Hare Krsna
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described a mundane person in the dress of a Vaisnava as a disciple of Kali, kali-cela.
Although I have not had the misfortune of encountering a kali-cela in all my experience with devotees. I came across it in writing and I thought that unless there is truth in it, what is the necessity to mention it?
" A jealous person in the dress of a Vaisnava is not at all happy to see the success of another Vaisnava in receiving the Lord's mercy. Unfortunately, in this Age of Kali there are many mundane persons in the dress of Vaisnavas, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described them as disciples of Kali. He says, kali-cela. He indicates that there is another Vaisnava, a pseudo Vaisnava with tilaka on his nose and kanthi beads around his neck. Such a pseudo Vaisnava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaisnavas. Although passing for a Vaisnava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaisnava. Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore says that such a pseudo Vaisnava is not a Vaisnava at all but a disciple of Kali-yuga. A disciple of Kali cannot become an acarya by the decision of some high court. Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaisnava acarya. A Vaisnava acarya is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgement. A false acarya may try to override a Vaisnava by a high-court decision, but Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that he is nothing but a disciple of Kali-yuga. "
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 1.220 PURPORT
Hari bol
Replies
Hare Kṛṣṇa. Our ācāryas, especially Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, spoke about kali-cela not to criticize unnecessarily, but to protect the sādhaka’s bhakti-latā from hidden dangers.
Once, in a village, there were two people who wore the dress of sādhus. Both had tilaka, both had tulasī-mālā, both sang kīrtana. The first was deeply devoted to Kṛṣṇa. He did not care for honor, money, or followers. His joy was in chanting the holy name and serving Vaiṣṇavas. The second also appeared saintly but inside his heart there was envy. When he saw others glorified, he burned in jealousy. He liked to gather wealth in the name of bhakti and secretly enjoyed sense pleasures.
Both were called “Vaiṣṇava” by the villagers. But the sincere sādhaka who approached the second one would get cheated and faith would be harmed, enthusiasm in bhakti would weaken. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explained: this second type of person is not a Vaiṣṇava at all. He is a disciple of Kali, a kali-cela sent by Kali-yuga to disturb real bhakti.
Just as a mother warns her child not to eat poisonous fruit, our ācāryas warn us of pseudo-Vaiṣṇavas. If we are not aware, we may mistake them for genuine saints and lose the treasure of bhakti.
True Vaiṣṇava etiquette (maryādā) means humility, respect, and service but it also means not supporting or following aparādhi (offenders) and prakṛta-sahajiyās. If we ignore the warning, we may give honor where it is not due and dishonor true servants of Kṛṣṇa.
Kali-cela is not only from outside. This envy, hypocrisy, greed, and pretension can also grow within our own heart. By reading such strong instructions, we are forced to look inside and uproot those tendencies before they destroy our bhakti.
In Bhakti-kāl, saints like Kabīr, Tulsīdās, Nāmdēv, Tukārām, Mīrābāī, and others fearlessly criticized false show of religion. They did not tolerate hypocrisy, caste-pride, or business done in the name of God. This is why our ācāryas also followed the same mood by protecting bhakti from imitation.
Mentioning kali-cela in Vaiṣṇava writings is not negative, yet it is protective. It guards us from being misled and teaches true Vaiṣṇava etiquette to respect all, but discern who is actually surrendered. It reminds us to uproot the “mini kali-cela” inside us (envy, pride, greed, and hypocrisy.
Just as a doctor must sometimes describe the nature of a disease to save the patient, our ācāryas describe the kali-cela so that the sādhaka can remain healthy in bhakti and not be cheated.
Hare Krsna Govind Prabhu
Wonderful explanation. The fact that the anarthas inside us contributes in making us followers of Kali, kali-cela while we think that everything is fine because we are following Vaisnava principles is well pointed out. This tendency can often be overlooked. It is a deep reminder to every practicing Vaisnava to be mindful of uprooting the anarthas inside so that we not only don't cheat others but also don't get cheated ourselves or become complacent to the influence of Kali-yuga.
Hari bol