When a jivatma sincerely takes shelter at the lotus feet of an enlightened sadhu, his mercy is able to change the heart of that jivatma gradually. But the ego of the jivatma is the main obstacle in this process of purification of heart.
But how do we know whether we are really able to accept the mercy of the sadhu and achieve positive results?
The main indicator of mercy is realizing one's own faults. The sadhak starts analyzing his actions and thoughts, and finds out where he is going wrong. Due to samskaras of numerous previous births, the sadhak often ends up getting angry on some petty worldly matter and he might speak harshly to a vaisnava as a result, but he immediately feels repentant about his words and chastises himself, 'I have done a great wrong! I spoke so harshly to a vaisnava! How will I ever progress in my spiritual path?' Then he prays to Radharani with great humility, 'He Radharani, today I inflicted pain on a vaisnava through words. Please give me the intelligence and humility to never repeat this in future.'
Not only a vaisnava, but gradually, the sadhak feels repentant for inflicting any kind of pain on all humans and on further deepening of Bhakti, even all kinds of creatures. If an ant falls under his feet, the sadhak chastises himself for inflicting pain on the ant. (This humility is given by Bhakti Maharani. It is not possible to achieve this at all times by deliberation, but with Bhakti Maharani's mercy, the sadhak becomes ever watchful of his actions. Also, there is great difference between a worldly man's inferiority complex and this kind of humility given by Bhakti Maharani. The former results in the person trying to hurt himself or others because of tamasik energy, but the latter results in complete letting go of ego and taking the shelter of the lotus feet of Radharani.)
This kind of repentance burns all worldly samskaras of the sadhak and purifies his heart. Radharani does not see the faults of a devotee (She considers all those who come to her shelter as her own and is merciful), but She will purify the hearts of her devotees to the utmost extent by this process. (Without the purification of the heart, a sadhak cannot experience the divine love; without reaching the purest state of heart, one cannot enter the divine world and perform loving servive to Radharani). She will put the sadhak in such situations so that the sadhak repents, 'I have done a great wrong. I am not qualified to walk on the path of Bhakti. I did such mistakes, pained the hearts of Radharani's people.'
Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatan Goswami and Sri Haridas Thakur are all examples of this kind of humility. They are 'Parshads', servants of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for eternity. There are no souls purer than them, but still they have such great humility. Sri Haridas Thakur would sit under the Siddha Bakul tree, chanting Harinaam all day. But he believed that if he showed his face to the priests of Lord Jagannath, they would have to bath again! Such humility! So Mahaprabhu would send his own leftover Mahaprasad to Haridas Thakur through Govind (a servant).
So, seeing one's own faults and admiring other's good qualities, is the biggest indicator of Kripa. As long as you see the faults of others, be sure that you are not progressing in the path of Bhakti. You might think, 'I don't do this kind of injustice. Such and such person are really bad, they are unjust, etc.' You might be right, but you are not progressing on the path of Bhakti. When you are really touched by Kripa, you will see everybody has some good quality, but I am the most fallen. Radharani will bestow her mercy upon them and they will be purified in the blink of an eye. But what will happen to me? I am the most fallen soul, there is no way to please Radharani. I am a treasure house of all kinds of faults in the world. I have been accumulating only faults through numerous births. How will I ever achieve the divine and pure love of Radharani in this lifetime? He Radharani, please bestow your boundless mercy on me. I can never reach your lotus feet without your mercy.' This fire of repentance burns all worldly samskaras of the sadhak and purifies his heart. What most people think is that Kripa means Radharani will shower her mercy and we will instantly become all pure. Then we can eat Rasgullas and enjoy our life, chant Harinaam as and when possible, and Radharani will take us to Goloka Dham at the end since She is so merciful. It is not so easy, Baba!
Another indicator of Kripa is that the sadhak becomes very anxious to progress on the path of Bhakti. He thinks that one by one, the days are passing by, but I am not able to progress on the Bhakti path. I am not eligible for the mercy of Radharani. I am so entangled in Maya but I am still shamelessly and peacefully eating, drinking and sleeping.
This kind of 'Antardah', a burning desire to progress in the path of Bhakti, alongwith repentance about one's own incompetence, purifies the heart of the sadhak and accelerates his progress in the path of Bhakti. If the sadhak feels complacent about his Bhakti, it actually means he has stopped in his path of Bhakti due to ignorance or some Aparadha.
The third indicator of Kripa is that the sadhak feels fearful of worldly achievements, shows of respect, incoming of money and luxury. As long as the sadhak feels happy about worldly happiness, he is entangled in Maya. When he receives Kripa, he will realize these are all instruments of Maya Devi to entangle him into the darkness of ignorance. In numerous lives, the sadhak has yearned for money, luxury, happiness, fame, etc. Now, he wants to forsake everything and disentangle himself from Maya, but Maya Devi will not let him go so easily. So the sadhak has to endure thunderstorms of Maya, worldly pleasures, temptations to fame and wealth. But the sadhak who has the protection of Radharani's mercy, sees all of these as tigers and wolves waiting to eat him.
These are the indicators of Kripa. If you feel that this kind anxiousness for progress in Bhakti path has not yet developed in your heart, you must pray to Radharani, 'He Radharani, no one can swim across your ocean of illusory Maya,
"Daivi hyesha gunamayi mama maya duratyaya" ( Bhagvat Gita 7.14)
But I am begging at your lotus feet, please take me into the protection of your boundless mercy.
"Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te"
The one who takes shelter of your lotus feet crosses the ocean of ignorance easily. Please bestow your mercy on me.'
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