Category:Characteristics of a Devotee of God
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines the identity of a devotee not by their dress or social standing, but by their specific characteristics and symptoms (lakṣaṇa). The quotes in this category provide a comprehensive blueprint of the perfect vaiṣṇava character. Central to this description is the concept of śaraṇāgati, or complete surrender, which manifests in six specific symptoms including humility, dedication, and faith in Kṛṣṇa's protection.
- The Six Symptoms of Surrender: A devotee is characterized by accepting what is favorable for devotional service, rejecting what is unfavorable, firmly believing in Kṛṣṇa's protection, accepting Kṛṣṇa as the maintainer, full self-surrender, and humility.
- Tolerance and Compassion: A sādhu is described as titikṣavaḥ (tolerant) and kāruṇikāḥ (merciful). Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a devotee tolerates personal insults but is para-duḥkha-duḥkhī—unhappy to see the suffering of others.
- Steadiness and Chastity: A pure devotee is steady in all circumstances, not looking to demigods or others for help, similar to the chaste Pāṇḍavas. Even in danger, they remain fixed in service.
- Etiquette: Observance of vaiṣṇava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee. This includes avoiding the association of worldly people and maintaining internal and external purity.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Characteristics of a Devotee of God.
Subcategories
This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total.
Pages in category "Characteristics of a Devotee of God"
The following 51 pages are in this category, out of 51 total.
A
- A characteristic of a pure devotee is that he excuses any offense by an ignorant rascal. A characteristic of Krsna, however, is that He cannot tolerate blasphemy of His devotees
- A chaste devotee of the Lord (Krsna) does not look to others, namely any other living being or demigod, even for deliverance from danger. That was all along the characteristic of the whole family of the Pandavas
- A devotee has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime
- A devotee knows how to utilize everything in the service of the Lord, and this is characteristic of the maha-bhagavata
- A person who has the pure characteristics of a brahmana due to devotional service, which is like a blazing fire burning to ashes all the sinful reactions of past lives, is certainly saved from the consequences of sinful acts
- All these transcendental qualities are the characteristics of pure Vaisnavas, and they cannot be fully explained, but I shall try to point out some of the important qualities
- Although some of the gopis are talkative, some mild and some equipoised, all of them are transcendental and faultless. They please Krsna by their unique characteristics
B
- Because Narada, an authorized devotee and great associate of the Personality of Godhead, was desiring auspiciousness for Prahlada Maharaja, he developed all the characteristics of a high-grade devotee
- "Because you (Sanatana Gosvami) are a humble devotee," the Lord continued, "you are asking Me to confirm what you already know. This is very nice." These are the characteristics of a true devotee
C
H
- He (a devotee) is satisfied simply by discharging loving service to the Lord. That is the characteristic of pure devotion
- He (the devotee in dasya-rati) considers the Lord to be a worshipable object, and this means that his attachment for the Lord increases. Thus dasya-rati is characterized as bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca - SB 11.2.42
I
- It is by attachment and bhava that the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna is conquered by His devotees. These two characteristics are present before any symptoms of love of Godhead are manifest. This was all explained to Sanatana Gosvami by Lord Caitanya
- It is indeed impossible for a pure devotee to engage his mind in unwanted activities. Even if a pure devotee wanted to, his mind would not allow him to do so. That is a characteristic of a pure devotee
- It is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and protect the Vaisnava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaisnava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee
N
O
- Obviously we have to tolerate suffering. One of the characteristics of a sadhu is tolerance
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six characteristics: (5) Self-surrender means remembering that one’s activities and desires are not independent. The devotee is completely dependent on Krsna, and he acts and thinks as Krsna desires
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics: (1) The devotee has to accept everything that is favorable for the rendering of transcendental loving service to the Lord
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics: (2) He must reject everything unfavorable to the Lord’s service. This is also called renunciation
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics: (3) A devotee must be firmly convinced that Krsna will give him protection. No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly convinced of this is called faith
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics: (4) He (the devotee) should not think that he is being protected by a demigod. He should depend only on Krsna, considering Him the only protector
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics: (4) The devotee must be firmly convinced that within the three worlds he has no protector or maintainer other than Krsna
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics: (4) The devotee should accept Krsna as his supreme maintainer and master
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics: (6) The devotee is meek and humble
S
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya - One special characteristic of this family (of Pundarika Vidyanidhi) is that each of its members had only one son or no son at all, and therefore the family was not very expansive
- Srimad-Bhagavatam is filled with descriptions of the characteristics of various devotees, with reference to the service of the Lord. This Vedic literature is called Bhagavatam because it deals with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotee
T
- That is the characteristic of a pure devotee. Even in the greatest difficulty, even in the greatest danger, he is not shaken; he is steady
- The brahmanas and Vaisnavas are personally glorified by their characteristic powers of tolerance, penance, knowledge and education. By dint of all these spiritual assets, Vaisnavas are more powerful than royalty
- The characteristic of a great soul is that he is very eager to broadcast glorification of the Supreme Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, for example, was very eager to broadcast the glorification of God, but demoniac people misunderstood him and crucified him
- The characteristic of a Vaisnava and the characteristic of the Lord mentioned in this verse (CC Antya 3.213) are very significant. In His Siksastaka (3) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has taught the characteristics of a Vaisnava
- The following Vaisnavas were present with Srila Rupa Gosvami: Sri Madhu Pandita, whose characteristics are all wonderful; Premi Krsnadasa; Krsnadasa Brahmacari; Yadava Acarya; the merciful Narayana; Sri Pundarikaksa Gosvami; and many others
- The Lord (Krsna) described the characteristics of confidential devotees - Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam - SB 11.29.34
- The most important characteristic of a pure devotee is that he is not lampata, or licentious, and another quality is that he is always eager to mitigate the miseries of suffering humanity
- The symptoms and characteristics of Utkala, the son of Maharaja Dhruva, are those of a maha-bhagavata
- The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime - SB 3.25.21
- They engage the power of speech in the glorification of My qualities and form. They also dedicate their minds unto Me and try to give up all kinds of material desires. Thus My devotees are characterized
- This is characteristic of a pure Vaisnava. He is never envious if another devotee receives the mercy and strength of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- This is the characteristic of a Vaisnava. Para-duhkha-duhkhi: a Vaisnava is always unhappy to see the conditioned souls unhappy. Otherwise, he would have no business teaching them how to become happy
- This narration describes the characteristics of the great and exalted devotee Prahlada Maharaja, his staunch devotional service, his perfect knowledge, and his perfect detachment from material contamination
- To know about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the characteristics of His pure devotee, one must inquire from authorities like Devarsi Narada. One cannot inquire about transcendental subject matters from a layman
- To satisfy the mind perfectly, I (Sukadeva Gosvami) shall hereafter describe the characteristics of these nine devotees when I discuss the conversation between Narada and Vasudeva