Question: I have a question regarding bhakti-yoga and śaraṇāgati. In the Śrī-sampradāya, the bhakti-yoga and śaraṇāgati paths are separated. It is also said in Śrī-sampradāya that only brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas, not śūdras, can perform bhakti-yoga. Śrī-sampradāya similarly says that women are ineligible to perform bhakti-yoga. Śaraṇāgati is the only path through which everyone can attain mokṣa, according to Śrī-sampradāya.
But in the Gauḍīya-sampradāya, it is said that bhakti-mārga or bhakti-yoga is open to all. I have also never seen Gauḍīyas separate bhakti from śaraṇāgati.
Answer: Gauḍīyas do not separate śaraṇāgati and bhakti. For us, śaraṇāgati is part of bhakti. We also do not discriminate on the basis of birth, gender, or social status. Everyone is eligible to execute bhakti. The essential qualification is śraddhā or trust in the meaning of śāstra. Anyone who has śraddhā can take to bhakti. We make two divisions of bhakti, namely vaidhī and rāgānugā. But there is no discrimination in any one of them on the basis of birth, gender or social status.
Every school has its own terminology and peculiarities. They must be understood from the source books of the school, otherwise one can misunderstand.
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Question: In uttamā-bhakti we give up varṇāśrama since we are only to depend on Kṛṣṇa. Yet there are several elements in the system like celibacy, married life, protecting cows, brāhmaṇas, etc., which support a good life. So if an uttamā-bhakta-sādhaka accepts certain limbs of varṇāśrama with the mindset that these are conducive or supportive to their bhakti life would it be considered a covering on bhakti?
Answer: The simple rule is to accept whatever is favorable to bhakti and give up whatever is not favorable. An uttamā-bhakta does not hate varṇāśrama. He is not allergic to it. Varṇāṣrama is not against bhakti. It is also a prescribed path. Certain common principles of life are applicable to everyone irrespective of the path one follows. The activities that you have mentioned are not unique to the varṇāśrama system. For example, celibacy is a principle of Yoga marga, being one of the five yamas. Similarly, married life is not specific to varnāśrama.
