Is it true that Bhakti Yoga is for less intelligent people only?
Many traditional Vedic brahmanas and some other sampradhayas have the view that Bhakti Yoga is for less intelligent people only. I have read an article by vedic brahmanas that Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu was the cause of the deterioration of the vedic learning that made the reading of scriptures less important and simplified the devotional practices with just chanting the holy names of the Lord.
(A devotee should be wise (or) Bhakti Yogi should be a Gnani . Is it true? READ HERE!)
They are thinking that only a scholar of the scriptures can get Krishna. It is not true. Of course, Gnana (knowledge about Krishna) will help us to understand Krishna better as mentioned in the post through the above link. But, it is not the precondition to get Krishna.
Even an uneducated devotee who does not know reading can get Krishna.
How?
If they had practiced devotion along with learning about Krishna in their previous birth, they would have learnt about Krishna in the previous birth itself.
For example, if it is true that Bhakti Yoga is for less intelligent people only, even Gopis should be less intelligent. But, it is not so. Those gopis were great rishis in their previous births. So, they need not spend their present life to learn about Krishna. Their Krishna consciousness was dominating them from their birth itself.
Moreover, when we surrender to Krishna, He imparts sufficient knowledge and understanding about Himself in a subtle manner.
(Vaidhi Bhakti & Raganuga Bhakti – Two Types of Devotional Practices! READ HERE!)
This is confirmed by Lord Kapila deva in Srimad Bhagavatham (3-32-23):
“Engagement in Krishna consciousness and application of devotional service unto Krishna make it possible to advance in knowledge and detachment, as well as in self-realization.”
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about this in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatham Purport 3-32-23:
“It is said by less intelligent men that bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, is meant for persons who are not advanced in transcendental knowledge and renunciation. But the fact is that if one engages in the devotional service of the Lord in full Krishna consciousness, he does not have to attempt separately to practice detachment or to wait for an awakening of transcendental knowledge. It is said that one who engages unflinchingly in the devotional service of the Lord actually has all the good qualities of the demigods develop in him automatically. One cannot discover how such good qualities develop in the body of a devotee, but actually it happens. There is one instance where a hunter was taking pleasure in killing animals, but after becoming a devotee he was not prepared to kill even an ant. Such is the quality of a devotee.
(THREE CATEGORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE (BHAKTI)! READ HERE!)
Those who are very eager to advance in transcendental knowledge can engage themselves in pure devotional service, without wasting time in mental speculation. For arriving at the positive conclusions of knowledge in the Absolute Truth, the word brahma-darsanam is significant in this verse. Brahma-darsanam means to realize or to understand the Transcendence. One who engages in the service of Vasudeva can actually realize what Brahman is. If Brahman is impersonal, then there is no question of darsanam, which means “seeing face to face.” Darsanam refers to seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. Unless the seer and the seen are persons, there is no darsanam. Brahma-darsanam means that as soon as one sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can at once realize what impersonal Brahman is. A devotee does not need to make separate investigations to understand the nature of Brahman. Bhagavad-gita also confirms this. Brahma-bhuyaya kalpate: a devotee at once becomes a self-realized soul in the Absolute Truth.”
Therefore, it is now clear that it is not true that Bhakti Yoga is for less intelligent people only.
Krishna gives sufficient intelligence for His devotees as said by Lord Kalpila deva above.
(People say that I worship Krishna because I am failed in life. What to do? READ HERE!)