Radhe Radhe! Recently a good friend of mine found a discrepancy in the tika of Srila Vishvanatha Cakravartipad to the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu, verse 1.2.295. Unfortunately, the translation I used until now is not really accurate and the meaning led us to a bit of "confusion". Here is the original Sanskrit: sādhaka-rūpeṇa yathāvasthita-dehena | siddha-rūpeṇa … Continue reading Following in the footsteps of the Vrajavasis

First of all, the title is quite misleading and almost “wrong-ish”. The jiva is an eternal energy of Krishna and within this energy, another energy can´t be inherent. “Tatastha does not change into svarupa-sakti. But even before getting the siddha-deha, the tatastha becomes imbued by svarupa-sakti. That is called getting sthayi-bhava. The siddha deha is … Continue reading The eternal svarupa (siddha deha) is not inherent in the jiva

Saranagati - usually translated as "self-surrender". One of the most important aspects of bhakti-yoga, but honestly, the word surrender usually invokes something "drastic", something in relation to "fear" or "awe and reference". What does it actually mean to surrender? It means to take shelter. It means to lovingly place one´s own self at the Lotus … Continue reading Saranagati – loving shelter in Radha Dasya

 VERSE 4: hṛdi cira-vasad āśā maṇḍalālamba pādau guṇavati tava nāthau nāthituṁ jantur eṣaḥ sapadi bhavad anujñāṁ yācate devi vṛnde mayi kira karuṇārdrāṁ dṛṣṭim atra prasīda O merciful, qualified Vṛnde! Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are your Lord and Mistress! I have carried the desire to see Them in my heart for so long and only by your … Continue reading Śrī Śrī Utkalika Vallari – verse 4

Beautiful Śyāma's crown, pearl necklace, flowergarland and loincloth have all broken and fallen off, so Svāminī says: "Sundara! Just look at Your condition! Wait, let Me decorate You! I've spoiled Your looks, and I'll make You look nice again! Just sit down for a while!" Then She tells Rūpa Mañjarī: "Rūpa! Come here! We're going … Continue reading Closeness in loving service – the life and soul of the manjaris

sādhaka-rūpeṇa yathāvasthita-dehena | siddha-rūpeṇa antaś-cintitābhīṣṭa-tat-sevopayogi-dehena | tasya vrajasthasya nijābhīṣṭasya śrī-kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhasya yo bhāvo rati-viśeṣas tat-lipsunā | vraja-lokās tv atra kṛṣṇa-preṣṭha-janās tad-anugatāś ca tad-anusārataḥ Sādhaka-rūpa refers to the physical body of the practitioner. Siddha-rūpa refers to the body which is suitable for one’s desired service, and which has been developed by internal meditation. One serves with a … Continue reading From caterpillar to butterfly

VERSE 3:      TAVĀRAṆYE DEVI DHRUVAM IHA MURĀRIR VIHARATE SADĀ PREYASYETI ŚRUTIR API VIRAUTI SMṚTIR API ITI JÑĀTVĀ VṚNDE CARAṆAM ABHIVANDE TAVA KṚPĀṀ KURUṢVA KṢIPRAṀ ME PHALATU TARṢA VIṬAPĪ O Vṛndā-devi! The śrutis (Upaniṣads) and smṛtis all proclaim that Kṛṣṇa Murāri always sports in your forest Śrī Vṛndāvana with His dearest Śrī Rādhikā! Knowing this, … Continue reading Śrī Śrī Utkalika Vallari – verse 3