The Third Birth

All Glories to HDG Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaj

All Glories to HDG Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Maharaj Prabhupada

This idea of a third birth may be a new idea for many. readers. In the Manu Samhita, is this verse of the 2nd chapter   manugredhijanan dvityam mounj bandane  trityam yaghna dikshayam  dvijaya sruti chodanam

The third birth is when the twice born after receiving the sacred thread  becomes capable of performing jyotistami  sacrifices by then hearing duly  from the preceptor. Firstly one is born from the parents ,then he receives the sacred thread whereby his father is the Acarya and the gayatri becomes his mother then after receiving the qualification to serve the Lord in that brahman status begins his third birth ,where the father is the Acarya and the mother is the diksha mantra. By the path of inductive reasoning, the first is termed the birth of the body ,the second is that of the mind and the third is termed as ceremonial birth. The Srimad Bhagavatam has categorized all these births as strota ,savitur and daikshya.

kim janmabhihir  veha  strota ,savitrya  yahnakayaih dhig janmas trivrddah yatha dhvig vratam dhig bahujnata

Sridhara Swami has commented on this verse as meaning  the first birth is usually from a high born brahmana family who has kept strictly all the ordinances as  following the ten main rituals  compulsory for the high born according to the norm. Secondly ,they have never married into any other caste and they  have always  maintained performing the important Garbhodana ritual before the birth of any child. Only such a brahman as described is termed as a strota brahmana (genuine ). However ,if these rules are not obeyed to the letter and if there are lapses  in following ,then one is not considered as the genuine brahmana. Other than that  category ,there is the clause from scriptures which states kayeka purushah brahmana which means that even if one is born from any caste but if he strictly follows all the required injunctions of the scriptures  prescribed for the brahmana class can then be  considered in the same status as a  brahmana. The example is given of the dynasty of Sini who was the son of the kshatriya ,Garga . Sini's descendants became known as brahmans. King Mrdgal gave rise to Modgalya brahmanas. Vashistha Rsi produced many brahmana sons from the womb of Urvashi and in this way there are many examples. A person may not have been born in an brahmana family but if his qualities and actions are like that of a brahmana  then certainly such respect should be given accordingly. If either of these two categories of brahmanas stray away from the prescribed path ,then they are immediately considered fallen. In the Mahabharatha Vana parva (215)it is written :

brahmanah patanisu vartman vikramesu  dambhika   duskrtah prajnah  sudrena  sadrsho bhavet 

As according to the revealed scriptures it is very difficult  by the  method of inductive reasoning  to draw a verdict as to who is a genuine brahmana. Nevertheless ,those who are in the shelter of the genuine  Vaishnava guru performing actions according to the Agama section of the Vedic Scriptures have  said to have achieved that qualification. In Kali Yuga, there is no other way of purification.

Asuddhah sudra kalpah  hi brahmanah Kali sambhavah

tesam agama margena  suddhir nah strota vartmanah

In short ,even the brahmins can only be purified by following the purified Agama Tantras and  by undergoing the recommended  pancharatrika initiation can one be able to called brahmana. Otherwise as by the purport of the scriptures, there is no other way of being acclaimed brahmana. Only in initiation by the Agama rituals will bear any fruit. It does not matter from which caste a man is born under but if he undergoes pancharatrika initiation  from a bona fide spiritual master, he can be safely called a Brahmana, the famous verse :

yatha kanchanartam yati kasyam rasa vidhanatah

tatha diksha vidhanatha dvijtavam jayate nrnam 

Hence one who has undergone the above pancharatrika initiation or upanayanam can be able to attain the status of a dwija or twice born. In this respect, the highest caste (paramahansa) who are above all the four stages of life are free to either wear the upanayan thread or be without  it as there is no question of  further purification for them at their level and certainly, there are no lack of brahmana qualities in them. They are actually the guru of all Brahmanas. To consider them in in the light of lower birth would mean being condemned to hellish births for such a serious offence. In the start of creation .there was only one caste  but later  as time went on ,it became divided according to qualities and work  of people . The son maintained the tradition and custom passed on by the father and in this way it was preserved, each according to their individual different modes of living. The strota janma or brahmana  because of their high birth became established in society but according to scriptures, that  partial truth can never be the sole guide in determining the  caste of a person. King Rshbha had 100 sons ,eldest was Bharatha ,and of whom other eighty one were brahmins ,nine became kshatriyas while the other nine were  elevated saints. Just as Saunika Rsi was not from the brahmana caste but mixed ,the  kshatriya, Duritaksahaya's sons like Kavi ,Puskaruni were all considered brahmanas. King Ajamira dyansty  notably ,his son , Priyamedha  succession were all considered brahmanas. Many other outstanding examples stand to this testimony. Sri Ramnucharya's guru ,Satkopa though being born in a Sudra caste was esteemed as a brahmana. Even till the present times ,Sri Rasikananda, Srila Ragunananda ,Sri Harihoda lines have been following  intact this method of pancharatrika initiation . All the great realized souls preserve  and nurture this bona fide method of initiation in this dark Age of Kali.