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So, what is the symptom of a devotee? How do you recognize a devotee?
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.

What to speak of human beings, even an animal can become a devotee of
Krishna. A wonderful example is Hanumana. In the community of monkeys
there is Hanumana and there are so many other monkeys who are great
devotees. The bird can be a devotee. Example is Garuda, example is
Jatayu, example is Sampati. They are birds, but they are great
devotees of the Lord.

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.

Yes, to be a brahmana generally one has to be born in a brahmanas
family, generally. But that also is not sufficient. One may be born in
a brahmana family but he has to practice as a brahmana. He has to
become qualified. 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.

(H.H Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj)