A really great book is Brahmana and Vaisnava by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I don’t pretend that I understand any more than a few percent of what is in there, but I return to it time and time again because the construction of his argument is brilliant. It is a paragon of Vedic debate.
The encounter that the book arises from is the stuff of legends.
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s father, had been invited to an expository debate with the Smarta Brahmana community (the hereditary priestly class in India), as a representative of the Vaisnavas.
Bhaktivinode Thakura begged off the encounter and sent his son in his stead.
First the Smarta Brahmanas spoke (think Pharisees for all those from a Christian background). They quoted many scriptures that proved that they were the representatives of God and the most holy.
The next day, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta spoke. He began by glorifying the brahmanas, and quoted even more verses, and made an even more compelling argument than the Smarta Brahmanas themselves had been able to make. In other words, he conclusively demonstrated to all present that no only did he understand the position of the Smarta Brahmanas, he understood it better than they did!
After gaining credibility and acceptance from all present, he then proceeded to present his own argument, that while brahmanas, the official priestly families, are undoubtedly holy and worthy of respect, the pure devotees of the Lord, regardless of their social class and the family they appear in, are holy and worthy of respect. And that one who is born into the family of brahmanas, but does manifest a character that is holy and worthy of respect, should be respected for his heritage, but should be understood to be off the mark.
The book is amazing because of the substance of the argument, which is the same argument that has been made by all teachers of spiritual essence, from Jesus Christ through Lord Caitanya, through to Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, and also because of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s amazing depth of scholarship and prowess as a communicator.
It was declared a flawless victory, and this book was produced from the speech that he gave.
