Text 121] The Residents of Varanasi Become Vaisnavas 363
however, there are no such considerations. Devotional service is transcenden-
tal to all considerations.

PURPORT

When we are on the material platform, there are different types of religions —
Hinduism, Christianity, Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and so on. These are
instituted for a particular time, a particular country or a particular person.
Consequently there are differences. Christian principles are different from Hindu
principles, and Hindu principles are different from Mohammedan and Buddhist
principles. These may be considered on the material platform, but when we come
to the platform of transcendental devotional service, there are no such considera-
tions. The transcendental service of the Lord (sédhana-bhakti) is above these prin-
ciples. The world is anxious for religious unity, and that common platform can be
achieved in transcendental devotional service. This is the verdict of Sri Caitanya
Mahdprabhu. When one becomes a Vaisnava, he becomes transcendental to all
these limited considerations. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (14.26):

mam ca yo ‘vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
“One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any cir-
cumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to
the level of Brahman.”

The devotional activities of the Krsna consciousness movement are completely
transcendental to material considerations. As far as different faiths are concerned,
religions may be of different types, but on the spiritual platform, everyone has an
equal right to execute devotional service. That is the platform of oneness and the
basis for a classless society. In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura confirms that one has to learn from a bona fide spiritual master about
religious principles, economic development, sense gratification and ultimately
liberation. These are the four divisions of regulated life, but they are sub-
jected to the material platform. On the spiritual platform, the four principles are
jfidna, vijfidna, tad-anga and tad-rahasya. Rules, regulations and restrictions are on
the material platform, but on the spiritual platform one has to be equipped with
transcendental knowledge, which is above the principles of religious rituals. Mun-
dane religious activity is known as smarta-viddhi, but transcendental devotional
service is called gosvami-viddhi. Unfortunately many so-called gosvamis are on
the platform of smdrta-viddhi, yet they try to pass as gosvami-viddhi, and thus the
people are cheated. Gosvami-viddhi is strictly explained in Sanatana Gosvami's
Hari-bhakti-vildsa, wherein it is stated:
