By Mahavegavati dasi

The following is part of a reply to a question put by one devotee to B.G. Narasingha Maharaj concerning the Ativadi apa-sampradaya.

I have chosen to submit a portion of Maharaj's answer, rephrasing some of his words and emphasising certain things said by Maharaj, to get some particular points accross:

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur mentions thirteen apa-sampradayas that developed after the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: Aula, Baula, Kartabhaja, Neda, Daravesa, Sani, Sahajiya, Sakhibeki, Smarta, Jata-gosani, Ativadi, Cudadhari, and Gauranga-nagari.

One of these apa-sampradayas being the Ativadi sampradaya. The word "ativadi" means "too great". One who is filled with pride (thinks s/he is) "too great."

But the REALLY great are the truly humble and it is only with genuine humility that one can truly chant the Holy Name of Radha-Krsna. Thus, when one "knows" (but really doesn't know) scripture, thinking that s/he is too great, then one can be considered to be an ativadi.

Ultimately it is due to pride that we commit offense to other Vaishnavas (and to people in general). These offenses to Vaishnavas can cause one to fall down, even from a highly advanced position in devotional service.

At one point during the seventeenth century, one man from the state of Assam came to both Vrndavan and Bengal to the Vaisnava communities there. He became the disciple of Srila Krsna-carana Cakravarti and was initiated as Rupa Kaviraja.

Rupa Kaviraja studied Srimad Bhagavatam under the tutelage of Sri Mukunda Dasa, a well known Vaisnava of the time. Many devotees felt great happiness to see Rupa Kaviraja so seriously engaged in the study of Srimad Bhagavatam, but (sadly) through his proficient learning of the Bhagavatam Slokas, Rupa Kaviraj became very proud of his learning.

Sometime shortly after the disappearance of Sri Mukunda Dasa, Rupa Kaviraja was giving a recitation of the Srimad Bhagavatam to many Vaishnavas. Before he began his recital, one greatly reknowned Vaishnavi, Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani, arrived, and all of the devotees present there offered her their respects due to her being such a great Vaishnavi. Rupa Kaviraja however, (due to his pride), did not show her any respect whatsoever. (Hey, after all, HE was THE speaker that day, so why should he offer Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani any respects. And after all, she was only a woman!!! - one of those "half-brains.")

Although Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani was NOT Lord Balaram, I can not help but to remember the incident concerning the entrance of Lord Balaram into the arena when Romaharsana was seated on the Vyasasan and did not offer his respects to Lord Balaram. Krsna has such love for His devotees that He will take it more seriously into consideration, an offense made to them than one made to Himself. Thus, when Rupa Kaviraj did not pay his respects to Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani, that was his first strike against her, (and with only a few strikes, one completely STRIKES OUT: Pride goeth before a fall).

While reciting the Srimad Bhagavatam, Rupa Kaviraja noticed Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani chanting Hare Krsna and this made him become very disturbed. With great anger, he asked Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani, "How is it possible for you to be doing two things simultaneously? It is very disturbing to see you chanting while I am reciting the Bhagavatam."

With great humility, Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani replied, "It is simply the habit of my tongue to chant continuously; it doesn't impede my hearing at all."

Hearing this reply, Rupa Kaviraja sat back in extreme anger. Prior to this, (due to pride and envy), he had already made a grave offense against Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani when he refused to acknowledge her presence and position as a great Vaishnavi by not offering her any form of respect. He then made his next offense to Srimati Krsna-priya Thakurani in the presence of Srimad Bhagavatam and the Vaishnavas. Thisthen led to his making offenses to his own Guru, his Parama Guru and other Vaisnavas; all of this due to pride, which resulted from his THINKING he was so "learned" (and great). Due to such pride, Rupa Kaviraj was ultimately robbed of the results of his spiritual advancement.

Gaudiya Vaisnavas have referred to Rupa Kaviraja as being an Ativadi, one who is too great or knows too much. Rupa Kaviraj continued to make offenses to many Vaishnavas and eventually he published a manuscript supporting the sahajiya conceptions which he claimed had been written by Srila Rupa Gosvami.

For all of his outrageous activities, the daughter of Sri Srinivasa Acarya, Srimati Hemalata Gosvamini, TORE OFF the kanti mala from his neck and ostracized him from the Vaisnava community. Mind you, this was a MATAJI who did this! (WATCH OUT FOR THESE VAISHNAVIS FOR THEY CAN ALSO BE STRONG FOR KRSNA!!!) Hemalata Gosvamini just RIPPED off that man's kanti mala, right from his neck. (NO compromisation!!! WHAM!!!)

(After this incident, the followers of Rupa Kaviraja began to wear only one strand of tulasi beads since he was only left with one strand after they were broken by Hemalata Goswamini. The decision and action of Srimati Hemalata Goswamini stood!!! There was NO change!)

After some time, Rupa Kaviraja became afflicted with leprosy which spread rapidly throughout his body, and eventually he died a painful death as a result of his affliction.

Irregardless of how we see a Vaishnava or Vaishnavi from their externals, we MUST be careful for we may not know WHO that person is internally. (See Srila Rupa Gosvami's Upadeshamrita, Verse #6.)

drstaih svabhava janitair vapusas ca dosair na prakritatvam iha bhakta janasya pashyet gangambhasham na khalu budbuda phena pankair brahma dravatvam apaggachati nira dharmaih

This verse specifically is speaking about pure devotees, comparing the seeming "defects" on their body to the bubbles and foam that comes to the Ganges when there are heavy rains. "Despite such seeming defects, the body of a pure devotee cannot be polluted.

But even if we (in our conditioned state) are thinking that a devotee is not pure, we STILL MUST be careful, for one may not be able to understand properly what is another person's position.

Once a devotee comes to Krsna and gives their life in surrender, be they male, female; old, young; rich, poor; black, white; healthy or infirmed, they should NOT be considered according to their bodily manifestation. Dhruva Maharaj's mother had to suffer for her offense against Dhruva Maharaj even though at the time when she insulted him, he was not considered to be a pure devotee.

Lord Ramacandra saw the service of the spider to be equal to that of Hanuman due to the spider's love for the Lord, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu commended the enthusiasm of the mataji trying to take darshan of Lord Jagannath with one foot on the Garuda stambha and the other on Lord Caitanya's shoulders.

Thus, we must be careful in putting our judgement on other devotees, especially with the mentality that we are thinking that we are "better." This pride is a sure sign that something is WRONG, and one must take steps to try to correct such a mentality.

Lord Caitanya explained that to chant the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra effectively, one MUST chant with humility.