Uttama, madhyama and kanistha adhikaris (from Bhakti-tattva-viveka)

[Yashoda Devi dasi, Croatia]

• The symptoms of an uttama-adhikari in vaidhi-bhakti are:

sastre yuktau ca nipunah sarvatha drdha-niscayah
praudha sraddho 'dhikari yah sa bhaktav uttamo matah
(Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 1.2.17.)

"One who is conversant with the scriptures, expert in all types of logic and possesses unwavering determination is the uttama-adhikari or one endowed with firm sraddha."

• The symptoms of the madhyama-adhikari in vaidhi-bhakti are:

yah sastradisv anipunah sraddhavan sa tu madhyamah
(Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 1.2.19.)

"One who is not so expert in understanding the scriptures and yet is faithful is a madhyama-adhikari; in other words, although when presented with difficult arguments he is unable to answer them, within his mind he remains firmly faithful to his own principle."

• The symptoms of the kanistha-adhikari are:

yo bhavet komala-sraddhah sa kanistho nigadyate
(Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 1.2.19.)

"Kanistha devotees have very little expertise in understanding the scriptures and their sraddha is very delicate and immature. Their sraddha can be changed by others' logic and arguments."