The account of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu’s deliverance of the two drunken sinners Jagai and Madhai demonstrates the harmful results of blaspheming Vaishnavas and the beneficial results possible for those who do not blaspheme. Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya-khanda, 13.39–43) describes:
“Every type of sin became manifest in the bodies of those two [Jagai and Madhai] except the sin of blaspheming Vaishnavas. They happily spent their days and nights in the company of other drunkards. Therefore they had no opportunity to blaspheme the Vaishnavas. The assembly in which Vaishnavas are blasphemed will be ruined, even if all other religious principles are observed. If an assembly of sannyasis indulges in blasphemy, then that assembly is more sinful than an assembly of drunkards. A drunkard will be delivered in due course of time, but one who engages in blasphemy will never attain the goal of life.”
Later, after Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu delivered Jagai and Madhai, Mahaprabhu accepted all their sinful reactions—and sent the sinful reactions to those who blaspheme devotees:
“Mahaprabhu said, ‘O brothers, I have accepted the sinful reactions of Jagai and Madhai. You will all see for yourselves.’ In order to demonstrate that there were no more sins remaining in the bodies of those two, the Lord’s body turned blackish. The Lord said, ‘How do I look?’ Advaita replied, ‘You look just like Sri Gokulacandra [Krishna, Syamasundara].” On hearing Advaita’s comment, Visvambhara smiled and all the devotees chanted the name of Hari. The Lord said, ‘See how these two sinners are black. Perform kirtan so that their sins take shelter in those who blaspheme.’ Hearing the Lord’s words, everyone became jubilant. They then began to perform kirtan in ecstasy.” (Cb Madhya-khanda 13.298–303)
I desperately pray never to commit the offense of blaspheming devotees. Rather, as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “Let me have unlimited mouths and unlimited lifespan to unlimitedly glorify the unlimited qualities of Krishna’s devotees.”
Hare Krishna.
—Giriraj Swami
Comments
How kind Mahaprabhu ! Hari Bol !!