96 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 17
TEXT 179
Tor AAG Sa AVS Aime! |
ACA SA-AeA AANA Al ECA CSSA |) S90
yadyapi ‘sanodiya’ haya seita brahmana
sanodiya-ghare sannyasi nd kare bhojana
SYNONYMS

yadyapi—although; sanodiyda—a priest of the Sanodiya community; haya—
was; seita—that; braéhmana—brahmana; sanodiyd-ghare—in the house of a
Sanodiya (goldsmith); sannydsi—a person in the renounced order of life; nd kare
bhojana—does not accept food.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana belonged to the Sanodiya brahmana community, and a san-

nyasi does not accept food from such a brahmana.
PURPORT

In northwestern India, vaisyas are divided in various subdivisions. Stila Bhakti-
vinoda Thakura points out that they are divided as Agaraoyala, Kalaoyara and
Sanoyada. Out of them, the Agaraoydlas are supposed to be first-class vaisyas,
and the Kalaoyaras and Sanoyadas are considered lower due to their occupational
degradation. The Kalaoyaras generally take wine and other intoxicants. Although
they are vaisyas, they are considered to belong to a lower class. The priests who
guide the Kalaoyaras and the Sanoyadas are called Sanodiya brahmanas. Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that the word sdnoydda in Bengal indicates suvarna-
vanik. In Bengal there are priests who guide the suvarna-vanik community, which
is also considered a low class. There is little difference between the Sanoyada and
the suvarna-vanik. Generally the suvarna-vaniks are bankers dealing in gold and
silver. In western India, the Agaraoyalas also belong to the banking profession.
This is the original business of the suvarna-vanik or Agaraoyala community.
Historically, the Agaraoyalas came from the up-country named Ayodha, and the
suvarna-vanik community came from Ayodha. It appears that the suvarna-vaniks
and the Agaraoyalas belong to the same community. The Sanodiya brahmanas
were the guides of the Kalaoyara and Sanoyada. They are therefore considered to
be lower-class brahmanas, and a sannydasi is not allowed to take alms or food from
them. However, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted lunch cooked by a Sanodiya
brahmana simply because he belonged to Madhavendra Puri’s community. Srila
Madhavendra Puri was the spiritual master of Iévara Puri, who was the spiritual
master of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus a spiritual relationship is established on
the spiritual platform without consideration of material inferiority or superiority.
