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.

Krsna anusilanam Krti sadhya Ragatmika anusrta

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.

Hearing pastimes SweetnessGreed 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 ones own, absorbing oneself in hearing topics related to them, one should always live in Vraja.

HearingDhamaRemembering

Jéva Gosvämés 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 ones physical body and in ones siddha body, with a desire for a particular bhäva.

Visvanathas Commentary Accordingly, one should perform mental service in ones siddha-rüpa, following after the examples of Çré Rädhä, Lalitä, Viçäkhä, Çré Rüpa-maïjaré and others. In ones physical body, one should perform services using ones 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 given by Rupa Goswami of Vraja residents 64 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

Siddha Deha Siddha deha is mentioned in the Gosvamis works as part of Raganuga Sadhana Siddha Pranali as a specific process for developing the siddha deha is not mentioned there. This was started by Dhyana Candra Goswami. In this process the guru assigns a particular manjari siddha deha.

Siddha Pranali --sadhana Ekadasa Bhava: Eleven elements of the identity Mentioned in Hari Nama Cintamani, Jaiva Dharma, Details given in Gaura Govinda Smarana Paddhati by Dhyanacandra At the time of Varana the guru gives the disciple his identity as a manjari with specific details

Ekadasa Bhava relationship, manjari service to Radha etc. ones age, name, complexion membership in a particular group (yutha), dress, ones order, service, highest aspiration palya dasi takes shelter of a sakhi residence

Siddha Pranali Method Guru Sadhana Bhava

Rupa Goswami Method Sadhana Bhava

Alternatives for Siddha Deha Siddha deha is part of raganuga may be attained through – Diksa Guru – through another devotee (siksa guru) – Spontaneous appearance in some with knowledge through Paramatma. – Ragavartma candrika

Siddha Deha Siddha PranaliSpontaneous form given by guruform revealed through name Dhyanacandra Bhaktisiddhanta Radha Kunda BabajisGaura Kishore Prabhupada

Spiritual Bodies without Practice Siddha deha manifests for all persons practicing vaidhi sadhana or raganuga sadhana in bhava and prema even without siddha deha meditation or siddha pranali. Dhruva and Narada attained spiritual bodies without this practice. Other sampradayas also have no such system.

General Method in Vaidhi Bhakti Sadhana Bhava

Caitanyas 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 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

Asta-Kaliya Lila Radha and Krsna pastimes during 24 hours of the day: This is part of smarana along with chanting japa

Asta Kaliya Lila Smarana Found in Krsna ahnika Kaumudi by Kavikarna Pura Govinda Lilamrta by Krsna das Kaviraja Krsna Bhavanamrta by Visvanatha Cakravarti Bhavana sara Sangraha by Krsna dasa Tatapada Caitanya Siksamrta and Bhajana Rahasya by Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Dawn 3:36- 6:00 Radha and Krsna wake up together in a bower and return home Morning 6:00 -8:36 Krsna gets out of bed, bathes, dresses Radha also Wrestling and Eating Forenoon 8:36-10:48 Going to the forest with the cows

Noon 10:48-3:36 Krsna plays in the forest with the cowherd boys Krsna meets the gopis Water sports, gambling Afternoon 3:36-6:00 Krsna returns home Twilight 6:00-8:36 Krsna eats and milks the cows

Evening 8:36-10:48 Krsna goes to bed Midnight 10:48-3:36 Krsna meets the gopis Drinking liquor Sleep

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

If one does not practice smarana dasa to prepare for apana dasa, one cannot gain perfection. There is no room for show here. If one puts on a show externally but does not take care to practice properly, then he does not qualified for apana dasa. Many births of practice may not give perfection. This type of worship is an easy path, but if one brings in material identity, it is not a practice for entering Vraja. With a sincere heart, understanding the pure and the material conceptions of this path from the guru, one should practice.

There are two types of smarana: vaidha and raganuga. By either of these one can reach apana dasa. By following the rules and rituals of scripture the path of vaidha arises. This is more common. Raganuga arises from a greed for participating in the activities of Vraja. Raganuga smrti is beyond the injunctions of scripture. This path is more rare. The devotee practices remembrance while being strongly attracted to the sweetness of the Lord and his pastimes. Very quickly he will attain apana dasa.

The devotee following vaidhi bhakti always considers suitable action in the light of scriptural injunctions. However, when that devotee reaches the position of bhava and attains apana dasa, he gives up the scriptural directives as an obstacle. The stage of bhava, which is reached by passing progressively through faith (sraddha), steadiness (nistha), taste (ruci), and attachment (asakti), appears during apana dasa. At the stage of apana dasa the differences between devotees following raganuga and vaidhi dissolve.

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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