Priya Kunj Ras

In Vātsalya Prema, there is the mood of service like Dāsya Prema, unhesitant behaviour like Sakhya Prema and along with that, there is the mood of being Krishna’s guardian. Such devotees of Vātsalya Prema consider themselves elders of Krishna and consider Krishna as their beloved little child who needs their care and guidance. In order to guide Krishna, they discipline, reproach and punish Krishna when He is naughty. In Sakhya Prema, except the older Suhrit Sakhas who have some Vātsalya mixed with Sakhya Prema, the devotees do not discipline or punish Krishna. As equals, they do not have the right to do so. But in Vātsalya Prema, the devotees think that if they do not discipline Krishna, He will go astray or become an insolent person. Therefore, as elders and guardians, it is important to discipline Krishna. We have already discussed how Mother Yashoda never accepted Krishna as God although He showed the infinite universes in His little mouth. Instead, she prayed to Narayan to protec

The Vātsalya Prema of Vraja Dham is pure Mādhurya Rasa, untouched by the Aishwarya mood of Bhakti. One day, the little child Krishna was playing with His Sakhas. Suddenly, He ate a handful of the dust of Vrindavan. The Sakhas saw this and said, “Kanhaiya! We will tell mother Yashoda what you have done! You ate mud!” Kanhaiya was quite afraid that mother Yashoda might beat Him with her stick today. Nonetheless, all the Sakhas took Kanhaiya to mother Yashoda and told her everything. The Sakhas thought that if they didn’t inform this to mother Yashoda, she would reprimand them later when He would fall sick or develop a stomach pain. “Mother Yashoda, Kanhaiya ate mud!” they said. Mother Yashoda became angry. “Kanhaiya! Did you eat mud?” she asked Kanhaiya. But Kanhaiya didn’t say anything since there was mud in His mouth and as soon as He would speak, mother Yashoda would see the mud. He just shook his head to say no. “Why don’t you speak? Say yes or no,” said mother Yashoda. But Kanhaiya