The glories of sadhu-sanga

Who is a sadhu (a saintly, pure devotee)?

sādhanoti sādhayati ca kṛṣṇa-prema iti sādhu

One who knows the sādhyā (goal) and sādhana (process) and therefore can guide others in performing sādhana to attain the sādhyā of kṛṣṇa-prema, is a sādhu.

What is saṅga (association with a sādhu)?

samyak rūpeṇa anugamanam

To follow the sādhu completely, externally and internally, by activities and by mood, is real saṅga, association with a sādhu.

Even a moment’s association with a sadhu can award all perfection:

sādhu-saṅga sādhu-saṅga sarva-śāstre kaya lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya

– CC Madhya-lila  22.54/BPKG p. 378/STB p. 29

The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that through even a moment’s association with a sādhu, a pure devotee, one can attain (ultimately) complete spiritual perfection.

The benefits of sadhu-sanga:

saṁsāra bhramite kona bhāgye keha tare

nadīra pravāhe yena kāṣṭha lāge tīre

kona bhāgye kāro saṁsāra kṣayonmukha haya

sādhu-saṅge tabe kṛṣṇe rati upajaya.

– CC Mad 22.43-4

When the jīva becomes averse to Kṛṣṇa, he is swept away in the current of birth and death in material existence. He wanders aimlessly throughout the 8,400,000 species of life, being burnt by the threefold miseries. It is extremely difficult to attain deliverance from this current of saṁsāra. However, just as a piece of wood flowing in the forceful current of a river may by fortune be washed up on the bank, similarly, a jīva may by extremely good fortune attain the shelter of sādhu saṅga, gain release from the current of material existence, and again become established in his own constitutional position as the servant of Kṛṣṇa.

The association with devotees and receiving their mercy are the only means to obtain bhakti:

There is no way we can get bhakti without the mercy of great devotees; forget attaining Sri Krishna, without it we cannot even transcend the material ocean.” – (C.C.)

Srila Muchukunda extolled Lord Krishna –

“bhavâpavargo bhramato sada bhavejjanasya tarhyachyuta-sat-samagamâh,

satsangamoyarhi tadeva sadgatou parâvareshe twayi jâyate matih.”

Meaning – “My dear Lord, the living being wanders in the cycle of birth and death; when his material condition is about to end, he comes in contact with Your devotees. And then they get interested in You who are the sole refuge of the devotees.”

Sri Vidur Mahashaya told Srila Maitreya Rishi:

‘O master, the ones who are turned away from Sri Krishna are suffering immensely since their past karma forces them to behave unrighteously. Sri Krishna’s auspicious devotees such as you have appeared on earth to shower mercy on such materialists.”

– (S.B.3.5.3)

“bhakta-pada-dhooli ar bhakta-pada-jal,

bhakta-bhukta-abashesh – tin mohabol.”

Meaning  –  “The dust of the devotee’s feet, the foot-wash of the devotee and the remnants of the devotee’s prasâdam – these three are enormously invigorating.”

– (C.C.)

Worshiping My devotees is superior to worshiping Me directly:

mad-bhakta-pūjābhyadhikā mayi sañjāyate bhakti

– SB 11.19.21

Worshipping my devotees is better than worshipping Me.

For by this devotion to Me naturally arises.