Hare Kṛṣṇa,
This lesson has been deeply comforting on many levels.
At times, devotees may experience a sense of dejection, feeling that they do not yet know their svarūpa-siddhi or sthāyi-bhāva. They may introspectively question themselves, wondering what might be lacking in their sādhana that this eternal identity and mood have not yet been revealed or awakened within their hearts.
The reassuring truth is that every living entity—whether Viṣṇu-tattva, śakti-tattva, or jīva-tattva—possesses an inherent personal nature. Each soul is endowed with an eternal spiritual identity and a constitutional relationship with the Supreme Lord. The enduring emotional disposition (bhāva) intrinsic to this relationship is known as sthāyi-bhāva.
An analogy may help illustrate this. Sthāyi-bhāva is like the base of a pizza—only when the base is present can the other ingredients be meaningfully added: sauce, cheese, herbs, toppings, and even the process of baking. Similarly, the various devotional mellows—vibhāva, anubhāva, sāttvika, and vyabhicārī—manifest upon the foundation of sthāyi-bhāva. These expressions of rasa become fully meaningful and perceivable only when the underlying sthāyi-bhāva is established.
“When the permanent ecstasy (sthāyī-bhāva) is combined with vibhāva, anubhāva, sāttvika-bhāva and vyabhicārī-bhāva, the result is called rasa, or transcendental taste.” (NOD Ch 33)
Sthāyī-bhāva is not found in material relationships; it is entirely transcendental in nature. Because it remains covered by material conditioning, we are unable to perceive or understand what our true sthāyī-bhāva is.
“For conditioned souls, the sthāyi-bhāva is covered much like the potency in a seed is covered — the potential plant is within the seed, but due to immaturity it is not manifest. When the seed is placed into a proper environment (soil, water sunlight), then the inner potencies germinate and the plant’s true nature gradually manifests as the plant grows.”
nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya
“Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.” (CC Madhya 22.107)
Regarding the restlessness devotees may feel about knowing their sthāyi-bhāva, they can take solace in the understanding that it will naturally be revealed as their bhakti matures. As Śrīla Prabhupāda has explained, this is not something that can be uncovered artificially.
“Everything, devotional relationship with Kṛṣṇa, you cannot establish artificially. Everyone has got a particular relationship with Kṛṣṇa in his original, constitutional position. That will be revealed gradually as you advance in devotional service in the prescribed rules and regulation, as they are directed in the śāstras and by spiritual master. When you are trained up properly, you come to the platform of rāga-mārga, then your relationship… That is called svarūpa-siddhi. Svarūpa-siddhi… Similarly, the rāga-mārga, svarūpa-siddhi, becomes revealed, or manifest. Śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya [Cc. Madhya 22.107]. Udaya. This very word, udaya, is used. Just like sun. Sun becomes visible when the sun rises automatically. You cannot force the sun to rise at dead of night. That is not possible. Sun will rise. You just wait. When the time will be right, morning, six o’clock, you’ll find the sun.” (Srila Prabhupada lecture on Nectar of Devotion Vṛndāvana October 20, 1972)
Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.4-5): “Love for Kṛṣṇa, Keśava, as previously described, reaches the supreme state of being composed of mellows when its ingredients are fulfilled. By means of vibhāva, anubhāva, sāttvika and vyabhicārī, hearing and chanting are activated, and the devotee is able to taste love for Kṛṣṇa. Then attachment for Kṛṣṇa, or permanent ecstasy (sthāyi-bhāva), becomes the mellow of devotional service (bhakti-rasa).”
Until these concepts become clear, one can take solace in the simple instruction that hearing and chanting will gradually open the doors to one’s sthāyī-bhāva. It is inherently present within the heart; it simply awaits awakening.
In essence, it brings us back to the fundamentals—hearing and chanting with sincerity, faith, and devotion.
After all, the situation is not one of hopelessness. There is every reason for hope that our sthāyī-bhāva, inherently present within us but presently dormant, will one day blossom and be beautifully revealed.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Krsna Katha 