Sri Bhajana-rahasya: Confidential Secrets
of Bhajana, Part Nine
BY: SUN STAFF
Aug 18, 2010 — CANADA (SUN) — By Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
8 / Ashtama-yama Sadhana
Pastimes at Night
Prema-bhajana-Sambhoga
(Devotional Love)
The nishtha, or firm faith of a devotee who has achieved perfection in pure devotion, with complete dependence on Krishna, is described in the Sikshashtaka (8) as follows:
aslishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam
adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah (1)
Let Krishna tightly embrace this maidservant, who has fallen at His lotus feet. Let Him trample me or break my heart by never being visible to me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but He is still no one other than the worshipable Lord of my heart.
I am a maidservant at the lotus feet of Krishna. He is the embodiment of transcendental happiness and mellows. If He likes He can tightly embrace me and make me feel oneness with Him, or by not giving me His audience, He may corrode my mind and body. Nevertheless, it is He who is the Lord of my life.
The state of one who remembers Krishna's pastimes is that, like Krishna, his body is also sac-cid-ananda. Therefore the Vaishnava's body is not different from Krishna's. Krishna explains this to Uddhava in the following words from Srimad Bhagavatam (11.29.34):
martyo yada tyakta-samasta-karma
niveditatma vicikirshito me
tadamritatvam pratipadyamano
mayatma-bhuyaya ca kalpate vai (2)
A person who gives up all fruitive activities and offers himself entirely unto Me, eagerly desiring to render service unto Me, achieves liberation from birth and death and is promoted to the status of sharing My own opulences.
Such a devotee enters into the Lord's pastimes and enjoys with Him.
The devotee's bhajana nishtha is described in the Manah-siksha in these words:
na dharmam nadharmam sruti-gana-niruktam kila kuru
vraje radha-krishna-pracura-paricaryam iha tanu
saci-sunum nandisvara-pati-sutatve guru-varam
mukunda-preshthatve smara paramajasram nanu manah (3)
O my dear mind, please do not perform the religious activities prescribed in the Vedas or the sinful activities prohibited in the scriptures. Just stay in Vraja-dhama, which is manifest on this material plane, and fully engage in the service of the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. Always remember Sri Gaurahari, the son of Mother Saci, is nondifferent from Sri Krishna, the son of Maharaja Nanda. And always remember that Sri Gurudeva is the dearmost associate of Mukunda. These feelings are your transcendental wealth.
The devotee's humility is described by Sanatana Gosvami in the next verse, quoted by Srila Rupa Gosvami in the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu. One who has achieved the stage of rati (bhava) and has firm hope that Krishna will be kind to him prays as follows:
na prema sravanadi-bhaktir api va yoga 'thava vaishnavo
jnanam va subha-karma va kiyad aho saj-jatir apy asti va
hinarthadhika-sadhake tvayi tathapy acchedya-mula sati
he gopi-jana-vallabha vyathayate ha ha mad-asaiva mam (4)
O my Lord, I do not have any love for You, nor am I qualified for discharging devotional service by chanting and hearing. Nor do I possess the mystic power of a Vaishnava, knowledge, or pious activities. Nor do I belong to a very high-caste family. On the whole, I do not possess anything. Still, O beloved of the gopis, because You bestow Your mercy on the most fallen, I have an unbreakable hope that is constantly in my heart. That hope is always giving me pain.
The devotee's introduction to his siddha-deha (spiritual form) is described in the Radha- rasa-suddha - nidhi (53):
dukulam vibhranamatha kucatate kancukapatam
prasadam svaminyah svakara-tala-dattam pranayatah
sthitam nityam parsve vividha-paricaryaika-caturam
kisorim atmanam catulaparakiyam nu kalaye (5)
I am a maidservant (manjari) of Radharani in my siddha-deha. With deep affection Srimati Radharani has bestowed on me Her mercy in the form of clothing which She has worn. Wearing this clothing, I will see myself as an adolescent young girl always remaining near Srimati Radharani, and ready to cleverly serve Her in different ways. In this way I will abandon my husband, and day and night serve the lotus feet of Radha in the groves of Vrindavana.
The method of bhajana and place of residence for one who has attained the above mentioned contemplation is stated in the Upadesamrita (8):
tan-nama-rupa-caritadi-sukirtananu-
smrityoh kramena rasana-manash niyojya
tishtan vraje tad-anuragi-jananugami
kalam nayed akhilam ity upadesa-saram (6)
The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one's full time-twenty-four hours a day-in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord's divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one's tongue and mind. In this way one should reside in Vraja (Goloka Vrindavana-dhama) and serve Krishna under the guidance of His beloved Vrajavash associates. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord's beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service.
The devotee's process of bhajana is described in the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu. Under the guidance of the spiritual master, a raganuga devotee should always perform his own cherished eternal service:
krishnam smaran janam casya preshtham nija-samihitam
tat-tat-katha-ratas casau kuryad vasam vraje sada (7)
A raganuga devotee should always reside in Vraja by constantly remembering Krishna with His dearmost associates according to his own rasa. If one is not able to physically live in Vraja, he should at least live there mentally. Those persons who are ignorant and always engaged in material sense gratification are never capable of residing in Vraja. However, the maha-bhagavats, who may not be residing in Vraja by external vision, are actually always living only in Vraja.
The devotee's external behavior-the symptoms and activities of one situated in prema-is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam (11.2.40):
evam-vratah sva-priya-nama-kirtya
jatanurago druta-citta uccaih
hasaty atho roditi rauti gayaty
unmada-van nrityati loka-bahyah (8)
By chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord, one comes to the stage of love of Godhead. Then the devotee is fixed in his vow as an eternal servant of the Lord, and he gradually becomes very much attached to a particular name and form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As his heart melts with ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly or cries or shouts. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman, for he is indifferent to public opinion.
The devotee's firm faith in Vraja-lila is found in this verse, recited by Caitanya Mahaprabhu from the Kavya-prakasa, and quoted in Padyavali:
yah kaumara-harah sa eva hi varas ta eva caitra-kshapas
te conmilita-malati-surabhayah praudhah kadambanilah
sa caivasmi tathapi tatra surata-vyapara-lila-vidhau
reva-rodhasi vetasi-taru-tale cetah samutkanthate (9)
That very personality who stole my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of malath flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Reva under the Vetash tree. That is my desire.
In the Padyavali, Srila Rupa Gosvami has elucidated the previous sloka in the following words:
priyah so 'yam krishnah sahacari kuru-kshetra-militas
tathaham sa radha tad idam ubhayoh sangama-sukham
tathapy antah-khelan-madhura-murali-pancama-jushe
mano me kalindi-pulina-vipinaya sprihayati (10)
My dear friend, now I have met My very old and dear friend Krishna on this field of Kurukshetra. I am the same Radharani, and now We are meeting together. It is very pleasant, but I would still like to go to the bank of the Yamuna beneath the trees of the forest. I wish to hear the vibration of His sweet flute playing the fifth note within that forest of Vrindavana.
There are no pastimes equal to the pastimes performed in Vrindavana. These pastimes are unknown in other abodes beginning with Vaikuntha. In Vraja these pastimes have two divisions known as vicheda (separation) and sambhoga (meeting). Always enjoy these two transcendental mellows, as they are supremely blissful.
The various pastimes performed during the meeting of Radha and Krishna are described in the Ujjvala-nilamani as follows:
te tu sandarsanam jalpah sparsanam vartma rodhanam
rasa-vrindavana-krida-yamunady-ambu-kelayah
nau-khela-lilaya-cauryam-ghatta-kunjadi-linata
madhu-panam vadhu-vesa-dhritih kapata suptata
dyuta-krida-patakrishtis-cambasleshau-nakharpanam
bimbadhara-sudhapanam-samprayogadayo matah (11)
When Radha and Krishna meet the following sports usually occur: 1) Sandarsana (looking at each other), 2) Jalpa (talks and making false arguments between each other), 3) Sparsa (touching each other), 4) Vartma-nirodhana (obstructing the path), 5) Rasa-lila, (rasa dance), 6) Vrindavana-krida (sporting in the forests of Vrindavana), 7) Yamuna-khelana (sporting in the water of the Yamuna), 8) Nauka-khela (sporting in a boat), 9) Lila-chaurya (stealing the flute, clothes, flowers, etc.), 10) Dana-ghata-lila (pastime of charging tax at the ghata), 11) Kunjadi-linata (hiding in groves), 12) Madhupana (drinking honey), 13) Vadhu-vesa-dharana (dressing like a newly wed girl), 14) Kapata-nidra (pretending to sleep), 15) Dyuta-krida (playing chess), 16) Vastrakarsana (snatching each other's cloth), 17) Cumba (kissing), 18) Aslesa (embracing), 19) Nakharpana (scratching), 20) Bimbadhara-sudhapana (relishing the nectar of each other's lips) 21) Samprayoga (conjugal meeting). These are the different types of pastimes when Rada and Krishna meet.
Decorating Radha-Krishna is described in the Stavavali, Seva-sankalpa-prakasa-stotra (9):
sphuran-mukta gunja mani sumanasam hara-racane
mudendor lekha me racayatu tatha sikshana-vidhim
yatha taih samkanthaptair dayita-sarash madhya-sadane
sphutam radha krishnavayam api jano bhushayati tau (12)
May Indulekha, who is my guru, instruct me in the art of making beautiful garlands of pearls, jewels, gunja and different flowers, so that I can charmingly decorate Sri Sri Radha and Krishna within the jeweled mandira in the middle of Radha-kunda.
In the mood of separation, the Gopi-gita should be read. The gopis declare therein, Srimad Bhagavatam (10.31.9), that one who distributes the nectar of krishna-katha is the most munificent person.
tava kathamritam tapta-jivanam
kavibhir iditam kalmashapaham
sravana-mangalam srimad atatam
bhuvi grinanti ye bhuri-da janah (13)
The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one's sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the messages of Godhead are most munificent.
One is introduced to the gopis' deep affection for Krishna by hearing of the great sorrow they experience while thinking of Krishna wandering throughout the forests of Vraja. They express their sorrow in the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.31.11):
calasi yad vrajac carayan pasun
nalina-sundaram natha te padam
sila-trinankuraih sidatiti nah
kalilatam manah kanta gacchati (14)
Dear master, dear lover, when You leave the cowherd village to herd the cows, our minds are disturbed with the thought that Your feet, more beautiful than a lotus, will be pricked by the spiked husks of grain and the rough grass and plants.
Without seeing Krishna's beautiful face, decorated with curly hair, a moment appears like a hundred yugas for the gopis. This is expressed by the gopi's in the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.31.15):
atati yad bhavan ahni kananam
truti yugayate tvam apasyatam
kutila-kuntalam sri-mukham ca te
jada udikshatam pakshma-krid drisam (15)
When You go off to the forest during the day, a tiny fraction of a second becomes like a millennium for us because we cannot see You. And even when we can eagerly look upon Your beautiful face, so lovely with its adornment of curly locks, our pleasure is hindered by our eyelids, which were fashioned by the foolish creator.
The topmost position of gopi-bhava is meant only for Krishna's pleasure. An example of the gopi's bhava is given in the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.31.19):
yat te sujata-caranamburuham staneshu
bhitah sanaih priya dadhimahi karkaseshu
tenatavim atasi tad vyathate na kim svit
kurpadibhir bhramati dhir bhavad-ayusham nah (16)
O dearly beloved! Your lotus feet are so soft that we place them gently on our hard breasts, fearing that Your feet will be hurt. Our life rests only in You. Our minds, therefore, are filled with anxiety that Your tender feet might be wounded by pebbles as You roam about on the forest path.
An emotional outburst in sambhoga is described in the Krishna-karnamrita (12):
nikhila-bhuvana-lakshmi-nitya-lilaspadabhyam
kamala-vipina-vithi-garvankushabhyam
pranamadabhaya-dana-praudhi-gadhadritabhyam
kim api vahatu cetah krishna padambujabhyam (17)
Let my heart attain indescribable pleasure from the lotus feet of Krishna, which are the abode of the most sweet ever-sportive pastimes of Srimati Radharani, who is the goddess of fortune of all transcendental planets. His lotus feet defeat the pride of clusters of lotus flowers and they are highly esteemed due to their providing safety for the Lord's devotees.
