Two Prayers, Two Moods

Consider these two prayers directed to Śrī Kṛṣṇa:

1. Awe and Reverence (Aiśvarya-bhāva):
   “O Almighty Lord, Creator of billions of universes! We praise Your Divine Power. You create, maintain, and annihilate all. Everything rests upon You like pearls on a thread. None can comprehend Your energies. In awe, we sing Your glories. There is none mightier than You. Wherever we look, we see expressions of Your greatness. We bow down and worship Your almighty form. Without worshiping You, life is in vain.”
2. Sweetness and Love (Mādhurya-bhāva):
   “O Beloved! During the day, when You are in the forest, each moment without seeing You feels like a millennium. Upon Your return at dusk, as we gaze upon Your beautiful lotus face adorned with curly locks, we are perturbed by the mere blinking of our eyes. At that time, it seems the creator of eyelids is truly cruel to us.”

Both prayers glorify the same Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, yet they emanate from different moods (bhāvas). The first arises from a sense of awe and reverence, acknowledging Kṛṣṇa’s omnipotence. The second emerges from intimate love, expressing the Gopīs’ deep yearning and affection for Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.

Vaidhi Bhakti vs. Rāgānugā Bhakti

These two moods correspond to two distinct paths of devotional practice:

• Vaidhi Bhakti: Motivated by scriptural injunctions and a sense of duty, this path emphasizes reverence and adherence to prescribed rules. Devotees are driven by the desire to avoid transgressions and attain liberation.
• Rāgānugā Bhakti: Inspired by the spontaneous love and deep longing (lobha) for Kṛṣṇa of the eternal associates of His, this path follows in the footsteps of the residents of Vṛndāvana. Devotees are drawn by the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes and seek to emulate the loving service of His eternal associates.

As Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.5):

“Practice (sādhana) is of two kinds: vaidhi and rāgānugā.”

And in Rāga-vartma-candrikā (2):

“When bhakti is prompted by scriptural injunctions, it is called vaidhi-bhakti. When it is driven solely by spiritual greed, it is called rāgānugā-bhakti.”

The Unique Access to Vṛndāvana

To truly enter into the intimate pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, one must cultivate the mood of rāgānugā bhakti. This path is not a progression from vaidhi bhakti but a distinct approach characterized by deep, spontaneous love. It is through this mood that devotees can experience the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa’s flute, the beauty of His form, and the ecstasy of His divine lilās.

As Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī emphasizes, both paths involve similar practices, but the internal motivation and mood differ significantly. While vaidhi bhakti focuses on the majesty of God, rāgānugā bhakti centers on the intimate, loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa as experienced by His dearest devotees in Vṛndāvana.

Conclusion

If your heart is drawn to the majesty and power of the Lord, the path of vaidhi bhakti may resonate with you. However, if you are captivated by the intimate, loving exchanges between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, and feel a deep longing to serve Them in Vṛndāvana, then rāgānugā bhakti is your path. This sweet devotion, inspired by the love of the Gopīs (in our case the manjaris) and other eternal associates, grants access to the highest realms of spiritual ecstasy.

Let us aspire to follow in the footsteps of these exalted devotees, cultivating the mood of rāgānugā bhakti, and thus attain the supreme goal: eternal service to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in the groves of Vṛndāvana.