The Benedictions of the Vaishnavas

A Vaishnava is defined as a transcendental personality who has strived with all sincerity and honesty to know the Supreme Absolute in His highest and most intimate form. A Vaishnava is a sage who has practiced the very opposite of egotism and selfishness. He has performed complete self-surrender at the lotus feet of God, and has thus achieved God's most intimate company and blessings. It is in associating with, and serving, such liberated Vaishnavas with sincerity that we achieve the greatest of benedictions, and that we too can come to know God intimitely. In this special livestream, Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya comments upon the teachings of Lord Shiva, as found in the Narada Pancharatra, on the nature of the benedictions of the Vaishnavas.

“Mahadeva (Shiva) said: Alas! Wonderful are the glories of the Vaisnavas who are always engaged in unalloyed devotional service at the lotus feet of Lord Hari, while controlling their senses.” (Narada Pancharatra, 1.9.17)

“Wonderful are the glories of the Vaisnavas, who are adored by LaksmI; by Brahma, who sits on a lotus flower; by Nagas, headed by Ananta; and by the demigods; and who meditate day and night on the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, from Whose navel sprouts a lotus flower.” (Narada Pancharatra, 1.9.18)

“For their own purification, all of the holy places and the earth itself eagerly desire the association of Vaisnavas and receive the dust from their lotus feet.” (Narada Pancharatra, 1.9.19)

“The knowers of spiritual science call that person a Vaisnava, a purifier of the entire world, who has received a Krsna mantra from the mouth of a twice-born spiritual master.” (Narada Pancharatra, 1.9.21)

“As soon as a person receives a Krsna mantra, he becomes situated on the same platform as Lord Narayana Himself and easily delivers one hundred generations of his family.” (Narada Pancharatra, 1.9.22)

“There is no doubt that a person who accepts a Visnu mantra from a foremost twice-born spiritual master becomes libe..