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In the late afternoon, Srila Prabhupada was visited by a pious white South African family of five, who had driven several hours from the National capital, Canberra, just to have his darsana. Although Westerners, they had received initiation from their guru into the chanting of Lord Rama's holy names sixteen years previously in India.

Prabhupada was happy to hear that they were strict vegetarians, and that in their house-cum-temple they regularly rose early, and bathed, worshiped the Deity, offered their food and read Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Despite their Vaisnava lineage, they also worshiped pancopasana, the five primary demigods. However, they explained to Srila Prabhupada that their "main business" was chanting. They derived great happiness, they said, from chanting the name of Lord Rama.

Because they were so submissive and eager to hear from him, and because they lacked clear philosophical understanding, Srila Prabhupada kindly explained to them the real goal of their chanting. "It is very nice that you are chanting Rama-nama. You will be purified, there is no doubt. A little spiritual advancement saves us from the greatest danger. But when you become advanced, you must know what is God. That is required. Siddhanta, conclusion." Prabhupada pointed out that the system of pancopasana was not only "a little vague" but it was also contaminated with Mayavada, impersonalism.

Prabhupada explained the Mayavadi's false doctrine: although one worshipped Visnu, Siva, Durga, Ganapati, and Surya, the Mayavadi's claim that ultimately the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Brahman, had no form. Thus one could worship any one of the five forms and still reach the same goal.

"This is Mayavada philosophy. It is not very good. In fact, it is very dangerous, in the sense that if you follow it you can never become a pure Vaisnava."

The main spokesman of the family respectfully asked, "So what does Your Holiness recommend?"

Prabhupada's explanation was crystal-clear. "We must know what are the demigods, and what is their position. Just like Durga, in charge of material nature, she is the maidservant of Krsna. She is so powerful that she can in one minute finish this Melbourne city; havoc, with one wave of the sea. She is so powerful, she can do that. But in spite of such powerfulness, she is acting under the order of the Supreme Lord, Govinda. Similarly, Surya and Ganesa -- they are assistants, servants of God, Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Lord and all others are servants. This has to be understood. God is one and there are many servants. Servants are not to be disrespected, but one must know who is God and who is servant."

Was there any harm, the man asked, if one respected the servants.

"No harm. But we must know, 'Here is servant and here is master'. Suppose the servant and master are together, and if I say 'For me, either the servant or master, they are all the same'. Then the master will be insulted. You may be very liberal, so kind to everyone, but the master will be displeased. He will think, 'This nonsense does not know who is master and who is servant'. Therefore, intelligence means to know who is master and who is servant."

Prabhupada explained that Lord Rama was master, on the same level as Krsna. "But Lord Siva is not on the same level. Of course, you can offer respect to everyone. Vaisnava is very humble. He is prepared to offer respects even to an ant. But still, he knows what is the position of each and everyone."


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu