Being a brahmana or Vaishnava – which is suitable for kaliyuga?
A devotee who requested anonymity asked like this:
“Prabhu. I wish to become a brahmana. Please give me ways. Bhagavatha purana says you cannot see brahmanas in kali. why?”
REPLY:
A brahmana is one who Preach the Vedic scriptures and/or Perform Vedic rituals, WITHOUT DOING ANY OTHER PROFESSION.
A brahmana should live only with the biksha (donations) after doing the above activities.
(Is Brahmana Diksha (Second Initiation) Compulsory for all? READ HERE!)
A brahmana should not do the jobs meant for other Varnas.
He should have satvik qualities and he should follow high degree of discipline and forgiveness.
He should not retaliate though others commit offenses against him. He should pray and bless for the well being of others!
Of course getting birth as a son of such a brahmana is a fortune because he need not spend years to purify himself. He can get liberated faster than others if he too follows the qualities and jobs of brahmanas.
But, just taking birth as a child of a brahmana is not the qualification to be a brahmana. It is just an advantage to shape ourselves as a brahmana. That’s all.
(Why next birth in Brahmana family, not vaishnava family if we fall down? READ HERE!)
If a brahmana by birth goes to any job in a company or anywhere, he is no more a brahmana, but a Sudra (worker), because, Sudras are working class.
A brahmana should preach vedic scriptures or perform vedic rituals, get biksha (Donation in modern days) and live with the donations.
So, in this kaliyuga, it is very difficult to see REAL BRAHMANAS, though there are a very few.
In my locality, there is a neighbour brahmana who is working in Indian Railways and also performing vedic rituals like marriage, death rituals, etc in part time. When he goes for Railway duty, he unbinds his sikha (hairs), wears pant/ shirt and appears like a hero. Whenever he is booked for any marriage/ death rituals or Shrarth, he binds his hairs and wears dhoti and perform vedic rituals. After finishing these rituals by applying half day leave in Railways, he goes to the job in the afternoon.
(VARNASHRAMA DHARMA – CAN ONE FOLLOW IT IN THE PRESENT SOCIETY? READ HERE?! )
Can we call him as a brahmana? No.
If you see in this context, most of the “working” brahmanas are not actually brahmanas.
I too took birth in a traditional brahmana family. My father was performing Vedic rituals and lived with the donations and he did not go to any job. So, I may call him a brahmana. I was promoting business for living. So, I could not call myself as a brahmana though I am a son of a brahmana. I identified myself as a Vaishya, who was begging Krishna to give me Vaishnava qualities.
Only when I quit my material business and dedicated for the service of Krishna for full time, I have become real brahmana now and beyond that I have become a vaishnava who is beyond the identities of Varnashrama dharma.
(My Vedic Brahmana family is against ISKCON way of devotion. How to explain? Read Here!)
So, the status of brahmana is not hereditary. It is based on our qualities and profession. The ‘Brahmana by birth’ are brahmanas only if they follow brahmana qualities and profession as per the Lord’s words in Bhagavad Gita.
So, if you like to become a real brahmana, you should not go to the jobs and you should learn the Vedic scriptures, mantras and Practice devotion as full time activity (Eg: Full time Krishna Conscious devotees) and Preach to others and live with the donations offered by the people.
Are you ready to become so?
So, my sincere advice to you is:
Don’t wish to be a brahmana by doing all other material or vedic activities. Being a brahmana alone may give rebirth.
So, Wish to become a Vaishnava. If you are a Vaishnava, you become above the brahmana status. And, you can be liberated and go back to the kingdom of Krishna.
(Is it true that Vaishnavas are equal to Brahmanas? Why? READ HERE!)
And, Acharyas like Sri Ramanuja, Srila Prabhupada, etc, have well simplified the saadhanas to become a vaishnava. A Vaishnava can even go to the jobs, but, with the condition that he should also involve in the service of Krishna. He must chant Hare Krishna and follow the regulative principles and the saadhanas recommended for the devotees. No barrier to go to the jobs with the Krishna Conscious mindset.
Now, tell me, which will be ideal for you?
To be a brahmana that gives rebirth and that is very difficult in this kaliyuga? or, to be a vaishnava that is possible for all that gives Krishna Himself?
(Was Krishna the cause for castes? READ HERE!)
You only have to decide this! My advice to you is: Be a Vaishnava.
That is why Bhagavatham said that TRUE brahmanas will be rare in kaliyuga. We are seeing that now. Brahmanas too go to the jobs and do business. They should not save money. But, they save more now a days.
This is also a symptom of kaliyuga. There will be no Varnashrama dharma in kaliyuga. All or most of the people will be Sudras in kaliyuga.
Let us be Vaishnavas and serve the Lord Krishna and His devotees and if required, go to the job or do business in an ethical way!
(WHO IS CALLED AS VAISHNAVA? WHAT ARE THE CLASSES OF VAISHNAVAS? READ HERE!)