Preaching priorities

[Guest guest]

Formerly, all activities were performed in connection with Visnu, but after

Satya-yuga there were symptoms of disrespectful dealings among Vaisnavas.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has said that a Vaisnava is he who has helped

others become Vaisnavas. An example of one who has converted many others

into Vaisnavas is Narada Muni. A powerful Vaisnava who has converted others

into Vaisnavas is to be worshiped, but because of material contamination,

sometimes such an exalted Vaisnava is disrespected by other, minor

Vaisnavas. When great saintly persons saw this contamination, they

introduced worship of the Deity in the temple. This began in Treta-yuga and

was especially prominent in Dvapara-yuga (dvapare paricaryayam). But in

Kali-yuga, worship of the Deity is being neglected. Therefore chanting of

the Hare Krsna mantra is more powerful than Deity worship. Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu set a practical example in that He did not establish any temples

or Deities, but He profusely introduced the sankirtana movement. Therefore

Krsna consciousness preachers should give more stress to the sankirtana

movement, especially by distributing transcendental literature more and

more. This helps the sankirtana movement. Whenever there is a possibility to

worship the Deity, we may establish many centers, but generally we should

give more stress to the distribution of transcendental literature, for this

will be more effective in converting people to Krsna consciousness.

It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.47):

arcayam eva haraye

pujam yah sraddhayehate

na tad-bhaktesu canyesu

sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah

"A person who is very faithfully engaged in the worship of the Deity in the

temple but does not know how to behave toward devotees or people in general

is called a prakrta-bhakta, or kanistha-adhikari." A prakrta devotee, or

neophyte devotee, is still on the material platform. He certainly engages in

worshiping the Deity, but he cannot appreciate the activities of a pure

devotee. It has actually been seen that even an authorized devotee who is

engaged in the service of the Lord by preaching the mission of Krsna

consciousness is sometimes criticized by neophyte devotees. Such neophytes

are described by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura:

sarva-prani-sammananasamarthanam avajna spardhadimatam tu

bhagavat-pratimaiva patram ity aha. For those who cannot properly appreciate

the activities of authorized devotees, Deity worship is the only way for

spiritual advancement. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 7.11) it is clearly

said, krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana: without being authorized by

Krsna, one cannot preach the holy name of the Lord throughout the entire

world. Nevertheless, a devotee who does so is criticized by neophyte

devotees, kanistha-adhikaris, who are on the lower stages of devotional

service. For them, Deity worship is strongly recommended.

 

SB 7.14.40 ref Vedabase