Who Is a Bhāgavata?
Bhāgavata (Sanskrit: भागवत — 'pertaining to Bhagavān, a devotee of Bhagavān') refers to a genuine devotee — specifically, in Śrī Vaiṣṇava usage, one who has received pañca-saṃskāra initiation and is an initiated prapanna. The term distinguishes the initiated devotee from the general population.
Bhāgavata-niṣṭhā
One of the distinctive Teṉkalai teachings (extensively treated in Srivachana Bhushanam) is Bhāgavata-niṣṭhā — reverence for and service to the Lord's devotees as a primary spiritual practice:
'Service to the Lord's devotees (Bhāgavata-kainkaryam) is even greater than direct service to the Lord, because the Lord is more pleased by service to His devotees than by service to Himself.'
This doctrine is grounded in Bhāgavata Purāṇa, the Āzhvārs' hymns, and śāstric statements about the Lord's identification with His devotees.
Bhāgavata-apacāra
The corollary: offending a Bhāgavata (Bhāgavata-apacāra) is the most grievous offense a prapanna can commit — worse than offending the Lord directly. The Lord can tolerate direct offenses to Himself but not offenses to His devotees. This drives the prapanna's extreme care in relating to other Vaiṣṇavas.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) is 'the text of Bhagavān' — the great Purāṇa narrating Kṛṣṇa's life and the stories of His great devotees (Bhāgavatas). It is read extensively in Śrī Vaiṣṇava practice.