uttama-adikari to madhyama-adhikari Guru

[Govindaram]

 

Hare Krishna

 

I have heard or read somewhere, the Uttama-adhikari devoteee comes down to the 2nd platform to preach, so how are we exactly to know who is a Uttama-adhikari devotee?

 

jaya prabhupada:)

 

 

[Guest guest]

I think it means that a pure devotee is on the highest platform, and on that platform he sees everything as Krishna. I read the example that in the spiritual world, Krishna and the living entities there are so much in harmony that it is as if they are one. Like a baby playing with its toes was the example given. In such a state (even while in this material world) the pure devotee sees Krishna everywhere (even as the doer}. Experiencing this at every second, it could seem as if there is nothing to be done. But if Prabhupada had simply immersed himself in that conciousness, maybe he would not have left Vrindaban. Maybe he came down to a lower platform for our benifit to preach to us. He had no need to. I am not sure this is right, but it is the only reason i can think of as a possibility.

[Dervish]

Uttama Adhikaris also assume madhyama characteristics simply to serve as an example to aspiring kanisthas who need to be trained in vaidhi bhakti.

 

--

 

Check out this purport by Srila Prabhupada

 

Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 16.74

 

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that if an observer

immediately remembers the holy name of Krsna upon seeing a Vaisnava, that Vaisnava should be considered a maha-bhagavata, a first-class devotee. Such a Vaisnava is always aware of his Krsna conscious duty, and he is enlightened in self-realization. He is always in love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and this love is without adulteration.

 

Because of this love, he is always awake to transcendental realization.

Because he knows that Krsna consciousness is the basis of knowledge and

action, he sees everything connected with Krsna. Such a person is able to chant the holy name of Krsna perfectly. Such a maha-bhagavata Vaisnava has the transcendental eyes to see who is sleeping under the spell of maya, and he engages himself in awakening sleeping conditioned beings by spreading the knowledge of Krsna consciousness. He opens eyes that are closed by forgetfulness of Krsna. Thus the living entity is liberated from the dullness of material energy and is engaged fully in the service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava can awaken others to Krsna consciousness and engage them in duties whereby they can advance. It is therefore said in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Chapter Six, verse

279):

 

lohake yavat sparsi' hema nahi kare

tavat sparsa-mani keha cinite na pare

 

"One cannot understand the value of touchstone until it turns iron into

gold." One should judge by action, not by promises. A MAHA-BHAGAVATA CAN TURN A LIVING ENTITY FROM ABOMINABLE MATERIAL LIFE TO THE LORD'S SERVICE. THIS IS THE TEST OF A MAHA-BHAGAVATA. Although preaching is not meant for a maha-bhagavata, a maha-bhagavata can descend to the platform of madhyama-bhagavata just to convert others to Vaisnavism. ACTUALLY A MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS FIT TO SPREAD KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, but he does not distinguish where Krsna consciousness should be spread from where it should not. He thinks that everyone is competent to accept Krsna consciousness if the chance is provided. A neophyte and intermediate devotee should always be anxious to hear the maha-bhagavata and serve him in every respect. The neophyte and intermediate devotees can gradually rise to the platform of uttama-adhikari and become first-class devotees. Symptoms of a first-class

devotee are given in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45):

 

sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed

bhagavad-bhavam atmanah

bhutani bhagavaty atmany

esa bhagavatottamah

 

When teaching Sanatana Gosvami, the Lord further said:

sastra-yuktye sunipuna, drdha-sraddha yanra

'UTTAMA-ADHIKARI' SE TARAYE SAMSARA

"If one is expert in Vedic literature and has full faith in the Supreme

Lord, then he is AN UTTAMA-ADHIKARI, A FIRST-CLASS VAISNAVA, A TOPMOST

VAISNAVA WHO CAN DELIVER THE WHOLE WORLD AND TURN EVERYONE TO KRSNA

CONSCIOUSNESS." (Cc. Madhya 22.65) With great love and affection, the maha-bhagavata observes the Supreme Personality of Godhead, devotional service and the devotee. He observes nothing beyond Krsna, Krsnaconsciousness and Krsna's devotees. The maha-bhagavata knows that everyone is engaged in the Lord's service in different ways. He therefore descends to the middle platform to elevate everyone to the Krsna conscious position.

 

 

[Govindaram]

 

A Uttama-adkikari devotee can make anybody a PURE devotee, says so right there in the Purport by His Divine Grace,

 

I have a question,

 

A Guru Maharaja (Uttama-adhikari) Initiates a disicple, the disciple does not become a good example, so where does the fault lie..?

 

Also if these occurances are repeated what happens to the disciple and Guru relationship?

 

 

Just some easy questions:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dervish]

An Uttama Adhikari can change the world, and make many sincere followers, but failure of a person to become attracted to Krishna OR the failure of an initiated disciple to follow through and become pure devotees cannot be blamed on the Maha-bhagavat. We do possess a will of our own, otherwise we would not be in the material world. One has to have sufficient sukriti to become a devotee, and even then, the path can fall short if aparadha is committed, or if the devotee simply becomes very lazy.