Text 128] Talks Between the Lord and Ramananda Raya 163

It is stated in the Hari-bhakti-vildsa that one should not accept initiation from a
person who is not in the brahminical order if there is a fit person in the brahminical
order present. This instruction is meant for those who are overly dependent on
the mundane social order and is suitable for those who want to remain in mun-
dane life. If one understands the truth of Krsna consciousness and seriously
desires to attain transcendental knowledge for the perfection of life, he can ac-
cept a spiritual master from any social status, provided the spiritual master is fully
conversant with the science of Krsna. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura also
states that although one is situated as a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, stdra,
brahmacari, vanaprastha, grhastha or sannydasi, if he is conversant in the science of
Krsna he can become a spiritual master as vartma-pradarsaka-guru, diksa-guru or
siksa-guru. One who first gives information about spiritual life is called the vartma-
pradarsaka-guru or spiritual master. The spiritual master who initiates according to
the regulations of the sastras is called diksa-guru, and the spiritual master who
gives instructions for elevation is called siksa-guru. Factually the qualifications of a
spiritual master depend on his knowledge of the science of Krsna. It does not mat-
ter whether he is a brahmana, ksatriya, sannydasi or sddra. This injunction given by
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not at all against the injunctions of the sastras. In the
Padma Purana it is said:

na sGdrah bhagavad-bhaktas
te ‘pi bhagavatottamah
sarva-varnesu te sddra
ye na bhakta jandrdane

One who is actually advanced in spiritual knowledge of Krsna is never a stidra,
even though he may have been born in a sGdra family. However, if a vipra or a
brahmana is very expert in the six brahminical activities (pathana, pathana, yajana,
yajana, dana, pratigraha) and is also well versed in the Vedic hymns, he cannot be-
come a spiritual master unless he is a Vaisnava. But if one is born in the family of
candalas yet is well versed in Krsna consciousness, he can become a guru. These
are the s&stric injunctions, and strictly following these injunctions, Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, as a grhastha named Sri Visvambhara, was initiated by a sannyasi-
guru named [évara Puri. Similarly, Sri Nityananda Prabhu was initiated by Madha-
vendra Puri, a sannydsi. According to others, however, He was initiated by
Laksmipati Tirtha. Advaita Acarya, although a grhastha, was initiated by Madha-
vendra Puri, and Sri Rasikananda, although born in a brahmana family, was initiated
by Sri Syamananda Prabhu, who was not born in a caste brahmana family. There
are many instances in which a born brahmana took initiation from a person who
was not born in a brahmana family. The brahminical symptoms are explained in
Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.11.35), wherein it is stated:
