Hare Krishna to all the devotees
All glories to srila Prabhupada
Although there are many devotees and many exalted ones. Still to clear this doubt I want to ask that: it is said that lord shiva is treated vaishnava (in SB) , and somewhere that narad muni is the greatest among devotees, and it is well know that srimati Radharani is the greatest devotees.
So why there are so many discriptions on the same subject. Is it different like srimati Radharani is greatest devotee of lord krsna and lord shiva is that of lord Vishnu? Just in different moods or forms of God, of something like that?
Replies
Hare Krsna
Who is greatest devotee?
This is said by Sri Krsna in BG
ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priya-taro bhuvi
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.(BG 18.68-69)
Lord Shiva is the greatest devotee because he is very compassionate to the most fallen souls. Gopis are greatest devotees because they are very compassionate to everyone.
Anyone who is truly compassionate towards other living beings is very dear to Sri Krsna. True compassion means to bring living beings closer to Sri Krsna.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna Bharat Prabhu
Your explaining the Supreme science of devotional service to other devotees is a sign of your compassion.
I am truly sorry for commiting offenses against you by words, mind and speech. I hope you will forgive me.
I am Madhava das who became Krishna das and now has appeared as Keshava das.
Hare Krishna,
Srimati Radharani is Lord's ahaladini shakti. Lord Sri Krishna and His smile on his face how can they both be seperated. Just as Milk cannot be without its whiteness, flower cannot be without its fragrance. So also Shreemati Radharani is none other than Lord's own internal potency. Lord Himself assumes the female form to show us how a devotee can be approch Lord in Madhurya bhaav.
One time It so happened that Lord Krishna got a severe headache while in Dwarika. Narada muni had visited then worriedly he asked the remedy for this from Lord Himself. Lord told His headache can be cured by only by applying the foot dust of the best devotee of Lord. Narada muni Hismelf is a best devotee of Lord but he got scared to take his foot dust and apply to Lord's forehead. He approached the Maharani's and Patrani's they got scared that they will be thrown to hell for zillions of life times if they did this sin. As they are ardhangini's of Lord. It is mahapaap for a wife to do so. Now Narada apprpoched Brahma and other demigods they said they cannot do this sin. Then Narada approaches Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is said to be param Vaishnava and best among all Vaishnavas. But he also got scared. Shiva also said no no .. I cannot do this paap. Finally Narada approached the Gopi's. Narada said Oh my Lord Narayana is suffering from a severe headache and remedy for this to get the food dust of the best of devotees of Lord and apply to Lord's forehead. Gopi's without even thinking for one second immediately removed the foot dust and gave it to Narada and said pls. go immediately and apply it to our Kanha ji. Narada muni asked gopis' don't you fear that you will get a big sin is you do this?
Gopi's replied - oh we don't fear of any sin. All we want is Kanha ji's is safe or not.
This is how much love they have.
When we don't have fear for losing our status in society or losing something selfishly , and give everything to the other selflessly this is called Love.
So, the best among all devotees is Gopi's of Vrindavan proved by Lord Himself.
Every other devotee was fear for themselves that they might get paap karma they might be thrown to hell. But Simple cowherd girls have nothing to lose nothing to gain all they needed was Lord's safety.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Akshit Prabhu
Undoubtedly Srimati Radharani is the greatest of all devotees of Lord Krishna.
Actually it shouldn't really matter who is greatest as long as one does not think of oneself as a great devotee.
When one sees that everyone is better engaged in devotional service than oneself, one may become a pure devotee.
Hari bol