164 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 8

yasya yal-laksanam proktam
pumnso varnabhivyafijakam
yad anyatrapi drsyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiset

If a person is born in a stdra family but has all the qualities of a spiritual master, he
should be accepted not only as a brahmana but as a qualified spiritual master also.
This is also the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Thakura therefore introduced the sacred thread ceremony for all Vaisnavas ac-
cording to the rules and regulations.

Sometimes a Vaisnava who is a bhajandnandi does not take the savitra-
samskdra (sacred thread initiation), but this does not mean that this system should
be used for preaching work. There are two kinds of Vaisnavas — bhajandnandi and
gosthydnandi. A bhajananandi is not interested in preaching work, but a gosthya-
nandi is interested in spreading Krsna consciousness to benefit the people and in-
crease the number of Vaisnavas. A Vaisnava is understood to be above the posi-
tion of a brahmana. As a preacher, he should be recognized as a brahmana; other-
wise there may be a misunderstanding of his position as a Vaisnava. However, a
Vaisnava brahmana is not selected on the basis of his birth but according to his
qualities. Unfortunately, those who are unintelligent do not know the difference
between a brahmana and a Vaisnava. They are under the impression that unless
one is a brahmana he cannot be a spiritual master. For this reason only, Sri Caitanya
Mahdaprabhu makes the statement in this verse:

kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sidra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vettd, sei ‘guru’ haya

If one becomes a guru, he is automatically a brahmana. Sometimes a caste guru
says that ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya means that one who is not a
braéhmana may become a siksa-guru or a vartma-pradarsaka-guru but not an initia-
tor guru. According to such caste gurus, birth and family ties are considered
foremost. However, the hereditary consideration is not acceptable to Vaisnavas.
The word guru is equally applicable to the vartma-pradarsaka-guru, siksé-guru and
diksd-guru. Unless we accept the principle enunciated by Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, this Krsna consciousness movement cannot spread all over the
world, According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s intentions: prthivite ache yata
nagaradi-grama sarvatra pracdra haibe mora nama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult
must be preached all over the world. This does not mean that people should take
to His teachings and remain sddras or candalas. As soon as one is trained as a pure
Vaisnava, he must be accepted as a bona fide brahmana. This is the essence of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instructions in this verse.
