RAGANUGA BHAKTA ASPIRES TO BE !!!
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Nectar of Instruction - Sri Upadesamrta - 8 :
“Caitanya-caritāmṛta advises those who are neophytes to give up all kinds of motivated desires and simply engage in the regulative devotional service of the Lord according to the directions of scripture.(1)
In this way a neophyte can gradually develop attachment for Kṛṣṇa’s name, fame, form, qualities and so forth.(2)
When one has developed such attachment, he can spontaneously(3) serve the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa even without following the regulative principles.(4)
This stage is called rāga-bhakti, or devotional service in spontaneous love(5).
At that stage the devotee can follow in the footsteps of one of the eternal associates of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. This is called rāgānuga-bhakti.
Rāgānuga-bhakti, or spontaneous devotional service(6), can be executed in the śānta-rasa when one ASPIRES TO BE like Kṛṣṇa’s cows or the stick or flute in the hand of Kṛṣṇa, or the flowers around Kṛṣṇa’s neck. In the dāsya-rasa one follows in the footsteps of servants like Citraka, Patraka or Raktaka. In the friendly sakhya-rasa one can become a friend like Baladeva, Śrīdāmā or Sudāmā. In the vātsalya-rasa, characterized by parental affection, one can become like Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā, and in the mādhurya-rasa, characterized by conjugal love, one can become like Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī or Her lady friends such as Lalitā and Her serving maids (mañjarīs) like Rūpa and Rati. This is the essence of all instruction in the matter of devotional service.”
(1) [64 items of Vaidhi Bhakti].
(2) [among the 64 items of Vaidhi Bhakti are included hearing the name, and hear about fame, form, qualities and pastimes of Krsna].
(3) [spontaneous because it is the devotee who choose to follow a certain Rasa, but continues to practice regulated Sadhana. Raganuga Bhakti is Sadhana].
(4) [Raganuga Bhaktas only do not follow unfavorable principles which are: Nyasa and very elaborate Mudras and Pranayamas. The rest, follows all].
(5) [spontaneous because it is the devotee who choose to follow a certain Rasa, but continues to practice regulated Sadhana. Raganuga Bhakti is Sadhana].
(6) [ditto].
"This is the essence of all instruction in the matter of devotional service.”
Jaya Nitya-lila-pravista Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-sata Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja Prabhupada Ki Jaya !!!
