History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.418

v6.c81.418

Persons having *adhikāra* for ekādaśī-vrata may be divided into two classes, viz Vaisṇavas and Smārtas The word vaiṣṇava is defined in some of the Purāṇas ²⁸⁶ such as the Padma III 1. 21-32, IV 10 65-66, VI 252 74, VI 69, Viṣṇu III 7. 20-33, III 8. 9-19, the Bhāgavata and in some of the digests A Vaisṇava is really one who has received dīkṣā (initiation) according to the Vaiṣṇava āgamas of the Vaikhānasa, Pañcarātra and other schools The Skanda defines a Vaiṣṇava · that man is a Vaiṣṇava who does not forsake (fast on) ekādaśī, whether he be reduced to the direst misery or whether great bliss might have come to him, who has been given the dīkṣā of a Vaiṣṇava, who behaves equally towards all living beings, who does not swerve from the duties of his class (varṇa), who is equal to his own friends of his class (varṇa), who is equal to his own friends or his enemies, who, being high (in principles), does not deprive anyone (of his possessions) or does not injure anyone, and whose mind is pure. Vide Prof. S. K. De's 'Vaisnava faith and movement' pp 364–366 and p. 413 where the author gives an analysis of the characteristics of the Vaisnava devotee drawn from the Haribhaktivilāsa of Gopālabhaṭṭa (for followers of Caitanya).