Again in the Krishna-karnamrita (18) it is said:
tarunaruna karunamaya vipulayata nayanam
kamalakuca-kalasibhara-vipuli-krita pulakam
muralirava-tarali-krita-muni-manasa nalinam
mama khelatu mada-cetasi madhuradharam amritam (18)
May the nectar of Krishna's sweet lips intoxicate my heart by sporting within. His wide youthful eyes, reddish like the rising sun, are full of compassion seeing the fatigued condition of His beloved Srimati Radharani. Out of happiness, His hair is standing on end from the touch of the pitcherlike breasts of Kamala (Radharani). The sound of His flute is melting the hearts of the sages, which thus become soft like the lotus flower, and the already lotus-soft hearts of the gopis-who have undertaken a vow of silence due to anger or shyness-are further softened.
The Ujjvala-nilamani describes in the following words the various services performed within the mind of one situated in his eternal form:
mithah prema-gunotkirttis tayor asakti-karita
abhisara-dvayor eva sakhyah krishne samarpanam
narmmasvasana-nepathyam hridayodghata-patavam
chidra-samvritir etasyah patyadeh parivancana
siksha-sangamanam kale sevanam vyajanadibhih
tayor dvayor upalambhah sandesa-preshanam tatha
nayika prama samraksha prayatnadyah sakhi-kriyah (19)
In the conjugal pastimes of Krishna, Krishna is the hero (nayaka), and Radhika is the heroine (nayika). The first service of the gopis is to chant the glories of both the hero and the heroine. Their second service is to gradually create a situation in which the hero may be attracted to the heroine and vice versa. Their third service is to induce both of Them to approach one another. Their fourth service is to offer Radharani to Krishna, the fifth is to create a jovial atmosphere, the sixth to give Them assurance of Their meeting, the seventh to dress and decorate both hero and heroine, the eighth to cleverly inspire Radha and Krishna to express Their minds, the ninth to conceal the faults of the heroine, the tenth to cheat their respective husbands and relatives, the eleventh to give instruction, the twelfth to enable both hero and heroine to meet at the proper time, the thirteenth to fan both hero and heroine, the fourteenth to sometimes reproach the hero and heroine, the fifteenth to send messages, and the sixteent to protect the heroine by various means.
In Stavavali, Vraja-vilasa-stava (38) it is said:
tambularpana-pada-mardana-payo-danabhisaradibhir
vrindaranya-mahesvarim priyataya yas toshayanti priyah
prama-preshtha-sakhi-kulad api kilasankocita bhumikah
keli-bhumishu rupa-manjari-mukhas ta dasikah samsraye (20)
By offering Them betel nuts, massaging Their feet, bringing Them water, arranging Their secret meetings, and by performing many other services, many maidservants affectionately please Radharani, the supreme controller of the Vrindavana forest. When the Divine Couple enjoy Their conjugal pastimes, these maidservants are not at all shy and they move freely without hesitation, even more than the prama-preshtha-sakhis (such as Lalita and Visakha). I take shelter of those maidservants, who have Rupa-manjarh as their leader.
Pride in one's service is found in these words of the Gosvamis:
navyam divyam kavyam svakritam atulam nataka-kulam
praheligudharthah sakhi-rucira vina-dhvani gatih
kada snehollasair lalita-lalita-prerana balat
salajjam gandharva sara-sama-sakric-chikshayati mam (21)
When will Srimati Radharani, at the request of Lalita, teach me in delighted affection and modesty the incomparable dramas She has composed, along with new poems with deep meanings and charming ragas for the vina.
