Priya Kunj Ras

  Asakti is a very high stage of Bhakti and very rare devotees are able to reach here. Normally, a sadhak needs to force his mind out of the mundane talk and focus on contemplation of Radha Krishna. But in the Asakti stage, the sadhak’s mind gets naturally immersed in the contemplation of Radha Krishna and he has to force his mind back into the material realm to take care of mundane matters. For example, the sadhak is receiving a guest and while talking, his mind gets ‘distracted’ to the contemplation of Radha Krishna. Then he has to force his mind back to the conversation and he asks some questions to the effect – “Who is he? What does he do?” But before he could listen to the answers, his mind runs back to the contemplation of Radha Krishna. The mind is the king of all senses. We cannot process the sensations of eyes, ears, tongue, etc or function with them without the help of mind. When our mind focuses on eyes, we process what our eyes see. When our mind focuses on the ears, we...

Authentic Guru Pranali (disciples’ succession) is a must for entering Manjari Swarup sadhana. Without taking initiation from someone who belongs to the hierarchy of Manjaris, one cannot go into the service of Radharani in the Nikunja. There are innumerable paths to God such as Gyan yoga, Karma yoga, Tantra yoga, etc; there are also innumerable bodes of Narayan like Vaikuntha, Saket, Shiva Loka, Ganesh Loka (Sri Ganesh in Ganesh Loka is a manifestation of Krishna which is eternal and is different from the demigod Ganesh), but the Manjari mood of devotion is an exclusive path to the service of Radha Krishna which is only worshiped in the eternal Goloka Dham (Vrindavan). "Ishwarer tatva joto, taha ba kahibo koto, Ananto apar keba jane. Ek braja pur prem nitya, ei se param tatva, Bhajo sada anurag mone."  (Premabhakti Chandrika) Meaning: There are innumerable forms of God. Who can describe all of them properly? But the loving devotion to Radha Krishna is the supreme path fo...

  Sri Bhagvan comes down to Earth in every Yuga, but nobody ever gave the Manjari mood of devotion to the world. "Anarpita charim chirat" The Manjari mood of devotion has been given by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu only. The mood of loving devotion (Prem bhakti) existed before Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (as seen in Shrimad Bhagvatam in the life stories of Sri Prahladji, Sri Dhruvji, etc). Madhurya love was not new to the world at the time of Shri Mahaprabhu, but He mercifully gave the Manjari mood of love to the world. Rati (love) is classified in three types: Sadharan Rati, Samanjasya Rati and Samartha Rati. Sadharan Rati (General love) is seen in Mathura lila, where the young, female residents of Mathura were attracted to the beauty and power of Sri Krishna and hence, fell in love with Him. Samanjasya Rati (Concordant love) is seen in Dwarika lila, where the queens of Sri Krishna loved Him as their husband (and hence, the lover and the beloved are equals). Samartha Rati (Capable...

  When a sadhak starts doing bhajan, he is faced with many difficulties (Anarthas). These come in every sadhak's life. (As explained in Anarth Nivritti Part 1) The Dushkriti Jata Anarthas are: Laya, Vikshep, Kashay, Rasaswad and Apratipatti Through numerous lives we have done many pious and sinful activities. The unjust and sinful actions' results are the Dushkriti Jata Anarthas . In the initial stages of bhajan, these Anarthas trouble the sadhak. The five types of Dushkriti Jata Anarthas are as follows: Laya : As soon as the sadhak sits with the japa mala (chanting beads), Nidra Devi (Goddess of sleep) attacks him. During bhajan, satsang, kirtan, pooja, etc the sadhak tends to fall asleep. But as soon as he gets up from bhajan, he doesn't feel sleepy anymore. Even if someone asks him to sleep, he isn't able to do so but as soon as he tries to do bhajan or listen to kirtan or Hari Katha, he feels sleepy again. This oversleeping is an Anartha caused by sinful activities...