Rasas (or) Bhavas (or) Moods (or) Relations with Krishna & Final Destination!
Qn. In Detail:
i don’t know relation between lord krishna and me….., as each and every soul has unique relation with Lord Krishna……………, i feel Lord Krishna as My Teacher…as my friend….,, i also feel i will serve many tasty foodstuffs to Lord……..,i talk to him…..with emotions . so i m also servant(Bhakta) of Lord Krishna………………but i don.t know which in which relation lord wants me to be…………….because it is my feelings that i want to serve him ,play with him, argue with him…, learn amazing things from Him………in spiritual world when i will become pure enough to approach Him ..only by His Grace.. my question is what my relation could be with him…….,bhakta, sakhya, vatsalya,Guru..even though i m not that pure enough to even pretend like that …..i feel that i want to have all of these relations with him. so which one? i m confused
REPLY:
We have FIVE Rasas (or) Bhavas (or) Moods (or) Relations to approach Krishna. Krishna manifests Himself in whichever Rasa (or) Bhava (or) Mood you approach Him.
Though these manifestations are not different from each other, the taste experienced in every manifestation is different.
This taste differs from person to person.
(Role of Gopi Bhava, Sakhi Bhava & Manjari Bhava in Radha-Krishna lilas! READ HERE!)
FIVE RASAS (or) BHAVAS (OR) MOODS IN WHICH A DEVOTEE CAN HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH KRISHNA
(1) SANTHA RASA: (Neutrality):
If the love for Krishna is experienced upon beholding His glory, without experiencing a particular impetus for engaging in His service, the relationship is known as santha-rasa.
(2) DASYA RASA: (Servitude):
If the love for Krishna is felt like a servant feel towards his master, or like a son feels for his father, the relationship is called dasya-rasa.
(3) SAKHYA RASA: (Friendship):
If the love for Krishna is experienced like an intimate and equal friend, the relationship is called sakhya-rasa.
(4) VATSALYA RASA: (Parental love):
If the love for Krishna is experienced like a parent gives care and nourishment to the children, the relationship is called vatsalya-rasa.
(5) MADHURYA RASA: (Intimate love):
When love for Krishna is experienced like that of amorous love between the lover and the beloved, or between the husband and the wife, the relationship is called madhurya-rasa.
The Lord manifests His different aspects in different regions of the spiritual sky.
(FIVE PRIMARY RASAS (RELATIONSHIPS) AND SEVEN SECONDARY RASAS ONE CAN HAVE WITH KRISHNA! READ HERE!)
WITH WHICH MOOD DEVOTEES CAN APPROACH THE LORD?
Among the Rasas (or) Bhavas (or) Moods (or) Relations, let us see the two types of moods with which we can approach Krishna.
(1) AISVARYA MOOD (Fear & respect):
The Devotee approach the Lord seeing and fearing for Lord’s supernatural might and opulence.
(2) MADHURYA (Loveful exchanges):
The devotee approaches the Lord for His natural sweetness and intimacy.
(Also read: Is initiation (diksha) compulsory to get the love of Krishna? READ HERE)
IN WHICH WORLD, WHICH FORM OF LORD IS PRESENT?
The spiritual sky is COMMONLY known as “VAIKUNTHA”.
In the midst of innumerable Vaikuntha-planets, the planet Goloka is the pinnacle of the spiritual sky.
MOODS OF DEVOTEES & THEIR DESTINATION!
Among the Rasas (or) Bhavas (or) Moods (or) Relations, let us now see the moods and our related destinations after death.
Goloka is divided into three main sections, namely DVARAKA, MATHURA AND VRAJA.
(NINE STAGES OF BHAKTI YOGA (ADVANCEMENT IN DEVOTION) EXPLAINED! READ HERE!)
(1) VAIKUNTHA PLANETS (EXCEPT DVARAKA, MATHURA AND VRAJA):
In Vaikuntha planets, the Lord is present in His four-armed Vishnu-forms, manifesting His supernatural opulences. The devotees in Vaikuntha-region had served and will serve the Lord in Aishwarya mood, ie, filled with awe and reverence. Here the Lord is known to be complete.
(2) DVARAKA AND MATHURA:
In Dvaraka and Mathura, the devotees had served and will serve lord with the devotional mood of a blend of alternating reverence and sweetness. Here the Lord is known to be more complete.
(3) VRAJA:
In Vraja, the devotional mood is with pure sweetness, and even the Lord’s display of unparalleled majesty does not diminish the natural love of His devotees. The devotees who had served and will serve the Lord with Prema here. Here the Lord is known to be most complete.
(ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE, BHAKTI RASA & KRISHNA PREMA – PROCESS! READ HERE!)
AGE-WISE MANIFESTATIONS OF KRISHNA
When Krishna descends to this world, He manifests three ages: (1) childhood, (2) boyhood, and (3) youth.
The first five years is filled with pastimes of parental love, the second with pastimes of friendly love, and the third with pastimes of amorous love.
WHICH RASA (or) BHAVA (or) MOOD (or) RELATION TO CHOOSE TO APPROACH KRISHNA?
Though the various forms of the Lord are shown by Him, there is no fault in any of them. All the forms of Lord are accepted by the devotees.
However, the period of His blossoming youth is considered to be the most attractive among all of His forms.
(How to love Krishna? READ HERE!)
NOW EVALUATE YOURSELF!
You have read all the Rasas (or) Bhavas (or) Moods (or) Relations with which we can approach the Lord.
If you worship the Lord with Aishwarya mood with fear, you will go to Vaikunta planets (except Dvaraka, Mathura and Vraja) and get a service to the four armed Vishnu form.
(Can we approach Radharani as mother as we approach Krishna in many relations? READ HERE!)
If you worship Krishna with Madhurya mood, ie, with sweet love as a parent, friend or lover, you will go to Goloka planets of Dvaraka, Mathura and Vraja and serve the lord in His sweet Krishna form with so many lilas.
Do you like to go to Lila Krishna, or, Vishnu?
First decide this. If you decide Vishnu form, then, follow Aishvarya mood as a neutral devotee or a servant of Lord.
If you decide Lila filled Krishna form, then, follow Madhurya mood as a friend, parent or lover.
Hope this greatly helps you to identify and cultivate your Rasas (or) Bhavas (or) Moods (or) Relations in approaching Krishna.
(Who are gopis? Can I love Krishna like Gopis? READ HERE!)