In Verse 5 of The Nectar of Instruction, Srila Rupa Gosvami states:
Nectar of Instruction, Verse 5
kṛṣṇeti yasya giri taṁ manasādriyeta
dīkṣāsti cet praṇatibhiś ca bhajantam īśam
śuśrūṣayā bhajana-vijñam ananyam anya-
nindādi-śūnya-hṛdam īpsita-saṅga-labdhyā
"One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krishna, one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation and is engaged in worshiping the Deity, and one should associate with and faithfully serve that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others."
Three Categories of Devotees
Classification of Devotees
- Kaništha-adhikāri – neophyte, beginning devotee
- Madhyama-adhikāri – intermediate devotee
- Uttama-adhikāri – top-most level, perfect devotee
1. Kaništha-adhikāri (Neophyte)
A neophyte who has received hari-nāma initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Krishna. One should respect such a devotee within his mind as a kaništha-vaišnavą.
Srimad-Bhāgavatam 11.2.47:
"A person who is very faithfully engaged in the worship of the Deity in the temple but who does not know how to behave toward devotees or people in general is called a prākṛta-bhakta, or kaništha-adhikāri."
The behavior of a prakṛta-bhakta is often regulated not by shastras describing relationships between Vaishnavas, but by general moral standards. Manu (6.92) indicates 10 signs of religious life:
- Dhṛti – determination and patience
- Kṣamā – forgiveness (not retaliating)
- Dama – control of the mind
- Asteya – non-stealing
- Śaucam – cleanliness
- Indriya-nigraha – control of the senses
- Dhī – knowledge of shastras
- Vidyā – realization of the soul
- Satya – truthfulness
- Akrodha – absence of anger
A devotee should not remain a kaništha-adhikāri all the time.
2. Madhyama-adhikāri (Intermediate)
He has received spiritual initiation from the spiritual master and has been fully engaged by him in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikāri is considered to be situated midway in devotional service.
Srimad-Bhāgavatam 11.2.46:
īśvare tad-adhīneṣu
bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca
prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā
yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ
Detailing of Relationships:
- Mercy (kṛpā) to the ignorant: Bāliśa are materialists who are not envious but ignorant of the truth. They should be helped, protected from bad association and, most importantly, their faith should be awakened.
- Neglect (upekṣā) to the envious: This does not mean social rejection in times of trouble, but avoidance of spiritual association. Dveša (envy) comes from 5 sources: disbelief in God, belief in God as a force of nature, impersonal conception of God, and lack of compassion. It is useless to argue with such people.
If symptoms of pure bhakti appear in the heart of a kaništha devotee (anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ...), he rises to the madhyama level.
3. Uttama-adhikāri (Perfect)
The highest level devotee. He sees that all living entities love Krishna, and that Krishna loves them. In his eyes there is no difference between "friend" and "enemy", because everything is a manifestation of prema (love).
An uttama Vaishnava does not distinguish between a Vaishnava and a non-Vaishnava, because he sees all souls as servants of Krishna. However, in preaching activities, he may descend to the madhyama platform to make distinctions and help others.
According to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmi, it is very important to associate with such a mahā-bhāgavata, to serve him. One should accept such a Vaishnava as a spiritual master.
Relationships According to Level
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.34 – Narada Muni says to Dhruva Maharaja:
guṇādhikān mudaṁ lipsed
anukrośaṁ guṇādhamāt
maitrīṁ samānād anvicchen
na tāpair abhibhūyate
"Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone who is equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never completely unaffected by the threefold miseries of this material world."
Meeting a Superior
Be very pleased and want to serve and learn from him.
Meeting an Equal
Make strong friendship, cooperate and share experience.
Meeting a Junior
Be compassionate and try to help him improve in the spiritual path.
Behavior of a Madhyama Vaishnava
A Vaishnava's behavior is directed towards four categories of persons:
Īśvara
Supreme Lord – shows Love (prema)
Tad-adhīna
His devotees – shows Friendship (maitrī)
Bāliśa
Materialists, ignorant – shows Mercy (kṛpā)
Dveṣī
Envious towards bhakti – shows Neglect (upekṣā)
Self-Check Questions
- List the three categories of devotees and describe each one.
- How should a madhyama-adhikāri behave towards different categories of personalities?
- What are the qualities of an uttama-adhikāri?