Three Kinds of Devotees
Arcana-marga and Neophyte Devotees
sankha-cakra-dyurddha pundra-dharanadyatmalaksanam
tan-namaskaranais caiva vaisnavavatvamihocyate
In terms of the pancaratra-viddhi, one whose body is marked with the conch,
lotus, disc, and club of Visnu, who wears Visnu tilaka, and who offers respect to
other Vaisnavas is known by these symptoms as a kanistha-adhikari Vaisnava.
(Padma-Purana)
Arcana-marga and the Intermediate Devotees
tapah pundram tatha nama mantro yagasca pancamah
ami hi panca samskarah paramaikanti-hetavah
A madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava in terms of pancaratrika-viddhi, is one who
has been purified by the five kinds of purificatory processes (panca-samskaras):
1) practicing austerity for the sake of Visnu, 2) wearing Visnu tilaka,
3) receiving the holy name of Visnu, 4) accepting initiation into the gayatri-
mantra, and 5) performing yajna for the sake of Visnu. He must also have firm
faith in Visnu. (Padma Purana)
Arcana-marga and the Advanced Devotee
tadadi-panca-samskari navejyakarma-karakah
artha-pancakavid vipro mahabhagavatah smrtah
A spiritually developed person who has mastered the above-mentioned five
processes of purification (panca-samskaras), who is absorbed in the nine devotional
activities (deity worship, mantra, yoga, yajna, prayers, nama-sankirtana, service,
and worship of both the Vaisnavas and the Lord) and who understands the esoteric
meaning of these different activities in full, is to be known as a maha-bhagavata,
a great devotee of Visnu, and a topmost Vaisnava. (Padma Purana)
