Preaching priorities

03-05-2007, 02:16 AM

Formerly, all activities were performed in connection with Visnu, but after
Satya-yuga there were symptoms of disrespectful dealings among Vaisnavas.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has said that a Vaisnava is he who has helped
others become Vaisnavas. An example of one who has converted many others
into Vaisnavas is Narada Muni. A powerful Vaisnava who has converted others
into Vaisnavas is to be worshiped, but because of material contamination,
sometimes such an exalted Vaisnava is disrespected by other, minor
Vaisnavas. When great saintly persons saw this contamination, they
introduced worship of the Deity in the temple. This began in Treta-yuga and
was especially prominent in Dvapara-yuga (dvapare paricaryayam). But in
Kali-yuga, worship of the Deity is being neglected. Therefore chanting of
the Hare Krsna mantra is more powerful than Deity worship. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu set a practical example in that He did not establish any temples
or Deities, but He profusely introduced the sankirtana movement. Therefore
Krsna consciousness preachers should give more stress to the sankirtana
movement, especially by distributing transcendental literature more and
more. This helps the sankirtana movement. Whenever there is a possibility to
worship the Deity, we may establish many centers, but generally we should
give more stress to the distribution of transcendental literature, for this
will be more effective in converting people to Krsna consciousness.
It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.47):
arcayam eva haraye
pujam yah sraddhayehate
na tad-bhaktesu canyesu
sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah
"A person who is very faithfully engaged in the worship of the Deity in the
temple but does not know how to behave toward devotees or people in general
is called a prakrta-bhakta, or kanistha-adhikari." A prakrta devotee, or
neophyte devotee, is still on the material platform. He certainly engages in
worshiping the Deity, but he cannot appreciate the activities of a pure
devotee. It has actually been seen that even an authorized devotee who is
engaged in the service of the Lord by preaching the mission of Krsna
consciousness is sometimes criticized by neophyte devotees. Such neophytes
are described by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura:
sarva-prani-sammananasamarthanam avajna spardhadimatam tu
bhagavat-pratimaiva patram ity aha. For those who cannot properly appreciate
the activities of authorized devotees, Deity worship is the only way for
spiritual advancement. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 7.11) it is clearly
said, krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana: without being authorized by
Krsna, one cannot preach the holy name of the Lord throughout the entire
world. Nevertheless, a devotee who does so is criticized by neophyte
devotees, kanistha-adhikaris, who are on the lower stages of devotional
service. For them, Deity worship is strongly recommended.

SB 7.14.40 ref Vedabase