Krishna Seva

[Mahendra]

JSK

How do you distinguish whether someone is a vaishnav or not? I assumed that everybody is a vaishnav as they are all from God

JSK
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Mahendra Thakrar

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Well if he is a pushtimargiya vaishnav then he must atleast have a kanthi around his neck.

It also reminds me of a bhajan about vaishnav so will sing it for you here

BY Sant Narasimha Mehta

vaishnav jan to tene kahiye jay peerh paraaye janneyray
par dukkhey upkar karey teeyey, man abhiman na anney ray

sakal lokma sahuney bandhey, ninda na karey kainee ray
baach kaachh, man nischal raakhey, dhan-dhan jananee tainee ray

samdrishi nay trishna tyagee, par-stree jaynay mat ray
vivihva thaki asatya na bolay, par-dhan nav jhaley haath ray

moh maaya vyaayey nahin jeynay, dridth vairagya jana manma ray
ram-nam-shoom taalee laagee, sakal teerth seyna tanma ray

vanloohee nay kapat rahit chhay, kaam, krodh nivarya ray
bhane narsinhyo tainoo darshan karta kul ekotair taarya re.

Meaning:

One who is a Vaishnav, feels and understands the pain of others
Does good to others, especially to those who are in misery
Does not let pride enter his mind,

A Vaishnav, honours and praises the the entire world
Does not criticize or say bad things about anyone
Keeps his words, actions and thoughts pure

O Vaishnav, your mother is blessed

A Vaishnav sees everything and everyone equally,
rejects greed and avarice
Respects women especially some one else's wife as his mother

His tongue may get tired, but will never speak lies
He does not even touch someone else's property

A Vaishnav does not succumb to worldly attachments
Who has devoted himself to staunch detachment from worldly pleasures

Who has been addicted to the elixir of the name of God
For whom all the sacred places of pilgrimage are in the mind

Who has no greed and is not deceitful
Who has renounced lust and anger
The poet Narsi would like to see such a person

By whose virtue, his entire family gets salvation
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[Pushtidas]

Jai Shree Krishna,

Mahendrabhai,

[Nital]

Jai Shree Krishna

Wecome to KS.com Mahendraji. You are correct in saying that everyone is from God but this does not make them a vaishnav, however what is true that everyone has God in them despite whether they are religious, believe in God or not. So, with this in mind, you should treat everyone equally and not discriminate in the way you behave, act, speak or treat them. This is one of the basic principles of vaishnavta. In Pushtimarg, the first and foremost identification of a vaishnav is someone who has bhramsabhand. The vaishnav is then required to wear a kanti and a follow the princples of Pushtimarg set out by Mahaprabhuji. However, not all vaishnavs wear a kanti or follow the path of grace but in my opinion, they are still a vaishnav as they have had bhramsabandh.

This is my simple explanation and personal opinion so please feel free to add or correct.

JSK

[unnati]

Jai jai shri Gokulesh

The one who prays to Lord Vishnu or one of his incarnation is known as Vaishnava, and the path through which he reaches to Lord Vishnu is known as Vaishnav Sampradaya i.e. Vaishnavism. Though the devotion is done of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna or Lord Narayan he will be considered as Vaishnava.

The Four Vaishnava sampradayas:

Within traditional Vaishnavism there are four main disciplic lineages (sampradayas), each of which traces its roots back to a specific Vedic personality. The four sampradayas follow subtly different philosophical systems regarding the relationship between the soul (jiva) and God (Vishnu), although the majority of other core beliefs are identical.

Rudra-Sampradaya
Philosophy: Shuddhadvaita ("pure nondualism"), espoused by Shri Vallabhacharyaji.

Brahma-Sampradaya
Philosophy: Dvaita ("dualism"), espoused by Madhvacharya, and also -
Achintya Bheda Abheda ("inconceivable oneness and difference"), espoused by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Lakshmi-Sampradaya
Philosophy: Vishishtadvaita ("qualified nondualism"), espoused by Shri Ramanujacharya.

Kumara-Sampradaya
Philosophy: Dvaitadvaita ("duality in unity"), espoused by Shri Nimbarkacharya.
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[Mahendra]

Jai Shree Krishna

Thanks to everybody for their support and contribution, impressed with the talented vaishnavs on this site. Pusthidasji, apologies for the way my question was phrased. I have always found the term vaishnavs confusing and wondered how they differ to other Hindus. These fantastic postings made sense and I would be grateful if someone could elaborate on the Sampradaya’s ?

Thanks

JSK
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Mahendra Thakrar

[Pushtidas]

Jai Shree Krishna

Thank you Mahendrabhai for clearing the air with question. Yes you are right that the word or the term VAISHNAV has over the years been misunderstood. But you can judge from the response how much knowledge and the undertanding is been cleared by your simple but in depth question.

Thanks for imbibing in the tibari, your presence is wel-come.

Now your question on Sampradai, lets us see more telented vaishnav tackle this probing question.
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Dasa nu das
Pushtidas

[unnati]

Jai jai shri gokulesh

According to Vaidic (Sanatan) Dharma, a Sampradaya is a tradition of disciplic succession serving as a spiritual channel and encompassing a common philosophy embraced by many schools, groups, or guru lineages (called parampara). By receiving initiation (diksha) into a parampara by a living guru, one automatically belongs to its proper sampradaya. Initiation is the only means by which one can become a member of a sampradaya; one cannot become a member by birth, as is the case with Gotra, a seminal, or hereditary, dynasty.

sampradaya vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah
atah kalau bhavisyanti catvarah sampradayinah
sri-brahma-rudra-sanaka vaisnavah ksiti-pavanah
catvaras te kalau bhavya hy utkale purusottamat
ramanujam sri svicakre madhvacaryam caturmukhah
sri visnusvaminam rudro nimbadityam catuhsanah

Meaning:

"Unless one is initiated by a bona-fide spiritual master in the disciplic succession, the mantra he might have received is without any effect. For this reason four Vaisnava disciplic successions, inaugurated by Sri, Lord Brahma, Lord Rudra, and Sanaka (one of the four Kumaras), will appear in the holy place of Jaganatha Puri, and purify the entire earth during the Kali yuga (current age). Sri chose Ramanuja to represent her disciplic succession. In the same way Lord Brahma chose Madhvacharya, Lord Rudra chose Visnu Svami, and the four Kumaras chose Nimbaditya (Nimbarka)."

Please feel free to correct n hope to see Pustidasji adding flavour to this topic in his own unique way.
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Thank you Unnatiji. The following is a must for Pushtimargiya vaishnav.

These are the five laxans (Kartaviya) of vaishnavs as explained by Shri Hariraiji Mahaprabhu.

1. Firm faith (and mind,chit) in the charnarvind of Shri Thakurji. Shri Mahaprabhuji, Shri Gusainji. Shri Yamunaji.

2. Never do Anyasharaye. Have full faith in your Thakurji.

3. Avoid bad company.

4. Always be associated with bhaktas and do satsang daily.

5. Do seva as guided by your Guru

Then only Path of Grace (Pushtimarg) will be accomplished
_________________
Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[unnati]

Jai jai shri gokulesh

Thank you Vasantji...

Also, Shri Mahaprabhuji ne Tatvartha Deep Nibandh ke 224 shloka mein Shishya ke lakshan bataye hai;

" Sarvatha Cadharikrupa Na Bhavishyati Yasya Hi
Tasya Sarvamsakyam Syanmargeyasminsutaramapi "

Meaning:
Jin per Shri Hari ki krupa nahi hai, Unhe yeh marg saral hote hue bhi ashakya lagta hai.

Yaha Shishya ka Pehla Lakhshan bataya hai:

Bhagwat Krupa ki prapti Bhagwanki krupa jiva per hui hai yeh kaise pata chale? unhe javab hai ki, jise jis marg mein ruchi ho usse pata chalta hai ki jiva per bhagwat krupa hui hai. Ruchi hone ka gyaan Shishya ke vesh, vachan, swabhav se hota hai. Vaisehi Pustimarg pe chalne ki ruchi Shishya ke vesh, vachan, swabhav ke nirakshan se jani ja sakti hai. Vo guru ko baraber ensure karn lena cahiye.

Shishya ka Dusara lakshan Guru ke lakshana vale shloka (225) mein Jigyasu Shabda se bataya hai:

Jigyasu ke Lakshan;

1) Veh Satvik ho.
2) Yeh mera akhri janma hai jo vyartha na jai aise soch vale ho.
3) Param fal kya hai yeh jananeki Utkat iccha vale ho.
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[Mahendra]

JSK

Thanks Pusthidasji, Unnatji and Vasantji, that was very good

Appreciate your input

JSK
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Mahendra Thakrar