Definition of Pure Bhakti
anyabhilasita sunya jnana karma anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama
The highest bhakti is defined as continuous service or emotions directed
towards Kåñëa, His expansion
forms or others related to Him, with a pleasing
attitude towards Kåñëa. It should be devoid of desires other than the desire
to please the Lord, and
unobstructed by impersonal jïäna, the materialistic
rituals of karma or other unfavorable acts.
Types of Uttama Bhakti
• 1. Sadhana bhakti
–Vaidhi
–Raganuga
• 2. Bhava bhakti
• 3. Prema bhakti
Sadhana Bhakti Definition
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krti-sadhya bhavet sadhyabhava sa sadhanabhidha
nitya-siddhasya bhavasya
prakatyam hrdi sadhyata
Action of the senses, which produces the stage of bhäva, is called
sädhana-bhakti. This attained state of bhäva-bhakti is an eternal
sthäyi-bhäva which is not created, but simply manifests within
the soul by the spiritual energy of the Lord.
Raganuga bhakti Definition
• virajanti abhivyaktam vrajavasi-janadisu ragatmikam anusrta ya
sa raganugocyate
• Rägänuga-bhakti is defined as that bhakti which follows after the
rägämika-bhakti found distinctively in the inhabitants of Vraja.
Krsna
anusilanam
Krti
sadhya
Ragatmika
anusrta
Definition of Raga and Ragatmika
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iste svarasiki ragah
paramavistatata bhavet
tan-mayi ya bhaved bhaktih
satra ragatmikodita
• Räga is defined as spontaneous, deep thirst for the object of love.
Bhakti that is impelled exclusively by such a thirst is called
rägätmika-bhakti.
• This ragatmika bhakti is found in the people of
Vraja: Gopis, Nanda and Yasoda, cowherd
boys, and servants.
• Following after the mood and actions of those
ragatmika devotees is called raganuga.
Qualification for Raganuga
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rägätmikäika-niñöhä ye
vraja-väsi-janädayaù |
teñäà bhäväptaye lubdho
bhaved aträdhikäravän
• That person who is greedy for attaining a bhäva similar to that
of the inhabitants of Vraja is qualified for rägänuga-bhakti.
Qualification for Raganuga
• tat-tad-bhävädi-mädhurye çrute dhér yad apekñate |nätra çästraà
na yuktià ca tal-lobhotpatti-lakñaëaà ||
• The appearance of that greed is indicated when the intelligence
does not depend on rules of scripture and logic, after realizing to
some degree the sweetness of their love through the process of
hearing from the scriptures.
Hearing
pastimes
Sweetness
Greed
Decrease in
scriptural
regulation
Spontaneity in Vaidhi Bhakti
• vaidha-bhakty-adhikäré tu bhävävirbhavanävadhi |
atra çästraà tathä tarkam
• anukülam apekñate ||
• Those qualified for vaidhi-bhakti are dependent on the rules of
scripture and favorable use of logic until the appearance of
bhäva-bhakti.
Scripture and Raganuga
As soon as the greed manifests in him (for attaining a bhava similar to that
of the Vraja-väsis), and he develops an inclination for raga-bhakti, the
practitioner of rägänuga-bhakti does not depend any longer on scriptural
rules and logic.
However, wherever that greed has appeared, it is understood that the person
must have studied the scriptures in order to attain that greed. It is also
necessary to study the scriptures in order to understand the proper sädhana
for rägänuga-bhakti.
Angas (activities)
• kåñëaà smaran janaà cäsya
• preñöhaà nija-saméhitam |
tat-tat-kathä-rataç cäsau
• kuryäd väsaà vraje sadä ||
• Remembering the Våndävana form of Kåñëa and His dear associates
who have inclinations for service similar to one’s own, absorbing
oneself in hearing topics related to them, one should always live in
Vraja.
Hearing
Remembering
Dhama
Jéva Gosvämé’s Commentary
• If possible, one should live physically in the places where Kåñëa
lived, such as Våndävana. If one cannot do that, then the person
should live there mentally.
