Paramaharhsa

1.Who is a paramaharhsa?

The self-realized devotee is a real paramaharhsa. (Caitanya-siksamrta 6/4)

2.Who were the real paramaharhsas in the pastimes of Sri Gaura and in ancient times?

Pure exalted devotees such as Srivasa Pandita, Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi, and Sri Ramananda Raya were real paramaharhsas. In ancient times, many personalities, like Ribhu, were real paramaharhsas, even though they were householders.(Caitanya-siksdmrta 6/4)

3.What is the definition of a paramaharhsa'! Which literature do paramaharhsas study?

Those who have divine eyes consider a paramaharhsa to be an equipoised yogi, and those who are less intelligent or third-class consider a paramaharhsa to be attached to material enjoyment. Some people may occasionally even consider a paramaharhsa to be opposed to the Lord. A swanlike person can identify another swanlike brother who possesses all the appropriate symptoms, whether they are from the same country or not. Although their dress, language, worship, deity, and behavior may appear different, they freely address each other as brother. These type of people are called paramahamsas, and Srimad-Bhdgavatam is the scripture for these paramahamsas.(Sri Krsna-samhitd introduction)

4.Are the paramahamsas bound by the rules and regulations of the scriptures?

Whatever rules and regulations people of a lower level follow, the great personalities of the higher level follow, simply as their independent pastimes. (Sajjana-tosani 10/10)

5.Whose association do the paramahamsas reject?

There is so much difference between the fruitive workers and the devotees who engage in pious religious activities; what to speak of karmls who are devoid of devotional service to Krsna. Taking shelter of pure devotional service, the devotees who engage in pious religious activities spend their lives in serving the Vaisnavas and chanting the Lord's holy names. Within their hearts, they are indifferent to fruitive activities and they follow the principles of varnasrama-dharma, because they know that it is favorable to devotional service. Although temporary and causal activities are often obstacles on the path of devotional service, devotees engage in them only as much as they need to maintain their livelihood without committing any sin; therefore they are always indifferent to such activities.

Fruitive workers think that action is the cause of their deliverance and they have no interest in activities in relationship with Krsna. They remain neutral both in happiness and distress in relation with Krsna and teach the people of the world about mundane fruitive activities. Even though they follow the Vedas, they blaspheme the impartial mature yogis and misguide people by claiming their own conclusion is the Vaisnava conclusion. Foolish people are bewildered by such propaganda, and thus, they are ruined because of narrow-mindedness, and they make arguments with the impartial mature yogis. The followers of the Vedas do not understand the hearts of the perfect yogis, but they accept the mundane fruitive workers as great personalities and deal with them accordingly. The swanlike pure devotees know that the mundane followers of the Vedas are nondevotees and do not associate with them.

(Bhajandmrtam commentary)

6. Who is the most glorious person in the world?

The swanlike devotees who are expert in discriminating between matter and spirit are glorious persons in the world. Only the devotees are learned, because they have surpassed the ocean of illusion in the material world. Only the devotees are full of good qualities, because they have attained the platform of pure goodness, surpassing the three modes of material nature: goodness, passion, and ignorance. Only the devotees are happy, because they have attained the transcendental happiness of Vraja, surpassing the happiness and distress of the material world. Only the devotees are fearless, because they have become the inhabitants of Goloka, surpassing material time, which consists of past and future. May the devotees live forever and benefit unfortunate persons, who are tortured by mdyd, which gives them her audience, associates with them, and converses with them.

(Bhajandmrtam commentary)