Does Krishna accept if a Vaishnava forgives Vaishnava offense?
Narsimhananda Das asked like this:
“Hare Krishna.. Actually I read heard somewhere that if one commit a grave vaisnava aparadha.. One may be excused by the person we offend but Lord Krishna takes action he don’t forgive easily?”
REPLY:
The fact is that Vaishnava offense is committed by most of us during our devotional journey.
Because, even when we walk on the road carefully, we may kill many insects.
So, we will be forced to offend though we are very careful in our speech and actions.
We have read that Vaishnava offense (aparatha) will be forgiven only if the Vaishnava whom we blasphemed/offended forgive us when we humbly seek his pardon with the truly feeling from our heart.
(RESULT OF VAISHNAVA APARATHA – STORY! READ HERE!)
If Vaishnava offense (aparatha) is not forgivable even by the affected Vaishnava, then most of the Vaishnavas will suffer without remedy.
There are remedies for all the offenses.
Even the offenses against the Holy name of Krishna is forgivable if we feel for it and resolve not to commit that offense again and continue to chant without offenses. The Lord forgives our offenses against His holy name if He is convinced that we feel for it and following offense-free chanting of His holy name.
The Lord forgives the offense against HIS NAME because it is the offense against Himself.
This means that only those against whom we offended should forgive us.
If we offend against the Lord, it is forgiven by the Lord Himself.
Vaishnava offense is the offense against a Vaishnava.
So, only that Vaishnava should forgive.
That is why, Krishna does not interfere and forgive us if we offend against a Vaishnava.
This is logical. Isn’t it?
(How should a Vaishnava live? Lord Caitanya’s advice! READ HERE!)
Then, what is the problem for us to accept this logical fact?
Ok, is there evidences for getting relief for the Vaishnava offense by seeking the pardon of the affected Vaishnava?
There are many evidences.
Let us read two of them:
(1) CHAITANYA-BHAGAVATA, MADHYA-KHANDA – Ch 22:
e bada adbhuta katha suna savadhane
vaishnava aparadha ghuce ihara sravane
“Listen carefully to this wonderful pastime of how Sri Shachimata got delivered from her offense against Srila Advaita Acharya in this Chapter 22. By hearing or reading this narration one will be become free from the Vaishnava aparadha committed.”
Sachi matha, the mother of Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu once committed Vaishnava offense against Sri Advaita Acharya in a love to see Sri Caitanya to be always with her.
Sri caitanya Maha Prabhu told her that it is a grave Vaishnava offense against Sri Advaita and she should humbly seek his pardon by sprinkling the dust under the feet of Sri Advaita on her head.
Sri Caitanya said that even the Lord does not forgive Vaishnava offense.
(What should be the Vaishnavas’ approach with women and others? READ HERE!)
(2) IN BHAKTI RATNAKAR:
Once Srila Rupa Goswami was mediating on the Divine Pastimes of Radha Krsna and was laughing in joy.
At that moment a lame Vaishnav who was walking past saw Rupa Goswami laughing. The lame Vaishnav thought that Rupa Goswami was laughing at his disability.
When the Vaishnav left, Srila Rupa Goswami’s vision of the Lord’s Pastime was lost, due to the Vaishnav Aparadha which He has committed unintentionally.
Rupa Goswami realized the reason. Then, he met the lame Vaishnav and they both begged forgiveness at each other’s feet.
Vaishnav Aparadha was unintentionally committed even by an exalted Acharya like Rupa Goswami, who is Rupa Manjari, the internal and confidential associate of Radha Rani.
Though this pastime was arranged by the Lord Himself to show how every Vaishnav is so dear to Him, we should learn how to get rid of Vaishnava offense (aparatha) from this incident.
Ok, What these incidents show?
Vaishnava offense (Aparatha) should be forgiven ONLY BY THE VAISHNAVA AGAINST WHOM WE COMMITTED APARATHA.
(Dealing with a rude devotee without Vaishnava offense – Best Tips! READ HERE!)
The Lord will accept the forgival given by the affected Vaishnava.
Once the Vaishnava himself forgives, the Lord too will accept it.
Why the Lord will accept the forgival given by the affected Vaishnava?
Because, if the lord does not accept the forgival given by the affected Vaishnava, that may mean that Krishna underestimates the capacity of the Vaishnava to forgive the offenders.
Krishna never thinks so. He always adds glories to His devotees.
Only because the Vaishnava offense (Aparatha) is to be forgiven by the affected Vaishnava himself, the Lord does not interfere in it.
He gives that right to forgive the offender to the Vaishnava himself.
Krishna never interferes in the right of His devotees.
When he was asked to preach Bhagavad Gita again after the end of Kurukshetra war, Krishna did not speak Gita again to Pandavas. Instead, He took the Pandavas to Bhishma and gave the opportunity to Bhishma deva to explain the dharma to all when he was lying on the bed of nails.
Thus, Krishna is happy to add the glories and power to His devotees.
Krishna does not miss every opportunity to add glories to the Vaishnavas.
What qualification we have to preach the message of Krishna?
But, Krishna encourages and adds power to someone who truly wishes to serve Him by preaching His messages.
(WHO IS CALLED AS VAISHNAVA? WHAT ARE THE CLASSES OF VAISHNAVAS? READ HERE!)
Krishna directs us to a bonafide spiritual master and arranges everything to help that Vaishnava to preach His messages and also gives knowledge whenever required.
Similarly, when a Vaishnava forgives a person, Krishna accepts it. If He does not approve the forgival given by that Vaishnava, that means, He has not considered that Vaishnavas to be qualified to forgive the offender.
Before finishing, let me give an example for better logical understanding:
When a person commits an offense, the court of the country gives a verdict. Once the Supreme Court gives a verdict, even a Prime minister of that country accepts that verdict.
The law has given power to the supreme court to forgive or punish an offender.
If the court verdict is not accepted by anyone, it becomes contempt of the court.
So, empowerment has been given to the courts to decide the punishment or forgival.
(How to deal with the erring devotees without Vaishnava Offence? READ HERE!)
Similarly, a true Vaishnava, in the first stage, never finds any offenses in us though we commit offenses against him because he is always engaged in the thoughts of the lord. He may not find any offense in our acts. However, if we ourselves find that we have offended and ask for forgival from him, a true Vaishnava readily forgives us.
It is the empowerment given to every Vaishnava by the Lord.
So, it is to be logically understood that Krishna never interferes in the empowerment given to His devotee to forgive others.
So, do not get confused with plenty of contradicting quotes scattered everywhere. That is why, in our site, we see logic in every message and convey to the devotees.
So, if anyone of you has committed aparatha against any Vaishnava, just follow what we have advised in this post you are reading now and THIS POST and THIS POST to get relief.
Then, never commit such offenses again and chant the holy names of Krishna and honour all the Vaishnavas.
Finished. Don’t fear.
The Vaishnava’s pardon for Vaishnava offense (Aparatha) will be approved by Krishna.
Krishna and His devotees are extremely merciful.
(VAISHNAVA ETIQUETTES EXPECTED FROM THE VAISHNAVAS! READ HERE!)