The Uttama-adhikari guru as taught in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu

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> There is no mention of his being a completely pure or unalloyed devotee or

> entered Radha Krishna Lila or something like that. I think it fits in with

> the uttama adhikari guru definition give by Prabhupada in NOI in verses 1

> & 5.

 

Although we may find descriptions from Srila Prabhupada which describe

lesser qualifications, why should we settle for the lowest common

denominator as sufficient as the qualification for an uttama adhikary?

Surely we should consider ALL of Srila Prabhupadas teachings before trying

to establish any conclusions.

 

In the Nectar of Devotion, chapter 17 'Ecstatic Love', Page 131 Srila

Prabhupada says;

 

"By the process of executing regulated devotional service, one is actually

elevated unto the transcendental stage, beyond the material modes of nature.

At that time ones heart becomes illuminated like the sun. The sun is far

above the planetary systems, and there is no possibility of its being

covered by any kind of cloud; similarly, when a devotee is purified like the

sun, from his pure heart there is a diffusion of ecstatic love which is more

glorious than the sunshine. Only at that time is the attachment to Krsna

perfect. Spontaneously, the devotee becomes eager to serve the Lord in his

ecstatic love. At this stage the devotee is on the platform of uttama

adhikary, perfect devotion. Such a devotee has no agitation from the

material affections and is interested only in the service of Radha and

Krsna."

 

In chapter 25, page 203 Prabhupada describes two kinds of devotees:

 

" A person who is always absorbed in Krsna Consciousness is called a devotee

of Krsna. Srila Rupa Goswami says that all the transcendental qualities

discussed previously are also found in the devotees of Krsna. The devotees

of Krsna can be classified into two groups: those who are cultivating

devotional service in order to enter into the transcendental kingdom, and

those who are already in the perfectional stage of devotional service.

 

A person who has attained the stage of attraction for Krsna and who is not

freed from the material impasse, but who qualified himself to enter into the

kngdom of God, is called sadhaka. Sadhaka means one who is cultivating

devotion in Krsna Consciousness. The description of such a devotee is found

in the Eleventh Canto, Second Chapter, verse 46, of Srimad Bhagavatam. It is

said there that a person who has unflinching faith in and love for the

Personality of Godhead, who is in friendship with devotees of Krsna, and who

is very merciful to the ignorant, raising them to the standard of devotional

service, and who is uninterested in non devotees, is considered to be

situated in the position of *cultivating* devotional service.(emphasis mine)

 

When one is found shedding tears by hearing of the pastimes of the Lord, it

is to be understood that the blazing fire of material existence will be

extinquished by such watering. When there is shivering of the body and the

hairs of the body stand up, it is to be understood that the devotee is

*nearing* perfection.(emphasis mine) An example of a sadhaka cultivating

devotional service is Bilvamangala Thakur."

 

>From Nectar of Instruction.

 

Symptoms of a Kanishta adhikary:

1. Sraddha. Firm faith. A disinterest in material affairs and interest in

spiritual advancement.

2, Sadhu sanga. Association with pure devotees.

3. Bhajana Kriya. performance of devotional service to Krsna (surrendering

to the spiritual master and being encouraged by the association of devotees

so that initiation takes place.

 

Madhyama adhikary.

1. Bhajana Kriya (higher stage) one becomes fully engaged in devotional

service and becomes detached from gross anarthas.

2. Anartha nivritti. Diminishing of anarthas both gross and subtle almost to

nill, the clearing stage.

3. Nishta firm or perfect faith, irevocable devotional service, i.e. the

brahma bhuta platform, liberated from the material platform.

4. Ruci, taste. An immense relish for hearing and chanting about the Lord,

so much so that one practicaly cannot stop, and rendering service develops.

 

Sadhana Raganuga Bhakti

5. Asakti. Attachment (loving inclination) the seed of bhava. One follows in

the footsetps of one of the inhabitants of Vrindavan, develops a spiritual

body, and his rasa with Krsna is revealed, last stage of Madhyama.

 

Uttama Adhikary.

1. Bhava. Seed tree of Prema. Ecstacy develops. uttama adhikary begins at

this stage. The minutest particle of Prema.

2.Prema. Pure love of Godhead. No falldown possible.

 

Srila Prabhupada often equates an Uttama Adhikary as a first class devotee

or pure devotee or mahabhagavata. From CC Madhya 16.74 Purport:

 

The neophyte and intermediate devotees can gradualy rise to the platform of

Uttama-adhikary and become first class devotees. Symptoms of a first class

devotee are given in Srimad Bhagavatam (11.2.45)

 

Srimad Bhagavatam (11.2.45)

Purport.

"... A devotee of the highest level of spiritual qualification is glorified

for the expansiveness of his spiritual vision. For example, when the

stalwart demon Hiranyakasipu questioned his self realised son Prahlada

Maharaja as to the whereabouts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

Prahlada, being a maha bhagavata or pure devotee, answered straightforwardly

that the Supreme Lord is everywhere. The demoniac father then asked if God

was in the pillar of the palace. When Prahlada answered yes, Hiranyakasipu,

being a bonafide demon, struck the pillar with his sword, trying to kill

God, or at least disprove His existence. Then Lord Nrsimhadeva, the most

ferocious form of the Supreme Lord, immediately appeared and finished

forever the illicit program of Hiranyakasipu. Thus Prahlada Maharaja can be

accepted as an uttama adhikari devotee.

 

.... According to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, those who cannot

properly distiunguish between devotees and nondevotees and who therefore

never worship the pure devotees of the Lord are to be known as kanistha

adhikaris, devotees on the lowest stage of devotional service. Such Kanishta

adhikaris engage in the worship of the supreme Lord, especialy in the

temple, but are indifferent to the Lords devotees.

 

...There are unfortunate living entities who are unable to understand the

glory of a kanistha-adhikary within the realm of devotional service, have no

praise for the more advanced state of intermediate devotion, and cannot even

begin to understand the most exalted stage, that of the uttama adhikary.

 

Sorry I missed the begining of this thread, but to try to promote an uttama

adhikary as anything less than the most exalted pure devotee, must surely be

a mistake? If Srila Prabhupada occaisionaly decides not to delve into ALL of

the qualifications, in each an every text, we can be sure to find them

elsewhere in his voluminous writings.