View source for Person Bhāgavata - The Living Representative

The Vedic literature reveals that the Absolute Truth manifests in two primary features: the book ''Bhāgavata'' and the person ''Bhāgavata''. While the book contains the message of Godhead, the person ''Bhāgavata'' is the living embodiment of that message. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that to truly understand the science of God, one must serve the person ''Bhāgavata''—the pure devotee—who acts as the transparent medium between the conditioned soul and the Supreme Lord.

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=== Who is a Bhagavata? ===

The term ''bhāgavata'' refers to anyone who has dedicated their life to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ''Bhagavān''. This designation is not a cheap social title but a spiritual status that transcends all material designations. A devotee, regardless of their background or birth, is situated above the caste system and should never be considered a ''śūdra''.

* [[Vaniquotes:Anyone who accepts God, he is bhagavata|Anyone who accepts God, he is bhagavata.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A devotee should never be considered a sudra. All the devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be recognized as bhagavatas|A devotee should never be considered a sudra. All the devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be recognized as bhagavatas.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Bhagavata is spiritual master. Vaisnava, he's also bhagavata. Acaryas, bhagavata. Grantha-bhagavata and person, person bhagavata. So person bhagavata or book bhagavata, you always serve. Then you will be fixed up. Naisthiki. Nobody can move you|Bhagavata is spiritual master. Vaisnava, he's also bhagavata. Acaryas, bhagavata.]]

=== Necessity of the Living Guide ===

The ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' is not meant to be studied through solitary intellectual speculation. It must be relished through the lips of a devotee. Śrīla Prabhupāda distinguishes between the "number one" ''Bhāgavata'' (the established ''ācārya'' or pure devotee) and the neophyte. The neophyte must approach the person ''Bhāgavata'' to unlock the meaning of the book ''Bhāgavata''.

* [[Vaniquotes:A third-class devotee has to receive the instructions of devotional service from the authoritative sources of Bhagavata. The number one Bhagavata is the established personality of devotee, and the other Bhagavatam is the message of Godhead|A third-class devotee has to receive the instructions of devotional service from the authoritative sources of Bhagavata. The number one Bhagavata is the established personality of devotee, and the other Bhagavatam is the message of Godhead.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Bhagavata means the grantha-bhagavata, the book Bhagavata, and the devotee bhagavata. So either you read Srimad-Bhagavatam . . . but Srimad-Bhagavatam should be relished, understood through person bhagavata. It is recommendation|Bhagavata means the grantha-bhagavata, the book Bhagavata, and the devotee bhagavata. So either you read Srimad-Bhagavatam . . . but Srimad-Bhagavatam should be relished, understood through person bhagavata. It is recommendation.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One should note how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, advised Raghunatha Bhattacarya to learn Srimad-Bhagavatam. He advised him to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam not from professional men but from a real bhagavata, a devotee|One should note how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, advised Raghunatha Bhattacarya to learn Srimad-Bhagavatam. He advised him to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam not from professional men but from a real bhagavata, a devotee.]]

=== Friend of All ===

A distinct quality of the person ''Bhāgavata'' is their non-envious nature. Just as God is the friend of all living beings, His representative, the pure devotee, invites everyone to join the movement of spiritual consciousness. They do not discriminate or hoard the truth but distribute it freely to deliver the fallen souls.

* [[Vaniquotes:Pure bhagavatas, pure devotees, invite everyone, without envy, to join the Krsna consciousness movement. A devotee is therefore exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam: (BG 5.29) he is the friend of all living entities|Pure bhagavatas, pure devotees, invite everyone, without envy, to join the Krsna consciousness movement. A devotee is therefore exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam: (BG 5.29) he is the friend of all living entities.]]

=== Personalism over Impersonalism ===

The ''bhāgavatas'' are strictly personalists. Unlike the ''māyāvādīs'' who speculate and try to merge into the impersonal light, the devotees aspire for personal association with the Lord. They understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is described in the scriptures and as He appears to the vision of the pure devotees.

* [[Vaniquotes:The bhagavatas never accept merging in the impersonal rays of the Lord, but always aspire after personal association with the Supreme Lord in one of the Vaikuntha spiritual planets in the spiritual sky|The bhagavatas never accept merging in the impersonal rays of the Lord, but always aspire after personal association with the Supreme Lord in one of the Vaikuntha spiritual planets in the spiritual sky.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:According to them (mayavadis), when bhagavatas (devotees) are purified by philosophical speculation, they will come to the real point of liberation. Those who speculate in this way regarding devotional service are called kutarkikas (false logicians)|According to them (mayavadis), when bhagavatas (devotees) are purified by philosophical speculation, they will come to the real point of liberation. Those who speculate in this way regarding devotional service are called kutarkikas (false logicians).]]

=== Conclusion ===

The path of spiritual advancement is secure when one takes shelter of both the book and the person. The book ''Bhāgavata'' provides the map, and the person ''Bhāgavata'' acts as the guide. By serving the person ''Bhāgavata''—hearing from them and following their instructions—one becomes fixed (''naiṣṭhikī'') in devotional service and cannot be shaken by the tribulations of the material world.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Bhagavata_-_Devotees_of_God|Bhagavata - Devotees of God]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

[[Category:Vanipedia Gemini - Articles|Y0223]]