Categories: Varnasrama-dharma

Live According to Varnasrama

Brahmana is a highest in varnasrama not because he may be born in a brahmana family, but because:

vaiśeṣyāt prakṛtiśraiṣṭhyānniyamasya ca dhāraṇāt |
saṃskārasya viśeṣācca varṇānāṃ brāhmaṇaḥ prabhuḥ || Manu samhita 10.3 ||
The Brāhmaṇa is the lord of the varnas, on account of his distinctive qualities, of the superiority of his origin, of his observance of restrictive rules, of the peculiar character of his sanctification.

1. Distinctive qualities – Vaiśeṣyāt’.—‘Through pre-eminence,—of qualities
2. Origin – of the superiority of his origin,’—the Brāhmaṇa having sprung from the highest part of Prajāpati’s body. ‘Origin’ means source.
3. Observances of restrictive rules – Niyamasya dhāraṇāt
4. The peculiarity of his sanctification;’—this refers to the observances of the Accomplished Student. (Guru can be someone who by himself is a foremost disciple).

This is exactly what Srila Prabhupada has brought to us through disciplic succession – not by birth, but by qualities. Therefore if somebody becomes vaisnava, and vaisnava possesses all the good qualities, therefore he is the best of Brahmanas. In our movement we preach. This is also brahmana duty – to preach, to teach humanity.

 

sarveṣāṃ brāhmaṇo vidyād vṛttyupāyān yathāvidhi |
prabrūyāditarebhyaśca svayaṃ caiva tathā bhavet || Manu Samhita 10.2 ||
The Brāhmaṇa should know the means of livelihood for all men; he shall duly expound them to the others and himself do accordingly.

Very important:
1. “He shall duly expound them to others and himself” – read books, not only distribute
2. “and himself do accordingly” – follow what is written, and implement – what for.

Therefore if we, being vaisnavas, only preach what is given to us by Srila Prabhupada, but we do not implement it in our lives, and we do not do accordingly – do not start to live according varnasrama – then we will disqualifie ourself as a representatives of truth, and as a movement of sankirtana. And we will fall down to the level of organized religion, where “listen to our words, but do not look on our works” will prevail, and sahajiya mentality will prosper.

Share:

Follow us

Akincana Staff

Recent Posts

Bhakti Vikasa Swami Announces He Will Reduce His Traveling and Establish a Base in Mayapur

The ISKCON guru, nearly 70, says his energy never came back after an illness this…

1 day ago

GBC Wants Kirtan Leaders in Dhoti and Kurta, Sari or Gopi Dress: Kirtan Ministry Publishes Temple Kirtan Guidelines

The poster the GBC shared on 5 November names the clothes it prefers for whoever…

2 days ago

Are We Ready for Varnasrama? Open Letter Tells the GBC to Start Training Kshatriyas During Its Pause on Initiations

Image: Akincana Gocara (AI-generated), from a photo of Srila Prabhupada published by Nandgram Dham GLOBAL…

4 days ago

Madhu Pandit Dasa Accused of Offering ₹50 Crore to the Auditor Who Turned on Him, With the Phones Kept Away

An updated briefing note from the Mumbai side of the ISKCON Bengaluru dispute sets out…

4 days ago

Not AI: In 2023, Bhakti Vikasa Swami Said ISKCON Was Heading for a Split

A Facebook reel asks whether a clip of Bhakti Vikasa Swami and Basu Ghosh Das…

4 days ago

Read Sanskrit Through Stories: Mukunda Hari Opens an Online Course on 2 December

Image: Akincana Gocara (AI-generated) ONLINE — Mukunda Hari, a Sanskrit teacher, is opening an online…

4 days ago