Brahmanas: Respect or Not? part two

Mahanidhi Swami

Gaura nitya-parishad Murari Gupta describes how Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu once honored the brahmanas in Gaya by drinking their foot water. (Sri Krishna Chaitanya Carita Maha Kavya 1.15.11-12)

While narrating this pastime, Srila Prabhupada gives some important instructions for all followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, i.e. us.

Srila Prabhupada said, “When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to Gaya, He became sick on the way. He had such a high fever that He asked His students to bring water that had washed the feet of brahmanas. After Mahaprabhu drank it He was cured.

“Therefore everyone should respect the position of a brahmana. Neither the Lord nor His followers displayed any disrespect to brahmanas. The followers of the Lord must be prepared to offer brahmanas all due respect.” (Cc. 1.17.9 p.)

The following entry from Padma Purana, Kriya-yoga-sara khanda (21.3-36) beautifully glorifies the brahmanas and reveals the severe reactions of not properly treating or respecting them.

Sri Brahmaji said, “Of all the castes the brahmana is the most venerable person. Gifts should be given to him by all men. A brahmana is the resort of all deities. He is actually a god on the earth (bhu-deva). He delivers one from samsara to whomever gives him a donation.

“Brahmanas are respectable to ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras. Brahmanas are always to be honoured. The lifespan, sons, fame and wealth will increase for one who worships a brahmana as being non-different from Sri Vishnu.

“One who does not respect a brahmana is just like a dog-eater. An intelligent person should not hate brahmanas who have committed faults. If out of foolishness someone shows hatred toward a brahmana then Vishnu will forever be angry with them.

“Yamaraja puts a needle into the eyes of one who looks angrily at brahmanas. And Yama puts a hot iron rot into the mouth of one who rebukes a brahmana.

“However, Yamaraja quickly destroys all the sins of one who carries a mere drop of water from the foot of a brahmana. All the holy places in crores of worlds exist in the right foot of a brahmana. He whose head is sprinkled with water from the feet of a brahmana, has bathed at all holy places and is initiated for all sacrifices.

By washing and worshiping a brahmana’s feet, one simultaneously worships Lord Vishnu, becomes free from all sins and attains liberation. By doing parikrama of a brahmana one circumambulates the entire universe.” Sri Brahmaji shiksha ki jai!

To conclude we offer this prayer:

namo brahmanya devaya, go brahmana hitaya ca

jagad-dhitaya Krishnaya, govindaya namo namah

I offer my respects unto Sri Govindadeva, the worshipable Lord for all brahmanas, and the benefactor of cows, brahmanas and the entire universe. (Vishnu P.1.19.65)

Brahmana bhu-devas ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!