Sadhaka:
Dearest Gurudeva, you told a Godbrother of mine that you wanted to see me?
Gurudeva:
I just wanted to give you some further strength by providing you with some ecstatic verses from our beloved acaryas about raganuga-bhakti.
I know that there are still claims that raganuga-bhakti can only start at the very high stage of RUCI.
We already discussed this matter with the help of the writings of Radhakund Mahanta Srila Ananta das Babaji.
Now, I wanted to show something which clearly shows how the sadhaka progresses on the path of raganuga-bhakti.
I like the books of Srila Narayana Maharaja very much and I can show you how he translated and commented on the famous 7th verse on the 2nd diffusion of Raga-Vartma-Candrika:
Now let us hear Maharaja´s commentary:
You see? He is saying exactly the same as Srila Ananta das Babaji in his own commentary.
Now it will be described how the raganugiya bhakta gradually advances through the stages of anartha nivritti (cessation of bad habits), nishtha (fixation), ruci (taste), and asakti (attachment to the beloved deity) upto the stage of prema (love of God) and the direct attainment of his beloved deity.
Kripa-kanika Vyakhya by Srila Ananta das Babaji:
Now it is described how the raganuga-sadhaka attains the personal service of his beloved deity in His lila-kingdom, after attaining the perfection of prema. Two kinds of sadhana have been desribed of the raganugiya devotees – the external practice of hearing and chanting in the sadhaka-body and the desired mental service in the self-conceived siddha body. When the sadhaka’s obstacles, such as anarthas (different kinds of mischief) are removed by the continued practice of bhajana, he gradually becomes fixed up, gets (lasting) taste for bhajana and becomes genuinely attached to the Lord. Then, when rati and prema are attained the practice in the sadhaka deha is completed. In other words, when all the stages of the stream of sadhana – faith, surrender, taking shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Guru, serving Sri Guru and Vaishnava, hearing, chanting, remembering, meditating, becoming free from mischief, becoming fixed up, acquiring taste, becoming attached to the Lord and rati – have been fulfilled – then one reaches the culmination named prema.
Of course the raganuga-sadhaka goes through all the stages of bhakti which Srila Rupa Goswami explained in his Bhakti Rasamrita sindhu.
Can you tell me where the topic of raganuga-bhakti is found in his Bhakti Rasamrita sindhu?
Sadhaka:
It is found in the Eastern Section, called TYPES OF BHAKTI. It is listed under the SECOND WAVE “SADHANA BHAKTI”.
Gurudeva:
You see? SADHANA-BHAKTI. The way is the same for both sadhakas, either in vaidhi-bhakti or in raganuga-bhakti. The motivation to walk on each path is DIFFERENT.
This we also discussed already.
I want to show you two pictures of Sri Krishna. One as Vaikuntha-natha, Sri Narayana, and one as Vrajendra-nandana.
(picture from Vrindavana das)
Which one do you prefer? Which one would you like to know and love?
Sadhaka:
Easy. I really would love to be with Sri Krishna in Vrindavana.
Gurudeva:
Now I will tell you two poems. Listen carefully.
First:
“Oh Almighty Lord, Creator of the billions of universes! We praise Your Divine Power!
You create, maintain and annihilate Your creation.
By Your power everything is moving. Everything rests upon You like pearls resting on a thread.
Nobody can understand Your Divine energies.
In awe and reference we sing your glories. There is nobody who is more mighty than you.
Wherever we look, we see the expression of Your glorious power.
We should all bow down and worship Your almighty greatness.
By not worshiping You, we all will be living in vain.”
Second:
“Oh our Beloved!
During the day when you have gone to the forest, every moment without seeing you passes like a yuga (millennium).
Then, upon Your return from the forest at dusk, although we eagerly gaze upon Your exquisitely beautiful lotus face adorned with curly locks,
we become greatly perturbed by the occasional blinking of our eyes.
At that time, it seems that creator of eyelids is really cruel to us.”
Which do you like better? Which mood speaks more to you?
Sadhaka:
The second poem I love very much. These are the words of the gopis in Vrindavana, right?
Gurudeva:
Yes.
You see, you are perfectly eligible and qualified to practice raganuga-bhakti under the guidance of Sri Gurudeva.
See what Srila Rupa Goswami says about the qualification for raganuga-bhakti and you know why I showed you two pictures AND two poems, one for SEEING and the other for HEARING.
sri-murter madhurim preksya tat-tal-lila nisamya va \
tad-bhavakanksino ye syus tesu sadhanatanayoh \
purane sruyate padme pumsam api bhaved iyam
||BRS 1.2.300||
“Those who develop longing for the feelings of the gopis after seeing the
sweetness in the Deity (or image) of Krsna and the gopis, or after hearing about His
pastimes with the gopis, are qualified for sadhana in either of these types of
kamanuga-bhakti.
In the Padma Purana, it is said that even men can attain this type of bhakti.”
Clear?
Sadhaka:
Yes…thank you so much…I am truly honoured and very happy about this knowledge.
So, raganuga-bhakti starts clearly BEFORE the stage of RUCI…wonderful, even if we still have anarthas?
Gurudeva:
Yes. Raganuga-bhakti is much more powerful than vaidhi-bhakti, and in perfect anugatya of Sri Gurudeva, the sadhaka can make rapid advancement.
It may be that some have more taste for raganuga-bhakti and some may have a little less taste.
Srila Jiva Goswami writes in his Bhakti Sandarbha that there are two types of raganuga-sadhakas:
(1) Jata-ruci: Those who have attained the stage of relishing this form of bhajan 24 hours through permanent chanting, hearing, remembering, etc…
(2) Ajata-ruci: Those who have not yet attained such a stage of affection and taste.
See, here “ruci” means taste and NOT the high stage RUCI.
Most sadhakas are in the second category.
Srila Jiva Goswami writes:
“Those bhaktas who have developed some slight interest in the path of raganuga-bhakti-sadhana, but who do not possess such a deep hankering as the jata-ruci-raganugiyas, should combine the principles of vaidhi-bhakti with their performance of raganuga-sadhana.”
Of course he speaks about those principles who are favourable for the path of raganuga-bhakti.
Srila Rupa Goswami clearly writes:
krsna-tad-bhakta-karunya-matra-labhaika-hetuka \
pusti-margataya kaiscid iyam raganugocyate
|| BRS 1.2.309 ||
“The mercy of Krsna and His devotees is the only cause of attaining
raganuga-bhakti . Some call this type of devotion pusti-marga.”
So if we receive the mercy of Krishna or his devotees, THAT is the cause and qualification for raganuga-bhakti.
I think it is very clear now that raganuga-bhakti starts like vaidhi-bhakti too, meaning with sraddha, sadhu-sanga, bhajana-kriya, etc… according to Srila Vishvanatha Cakravartipad.
We don´t need to be on the level of RUCI to start with raganuga-bhakti.
Sadhaka:
Yes. I cannot thank you enough. My heartfelt dandavats to you.
Amrita-Tarangini 