The 12 Mahajanas

Introduction

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, devotional service and the devotee are all transcendental. The mentality of lording it over material nature is artificial and it obstructs the path toward genuine self-realization. Artificially considering oneself to be the of material nature cannot be the constitutional position of the pure spirit soul. While engaging in material activities after having given up the cultivation of religious principles, people whose hearts are attacked by the three material qualities traverse the paths of karma and jnana. As a result, they experience various bodily and mental miseries, being obserbed in self-centered activities.

The Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, who is fully transcendental, is served by the pure spirit souls by means of devotional service that is unmotivated and uninterrupted. Until a living entity voluntarily engages his body, mind and speech in the cultivation of Krsna consciousness, he remains unhappy, due to lack of knowledge about his constitutional position and due to engaging in material sense gratification or cultivating knowledge of impersonal Brahman. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated:

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo

yato bhaktir adhoksaje

ahaituky apratihata

yayatma suprasidati

“The supreme occupation (dharma) for all humanity is that by which men can attain loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.”

The concept that the material body and mind are the self is an illusion created by the external energy of the Lord. That which is separate from spirit or self is called apara, or matter. AI; long as the sense of “I” and “mine” is present, the living entities remain engrossed in ignorance and forget their constitutional position as eternal servant of the Supreme Lord. In material activities, there are so many impediments and disappointments. But, spiritual activities are causeless and without interruption. In devotional service to the Lord, there is eternal happiness, whereas in material activities, there are only miseries.

Although, from an external point of view, the endeavors of the karmis, the jnanis and the devotees may look similar, there is a gulf of difference between them. The devotees of the Supreme Lord fully engage in the service of the Lord with their body, mind and speech. Their activities are meant for the satisfaction of the Lord, whereas the karmis and jnanis act for the satisfaction of their body or mind.

By following the path that is traversed by the Mahaajanas, and by accepting their ideal examples, e is sure to achieve the mercy of the Supreme Lord. It is stated in the Mahabharata:

tarko pratisthah srutayo vibhinna

nasau rsir yasya matam na bhinnam

dharmasya tattvam nihitarit guhayam

mahajano yena gatah sa panthah

“Dry arguments are inconclusive. A philosopher opinion does not differ from others is not considered to be a great thinker. Simply by studying the which are variegated, one cannot come to the right conclusion. The truth of religious principles is hidden within the heart of a liberated, self-realized person. For this reason, one should accept whatever path such mahajanas advocate.”

Mahajana refers to a great personality who is an exalted Vaisnava and who is accepted as an authority on the science of devotional service to the Lord. The path traversed by the mahajanas is actually sanatana dharma. There are twelve mahajanas who are described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Only the devotees of the Supreme Lord are qualified to attain His eternal abode. This book has been compiled by referring to references to the twelve mahajanas from the sruti, smrti and Puranas.

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