Pure Devotees (BG 9.13 purport)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/21/2004 11:25:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, krishna_susarla (AT) hotmail (DOT) com writes:

The above purport seems to imply that those who are attracted to Vishnu are not

pure devotees, and that pure devotees are only attracted to Krishna and not

Vishnu.

It seems like the word pure devotees refers to pure devotees in raganuga-bhakti,

as opposed to pure devotees in vaidhi bhakti by I'm not sure why that

distinction should be brought up here.

ys

Gerald S

[Guest guest]

As I understand SP's NOD, there may be distinctions even within the realm of

perfection, i.e. perfect, more perfect, most perfect. One who is worshipping

Laksmi-Narayana in the mood of awe and veneration, i.e. Vaikuntha mood, are

considered to be perfect, but those worshipping in the intimate mood of

Vrajavasis are considered more perfect, and those worshipping following in the

line of the gopis are considered to be most perfect. In the Gaudiya line, even

amongst perfected beings, this standard is considered most perfect and most

worthy perhaps of being called mahatmas. The statement could be reconciled in

this way.

 

Rupa-vilasa dasa

The above purport seems to imply that those who are attracted to Vishnu are not

pure devotees, and that pure devotees are only attracted to Krishna and not

Vishnu.How does one reconcile the above statements with other statements by

Srila Prabhupada (and indeed, of the Gosvamis) to the effect that one should

never distinguish between the different forms of Krishna, and that worship of

any of these forms is equally transcendental, with pure devotees attaining

whoever is their ishta-devata?Achintya Homepage: