{"id":12554,"date":"2014-04-27T09:59:23","date_gmt":"2014-04-27T09:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=12554"},"modified":"2014-04-27T10:15:12","modified_gmt":"2014-04-27T10:15:12","slug":"the-importance-of-vaishnava-seva","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=12554","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Vaishnava Seva"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"The<\/p>\n

The deity of Lord Varadaraja<\/div>\n


<\/b><\/p>\n

A Story from South India<\/b><\/p>\n

By <\/i><\/b>Madhavananda Das and <\/i><\/b>Rambhakta Das<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Obtaining the mercy of a pure devotee is an absolute necessity for those who aspire for the service and association of the Supreme Lord in the spiritual world. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes in madhya-l\u012bl\u0101 <\/i>22.51 of Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta<\/i>: <\/p>\n

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mahat-k\u1e5bp\u0101 vin\u0101 kona karme \u2018bhakti\u2019 naya<\/i>
k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-bhakti d\u016bre rahu, sa\u1e41s\u0101ra nahe k\u1e63aya
<\/i>
Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, one cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-bhakti<\/i>, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

There is a story in the life of the great devotee Kanchipurna that nicely illustrates this principle. Kanchipurna was one of the five disciples initiated by Srila Yamunacharya whom the members of the \u015ar\u012b Samprad\u0101ya consider to be his most intimate followers. Although born in a \u015b\u016bdra <\/i>family, Kanchipurna was famous throughout South India as a great vai\u1e63\u1e47ava<\/i>. He resided in the city of Kanchipuram, where he daily offered the service of fanning the famous deity of Lord Vishnu known as Sri Varadaraj Swami.<\/p>\n

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The Varadaraja temple in Kanchipuram<\/div>\n

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Kanchipurna\u2019s simplicity and devotion endeared him to Lord Varadaraj, so much so that the two of them began having daily conversations. Some of the local people found out about this and individuals began approaching Kanchipurna, requesting him to convey questions on their behalf to the Lord. Varadaraj Swami would reply and then Kanchipurna would relate the answer back to the questioner. One day someone asked if they would go to Vaikuntha at the end of their life. Lord Varadaraj confirmed that after leaving his present body, that devotee would go to Vaikuntha. <\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Lord Varadaraja<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The desire arose in Kanchipurna\u2019s heart to know if he <\/i>were going to go to Vaikuntha after his present life. However, he was too shy to ask about himself. The Lord knew the heart of his dear devotee, and a few days later, Varadaraj Swami asked Kanchipurna, \u201cIs there anything that you <\/i>want to ask me?\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no. I have no question\u201d, replied Kanchipurna. <\/p>\n

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The Lord then insisted, \u201cKanchipurna, is there nothing that you want to ask me?\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Finally, Kanchipurna revealed his heart. \u201cMy dear Lord, when will I go to Vaikuntha?\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Varadaraj Swami cast a loving glance on his devotee, and said, \u201cKanchipurna, you are my dear servant. I love you, but you will not go to Vaikuntha after this life. Although you have served me with great devotion, youhave never served my devotee. Unless someone serves one of my devotees they cannot enter into my abode.\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Hearing the Lord\u2019s words, Kanchipurna stood there for amoment, and then, without saying a word, he suddenly put the fan down on the altar and left. <\/p>\n

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Kanchipurna went searching for a devotee whom he could serve.<\/p>\n

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Being famous all over South India, it was not easy fo rKanchipurna to find a devotee willing to accept his service. Although he tried and tried, no one would allow him to serve. Rather, everyone he approached said, \u201cNo! No! No! You are a great devotee. Lord Varadaraj personally talks to you! I cannot allow you to serve me. I\u2019ll go to hell!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Finally, Kanchipurna took off his saffron cloth. Donning some white dress, he went to the home of one of his godbrothers disguised as a cowherd man. For six months he rendered service to that devotee\u2019s cows, always being careful to hide his face. After a short time his godbrother noted his devoted service and developed great affection for the mysterious cowherd man who was taking such good care of his cows and asking for nothing in exchange. He began addressing the cowherd as, \u201cMy boy, my boy!\u201d However, the mysterious cowherd would neither speak nor allow anyone to get too close to him. Hence no one knew his real identity. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One day, Kanchipurna got wet. Having only one set of white cloth, he went back to his small room to change into his saffron-colored clothes. At that time his godbrother happened to see him and realized who he actually was. \u201cKanchipurna! It\u2019s you! What are you doing? You will destroy me! I cannot allow you to render service to me. Rather, it is I who should serve you!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kanchipurna then returned to the temple of Lord Varadaraj. Seeing his dear devotee entering the temple, the Lord smiled upon him and said, \u201cKanchipurna, for six months you did menial service for one of my devotees. Now at the end of this life you can come to my abode.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The darshan room outside the inner deity room in Kanchipuram. It was here that Kanchipurna did his service of fanning the Lord<\/div>\n

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The Lord has reserved the right to only allow those persons entrance into his abode who have served one of his dear devotees. In antya <\/i>6.97 of his \u015ar\u012b Caitanya-bh\u0101gavata,<\/i> Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur quotes from the Var\u0101ha Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/i>:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

siddhir bhavati v\u0101 neti sa\u1e41\u015bayo \u2018cyuta sevin\u0101m<\/i>
ni\u1e25sa\u1e41\u015bayas tu tad bhakti paricary\u0101rat\u0101tman\u0101m<\/i><\/p>\n

One may doubt whether the servant of the Supreme Personalityof Godhead will attain perfection, but there is absolutely no doubt that those who are attached to serving his devotees will attain perfection. [In Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada\u2019s purport to Caitanya-bh\u0101gavata, \u0101di<\/i> 1.10, this is cited as being from \u015a\u0101\u1e47\u1e0dilya-sm\u1e5bti.<\/i>]<\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

A similar statement is made by His Divine Grace A. C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in his purport to \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam <\/i>4.21.39:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Srila Narottam Das Thakur sings, ch\u0101\u1e0diy\u0101 vai\u1e63\u1e47ava-sev\u0101 nist\u0101ra p\u0101yeche keb\u0101<\/i>, which means that unless one serves the vai\u1e63\u1e47avas<\/i> and br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/i>, one cannot get liberation from the material clutches. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

This was excerpted from Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu issue 324. To read the entire issue click here: https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/Bindu324<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"TheBy Madhavananda Das<\/strong><\/p>\n

Obtaining the mercy of a pure devotee is an absolute necessity for those who aspire for the service and association of the Supreme Lord in the spiritual world. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes in madhya-l\u012bl\u0101 22.51. One may doubt whether the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead will attain perfection, but there is absolutely no doubt that those who are attached to serving his devotees will attain perfection.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12554\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}