The definition of rasa, part II
Continuing our discussion of rasa, we now examine vyabhicāri bhāva, which is also called sañcari bhāva. The word vyabhicāri = vi+abhi+car (car is a verbal […]
Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu
The definition of rasa, part I
Sri Rupa Goswami analyzes bhakti-rasa or the relish of bhakti in great detail. Indeed, his book is titled Bhakti-rasa-amṛta sindhu – the ocean of the […]
Comparison between vaidhī and rāgānugā bhakti
In vaidhī bhakti, we have seen that the adhikāra is śāstriya śraddhā. Śrī Rūpa Goswami explains that in rāgānugā bhakti, the intense desire to get […]
Summary of definitions of uttamā bhakti and its divisions
Here we summarize uttamā bhakti, its divisions and the definitions which were discussed in previous articles. uttamā bhakti is defined as continuous service directed favorably towards […]
Śrī Rūpa Goswami explains rāgānugā bhakti
We examine Sri Rupa Goswami’s definition of raganunga bhakti.
Rupa Goswami defines bhāva, part III
We now examine the remaining qualifiers of bhāva. As we saw before, bhāva is qualified by rucibhiś citta-māsṛṇya-kṛd and prema-sūryāṁśu-sāmya-bhāk. Sri Jiva Goswami explains the […]
Śrī Rūpa Goswami defines bhāva, part II
We examine Sri Rupa Goswami’s definition of bhava further.
Rupa Goswami defines bhāva, part I
We now examine the definition of bhāva by Sri Rupa Goswami. As a reminder, bhāva is the sādhya or goal of sādhanā bhakti. Sri Rupa Goswami defines bhāva as follows:
śuddha-sattva-viśeṣātmā prema-sūryāṁśu-sāmya-bhāk | rucibhiś citta-māsṛṇya-kṛd asau bhāva ucyate ||
On the importance of definitions in bhakti
Much of the confusion and disagreements in discussions over bhakti can be avoided if the involved parties stick to definitions of terms. Words can take […]
Rupa Goswami defines japa and kīrtana
Rupa Goswami defines japa in the Bhakti rasāmṛta sindhu (1.2.149-151) as follows: mantrasya sulaghūccāro japa ity abhidhīyate || Here, sulaghūccāraḥ = su + laghu + […]
Sādhanā bhakti is outside-in, while bhāva bhakti is inside-out.
We have previously examined the concept of sādhanā bhakti and bhāva bhakti, and the difference between them. The article below explains the difference between them […]
The don’ts of bhakti, Part 2
Limbs sixteen to twenty are as follows: