These Smarta Brahmins contest that unless one is born in a Brahmin family one cannot be given these (sacred thread & Deity worship) facilities. But Narada Muni says no; a man should be judged by the symptoms of his character

Expressions researched:
"These Smarta Brahmins contest that unless one is born in a Brahmin family one cannot be given these facilities. But Narada Muni says no; a man should be judged by the symptoms of his character"

Correspondence

1970 Correspondence

Actually they are being trained in such a way, their hearts are being purified by chanting the Mahamantra. And after some days when the Spiritual Master sees that one has followed the regulative principles faithfully and has abstained himself from the restricted items like illicit sex life, etc. and has chanted regularly 16 rounds then say after a year or six months when he appears to be purified in the judgment of the Spiritual Master he is offered the sacred thread, and he is given the chance of Deity worship in the Temple. These Smarta Brahmins contest that unless one is born in a Brahmin family one cannot be given these facilities. But Narada Muni says no; a man should be judged by the symptoms of his character.

700116 - Letter to Janardana written from Los Angeles

A man may be born in the family of a Brahmin but he might have the tendency of a Kshatriya or Vaisha or Sudra. Similarly a man may be born in the family of a Sudra or Candala but he may have the tendencies for a Brahmin. Just like Ekaballabha was born in a Chandala family but he had the tendency of a Kshatriya. Similarly Visvamitra Muni was born in a family of Kshatriyas but his tendency was of becoming a Brahmin.So Narada Muni says that men should be judged by his tendencies, not by his birth, and this is also confirmed in Bhagavad Gita by Lord Krishna that the four divisions of human society should be judged by the qualities in actual work. Therefore with reference to all Vedic Scriptures our members are all Brahmins and therefore we offer them the sacred thread although they are born, according to Vedic culture, in the families of other than Brahmins or even than the Sudras. But that does not mean they cannot be purified. Actually they are being trained in such a way, their hearts are being purified by chanting the Mahamantra. And after some days when the Spiritual Master sees that one has followed the regulative principles faithfully and has abstained himself from the restricted items like illicit sex life, etc. and has chanted regularly 16 rounds then say after a year or six months when he appears to be purified in the judgment of the Spiritual Master he is offered the sacred thread, and he is given the chance of Deity worship in the Temple. These Smarta Brahmins contest that unless one is born in a Brahmin family one cannot be given these facilities. But Narada Muni says no; a man should be judged by the symptoms of his character. And Srimad Bhagavatam says that the Kiratas, etc. can be purified by a pure devotee because the influence of Lord Visnu is so strong. Prabha Vishnave means the powerful Lord Visnu; prabha means that the light or heat of Vishnu is so strong that it is possible to melt them. Only the devotees of Lord Vishnu or Krishna can be purified, not the devotees of any demigod. They will have to wait for their next birth according to their own karma.