12:
Offenses to the Vaisnava
Vaisnava-aparadha, or offense to a Vaisnava, is called "the mad elephant offense."
Offences mentioned in Hari Bhakti Vilasa
- To make fun of a devotee
- To kick or hit a devotee
- To criticise a devotee
- To anger or become angry at a devotee
- To envy a devotee (see also Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.11.23 purport)
- To not be pleased to see a devotee
- To disrespect a devotee
- To not greet a devotee with obeisances
Four kinds of blasphemy of a devotee from Harinama Cintamani
To criticise him because of :
- His caste
- Some unpremeditated accidental fall-down
- The last traces of his previous sins
- His sinful activities prior to his surrendering to Lord Krishna.
Examples of Offenses from Prabhupada's Books
- To touch a Vaisnava with one's feet (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 14.25 purport)
- To disobey the spiritual master. The most grievous type of Vaisnava-aparadha is called guru-aparadha, offenses at the lotus feet of the spiritual master. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.21.37 purport)
- To verbally chastise a devotee. E.g. When King Rahugana verbally chastised Jada Bharata, he committed a Vaisnava-aparadha. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.10.17 purport)
What are the consequences of committing offences?
Examples from Prabhupada's books:
- Saubhari Muni (Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.6.49 purport) fell down because he committed an offense to a Vaisnava by impeding Garuda's plans for eating. Garuda wanted to eat a fish, but Saubhari Muni unnecessarily gave the fish shelter.
- Gopal Cakravarti (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 3.213 purport): Disagreeing with Haridasa Thakur's statements about the potency of the holy names, Gopal Cakravarti became angry and said that if it were not true, he would cut Haridasa's nose off. Three days later, Gopal's nose melted away from leprosy.
- Ramacandra Puri (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 8): Having criticized and offended his spiritual master, Ramacandra Puri developed a fault-finding mentality and material desire gradually appeared within him. He became so fallen that he even criticised Lord Caitanya.
The remedy for Vaisnava-aparadha
A Vaisnava-aparadha cannot be atoned for by any means other than by begging the pardon of the offended Vaisnava.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.26.24 purport)
If anyone offends a devotee in a moment of delusion or madness, he must fall at the devotee's feet and repent bitterly and, weeping and full of contrition, beg forgiveness. He should declare himself a fallen wretch, in need of that devotee's grace. A devotee is very merciful; his heart will soften and he will embrace the offender, thus exonerating him from his offenses. (Harinama Cintamani)
Examples from Prabhupada's books
- Sacimata (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 17.72 purport):Sacimata made an offense by accusing Advaita Acarya of persuading Visvarupa to take sannyasa. Thereafter, Lord Caitanya induced her to take the dust of Advaita Acarya's lotus feet, and thus she nullified her vaishnava-aparadha.
- Durvasa Muni: (Srimad Bhagavatam) Even when Durvasa Muni took shelter directly of the lotus feet of the Lord, he could not be saved-only when he begged forgiveness at the feet of the devotee he had offended, Maharaja Ambarisa.
- Gopal Capala (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 17.37-59): Being envious of Srivasa Thakura, Gopal Capala tried to defame him by placing the paraphernalia for worshiping Durga outside his door. Later, he was attacked by leprosy and suffered great pain. Seeing Lord Caitanya, he took shelter of His lotus feet and begged for His mercy, but Lord Caitanya only got angry. But then showing His mercy, Lord Caitanya instructed him to beg forgiveness from Srivasa. He then was saved.
Naturally, one will sometimes see a Vaisnava correcting another. He will point out the other devotee's mistakes and shortcomings and appear to be criticising the devotee's behaviour or attitude.