TEXT 3: vaidhi bhaktir bhavet sastram bhaktau cet syat pravartakam raganuga syac ced bhaktau lobha eva pravartakah "When devotion is prompted by scriptural injunctions, then that is called vaidhi-bhakti, but when it is prompted simply by spiritual greed, then it is called raganuga-bhakti." Kripa-kanika Vyakhya: We have explained that there are two kinds of sadhana … Continue reading Raganuga-bhakti and vaidhi-bhakti (excerpt from “Raga-Vartma-Chandrika” by Sripad Vishvanatha Cakravartipad)
Essays
The similarity of practice (sadhana) and perfection (siddha) – excerpt from Sri Sri Prema Bhakti Chandrika
yugala carana sevi, nirantara ei bhavi, anuragi thakibo sadaya. sadhana bhavibo yaha, siddha-dehe pabo taha raga pathera ei se upaya (55) "I will always think of the devotional service of the lotus-feet of the Divine Pair, and I will always remain attached to that. Whatever I think of during my spiritual practice, I will attain … Continue reading The similarity of practice (sadhana) and perfection (siddha) – excerpt from Sri Sri Prema Bhakti Chandrika
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New booklet – “Reflections on bhakti-tattva”
We are all thirsty to feel happiness. To make experiences which go beyond this daily bodily “affairs”. We want feel happy constantly, all the time, not just for some short moments of time which we hanker after when they passed. We want to live in the present, but we are more concerned with the past … Continue reading New booklet – “Reflections on bhakti-tattva”
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Raganuga-tattva-vijnana (Srila Ananta das Babaji)
What is raganuga-bhakti? We have learnt about sadhana-bhakti in the chapter ‘A Scientific Study of Bhakti’. Sadhan- bhakti is of two types - - Vaidhi - Raganuga Vaidhi-bhakti is when we perform bhakti because of scriptural injunctions, while raganuga-bhakti has only one qualification – greed. When we are greedy for Sri Krishna-prema and this is the sole reason why we practice bhakti, then we call it … Continue reading Raganuga-tattva-vijnana (Srila Ananta das Babaji)
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Radhika´s lotus feet
Sri Sri Vraja-Vilasa-Stava VERSE 106: ragena rupa-manjary-araktikrita-muradvishah gunaradhita-radhayah pada-yugme ratir mama May my loving attachment live in the lotus feet of Sri Radha, Who is worshipped by all the divine attributes such as cleverness and to Whom Rupa Manjari has passionately made Krishna very attached. Stavamrita Kana Vyakhya : After praising the holy dhama and … Continue reading Radhika´s lotus feet
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Understanding raganuga-bhakti
A general examination of bhakti The word “raganuga” literally means “to follow loving attachment”, love directed towards God. To gain a deeper understanding of the concept, let us first examine the concept of bhakti, loving devotion for God, in general. Bhakti is divided into three main categories in accordance with its development. sa bhaktih sadhanam … Continue reading Understanding raganuga-bhakti
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Snippets of nectar – 5
Sri Sri Vraja-Vilasa-Stava (by Sripad Raghunath das Goswami) pura premodrekaih pratipada-navananda-madhuraih krita-sri-gandharvacyuta-carana-varyarcana-balat nikamam svaminyah priyatara-saras-tira-bhuvane vasanti sphita ye ta iha mama jivatava ime Because of having worshiped the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Gandharva and Acyuta with the ever-fresh sweetness of ecstatic spiritual love in their previous lives, some great souls are able to live … Continue reading Snippets of nectar – 5
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Snippets of nectar – 4
Srila Thakura Mahasaya (Narottama Dasa Thakura) sings: radhika carana renu, bhushana koriya tanu, anayase pabe giridhari radhika caranasraya, ye kore se mahasaya, tare mui yau bolihari "If you decorate your body with Radhika's footdust, you will easily attain Giridhari. I praise the great soul who takes shelter of Radhika's lotus feet!" The only means to … Continue reading Snippets of nectar – 4
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Snippets of nectar – 3
Sri Sri Vraja-vilasa-stava by Sripad Raghunatha das Goswami Verse 87 muda gopendrasyatmaja-bhuja-parishvanga-nidhaye sphurad-gopi-vrindair yam iha bhagavantam pranayibhih bhajadbhis tair bhaktya svam abhilashitam praptam acirad yami-tire gopisvaram anudinam tam kila bhaje I daily worship Gopisvara Sadasiva, who was devotedly worshipped on the bank of the Yamuna by the loving gopis who desired the jewel-like embrace of … Continue reading Snippets of nectar – 3
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The role of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu AND Sri Advaita Acarya
Some devotees claim that Sriman Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Advaita Acarya can only "bestow general bhakti" (what is that actually?) and that they have "no role in Vraja-lila". We simply cannot agree. First of all, Srila Narottama das Thakur sings: heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi "Unless one takes shelter under the shade of … Continue reading The role of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu AND Sri Advaita Acarya
Amrita-Tarangini 