Raganuga Bhakti: A Forty Year Crossroads 19/5/25
Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
One devotee said, “I feel that my life has inexplicably changed after hearing about the raganuga bhakti sadhana of traditional Gaudiya Vaishnavism. What I have learned is taking me to the next level of my bhakti sadhana.
“My question is how to harmonize my present feelings and deep interest in raganuga bhakti with the teachings I’ve learned during my forty years in Iskcon?”
To answer this question let’s try to understand what Gaudiya Vaishnavism is according Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings. The two internal reasons for the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu were to taste the sweet essence of Vraja madhurya prema-rasa, and to preach raganuga-bhakti to the world, prema-rasa-niryasa karite asvadana, raga-marga bhakti loke karite pracarana.” (Sri Chaitanya-caritamrita 1.4.15)
Besides preaching raganuga-bhakti, Mahaprabhu personally accepted gopi-bhava, which is Radha and the gopis’ mood of loving and serving Krishna, ataeva apane prabhu gopi-bhava dhari. (Sri Chaitanya-caritamrita 1.17.303)
And through Ramananda Raya, Sri Chaitanya ordered everyone to accept gopi-bhava (ataeva gopi-bhava kari angikara), think of the pastimes of Radha-Krishna throughout the day and night (ratri-dina cinte radha-krishnera vihara), and mentally serve Radha-Krishna in your siddha-deha (siddha-dehe cinti kare tanha nisevana).” (Sri Chaitanya-caritamrita 2.8.227-228)
To further clarify his teachings on raganuga-bhakti sadhana, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally instructed Sri Sanatana Goswami and Sri Rupa Goswamipada:
bahya antara ihara dui to sadhana, bahye sadhaka-dehe kare sravana-kirtana,
mane nija-siddha-deha kariya bhavana, ratri-dine kare vraje krsnera sevana
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “In raganuga-bhakti, there are two types of sadhana: external and internal. Externally, in the sadhaka body, one performs sravana-kirtana. And internally with the mind, one meditates on one’s siddha-deha and mentally serves Radha Krishna day and night.” (Cc. 2.22.156-157)
The teachings on raganuga-bhakti sadhana that Sri Rupa Goswamipada heard directly from Mahaprabhu (Cc. madhya 19) are contained in Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu (1.2.270-309). The following three verses describe the essence of raganuga-bhakti sadhana:
“One should remember Krishna in Vrindavan and Krishna’s dear associate having the same bhava and seva which one wants like Sri Rupa Manjari or Rati (Tulasi) Manjari. One should be attached to reading and hearing about them and always live in Vraja.” (Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.294)
krishnam smaran janam casya, prestham nija-samihitam
tat-tat-katha-ratas casau, kuryyad vasam vraje sada
“In raganuga-bhakti sadhana, one should serve both in the present physical body as well as in one’s individual siddha deha. One should desire to obtain the bhava of a resident of Vraja like Sri Rupa Manjari or Rati (Tulasi) Manjari and follow in their footsteps.” (Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.295)”
seva sadhaka-rupena, siddha-rupena catra hi
tad-bhava-lipsuna karya, vraja-lokanusaratah
“Hearing, chanting and all the limbs of vaidhi-bhakti are also done in raganuga-bhakti sadhana. This is what the learned ones have ascertained.” (Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2 296)
sravanotkirtan adini, vaidha-bhakty-uditani tu |
yany angani ca tany atra, vijneyani manishbhih
Pandit Sri Ananta Dasji Maharaja eloquently summarizes the smarananga bhajan life of a genuine raganugiya sadhaka: “The Gaudiya Vaisnava raganuga-bhakti sadhaka remains absorbed in one’s siddha-deha, speaking nothing of the world. Roaming about always in the kingdom of love, one spends one’s life doing bhajana in allegiance to the nitya-siddha sakhis and manjaris until one’s bhava becomes one with theirs.
“By the mercy of one’s guru-rupa-manjari, one is blessed with success, and obtains the direct seva of Radha Madhava in one’s manjari-svarupa in the bowers of Vrajadhama.” (Prema Bhakti Chandrika 55)
According to the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Goswamis, one needs a siddha-deha to perform mental service to Radha-Krishna which is an essential part of raganuga-bhakti sadhana.
WHAT IS A SIDDHA-DEHA?
What is a siddha-deha and how is it attained? The siddha-deha is an eternal spiritual form made of consciousness and bliss. Srimad Bhagavatam (3.15.14) says there are unlimited numbers of siddha-dehas existing in the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan, which are all manifested directly from the body of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.
HOW DOES ONE GET A SIDDHA-DEHA?
A fortunate devotee can receive one’s individual siddha-deha through different means including directly from Krishna at death; personally given by Sri Guru; received in a dream; revealed by Sri Harinam Prabhu, or by a revelation, sphurti, at the stage of bhava.
Srimad Bhagavatam (1.6.28) says that Vishnu gave a siddha-deha to Narada at the time of death, prayujyamane mayi tam, shuddham bhagavatim tanum.
Vedanta Sutra (3.2.4) says, “The creations in dreams are real.”
Sriman Aindra Das (Iskcon) claims that in a dream his Guru, Srila Prabhupada, revealed his siddha-deha.
Most of the of the Acharyas in the Guru Parampara of ISKCON received their siddha-dehas directly from their diksha gurus.
THE ORIGINAL QUESTION
Now let’s answer the question that started this post: “How to harmonize my deep interest in raganuga bhakti with the teachings of Iskcon?”
Please follow these six suggestions while patiently waiting for Bhagavan Sri Krishna to show you the best life of blissful bhakti bhajan that you deserve:
1. Read raganuga-bhakti books with the commentaries of Pandit Sri Ananta Dasji Maharaja such as Vilapa Kusmanjali, Stavavali, Krishna Karnamrita, Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi, Prema Bhakti Chandrika, and Raga Vartma Chandrika.
Other important books are Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Ujjvala Nilamani, Bhakti and Priti Sandarbhas, Radha-Krishna Ganoddesh Dipika, Govinda Lilamrta, Bhavana Sara Sangraha, Sankalpa Kalpadruma.
2. Associate with raganuga-bhaktas.
3. Chant more Krishna Nam japa.
4. Read about and meditate on the bhavas and sevas of Sri Rupa Manjari and Rati (Tulasi) Manjari.
5. Live in Vrindavan anyway you can.
6. Pray to Sri Guru, Nitai Gaur Sitanatha and Radha-Krishna to help you advance in raganuga-bhakti sadhana, and to reveal your individual siddha-deha.
Jai Jai Sri Radhe!
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