Author Archives: pritd

Hare Kṛṣṇa, My first thought while approaching this forum post was: what is the connection between the previous post and this one on Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā? Upon reflection, I believe the connection lies here. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s Commentary on BRS 303 states that, “Those who have a desire to taste the sweetness of Rādhā and KṛṣṇaContinue reading “Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā 5.1-5: Different Locations in Goloka According to Rasa”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Brs. 1.2.297-298: The elements of kāmānuga will be described: That rāgānuga-sādhana-bhakti which is filled with longing and which follows after the kāma-rūpa-rāgātmika-bhakti of the siddha-bhaktas, is called kāmānuga-bhakti. There are two types: sambhogecchā-mayī and tad-tad-bhāvecchātmā. Brs. 299: Sambhogecchā-mayī-bhakti is characterized by enjoying conjugally with Kṛṣṇa. Tad-bhāvecchātmika-bhakti is characterized by desiring the sweet moodContinue reading “Nectar of Devotion Chapter 16, Texts 297-303: Sambhogecchā-mayī-bhakti compared to Tad-bhāvecchātmika-bhakti”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, This is the lesson I had been eagerly looking forward to. We have heard about and studied rāgānugā-bhakti for quite some time, yet the practical guidance on how to actually practice it has often felt missing. This lesson beautifully fills that need. We know from Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī definition that rāgānugā-bhakti is spontaneous attraction forContinue reading “How to Practice Rāgānuga-bhakti”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, What a deep and beautiful topic — truly an enigma that humbles even the most sincere devotees! To better understand the various layers of rāgānugā-sādhana-bhakti, I have used AI to create a simple chart illustrating the key concepts from today’s lesson. In order to properly understand rāgānugā-sādhana-bhakti, it is essential to first dissectContinue reading “Rāgānugā-Sādhana-bhakti”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, BRS 1.2.1: There are three types of bhakti: sādhana, bhāva and prema. Definition of Sadhana-bhakti as per BRS 1.2.2: Action of the senses that produces the state of bhāva is called sādhana-bhakti. The state of bhāva-bhakti that is attained (sādhyata) is an eternal sthāyi-bhāva which is not created, but simply manifests within the soul by the spiritual energy of the Lord. Therefore the two characteristicsContinue reading “Two Types of Sādhana-bhakti”

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 revealedContinue reading “Sthāyī-bhava Explained”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, In this lesson, the emphasis is on attaining a spiritual body to serve Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana. An example provided is that of personified Upaniṣads who, by worshiping the Lord on the path of spontaneous love, attained the lotus feet of Vrajendra-nandana, the son of Nanda Mahārāja. (CC Madhya 8.223). The point isContinue reading “Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā Chapter 8.222-243: Going Back to the Spiritual World”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, In his lecture on CC Adi 7.1, Srila Prabhupada, referring to Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, says,  “”By the order of superior authority, I (Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī)  am trying to describe Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” And what is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu? Prema-bhakti-vadānyatā. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is preaching prema, means love of Godhead. That isContinue reading “Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā Chapter 8.196-221: Following in the Footsteps of the Gopīs”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, CC Ādi 1.6 śrī-rādhāyāḥ praṇaya-mahimā kīdṛśo vānayaivā-svādyo yenādbhuta-madhurimā kīdṛśo vā madīyaḥsaukhyaṁ cāsyā mad-anubhavataḥ kīdṛśaṁ veti lobhāttad-bhāvāḍhyaḥ samajani śacī-garbha-sindhau harīnduḥ Desiring to understand the glory of Rādhārāṇī’s love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, theContinue reading “Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā Chapter 4.214-277: Conclusion of Ādi-līlā, Chapter 4”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, CC Ādi 1.6 śrī-rādhāyāḥ praṇaya-mahimā kīdṛśo vānayaivā-svādyo yenādbhuta-madhurimā kīdṛśo vā madīyaḥsaukhyaṁ cāsyā mad-anubhavataḥ kīdṛśaṁ veti lobhāttad-bhāvāḍhyaḥ samajani śacī-garbha-sindhau harīnduḥ Desiring to understand the glory of Rādhārāṇī’s love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, theContinue reading “Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā Chapter 4.159-213: The Third of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Three Desires”