Vaishnava-aparadha?

[Guest guest]

> Up to date, I have read umpteen quotes on how we should avoid

> vaishnava-aparadha. However, I have read very little on what is actually a

> vaishnava-aparadha, and what is not. Please send in references.

>

> Your servant,

> Ekatma das

 

 

The first offense is to blaspheme great personalities who are

engaged in distributing the holy name of the Lord. It is said in the sastra

(Cc. Antya 7.11), krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana: one cannot

distribute the holy names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra unless he is

empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore one should not

criticize or blaspheme a devotee who is thus engaged.

Sri Padma Purana states:

satam ninda namnah paramam aparadham vitanute

yatah khyatim yatam katham u sahate tad-vigarham

To blaspheme the great saintly persons who are engaged in preaching the

glories of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is the worst offense at the lotus feet

of the holy name. One should not criticize a preacher of the glories of the

Hare Krsna maha-mantra. If one does so, he is an offender. The Nama-prabhu,

who is identical with Krsna, will never tolerate such blasphemous

activities, even from one who passes as a great devotee.

 

============ REF. Adi 8.24

 

 

 

 

 

to speak evil of, in LGr(Ec), blaspheme < blas3 (< ?) + phcmc, utterance:

see FAME6

1 to speak irreverently or profanely of or to (God or sacred things)

2 to curse or revile

 

 

The First Offense: Blasphemy of the DEvotees

 

 

11. Now I will speak of the first offense: blasphemy of the devotees.

Because of this offense everything the soul possesses is destroyed.

 

 

A person Who Criticizes a Devotee Because of That Devotee's Previous Sins Or

The Fragrance of His Previous Sins Is an Offender to the Holy Name

 

 

37. When a person attracted to the holy name once says the holy name,

his previous sins are destroyed.

38. The scent of his previous sins may still linger for some days, but

by the power of the holy name they two are gradually destroyed. (7)

39. The scent of sin is quickly thrown away. Then that person becomes

known as a great saint.

 

40. During those days when the scent of sin is not yet destroyed, to

ordinary eyes he may still seem to be a sinner.

41. Seeing that scent of sin, someone may criticize that devotee.

Seeing that he had previously sinned, someone may criticize his character.

42. That critic is an offender. Because he blasphemed a devotee, he

commits an offense to the holy name. Because Krsna is angry with him, he

falls down.

 

 

To Find Fault With a Vaisnava is Blasphemy of a Vaisnava - Criticizing a

Vaisnava's Birth, His Previous Faults, the Almost Comepletely Destroyed

Remnant of His Previous Faults, and His Momentary Lapses

 

 

58-59. A person who criticizes a Vaisnava" birth, previous faults, the

almost completely destroyed remnant of his previous faults, or his momentary

lapses is a fool who will be

punished by Yamaraja. (11)

60. Lord Krsna will not forgive anyone who criticizes a true Vaisnava,

a Vaisnava in whose mouth the glories of the holy name stay.

61. Anyone who, turning away from dharma, yoga, yajïa, and the

jïana-kanda part of the Vedas, instead worships Lord Krsna's holy name is

the best of persons.

 

 

 

These are from Harinama Cintami

 

There are of course more,