One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. Sanātana Gosvāmī says that as bell metal can turn to gold when mixed with mercury in a chemical process, so, by the bona fide dīkṣā, or initiation method, anyone can become a Vaiṣṇava. Even in India, this point has been enunciated by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī in his book Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, which is smṛti and is the authorized Vedic guide for Vaiṣṇavas in their daily behavior. There is no bar to propagating the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement even among people who are born in caṇḍāla, mleccha or yavana families. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant for this purpose. There should be propaganda to bring everyone to the Vaiṣṇava cult. The principle that only Indians and Hindus should be brought into the Vaiṣṇava cult is a mistaken idea. “Other residents of the world” does not refer only to those who are exactly like the Indian brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas, or like the caste brāhmaṇas, who claim to be brāhmaṇas because they were born in the families of brāhmaṇas. He recommends that every Indian, considering this task to be para-upakāra, or welfare activity, take the Lord’s message to other residents of the world. How is this possible unless one preaches everywhere? The cult of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is bhāgavata-dharma, and He especially recommends kṛṣṇa-kathā, or the cult of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends that His name should be heard in every nook and corner of the world. The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaiṣṇavas. Śrīmad Vīrarāghava Ācārya, an ācārya in the disciplic succession of the Rāmānuja sampradāya, has remarked in his commentary that caṇḍālas, or conditioned souls who are born in lower than śūdra families, can also be initiated according to circumstances. If someone does go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all considerations for time and place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is not at all faulty according to śāstra. The fact is that such critics cannot do anything personally to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Those who are not actually in the line of ācāryas, or who personally have no knowledge of how to act in the role of ācārya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. What is convenient in India may not be convenient in the Western countries. One has to consider the particular time, country and conveniences. That has not been done.” But they forget this instruction of Nārada Muni to one of the greatest Vaiṣṇavas, Dhruva Mahārāja. Sometimes our Indian friends, puffed up with concocted notions, criticize, “This has not been done. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is going on throughout the entire world, and we also install Deities in different centers. It is specifically mentioned in this verse that one should take consideration of the time, place and available conveniences. The method of worship - chanting the mantra and preparing the forms of the Lord - is not stereotyped, nor is it exactly the same everywhere. In Bhagavad-gītā the Lord personally accepts that anyone, even one of a low species, can be elevated to the highest position and go back home, back to Godhead, simply if he worships properly. But here is tacit proof that if a person accepts the Vaiṣṇava mantra or Vaiṣṇava way of worshiping the Deity, he is allowed to chant the praṇava mantra. Especially in India, the caste brāhmaṇas object greatly when persons from other castes, who are not born in brāhmaṇa families, recite this praṇava mantra. Still, although not a brāhmaṇa but a kṣatriya, Dhruva was allowed, on the authority of Nārada, to pronounce the praṇava oṁkāra. He at once admitted before Nārada Muni that as a kṣatriya he was unable to accept Nārada’s instruction of renunciation and mental equilibrium, which are the concern of a brāhmaṇa. There is an injunction that those who are not brāhmaṇas cannot pronounce the praṇava mantra. This mantra is chanted by Vaiṣṇava devotees, and it begins with praṇava, or oṁkāra. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya is known as the dvādaśākṣara-mantra.
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