Acceptance of Visakha-sakhi, whose voice defeats the singing of the cuckoo, as a guru for learning the art of music is given in the Stavavali, Prarthana:
kuhukanthi-kanthad api kamala-kanthi mayi punar
visakha ganasyapi ca rucira-siksham pranayatu
yathaham tenaitat yuva-yugalam ullasya saganal
labhe rase tasman mani-padaka haran iha muhuh (22)
I pray that Visakhadevi, whose voice is more enchanting than the cuckoos, may teach me the art of singing sweetly. By singing during the rasa dance songs learnt from her, I may please the youthful Divine Couple with Their associates. I will thus receive gifts such as Their jeweled lockets and necklaces.
The ecstasy of rasa-lila is described in the Gita-govinda. Sri Krishna along with the damsels of Vrindavana always enjoy the pastime of rasa dance.
visvesham anuranjanena janayannanandam-indivara-
srenh syamala-komalair upanayann angair anangotsavam
svacchandam vraja-sundaribhir abhitah pratyangam alingitah
sringarah sakhi murttiman iva madhau mugdho harih kridati (23)
My dear friends, just see how Sri Krishna is enjoying the season of spring! With the gopis embracing each of His limbs, He is like Cupid personified. He enlivens the gopis and the entire creation with His transcendental pastimes. With His soft bluish-black limbs, which resemble blue lotus flowers, He has created a spring festival for Cupid.
In the sweet land of Vrindavana, during the season of Vasanta, the bumble bees become mad and they come in a line to obtain nectar from the beautiful flowers. The most sweet king of transcendental rasa, Sri Krishna, enjoys the rasa dance with the sweetest nectarean sports along with the sweet gopis, who are expert at dancing. The sweet sounds of the karatalas and other instruments are heard as Krishna sweetly engages in dancing with the gopis. Vidyapati has come to know this sweet song which is full of mellows.
The happiness of seeing Krishna is described in the Jagannatha-vallabha-nataka. The gopis therein express their great appreciation for meeting Krishna after separation from Him.
yada yato daivan madhu-ripur asau locana-patham
tadasmakam ceto madana-hatakenahritam abhut
punar yasminn esha kshanam api drisor eti padavim
vidhasyamas tasminn akhila-ghatika ratna-khacitah (24)
If by chance the transcendental form of Krishna comes before my path of vision, my heart, injured from being beaten, will be stolen away by Cupid, happiness personified. Because I could not see the beautiful form of Krishna to my heart's content, when I again see His form I shall decorate the phases of time with many jewels.
An introduction to ratri-lila (night pastime) is given in Govinda-lilamrita:
tav utkau labdha-sangau bahu-paricaranair vrindayaradhyamanau
preshthalibhir lasantau vipina-viharanair gana-rasadilasyaih
nana-lila-nitantau pranaya-sahacarh vrinda-samsevyamanau
radha-krishnau nisayam sukusuma-sayane prapta-nidrau smarami (25)
I remember Radha and Krishna, who at night are anxious for each other's company. After They meet, Vrindadevh serves Them in various ways as They roam throughout the forest. Radha and Krishna appear very charming with Their sakhis as They sing and dance in Their rasa pastimes. Becoming fatigued from Their sportive activities, They are served by Their many loving friends (manjaris). As the night ends, They lie on a bed of flowers where They sleep. The sakhis drown in an ocean of ecstasy as they observe these pastimes.
O mind, remember and worship with a desire to enter into this pastime of Radha and Krishna's sleeping.
One gradually attains perfection by always remembering the treasure of these eight-fold daily pastimes while engaged in devotional service. That sadhaka who attains the stage of svarupa-siddhi while practicing gopi-bhava relishes these ashta-kala pastimes while residing in Vraja manifested in the material world. After achieving Krishna's mercy, when he leaves his material body, such a devotee attains the service of Radha and Krishna as Their associate within Vraja of the spiritual world.
In that state there is no perception of the gross or subtle material bodies. By chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in this state of eternal liberation, one easily achieves complete ecstatic love.
O brother, the holy name never loses potency either at the stage of practice or perfection. Therefore, chant the holy name and consider it your sole objective. Don't consider any other means of sadhana.
Thus ends the Ashtama-yama Sadhana of the Sri Bhajana-rahasya.
And thus end the Sri Bhajana-rahasya by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
