Obstacles Bhakti - Kunjeshwari Home

1 Holy person
Obstacles in Bhakti
So now, you can understand how dangerous Vaishnav-aparâdh is. If we keep
on collecting Vaishnav-aparâdh there is no point in performing lots of bhajan.
There is no way we can progress even the slightest bit in bhakti.
Vaishnav-aparâdh does not constitute only Vaishnav-nindâ. May be someone
comes to you and does Vaishnav-nindâ, you only say “Yea, yea, that’s right”.
Even then, you will have to bear the entire effect of Vaishnav-nindâ. It is like
this - suppose, someone comes to you with an application, you do not say
anything, but only sign below it; this is proof enough that you are making
that statement. Similarly, if someone comes to you and does Vaishnav-nindâ
and you quietly nod your head then you should understand that you too are
making the same comments.
Vivek das – That is all right. However, Shâstras prescribe some behavioral
code for the Vaishnavs, do they not? If some Vaishnavs do not follow these
rules – instead - they behave in a completely opposite manner then why can
we not mention it? Why should that constitute Vaishnav-aparâdh?
Gour kripa – Most certainly, it will constitute Vaishnav-aparâdh. Even if we
see some Vaishnav behaving against the Shâstriya-rules, we must not
indulge in nindâ. Instead, we should give him full respect, as a sâdhu 1
deserves to be given. This is because the Lord says in Sri Bhagavad Gita –
“api chedsuduraharo bhajate mam-ananyabhk,
sâdhureva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah.”
Meaning – “Even if someone is most sinful, but he worships me alone, then
you must consider him to be a sâdhu.”
Hence, if we ever disrespect a sâdhu it is an aparâdh.
“hari-bhakti-para ye cha harinama parayanah,
durvritta vâ suvritta va tebhyo nityang namo namah.”
Meaning – “Whoever does Hari-bhakti and chants Holy Name – he may be
good or bad – I pay him my obeisance.”
– (Brihan-naradiya Puran)
“bhagavati cha haravananya-cheta
bhrisha-malino’pi virajate manushyah,
na hi shasha-kslushachchavih kadachit
timira-parabhâvatam-upaiti chandrah.”
Meaning – “One who has bhakti for Sri Krishna alone, even if he is seen to
commit some sinful activities, he always emits the aura of bhakti, just as the
moon, although blemished, is not defeated by darkness.” – (Nrisimha Puran)
As evidence we may take the example of Mârichi rishi’s six sons who had
laughed when they had seen Lord Brahma (in a state of lust) rushing behind
his own daughter. This aparâdh forced them to take birth from Devaki’s
womb in Kamsa’s jail and Kamsa killed them. Therefore, we must never ever
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