Priya Kunj Ras

  Firm faith in  Sadhu (saints),  Guru  (spiritual mentor) and  Shastras  (scriptures) is called  Shraddha . There are three types of Shraddha: Sadharan Shraddha, Vishesh Shraddha and Atyantiki Shraddha. 1.   Sadharan Shraddha: A sadhak with Sadharan Shraddha visits Sadhus and his Guru occasionally and tries to serve them according to his convenience. He listens to Their lectures and tries to perform devotional services a little. He gets entangled in worldly matters most of the time, but sometimes, remembers that he must associate with enlightened Sadhus to develop Bhakti for Krishna. Thus, he visits Them for a few days but again gets entangled in Maya when he comes back. 2.   Vishesh Shraddha: A sadhak with Vishesh Shraddha tries to remain in association with Sadhus/Guru as much as possible and pleases Them through Their service. He tries to follow Their instructions with determination in his life.   Such sadhaks must keep i...

There are four kinds of practitioners of Bhakti: Sthula Pravartaka Sadhak Siddha A Sthula devotee is largely ignorant to God and the goal of human birth, that is, realization of one’s relationship with God. He is only concerned with his material desires and pleasing his family and friends. Even when he worships God, he prays only for worldly pleasures and relief from suffering. A Pravartaka devotee is who has understood that realizing one’s relationship with God is the goal of human birth due to some association with Sadhus. Yet, he is largely attached to worldly possessions and relationships. So, although he tries to do bhajan, he is hardly able to do so. Even the little bhajan he does is only mechanical and not with heartfelt devotion. A Sadhak devotee is who has started developing indifference to worldly matters and relationships, and tries to do bhajan with determination and devotion. Although there are worldly desires hidden in his heart, he fights the urges and engages i...

  Q: Many devotees leave householder life and stay in Vraja Dham by the mercy of Radharani. Although they come with the intention of doing bhajan, often they become attached to various pleasurable objects or people. Why does this happen? A: When the sadhak leaves home, comes to Vraja Dham and gradually, settles down to a comfortable lifestyle, his initial zest for bhajan subdues and he becomes lazy in bhajan. In present times, it is easy to find comfortable accommodation, Prasadam, etc in Vraja Dham and this is leading to a degradation in the quality of bhajan of devotees living here. Along with that, mingling with many people and lack of a lifestyle of austerities leads to deviation from the path of Bhakti. [It is important to understand that even though we mostly mingle with devotees in Vraja Dham, if our conversations involve anything other than the qualities and pastimes of Guru, Krishna and Radharani, it is a deviation from bhajan.] When the sadhak is in Grihastha Ashram...

  Sridhar Swami says in his commentary about the word ‘Vairagya’ (Renunciation) that one cannot get immersed in the contemplation of God and relish the divine bliss of His pastimes until he develops Vairagya (indifference to material world). Attachment to worldly possessions and people is the cause of impurity of heart that does not let the Jivatma achieve divine bliss. Vairagya means detachment, disinterest or indifference to body and everything related to it. One develops disinterest in body and material world when he realizes that everything in this world (including this body) is temporary; it didn’t exist before nor it will exist in future, it exists only in the present. Such a temporary thing can never give pleasure to the eternal Self. It only causes an illusion of pleasure to give disappointment in the future. Attachment to such things does not allow us to progress in bhajan and experience divine bliss. The master – servant relationship between God and the Jivatma is et...

  A bhajan written and composed by Sri Vinod Bihari Das Babaji Maharaj:   [This is a note about Phonetics used to describe the pronunciation of the Hindi words for your reference:   Ā  -  pronounced as ‘a’ in far   The video is given at the bottom of the article for further reference.]   तू रटे जा राधे राधे नाम , तेरे बनेंगे बिगड़े काम। राधा नाम सुख धाम , कृष्ण नाम रस धाम। Tu ratejā Rādhe Rādhe nāma, Tere banenge bigare kāma. (2) Rādhā nāma sukha dhāma, Krishna nāma rasa dhāma (2) Meaning: Keep chanting Radhe Radhe name. All your spiritual problems will be solved. Radha's name is the abode of bliss. Krishna's name is the abode of spiritual taste.   राधे श्याम श्याम श्याम (4) Rādhe Shyāma Shyāma Shyāma (4)   भानु दुलारी राधा नाम , जाको प्राणधन मोहन श्याम । युगल परमानंद नाम , तू रटे जा आठों याम। Bhānu dulāri Rādhā nāma, Jāko prānadhana Mohana Shyāma. Yugala Paramānanda nā...