Understanding the Bhāgavatam Devotees

In the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the term bhāgavata refers not only to the sacred text Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam but also to the pure devotee of the Lord. These devotees are known as "Bhāgavatam Devotees of God" because their lives are perfect reflections of the scripture. Understanding their position is crucial for any spiritual aspirant, as they serve as the transparent medium through which the Absolute Truth is revealed. This article examines the relationship between the devotee and the book, the authority of the devotee in teaching, and the reality of their connection with the Supreme.

As Good as the Book

The devotee bhāgavata is considered to be on par with the book bhāgavata. This is because the devotee lives their life strictly according to the injunctions of the text. While the book provides the theoretical information about the Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees, the person provides the practical example.

• A devotee Bhagavata is as good as the book Bhagavata because the devotee Bhagavata leads his life in terms of the book Bhagavata and the book Bhagavata is full of information about the Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees, who are also Bhagavatas.
• The number one Bhagavata is the established personality of devotee, and the other Bhagavatam is the message of Godhead.
• Bhagavata-dharma means the relationship between the devotees and the Lord. The Lord is Bhagavan and the devotee is bhagavata, or in relationship with Bhagavan.

Only Source of Knowledge

To learn the science of God, one must approach a "person bhāgavata." Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against hearing from professional reciters, fruitive workers (karmīs), mental speculators (jñānīs), or mystics (yogīs). Only the devotee who is in a direct relationship with the Lord can impart the true meaning of the scripture. Contact with both the book and the person is the formula for liberation.

• One should hear such (about God) discourses from a person Bhagavatam and not from the professional man, or from the karmi, jnani or yogi. That is the secret of learning the science.
• This is book bhagavata, and a devotee is person bhagavata. So according (to) our Caitanya Mahaprabhus cult, the Bhagavata should be studied from the person bhagavata, not from the professional reciters.
• If one comes in contact with the book Bhagavatam as well as with the devotee bhagavata, who knows what the Bhagavatam is, then such a fortunate man gets out of the material entanglement.

Reality vs. Imagination

Impersonalists often claim that devotees imagine the form of God to facilitate their worship. However, the Bhāgavatam philosophy refutes this. The relationship between the bhāgavata and Bhagavān is an eternal reality, not an imposition of artificial power. Those who neglect this personal service due to insufficient intelligence fall down from their spiritual standing.

• The impersonalist may say that the Bhagavatam devotees create and imagine someone as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and assign qualifications to Him; but actually it is neither imagination nor an imposition of artificial power.
• The Bhagavatam says that because nondevotees neglect the transcendental loving service of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, their intelligence is not sufficient, and therefore these persons fall down.
• In the Bhagavatam Sukadeva Gosvami declares that real atonement necessitates thoughtfulness, sobriety and meditation.

Conclusion

The "Bhāgavatam Devotees of God" are the pillars of spiritual life. They validate the scripture through their behavior and make the path to Godhead accessible to others. By recognizing their position and hearing submissively from them, one can understand the true import of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and attain freedom from material entanglement.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

• Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Bhagavatam Devotees of God.