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When King Prthu is described as an incarnation of Lord Visnu, it should be understood that he is a saktyavesa-avatara, part and parcel of Lord Visnu, and is specifically empowered by Him. Any living being acting as the incarnation of Lord Visnu is thus empowered by Lord Visnu to preach the bhakti cult. Such a person can act like Lord Visnu and defeat demons by arguments and preach the bhakti cult exactly according to the principles of sastra. As indicated in Bhagavad-gita, whenever we find someone extraordinary preaching the bhakti cult, we should know that he is especially empowered by Lord Visnu, or Lord Krsna. As confirmed in Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 7.11), krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana: one cannot explain the glories of the holy name of the Lord without being specifically empowered by Him. If one criticizes or finds fault with such an empowered personality, one is to be considered an offender against Lord Visnu and is punishable. Even though such offenders may dress as Vaisnavas with false tilaka and mala, they are never forgiven by the Lord if they offend a pure Vaisnava. There are many instances of this in the sastras. (More...) Such transcendental relationships with the Supreme Lord cannot be manufactured by the mental concoctions of pseudo-devotees. In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.101) Rupa Gosvami has stated that devotional service that makes no reference to Vedic scriptures or Vedic literatures and that does not follow the principles set forth therein can never be approved. Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja has also remarked that professional spiritual masters, professional Bhagavatam reciters, professional kirtana performers and those engaged in self-concocted devotional service cannot be accepted. In India there are various professional communities known as Aula, Vaula, Kartabhaja, Neda Daravesa, Snai, Atibadi, Cudadhari, and Gauranganagari. A member of the Ventor Gosvami Society, or the caste called gosvami, cannot be accepted as a descendant of the six original Gosvamis. Nor can so-called devotees who manufacture songs about Lord Caitanya, nor those who are professional priests or paid reciters, be accepted. One who does not follow the principles of pancaratra, or one who is an impersonalist or addicted to sex life, cannot be compared with those who have dedicated their lives to the service of Krsna. A pure devotee who is always engaged in Krsna consciousness can sacrifice everything for the service of the Lord. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Lord Caitanya, Krsna and the spiritual master, or a person who is following the principles of householder life, as well as one following the principles of the renounced life in the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is a devotee and cannot be compared to professional men. (More...) The guru must be mahatma and muni. Muni means thoughtful, philosopher. Not foolish rascal, manufacturing some philosophy. And mahatmabhih. Not only self-realized, but by his character, by his behavior, by his understanding, he must be a mahatma. What is that mahatma? There are so many mahatmas, simply by changing the dress. No. Not that kind of mahatma. Our Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung a song, eita eka kalir cela: "Here is a disciple of Kali." What is that? Nake tilaka galai mala. "He has got tilaka..." Nata nara nake tilaka galai mala. He sings that, sahaja bhajana kache namu sange laiya pare dala. (?) Bhaktivinoda Thakura sings that "He's dressed like a babaji. He has shaven his head, and has got tilaka and kanthi. But he has got at least half a dozen women, and that is his bhajana." So not that... That is not mahatma. That is duratma, a cheating... Of course, in this Kali-yuga... Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, eita eka kalir cela. Kalir cela means the disciple of Kali. Dressed like a sadhu, or Vaisnava, but within, all rubbish things. That will not help us. He must be mahatma, real mahatma. We want guru like that. Then it will be a... We must be also qualified, and guru also qualified. Therefore it is said in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa that one year should be taken to study one another, the guru and the disciple. The guru also will see whether the person is fit to become a disciple, and the disciple also will see "Whether this gentleman can become my guru." (More...) Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/?g=2593 Previous: [none] Next: [none]
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