How to get pardon for Vaishnava Aparatha if he is not accessible?
A devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Prabhuji, I wanted to ask you in regards of Vaishnava Aparādha, you said that it can only be removed if we sincerely ask forgiveness from the Vaishnava.
I had to ask what if the Vaishnava is not in our contact, lives in other city or town and we don’t know how to contact them and in case no contact can be established then what to do?
If they are very busy and cannot respond to us how will we get relieved of the offense?
What to do if that Vaishnava has departed the planet?
Can we mentally pray and ask forgiveness from the lotus feet of the Vaishnava because all Vaishnavas are spiritual?
Please answer if possible”
REPLY:
One should offer his respects and ask for forgiveness for the offense committed against anyone – not only a Vaishnava.
We should beg for forgiveness at any cost from him.
This is the general recommendation.
(Is a Vaishnava’s pardon for Vaishnava Aparatha approved by Krishna? READ HERE!)
Usually, this can’t be changed. Because, Vaishnava Aparatha is the most serious offense in the devotional life.
So, other options are assumed best alternatives only.
In case that Vaishnava is not accessible for any reasons, we can do these alternatives praying to Krishna to help you to get the relief from that aparath.
(i) Lord and His Names are non different. Because, Vibrations play a major role in the concept of chanting the names of the Lord and in the usage of any word.
For example, if one says “You will suffer in life” against any person, it creates negative vibrations against the cursed person.
Similarly, if one blesses another, good vibrations are spread towards that person.
This even transfers the karma between the persons.
This has been already explained in a Post.
So, when we call one’s name in his absence, it actually reaches him through Vani.
(How to avoid committing Vaishnava Aparatha repeatedly? READ HERE!)
This is similar to calling Krishna or Guru or Acharya and they hear it.
So, you can try to ask for forgiveness thru Vani contact.
(2) Just Go in front of the deity or picture of Krishna and pray like this:
“Krishna. I have committed a grave offense against such a great Vaishnava. I am seriously feeling for it. I want to get his pardon, but I am unable to locate him (or) He has left this planet (or) for some other reasons. I am offering my pardon in front of you. Please make this to reach him wherever he is even in the another planet or with you:
‘Dear Prabhu/ Mataji. I have hurted you seriously in my process of following Krishna Consciousness. I am unable to locate you (or) Before I meet, you left this planet. Wherever you are, please accept my apologies and offer your blessings. I assure that I will never commit such offenses against anyone in future. Please forgive me.’
Thank you Krishna for passing this apology to the concerned Vaishnava. You too please forgive me. I will be careful in my devotional life hereafter.”
(Is attacking a devotee who physically attack us a Vaishnava Aparatha? READ HERE!)
Pray like this. What else we can do?
In case the reason is your inability to locate him/ her, try your level best by communicating to many ISKCON centers (if he is the follower of ISKCON) requesting them to inform you if there is any devotee by that name in their center. If they know him/ her, they will inform you.
A devotee will be attending any of the nearby centers in the world. So, this search may help you.
Thus, try your best to locate him and write to him directly seeking the pardon.
If this is not possible, do as said above.
We can hope that Krishna has passed that message to the account of that Vaishnava.
No other way.
Hope this has helped you to get the pardon for our Vaishnava Aparatha in the absence of that Vaishnava.
(Repenting For Vaishnava Aparatha (Offense) Properly! A Case Study! READ HERE!)