Category:Association of Brahmanas
Theme Analysis
The Vedic social structure heavily emphasizes the necessity of pure association, particularly regarding the brahminical class. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that being a brāhmaṇa is not a matter of seminal birth; it is entirely dependent on one's qualities and association. Those who constantly associate with the mode of goodness (sattva-guṇa) and receive proper training from a bona fide spiritual master are true brāhmaṇas. Conversely, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī confirms that even a person born in a low-class family can be elevated to the highest brahminical standard simply by the association of a pure devotee.
However, remaining on the brahminical platform requires extreme vigilance. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites historical examples of highly qualified brāhmaṇas who lost their brahma-tejas (spiritual power) due to bad company. The history of Ajāmila serves as a stark warning: despite being a pure, well-trained brāhmaṇa youth, he lost all his brahminical qualities and religious principles simply by associating with a low-class prostitute. Similar temporary falldowns occurred with Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura and the simple brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was polluted by the Bhaṭṭathāris.
Interestingly, Śrīla Prabhupāda also highlights how superficial society often misjudges association. Great eternal associates of Lord Caitanya, such as Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī, were born in highly aristocratic brāhmaṇa families but were excommunicated by orthodox society because their government duties required them to associate with the Muslim Nawab. Despite these societal misunderstandings, the absolute truth remains that pure spiritual association is the ultimate saving grace. It was Ajāmila's early association with brāhmaṇas that ultimately saved him at the time of death, proving that the association of pure Vaiṣṇavas guarantees one an eternal place in the spiritual world.
- Qualification Over Birth: A true brāhmaṇa is recognized by their constant association with the mode of goodness and full knowledge of the Supreme, regardless of their family background.
- The Danger of Degradation: Highly elevated brāhmaṇas, such as Ajāmila and Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, lost their spiritual standing and fell into abominable activities due to the bad association of materialistic women.
- Superficial Social Judgments: Orthodox society wrongly condemned pure devotees like Rūpa Gosvāmī for associating with Muslims, ignoring their actual transcendental realization.
- The Saving Grace of Devotees: The powerful association of pure devotees and genuine brāhmaṇas can purify any fallen soul and initiate them into the highest perfection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Association of Brāhmaṇas - The Power of Spiritual and Material Company.
Pages in category "Association of Brahmanas"
The following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total.
A
- A brahmana, although he is born of a high family, but because he has associated with the qualities of a candala, he should be called candala
- Actually Rupa Gosvami did not belong to a lower caste. He was from a highly aristocratic brahmana family, but due to his association with the Muslim Nawab, he was considered fallen and was excommunicated from brahmana society
- Ajamila was a brahmana who because of bad association had given up all brahminical culture and religious principles. Becoming most fallen, he stole, drank and performed other abominable acts. He even kept a prostitute
- Ajamila, a qualified brahmana youth, lost all his brahminical qualities because of his association with a prostitute, but he was ultimately saved because he had begun the process of bhakti-yoga
- Although born of a brahmana family, this rascal, bereft of intelligence because of the prostitute's association, earned money somehow or other, regardless of whether properly or improperly, and used it to maintain the prostitute's sons and daughters
- An ordinary brahmana may fall from the brahma-tejas, or the power of brahminical excellence, due to his association with many fallen, conditioned souls
I
- In the beginning of his life Ajamila was certainly very pure, and he associated with devotees and brahmanas; because of that pious activity, even though he was fallen, he was inspired to name his son Narayana
- In the Bhakti-ratnakara it is clearly stated that because Sakara Mallika & Dabira Khasa associated with lower-class men, they introduced themselves as belonging to the lower classes. Actually, however, they had been born in respectable brahmana families
- In the city known as Kanyakubja there was a brahmana named Ajamila who married a prostitute maidservant and lost all his brahminical qualities because of the association of that low-class woman
S
- Srila Jiva Gosvami states how a non-brahmana can be turned into a brahmana by the association of a pure devotee
- Sukadeva Gosvami wants to impress upon the mind of the reader (in SB 6.1.63) that Ajamila's exalted position as a brahmana was vanquished by his association with the prostitute, so much so that he forgot all his brahminical activities
T
- The brahmana was then fortunate enough to get an eternal place in Vaikuntha in the association of the Lord and His Laksmis
- Those who are purely in association with the modes of goodness, sattva-guna, they are considered as brahmana. And those who are associated with the rajo-guna, passion, they are called ksatriyas
- Thus by the benediction of Lord Siva the brahmana got the association of the best devotee of Lord Krsna and was thus initiated in the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna