Obstacles Bhakti - Kunjeshwari Home

Obstacles in Bhakti
must do dandavat to anyone who dons Vaishnav emblems such as tilak and
Tulsi.
“sakal baishnaber sahit abhed dekhiya,
je krishna-charan bhaje se jay toriya.”
Meaning – ‘One who worships the lotus-feet of Sri Krishna without
discriminating between Vaishnavs, he is delivered.”
- (Sri Chaitanya Bhâgabat)
“e-kale je baishnaber bodo chhoto bole,
nishchinte thakuk se janibe koto kale.”
Meaning – “Whosoever discriminates between Vaishnavs may rest in peace,
for it will take him a long time to realize the Truth.”
(Sri Chaitanya Bhâgabat)
Vivek das – Tell me, when I see a Vaishnav, will it not do if I pay him
dandavat mentally?
Gour kripa – How is that? Pranam means ‘By body, mind and speech’. If we
do not pay dandavat bodily then it means we have a veiled pride. What will
happen if he considers me inferior? Only those who think like this will not pay
dandavat openly. Sriman-Mahaprabhu does not like this sort of Pranam. If
we are ashamed to bow our head in front of Vaishnavs how van we expect to
advance in the path of bhakti as shown by Sriman-Mahaprabhu?
‘baishnab dekhiya je na noway munda,
sei mundo pode giye naraker kunda.”
-(Sri Chaitanya Bhâgabat)
Meaning – “The one who does not bow his head before a Vaishnav, his head
falls into the pit of hell.”
When we meet a Vaishnav we should at least join our palms, lower our head,
speak humbly and thus show respect.
Vivek das – O exalted one, today I can see the Vaishnavs embroiled in so
many quarrels, due to this my faith is shaking. What should I do?
Gour kripa – Never ever speak like this, because Sri Chaitanya Bhâgabat is
saying –
“nitya-shuddha gyan bastu baishnab sakal,
tobe je koloho dekho sob kutuhol.
iha na bujhiye kono kono buddhi nâsh,
eke bonde, âr ninde, jaibeko nâsh.”
Meaning – “All Vaishnavs are eternally pure and have pure knowledge, when
you see them quarrel it is only in play. Some foolish people don’t understand
this and take sides. They praise one and criticize the other – they will surely
perish.”
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