Achintya-bheda-abheda-tattva

Digest 00142B: Is there an offense in seeing the differences between the principal Avatars?

Written by Romapada Swami

Question: If we see a difference between the principal avatars, isn’t this considered an offense?

Answer by Romapada Swami:

There is no offense in considering these transcendental distinctions between the different features of the One Supreme Lord, in the light of scriptures, as long as there is no intended disregard, mundane judgment or putting down of particular feature of the Lord or His devotees. The essence of Lord Caitanya’s teachings is to appreciate the simultaneous oneness and difference in these transcendental varieties.

As we see in the dealings of Lord Caitanya with devotees such as Vyenkata Bhatta or Murari Gupta, even while discussing differences and glorifying the supremacy of Goloka Vrindavan, Lord Caitanya offers immense respect and acceptance for all the different moods of worship of the Supreme Lord, according to the intrinsic mood of the devotee, and there is no display of mundane party divisions.

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Romapada Swami