Purity of Devotional Service 47

It is on the basis of his position that anyone can now become a
Gaudiya Vaisnava, from any part of the world or any part of the uni-
verse. Anyone who is a pure Vaisnava is situated transcendentally,
and therefore the highest qualification in the material world, namely,
to be in the modes of goodness, is already achieved by such a person.
Our Krsna consciousness movement in the Western world is based on
the above-mentioned proposition of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Gosvami Prabhupada, our spiritual master. On his authority, we are
claiming members from all sections of the Western countries. The so-
called brahmanas claim that one who is not born into a brahmana
family cannot receive the sacred thread and cannot become a high-
grade Vaisnava. But we do not accept such a theory because it is not
supported by Rupa Gosvami nor by the strength of the various scrip-
tures.

Srila Ripa Gosvami specifically mentions herein that every man
has the birthright to accept devotional service and to become Krsna
conscious. He has given many evidences from many scriptures, and
he has especially quoted one passage from Padma Purana, wherein
sage Vasistha tells King Dilipa: ‘‘My dear King, everyone has the right
to execute devotional service, just as he has the right to take early
bath in the month of Magh [December-January].” There is more
evidence in Padma Purana, in the Kasikhanda portion, where it is
said: “In the country known as Mayuradhvaja, the lower caste people
who are considered less than sidras are also initiated in the Vaisnava
cult of devotional service. And when they are properly dressed, with
tilaka on their bodies and beads in their hands and on their necks,
they appear to be coming from Vaikuntha. In fact, they look so very
beautiful that immediately they surpass the ordinary brahmanas.”

Thus a Vaisnava automatically becomes a brahmana. This idea is also
supported by Sanatana Gosvami ir his book Hari-bhakti-vildsa, which
is the Vaisnava guide. Therein he has clearly stated that any person who
is properly initiated into the Vaisnava cult certainly becomes a
brahmana, as much as the metal known as kamsa (bell metal) is turned
into gold by the mixture of mercury. A bona fide spiritual master,under
the guidance of authorities, can turn anyone to the Vaisnava cult so
that naturally he may come to the topmost position of a brahmana.

