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Lord Caitanya's principal disciples were all so-called fallen in the society. He appointed one Haridasa Thakura, Namacarya Haridasa Thakura. This Haridasa Thakura was a Muhammadan

Expressions researched:
"Lord Caitanya's principal disciples were all so-called fallen in the society. He appointed one Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura. This Haridāsa Ṭhākura was a Muhammadan"

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

You'll be surprised that Lord Caitanya's principal disciples were all so-called fallen in the society. He appointed one Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura. This Haridāsa Ṭhākura was a Muhammadan. He happened to take his birth in a Muhammadan family, but he became a follower of Caitanya, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after training him, He gave him the highest post of His spiritual mission.

Lord Caitanya recommended . . . just like in India, generally, the brāhmiṇs are expected to be the spiritual master. Because brāhmiṇ means who have sufficient knowledge in the transcendental science. That is brāhmiṇ. Brahma jānātīti brāhmaṇaḥ. Now, due to this modern age, Kali-yuga, it is very difficult to find out a qualified brāhmiṇ. So therefore it is very difficult also to find out a qualified spiritual master. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He has recommended that:

kibā śūdra, kibā vipra, nyāsī kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā sei 'guru' haya
(CC Madhya 8.128)

"Never mind whether he's a brāhmiṇ or a śūdra or a sannyāsī or a householder. Never mind what he is. That doesn't matter. If he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa, then he is the bona fide spiritual master." He is the bona fide spiritual master.

So here this Bhagavad-gītā is the science of Kṛṣṇa. Every one of you, if you study Bhagavad-gītā very scrutinizingly, with all your arguments, with all your sense, with all your philosophical knowledge . . . because it is said here, tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena (BG 4.34).

Not that you have to submit yourself blindly. Although your spiritual master may be self-realized and experienced in the Absolute Truth, still, you have to question. You have to understand from him all critical points by your intelligent questions. That is allowed.

So it doesn't matter. If anyone is able to answer about the science of Kṛṣṇa, he is spiritual master. He is spiritual master. It doesn't matter where he's born or what he is, whether he's a brāhmaṇa, or a śūdra, or an American or an Indian or whatever he is. Never mind.

Just like . . . it is practical. When you go to a doctor, medical practitioner, you do not ask, "Well, Doctor, are you American or Indian? Are you brāhmiṇ? Are you Jew? Are you Christian?" No. Oh, he has got the qualification of a medical man, so you surrender: "Doctor, treat me. I am suffering." So there is no question. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given liberal, that "Anyone who knows the spiritual science, or the Kṛṣṇa science . . . Kṛṣṇa science is spiritual science. Because Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate goal of spiritual science. When I speak of Kṛṣṇa, you must remember that I am speaking of God. There are millions of name of God in different parts of the world, but "Kṛṣṇa" is the supreme name according to Vedic knowledge.

So therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended, and His recommendation is accepted by the authorities even at the present moment:

kibā śūdra, kibā vipra, nyāsī kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā sei 'guru' haya
(CC Madhya 8.128)

And you'll be surprised that Lord Caitanya's principal disciples were all so-called fallen in the society. He appointed one Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura. This Haridāsa Ṭhākura was a Muhammadan. He happened to take his birth in a Muhammadan family, but he became a follower of Caitanya, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after training him, He gave him the highest post of His spiritual mission.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared to introduce this system of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare . . . chanting of the holy name of God, and He appointed this Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who happened to be a Muhammadan. But he became so much enlightened that Caitanya Mahāprabhu appointed him the supreme minister of administering this Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa. He was, he was made the authority, nāmācārya. Ācārya means the prime minister, the authority.

So there are other, six important direct disciples, just like Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī. Now, these gentlemen were formerly known as Sākara Mallika and Dabira Khān. Dabira Khān . . . that was the Muhammadan period. India was being governed by that time by the Pathans, and in Bengal there was a Pathan ruler whose name was Nawab Hussain Shah. This . . . but these gentlemen, Sākara Mallika and Dabira Khān, they were appointed minister in the service, in the governmental service of Nawab Hussain Shah. And in those days, the Hindus were so strict that anyone accepting the service, especially the brāhmiṇs, if he accepts, if a brāhmiṇ accepts the service of anyone, especially who is not a Hindu, he is at once extricated from the society.

So these two gentlemen, Sākara Mallika, they almost became . . . they changed their name also. They were actually brāhmiṇs, very intelligent, learned. They were very good scholar. In Parsi, er, Persian language, and Sanskrit language they were very good scholar. But because they engaged themself in the service of the Muhammadan ruler, they were, I mean to say, extricated from the socially, brāhmaṇa society. So Caitanya . . . they also followed Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and they were made the best authorities in this science of Kṛṣṇa science. They . . . later on, they became Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī.

So there is no bar for anyone, that one cannot become the spiritual master. Everyone can become spiritual master, provided he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa. That is the only qualification. And that is very reasonable. If you do not this . . . do not know the subject matter, how can you be a teacher? Eh? A teacher means he knows the thing. He knows the science. So only qualification of the spiritual master, as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, kibā śūdra, kibā vipra, nyāsī kene naya, yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā: "Anyone who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa . . ." This is science of Kṛṣṇa, this Bhagavad-gītā. If anyone knows perfectly, then he becomes the spiritual master.

Page Title:Lord Caitanya's principal disciples were all so-called fallen in the society. He appointed one Haridasa Thakura, Namacarya Haridasa Thakura. This Haridasa Thakura was a Muhammadan
Compiler:SharmisthaK
Created:2022-09-13, 07:23:22
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1