People are so unfortunate that they do not accept the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Instead, they want to be supported by so-called mahajanas, authorities. Tate chaya darsana haite 'tattva' nahi jani: we cannot ascertain the real truth simply by following speculators. We have to follow the footsteps of the mahajanas in the disciplic succession. Then our attempt will be successful. Sri-krsna-caitanya-vani-amrtera dhara: "Whatever is spoken by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is an incessant flow of nectar." Whoever accepts His words as reality can understand the essence of the Absolute Truth. No one can ascertain the Absolute Truth by following the philosophy of Sankhya or Patanjali, for the followers of Sankhya or Patanjali do not accept Lord Visnu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead (na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum). The ambition of such people is never fulfilled; therefore they are attracted by the external energy. Although mental speculators may be renowned all over the world as great authorities, actually they are not. Such leaders are themselves conservative and not at all liberal. However, if we preach this philosophy, people will consider Vaisnavas very sectarian.  Srila Madhavendra Puri was a real mahajana, but misguided people cannot distinguish the real from the unreal. However, a person who is awakened to Krsna consciousness can understand the real religious path chalked out by the Lord and His pure devotees. Sri Madhavendra Puri was a real mahajana because he understood the Absolute Truth properly and throughout his life behaved like a pure devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved the method of Sri Madhavendra Puri. Therefore,although from the material viewpoint the Sanodiya brahmana was on a lower platform, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu considered him situated on the highest platform of spiritual realization.                           

Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.3.20) states that there are twelve mahajanas:

Brahma, Narada, Sambhu, Kumara, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka, Bhisma, Bali, Sukadeva and Yamaraja.