• sevä sädhaka-rüpeëa
• siddha-rüpeëa cätra hi |
tad-bhäva-lipsunä käryä
• vraja-lokänusärataù ||
• Following after the inhabitants of Vraja, one should perform
service in one’s physical body and in one’s siddha body, with a
desire for a particular bhäva.
Visvanatha’s Commentary
• Accordingly, one should perform mental service in one’s siddharüpa, following after the examples of Çré Rädhä, Lalitä, Viçäkhä,
Çré Rüpa-maïjaré and others.
• In one’s physical body, one should perform services using one’s
body, following after persons such as Çré Rüpa and Sanätana
Gosvämés situated in Vraja.
Physical body
Material body
Follow conduct
given by Rupa Goswami
64 angas
Siddha body
Identity as gopi,
cowherd, etc.
Follow conduct
of Vraja residents
Sadhana
Bhava
• çravaëotkértanädéni
• Vaidha-bhakty-uditäni tu|
yäny aìgäni ca täny atra
• vijïeyäni manéñibhiù ||
• The discriminating practitioners should accept the aìgas which were
mentioned in vaidhi-bhakti such as hearing and chanting as the aìgas
of rägänuga-bhakti.
Types of Raganuga
• Madhurya bhava
– Sambhogecchä-mayé-bhakti is characterized by enjoying conjugally
with Kåñëa.
– Tad-bhävecchätmika-bhakti is characterized by desiring the sweet
mood of love of the käma-rüpa-siddha devotees.
• riraàsäà suñöhu kurvan yo
• vidhi-märgeëa sevate |
kevalenaiva sa tadä
• mahiñétvam iyät pure ||
• A person who serves on the path of vaidhi-bhakti with a desire for a
conjugal relationship with the Lord and a high position, but without
desire for the gopis’ type of love, after some time becomes a queen in
Dvärakä.
Other types of Raganuga
• lubdhair vätsalya-sakhyädau
• bhaktiù käryätra sädhakaiù |
vrajendra-subalädénäà
• bhäva-ceñöita-mudrayä ||
• Practicing devotees greedy for parental, friendly or servant
relationships perform this bhakti with indications of the behavior and
mood of Nanda (parent), Subala (friend), and others.
Cause of Raganuga
• kåñëa-tad-bhakta-käruëya• mätra-läbhaika-hetukä |
puñöi-märgatayä kaiçcid
• iyaà rägänugocyate ||
• The mercy of Kåñëa and His devotees is the only cause of
attaining rägänuga-bhakti. Some call this type of devotion puñöimärga.
• Vaidhi Sadhana
Raganuga Sadhana
• Vaidhi Uttha Bhava
Raganuga Uttha Bhava
• Vaidhi Uttha Prema
Raganuga Uttha Prema
Caitanya’s Method
• My instruction is that you according to a fixed
vow. You will realize all perfections through
this chanting of the Holy Names. There is no
other rule but this.
Gaura Kisora das Babaji
Your svarupa will be revealed in the
syllables of the Hare Krishna
Mahamantra.
Jiva Goswami
Combined Form
• One in whom this taste (ruci) has not arisen
but who has come to appreciate raganugabhakti on account of appreciation for a
particular saint or scripture (sat) may still
practice raganuga-bhakti but with a mixture of
vaidhi-bhakti
Bhakti-sandarbha 311
Stages of Raganuga and after
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Sravana hearing about pastimes of Vraja
Varana getting siddha deha from guru
Smarana practicing siddha deha (ruci, asakti)
Dharana
Dhyäna
Anusmrti
Samadhi
Apana-- bhava stage: realization of service in spiritual body
Sampatti leaving the body prema
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sraddha
bhajan kriya
anartha nivrtti
Nistha
Ruci
asakti
Bhava
Prema
sravana
varana
smarana
apana
sampatti
Raganuga Difficulties
• Less emphasis on rules produces laxity in
service and vows.
• Identifying conjugal pastimes materially gives
rise to material desires.
• Therefore it is more useful for completely
renounced persons rather than householders.
• It requires intense concentration on chanting
for many hours (Bhaktivinode recommend 64
rounds ) while meditating on asta kaliya lila
• Difficult to preach to public which knows only
material life.
U