Obstacles Bhakti - Kunjeshwari Home

Obstacles in Bhakti
show contempt for a Vaishnav. Sri Chaitanya Bhâgabat has strictly warned
us –
“We shall never get any respite if we criticize a worthy Vaishnav, for his
behavior is beyond our limited understanding. Sometimes a worthy Vaishnav
commits the same activities as a sinful person, only by Sri Krishna’s kripa,
someone can understand this – but there are others who fall in trouble (of
Vaishnav-nindâ) and perish. Those who do not fall in this pit, they survive in
bhakti. I can see only one way out of this peril – it is best to glorify and
behave humbly with everyone. In this mood, we must chant Holy Name and
carefully hear from the great devotees. Then Krishna gives them divine
intelligence, he crosses over the material ocean and no one can stop him.”
Vivek das – All right, I will not do Vaishnav-nindâ. However, if someone
comes to me and does the same then how is it harmful?
Gour kripa – Of course, it will harm you! If someone come to you and does
Vaishnav-nindâ – you don’t know whether that person is telling the truth or a
lie, yet your respect towards that Vaishnav will decrease, won’t it?
Immediately you will incur Vaishnav-aparâdh ! This is why Shâstras have
ordered us not hear Vaishnav-nindâ.
“nindâm bhagavah shrinvan tatparasya janasya Vaishnav-aparâdh,
Tato napaiti yah so’pi yatyadhah sukritachchyutah.”
Meaning – “On hearing Sri Krishna-nindâ and nindâ of Sri Krishna’s devotees,
those who do not leave the place, he loses all his sukritis 1 and falls down to
the hellish planets.”
(Srimad-Bhâgavatam)
“sâdhu-nindâ shunile sukriti hoy khoy,
janma janma adhahpat bede ei koy.’
Meaning – “The Vedas state that if we hear sâdhu-nindâ we lose our sukriti
and fall down in every birth.”
From all these statements made in Shâstras we can understand how
dangerous is Vaishnav-aparâdh ! So whoever wishes to progress in bhakti
must be extremely careful about Vaishnav-aparâdh. It is best to consider
every Vaishnav as Sri Govinda’s dear devotee, show him respect and pay
obeisance.
Vivek das – Does this mean that even a Babaji should show respect to a
householder and pay obeisance?
Gour-kripa – A Vaishnav is a Vaishnav. He may be a grihastha or a
renounced – that is immaterial. We must never distinguish. We must show
respect, behave respectfully and pay dandavat to every Vaishnav. Otherwise,
we’ll be committing an offence. Sri Bhagavân sees our heart. Whose heart is
always filled with Krishna and he is not interested in material things, is a true
Vaishnav. Sri Gita has defined ‘sannyas’ as –
1 Pure devotion that pleases Sri Hari – (G.L.8.8)
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