Symptoms of love between devotees of Krishna

[Guest guest]

In the Upadesamrta, Srila Rupa Goswami

describes the six kinds of exchanges between devotees as priti-

laksanam, or "symptoms of love," indicating the very substance of

Vaisnava rapport. Of course, in the English language the word "love"

is often interpreted to mean lust or exploitation, but that is not

the Vaisnava understanding. The heart of a devotee is the residence

of Lord Krsna (sadhunam hrdayam tv aham). The essence of his

existence is Krsna. Therefore a devotee sees everything in relation

to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He has no enemies; politics

and diplomacy have no place in the person of a Vaisnava. His only

motivation is to please Krsna, being always absorbed in His loving

devotional service (bhajatam priti-purvakam). So when truly advanced

Vaisnavas interact with one another, the atmosphere is surcharged

with spiritual bliss (tusyanti ca ramanti ca).

 

These exchanges do not exist in a vacuum, but are dependent on a

devotee's relationship with Krsna. In other words, Krsna is the

center or the absolute point of reference in devotee relationships.

To the extent that we are able to enliven one another in hearing and

chanting about Krsna, to that extent we are successful in

establishing real Vaisnava sanga. The quality of our association with

one another is therefore dependent on the quality of our hearing and

serving the words of our spiritual master, the transparent via medium

to the Supreme Lord Krsna.

 

A devotee is very compassionate by nature. He is not cold or distant

in his relationships; in fact he is kind and considerate in his

dealings with others. In the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna describes Himself

as suhrdam sarva-bhutanam, "the benefactor and well-wisher of all

living entities." As a devotee of Krsna, the Vaisnava is deeply

concerned that every living being is awakened to his eternal

relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he is the

true friend of everyone.

 

vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca

patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

 

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaisnava devotees of

the Lord who can fulfill the desires of everyone, just like desire

trees, and who are full of compassion for the fallen souls."

 

Of course, this does not mean that he is compassionate only to the

nondevotees and that he is callous towards his godbrothers and

godsisters who have dedicated their lives to the service of the Lord.

A Vaisnava is a servant of everyone -- especially to the devotees.

Even Lord Krsna Himself is naturally inclined towards the devotees

(B.G. 9.29). Srila Prabhupada describes the perfect Vaisnava attitude

in The Nectar of Devotion:

 

"A devotee always appreciates the activities of other devotees.

Yudhisthira Maharaj was appreciating the qualities of Prahlada, and

that is the symptom of a pure devotee. A pure devotee never thinks of

himself as great; he always thinks that other devotees are greater

than himself. The King was thinking, 'Prahlada Maharaj is actually a

devotee of the Lord, while I am nothing...'" (Nectar of Devotion,

Chapter One)

 

This is the humility of a Vaisnava. He is not materially motivated

for name, fame or any temporary acquisition (na dhanam na janam na

sundarim). He sincerely appreciates the qualities of others, thinking

himself to be unfit and unqualified. This is the example taught to us

by Srila Prabhupada. Although he did his utmost to spread Krsna

consciousness worldwide, he was simultaneously the most humble. He

would never claim credit for his success, but gave all credit to his

spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati:

 

"If I have any credit in this connection, it does not belong to me

personally, but it is due to my eternal spiritual master, His Divine

Grace Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya 108 Sri Srimad

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj Prabhupada." (Bhagavad-gita

As It Is, Preface)

 

Such humility is not a matter of personal preference or choice,

limited to a few devotees here and there. Rather, it is a part of the

surrendering process (trnad api sunicena) and is a direct result of

spiritual advancement. In the 16th Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita,

Krsna explains that a godly man endowed with the divine nature is

free from envy and the passion for honor (adroho natimanita). The

qualities of arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness, etc., are

described as those born of the demonic nature, not conducive to

liberation but to bondage. Devotees of Krsna are purified of these

lower qualities by the process of devotional service (nasayamy atma-

bhavastha). Therefore, genuinely advanced devotees will automatically

exhibit all the good characteristics of the demigods (S.B. 5.18.12).

The saintly qualities of a Vaisnava are proportionate to his

spiritual advancement.

 

A progressive devotee not only develops humility, but he gradually

attains all 26 qualities of a Vaisnava as described by Lord Caitanya

in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 22. 78-80). These qualities

are self-manifesting and cannot be acquired through external means.

The spiritual fragrance of an advanced devotee is so attractive that

by his very existence he is a preacher of Krsna consciousness. In

fact, the whole world can be united by the presence of one pure

devotee of the Lord.

 

[Guest guest]

It has been often mentioned that Bhagwad Geeta is matchless read below-

Age-long family traditions disappear with the destruction of the family: and virtue having been lost, vice takes hold of the entire race.

 

With the preponderance of vice, Krsna, the women of the family become corrupt; and with the corruption of women, O descendent of Vrsni, there ensures an intermixture of castes.

 

Admixture of blood damns the destroyers of the race as well as the race itself.

 

Bhagwad Geeta Text 39-42: 40-42.

 

Posted bu Sukumar Menon