhur bhakta
Sabara carana bandon hana anurakta
*The devotees of Mahaprabhu who are in Navadvipa, I worship the lotus feet of one and all of those devotees. That is stated. This is humility, invoking the mercy of all the Vaisnavas.
Mahaprabhur bhakta jata gauda dese sthithi
Sabara carana bando koriya pranati
*The devotees of Mahaprabhu who are resding in Gauda desh, Gauda Mandala bhumi, I worship the lotus feet of one and all. I pay my obeisances at the lotus feet of one and all.
Je dese je dese baise gaurangera gana
Urdhva bahu kori bando sabara carana
*Gaurangera gana, Gaurangera jana, Gaura bhaktas, the devotees of Gauranga, they may be residing in any country, eastern country, western country, wherever they are, raising up my hands I pay dandavats to one and all at their lotus feet.
Hanacena haibena prabhura jata dasa
Sabara carana bandon dante kori ghasa
*Those who are already devotees of Mahaprabhu, and in the future, those who are coming in the future, those who will be the devotees of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, those who will be Gaura bhaktas, I worship the feet of one and all.
Brahmanda tarite shakti dhare jane jane
E veda purane guna gaya jeba sune
*Even a single pure Vaisnava, jane jane, he can deliver the whole world, he has such potency. This is the Vedic conclusion. One must listen to it. One must glorify the Vaisnavas. One who glorifies the Vaisnavas, he is very fortunate, all of his sinful reactions will be annihilated. Such Vaisnava charita is all spiritual, that is stated in the Vedas, Puranas.
Mahaprabhura gana saba patita pavana
Tai lobhe mui papi lainu sharana
*The men of Mahaprabhu, the devotees of Lord Caitanya, they are all Patita pavana they are the deliverers of the patita, fallen souls. Developing this greed in my heart, I take shelter of their lotus feet.
Vandana karite mui kata shakti dhori
Tamo buddhi dose mui dambha matra kori
*I have no strength, no shakti to glorify the Vaisnavas. I think ‘Yes I can do it, I can glorify the Vaisnavas’ but this is tamo buddhi. Out of ignorance I have developed this pride.
Tathapi mukera bhagya manera ullasa
Dosa ksami mo adhame koro nija dasa
*Yet this is my fortune. I am mukha, a dumb man, I have no speaking power to glorify the Vaisnavas. Still I get pleasure in my mind by doing so. You please excuse my offences at your lotus feet, you please accept me as one of your servants.
Sarva vancha siddhi hoy janma bandha chute
Jagate durlabha haya premadhana lute
*All of your desires will be fulfilled if you get the mercy of such a Vaisnava. You will be freed from the clutches of Yamaraj. Then you will be able to achieve Prema Bhakti, which is very rare in this material world. It is only by Guru kripa, Vaisnava kripa. No other way.
Manera vasana purna acirate haya
Devakinandana dasa ei lobhe koya
*The desires that you have in your mind will be fulfilled very soon if you get the mercy of such a Vaisnava. Therefore Devakinandana das sings this song.
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