Do we recognize a devotee by his birth? By his material condition? By
his material situation?
No, the sign of a devotee is through his surrender to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. It doesn’t matter from whatever category,
whatever background one comes. Like candalo’pi dvija-shrestho hari-
bhakti-parayanah. One maybe a candala but hari bhakti parayanah, when
he becomes a devotee of Hari, Krishna, then he is dvija shrestha, he
is superior, he is greater than a brahmana.
Here also we are seeing that so many devotees, as I just mentioned
like they are born in a demoniac family. By birth they are demons,
Prahlada Maharaja, Bali Maharaja, but why they have been recognized as
great devotees, exemplary devotees? Because of their devotion to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, it has been pointed out
that vaishnavera nahi jati kuladi vicara. There is no consideration
for jati, kula. Jati means caste and creed of a Vaishnava. Vaishnava
can appear in any family.
So the Vedic Karma Kanda section may have consideration for caste and
creed but when it comes to devotional service there is no such
consideration. Because the devotional service is the activity of the
soul, soul’s activity. Now, the soul can, any soul at any place can
become a devotee. But what is the criteria for becoming a devotee?
When can one become a devotee, or when does one get the opportunity to
become a devotee? That is the most important consideration.
One can become a devotee only by coming in contact with a devotee.
Without the contact of a devotee it is not possible to become a
devotee. That is why the devotional consideration is not of birth or
any other criteria.
In our scriptures we find there are many…brahmanas, they actually were
demons. Like Ravana, he is born of an exalted brahmana father,
Vishrava. Hiranyakasipu, Hiranyaksa [born of] Kashyapa, son of Brahma.
So, by birth they may be very exalted, but their activity is making
them into demons. Whereas the devotion can be practiced by…but to
receive, how can one become a devotee? The answer is only by coming in
contact with a devotee. That is why it is important that the devotees
go out and preach. Preach means provide the opportunity to others to
become a devotee.
Now, why do we have to come in contact with a devotee to become a
devotee? Why? Because it is by contact with a devotee that you get to
know about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. Only a devotee
can explain who Krishna is. Krishna Himself is saying bhaktya mam
abhijanati. [Bg 18.55] Bhaktya mam abhijanati; it is only through
devotion that one can get to know Me. Only devotees know Me, bhaktya.
Without devotion one cannot know Krishna.
- HH Bhakti Charu Swami (Srimad Bhagavatam. Canto 3. Ch.24. T.11) on
August 2010, Ujjain.
Comments
Jai Shri Krishna..
Hari Bol! thank you..
hari bol !!!!!!!
very nice blog prabhu g