[world-vedic] Gaudiya Vaishnavas intolerant?

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna Alexandra,

 

> In Hinduism it is common to regard one's Ishtadevata as supreme and

> all other deities as aspects or manifestations of him/her.

> For instance, the Shaivas regard Shiva as Parabrahman and respect

> Vishnu, Krishna, Brahma, etc. as aspects or manifestations of Shiva

> and the goddesses such as Lakshmi, Radha, Sarasvati, etc. as aspects

> or manifestations of Shakti-Devi.

> The Shaktas also respect the other deities.

> But the Gaudiya Vaishnavas seem to hold the view that only Krishna

> is god, all other deities are mere demi-gods.

 

Hinduism is a misleading term. See:

 

www.veda.harekrsna.cz/bhaktiyoga/vaisnavism.htm#2

www.veda.harekrsna.cz/bhaktiyoga/vaisnavism.htm#3

 

Istadeva's choice depends on one's advancement. On material level it

is influenced by three gunas and the Lord as Paramatma supports such

faith (see Bhagavad Gita 7.21 and further) but doesn't approve of it

(BG 7.20-23, 9.23-25). On transcendental level this choice is a matter of

rasa, relationship with a particular form of the Lord in one's svarupa.

 

> Why? Did Sri Chaitanya preach that?

> Is this view shared by all Vaishnava sects, or are there branches of

> the Vaishnava tradition that follow the classical Hindu tradition?

 

What you consider a classical tradition - i.e. worship of many devas

for any purpose imaginable - is a distortion stemming from Adi

Sankaracarya's pancopasana. Before him there existed a worship

of Visnu/Krishna. See:

 

www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/mayavada.htm

(VII. D. Vedanta according to early Buddhist records)

 

Real classical Vedic tradition consists of Vaishnava, Saiva and Sakta

schools of interpretation of Vedas.

 

To my knowledge this view is shared by all Vaishnava sampradayas.

 

> On which scriptures do they base their view, and on whose

> interpretation of these scriptures?

 

Sattvic Puranas and sattvic Tantras (Pancaratras) interpreted by

all Vaisnava acaryas-founders of the four main sampradayas and their

followers (too many to enumerate). Their interpretations were defended

in scholarly debates and prevailed over Sankara's views.

 

In these sastras Visnu/Krisna is shown to be the Supreme Lord and

everyone else as His expansion/servant. Rajasic sastras present Siva

and tamasic sastras Devi as the Supreme.

 

The best elaboration you can find in Sri Jiva Gosvami's Tattva

Sandarbha. www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/pramana.htm

 

Your servant, bh. Jan

www.veda.harekrsna.cz