5 Primary & 7 Secondary Rasas or Relationships with Krishna by devotees!
Satya Prasad asked like this:
“hare krishna prabhu i reading prabhupada books regularly i have some doubt some quotes 1 prabhupada mentioned santa rasa is impersonal in some quotes prabhupada mentions it is one of the relationship with krsna how a relationship with krsna is impersonal why santa rasa is impersonal.”
REPLY:
Before replying your question, let me first give the details of 5 Primary & 7 Secondary Rasas or Relationships with Krishna that can be maintained by the devotees!
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FIVE PRIMARY RASAS WITH KRISHNA
(1) SANTA RASA (REVERENCE),
(2) DASYA RASA (LOVING SERVICE),
(3) SAKYA RASA (FRIENDSHIP),
(4) VATSALYA RASA (PARENTAL AFFECTION), and
(5) MADHURYA RASA (CONJUGAL / INTIMATE AFFECTION).
Let us see them in detail:
(1) SANTA RASA (REVERENCE)
This rasa is shown by those who approaches the Lord with admiration of His greatness, Opulence, etc. This may trigger love on Krishna in future, this mood will not be a loving mood.
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For example, when we see a person who is in a greater position than us, we show our reverence. Similarly, if it is shown to Krishna, it is a reverence form of relation.
Examples of santa rasa devotees:
(1) Nine yogis such as Kavi, Havi, Antariksa, Prabuddha, Pippalayana, Avirhotra, Dravida or Drumila, Camasa and Karabhajana.
(2) The four Kumaras such as Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara and Sanatana.
(2) DASYA RASA (LOVING SERVICE)
This is the next stage of SANTA RASA. When a Santa rasa advances further, that person may like to do some service to Krishna. This is similar to the workers start serving our higher authorities or leaders. This service attitude need not be a form of love, but, even as a reverence or fear.
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(3) SAKYA RASA (FRIENDSHIP)
This Sakya rasa is the next stageof that person that includes the previous two rasas also. That is, reverence and service to Krishna is still there, but in a diminished condition; In due course of time, it further advances to the close friendship with Krishna. This develops a kind of equality and closeness in mingling with Krishna. In this phase, the friend will not give much importance to the greatness of Krishna because of familiarity.
For example, first, you may show reverence with a person; then, you may serve him; this associations may develop as a close friendship with him.
If you take Sudama, he developed a close friendship with Krishna that is in Sakya rasa and Krishna even carried Sudama on his back. Arjuna too showed intimate friendship with Krishna and Krishna drove the chariot for Arjuna in the war field.
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(4) VATSALYA RASA (PARENTAL AFFECTION)
When the friendship further intensifies, it develops as a Protective care like caring a person who is under our care. This is like Parents showing a kind of caring attitude to their children or the children of others.
For example, when Yasodha saw all the creations inside the mouth of child Krishna, she prayed to demigods to protect her child. This is out of parental affection.
(5) MADHURYA RASA (CONJUGAL AFFECTION)
This is the topmost form of rasa one can maintain with Krishna. This will include all the previous four rasas. At the same time, the person would have attained a state of having the intimate feelings of love and sharing intimate exchanges with Krishna. Here the affection has crossed protective state. There will be no formalities between them. Just care and nurture of Krishna will be in their mind.
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For example, Gopis were very much worried whether any stone or thorns may be pricking His feet even when Krishna walked. They even thought that they can lie on the ground and Krishna can walk on their bodies. They never cared for their own pleasures, but to give themselves to Krishna. That much of care on Krishna. This Madhurya rasa is possible only with Krishna because He is the master of all souls. This is not possible with the humans.
The above five rasas take one to the topmost state of relationship with Krishna.
What about the persons who are unable to show the above PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS with Krishna?
If it is not possible for them, they may show any of the seven other relationships (rasas) with Krishna. Such extra rasas are called SECONDARY RASAS.
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They are:
SEVEN SECONDARY RASAS
(1) Showing anger on Krishna.
(2) Wondering Krishna.
(3) Making comedy.
(4) Chivalry (honour, kindness, and courage)
(5) Merciful relation.
(6) Dread (greatly feared; dreadful)
(7) Ghastliness (shock, revulsion, or horror).
(Rasas (or) Bhavas (or) Moods (or) Relations with Krishna – Final Destination!!READ HERE!)
You can see these twelve types of rasas in many places around us even in our day to day life. However, when they are shown on Krishna, it takes us towards liberation from material platform and takes the person to Krishna Himself.
Now, my reply to your question:
Santa rasa is the neutral attraction towards both personal and impersonal form of Krishna. He has not yet come to the full attraction to the personal form of Krishna. Therefore, a person may be attracted towards personal form of Krishna also. Clearly speaking, a person dominated with the attraction towards the personal form of Krishna may also show attraction towards the impersonal form and vice versa.
In santa rasa, though the person may be already in a position of getting attracted towards the impersonal aspect of Krishna, ie, the Paramathma form, he may also have the seeds for the future advancement towards Krishna’s personal form. Because every stage of rasa is supposed to advance further towards the ultimate stage of Madhurya rasa.
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Therefore, though a devotee is in Santa rasa, he will get attracted towards other rasas in due course of time when he gets suitable opportunities.
This means that one is not very strongly attached to the personal feature of the Lord and such a devotee sees the Krishna’s ‘representation’ everywhere as Paramathma.
In brief, the Santa rasa devotees may not be SUFFICIENTLY attracted towards the personal form of Krishna. They are in an intermittent stage. Some times, the attraction towards the Personal form is awakened when they meet certain situations like seeing the deity of Krishna.
(If we consider Krishna in any relation, will we get rebirth to fulfill that wish? READ HERE!)
Let us understand this with an example:
If you need an example in our day to day life, you can take the example of a 3-4 years old child. He does not know anything about Krishna and His forms. However, when he sees a deity of Krishna, he may show the symptoms of getting attracted. His body may tremble with ecatasy.
Thus, even a santa rasa devotee can be attracted towards the personal form of Krishna.
Hope you are clear now about 5 Primary & 7 Secondary Rasas or Relationships with Krishna.
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