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Question: You have mentioned that it is better to make devotees than temples. Devotees are so important but despite such importance of devotees, we criticize devotees, we don’t care for devotees. How can we be very careful and caring for the devotees?

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Jayapatākā Swami: There are 8 to 9 billion people on the planet. Out of them how many devotees are there? These are devotees, why we should not consider them to be really dear to us? We understand that they are dear to Kṛṣṇa, He says that a devotee is more dear to Him than His life. So we should always be careful. Lord Caitanya said He would deliver everybody, but the offenders to the Vaiṣṇavas. Capala Gopāla had committed an offence at the lotus feet of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. Then after that he contracted leprosy.  He had prayed to Lord Caitanya, ‘You are love personified, please have mercy on me, forgive me.’ Lord Caitanya showed another part of Him, ‘you have offended My pure dear devotee, what you are suffering now is nothing compared to what you will receive in hell, Kumbipaka!’ Then Capala Gopāla said ‘You are very merciful, how can I get forgiven for this offence?’ ‘The only way to be forgiven is if you go and beg for forgiveness from Śrīvāsa and Śrīvāsa agrees to forgive you.’ To make a long story short, Śrīvāsa went and forgave Capala Gopāla. Immediately Lord Caitanya approached Capala Gopāla and He embraced him. We hear all these instructions, why will we not be careful of the Vaiṣṇavas?
07-August-2021 Sridham Mayapur, India