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• krti-sadhya bhavet sadhya-• bhava 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.

Definition of Raga and Ragatmika

• 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• 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.

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.

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 siddha-rüpa, 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 Siddha body

Material body Identity as gopi, cowherd, etc.

Follow conduct Follow conductgiven by Rupa Goswami of Vraja residents64 angas

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 puñöi-märga.

• 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 GoswamiCombined Form

• One in whom this taste (ruci) has not arisen but who has come to appreciate raganuga-bhakti 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• 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

• sraddha• bhajan kriya sravana• anartha nivrtti• Nistha varana• Ruci smarana • asakti• Bhava apana• Prema 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.

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