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EDITORIAL October 21, 1999 VNN4983 Comment on this story Sri Siksastaka BY ARIJIT DAS  EDITORIAL, Oct 21 (VNN) — 1 of 8 Slokas Written By Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's own handVerse 3 One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited the glories of the holy name of the Lord through Haridasa Thakura, who was born in a Mohammedan family. Similarly, He exhibited the essence of devotional service through Sanatana Gosvami, who had almost been converted into a Mohammedan. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached about devotional service, ecstatic love and the Absolute Truth by making Ramananda Raya, a grhastha born in a low family, the speaker. Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, the exalted brahmana-sannyasi, and Pradyumna Misra, the purified brahmana, both became the hearers of Ramananda Raya. Rupa Gosvami and Haridasa Thakura sat at the foot of the elevated place where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was sitting. Although everyone asked them to sit on the same level as the Lord and His associates, they did not do so. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Rupa Gosvami to read the verse they had previously heard, Rupa Gosvami, because of great shyness, did not read it but instead remained silent. Then Svarupa Damodara Gosvami recited the verse, and when all the devotees heard it, their minds were struck with wonder. There is yet another characteristic of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. O devotees, listen carefully to how He manifests His opulence and characteristics, although they are exceptionally deep. To vanquish the false pride of so-called renunciants and learned scholars, He spreads real religious principles, even through a sudra, or lowborn fourth-class man. When a man is greatly learned in the Vedanta-sutras, he is known as pandita, or a learned scholar. Generally this qualifications attributed to brahmanas and sannyasis. Sannyasa, the renounced order of life, is the topmost position for a brahmana, a member of the highest of the four varnas (brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra). According to public opinion, a person born in a brahmana family, duly reformed by the purificatory processes and properly initiated by a spiritual master, is an authority on Vedic literature. When such a person is offered the sannyasa order, he comes to occupy the topmost position. The brahmana is supposed to be the spiritual master of the other three varnas, namely ksatriya, vaisya and sudra, and the sannyasi is supposed to be the spiritual master even of the exalted brahmanas. Generally brahmanas and sannyasis are very proud of their spiritual positions. Therefore, to cut down their false pride, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached Krsna consciousness through Ramananda Raya, who was neither a member of the renounced order nor a born brahmana. indeed, Sri Ramananda Raya was a grhastha belonging to the sudra class, yet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arranged for him to be the master who taught Pradyumna Misra, a highly qualified brahmana born in a brahmana family. Even Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, although belonging to the renounced order, took instruction from Sri Ramananda Raya. In this way Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited His opulence through Sri Ramananda Raya. That is the special significance of this incident. According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya: anyone who knows the science of Krsna can become a spiritual master, without reference to whether or not he is a brahmana or sannyasi. Ordinary people cannot understand the essence of sastra, nor can they understand the pure character, behavior and abilities of strict followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's principles. The Sri Krsna Sankirtan movement is creating pure, exalted Vaisnavas even from those born in families considered lower than those of sudras. This is proof that a Vaisnava may appear in any family, as confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam: kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah "Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha, Yavana and the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him." (Bhag. 2.4.18) By the grace of the Supreme Lord Visnu, one can be completely purified, become a preacher of Krsna consciousness, and become the spiritual master of the entire world. This principle is accepted in all Vedic literature. Evidence can be quoted from authoritative sastras showing how a lowborn person can become the spiritual master of the entire world. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is to be considered the most munificent personality, for He distributes the real essence of Vedic sastras to anyone who becomes qualified by becoming His sincere servant. Submitted for the pleasure of the Devotees - by Arijit Das Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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