Bhav-Devotional sentiments
Though all jeev are eternal servants of God, He has given us permission to serve Him with any of the following devotional sentiments. These sentiments are called bhav (Devanagari: भाव ISO15919: bhāva).
Also, He promised to reciprocate every bhav in intensity and sentiment.
Shant Bhav
In Shant Bhav (Devanagari: शांत भाव ISO15919: śāṁta bhāva) God is the king and jeev are the subjects. The devotees of shant bhav go to Baikunth Lok and always live in association of Lord Vishnu. His four arms, the divine disc and the club are a constant reminders of His divine powers.
In Vaikunth Lok the devotee can never have any intimate relationship or close proximity with Him. Devotees love and pay immense respect to Lord Vishnu but from a distance.
शांत भाव निष्ठायुत गोविंद राधे। मिले बैकुण्ठ धाम सुख ही बता दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5603
śāṁta bhāva niṣṭhāyuta goviṁda rādhe। mile baikuṇṭha dhāma sukha hī batā de ॥
rādhā goviṁda gīta 5603
"Devotees of shant bhav are loyal. They enjoy the bliss of Vaikunth Lok".
The subjects enjoy unlimited divine bliss of his beautiful divine form and association constantly. Yet, Paramatma does not have associates (Devanagari: परिकर ISO15919: parikara) and does not performs leelas (Devanagari: लीला ISO15919: līlā) with them. This is the form of utmost majesty so, there is always a distance between devotee and God.
These devotees can go up to Prema bhakti.
शान्त भाव वालों को गोविंद राधे। भक्ति प्रेमा भक्ति तक ही पहुँचा दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5615
śānta bhāva vāloṁ ko goviṁda rādhe। bhakti premā bhakti taka hī pahum̐cā de ॥
rādhā goviṁda gīta 5615
That’s why the rasik saints do not include shant bhav as part of Braj ras. The realm of rasa starts from Dasya Bhav. The other four relationships that can exist with Shri Krishna are listed below.
Dasya Bhav
In dasya bhav (Devanagari: दास्य भाव ISO15919: dāsya bhāva) Shri Krishna is the Master and jeev is a loyal servant. The servant concerns himself only about loyally serving Shri Krishna. Such a servant always remains engrossed and eager to serve his master to please Him.
दास्य भाव मैं सदा गोविंद राधे । निष्ठा और सेवा दोनों बता दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5604
dāsya bhāva maiṁ sadā goviṁda rādhe । niṣṭhā aura sevā donoṁ batā de ॥
rādhā goviṁda gīta 5604
"Desire of seva and loyalty are the main virtues of dasya bhav".
Devotees of dasya bhav gets more association of the divine Lord. Das gets opportunity to perform personal seva. So das gets the bliss of touching His divine body (massaging, bathing, dressing etc). They get to smell His divine fragrance, enjoy the bliss of hearing His divine words and have the opportunity to witness His lilas.
To top it all the das attains love and favor of Shri Krishna. His mind remains so engrossed in servitude that he serves everyone wholeheartedly viewing his Master sitting in their hearts too.
A sevak can aspire only up to this extent-
पंचत्वं तनुरेति भूत निवाहाः स्वांशे विशन्तु स्फुटम्,
धातारं प्रणिपत्य हन्त शिरसा तत्रापि याचे वरम्।
तद्वापीषु पयस्तदीय मुकुरे ज्योतिस्तदीयाङ्गन
व्योम्निव्योम तदीय वर्त्मनि धरा तत्तालवृन्तेऽनिलः ॥
paṁcatvaṁ tanureti bhūta nivāhāḥ svāṁśe viśantu sphuṭam,
dhātāraṁ praṇipatya hanta śirasā tatrāpi yāce varam।
tadvāpīṣu payastadīya mukure jyotistadīyāṅgana
vyomnivyoma tadīya vartmani dharā tattālavr̥nte'nilaḥ ॥
"O my Swami ! I wish to serve you till eternity. Hence when I die, I wish the water element of my body would mingle with the water of the pond in which You enjoy bathing. The fire element of my body may merge into the mirror in which You see Your face. The space element merges into in the environment of the place where You play joyfully. The air merges with the air from fans with which gopis serve You. May the earth element of my body merge into the path you love to walk on.”
These devotees get to enjoy more bliss than that of shant bhav
दास्य भाव वालों को गोविंद राधे। भक्ति राग भक्ति तक ही पहुँचा दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5616
dāsya bhāva vāloṁ ko goviṁda rādhe। bhakti rāga bhakti taka hī pahum̐cā de ॥
rādhā goviṁda gīta 5616
"Devotees serving Shri Krishna with this dasya bhav can attain bliss up to Raag bhakti."
Still, there is no parity between sevak (servant) and Swami (Master). A servant can’t sit beside the Master, embrace him, or talk informally to Him.
Sakhya Bhav
In sakhya bhav (Devanagari: सख्य भाव ISO15919: sakhya bhāva) Shri Krishna is the friend. Now both devotee and Shri Krishna are equals and formality becomes negligible.
The devotees, who love Shri Krishna as their friend, enjoy closeness.
सख्य भाव में तो है गोविंद राधे। निष्ठा सेवा विश्रम्भ तीनों बता दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5605
sakhya bhāva meṁ to hai goviṁda rādhe। niṣṭhā sevā viśrambha tīnoṁ batā de ॥
rādhā goviṁda gīta 5605
"Loyalty, servitude, trust and informality are the main features in sakhya bhav"
There are two kinds of friends of Shri Krishna -
1. Cognizant of His majesty: These devotees love Shri Krishna while adoring His majesty. Examples of this type of relationship are Arjun and Uddhav.
2. Unaware of His majesty : these devotees love Shri Krishna without any inkling of His majesty. Example of such friendship is the cowherd boys of Braj. They love Shri Krishna merely as their friend (sakha).
They play together and consider Him as one of the other cowherd boys. Sometimes these friends sit on His shoulders and at other sometimes Shri Krishna sits on their shoulders. Sometimes they get annoyed and Shri Krishna strives to please them. At other time they try to please Shri Krishna.
If ever these sakhas of Shri Krishna saw Him in a glum mood, they would willingly and promptly offer their all including their life to please Him.
The following verse shows their immense love towards Shri Krishna. They did not even have an notion that He was God.
उन्निद्रस्य ययुस्तवात्रविरतिं सप्तक्षपास्तिष्ठतो,
हंत श्रान्त इवासि निक्षिप सखे! श्रीदामापाणौ गिरिः ।
आधिर्विध्यति नस्त्वमर्पयकरे मिं वा क्षणे दक्षिणे,
दोष्णस्ते करवाम काममधुना सव्यास्या संवाहनम्।
unnidrasya yayustavātraviratiṁ saptakṣapāstiṣṭhato,
haṁta śrānta ivāsi nikṣipa sakhe! śrīdāmāpāṇau giriḥ ।
ādhirvidhyati nastvamarpayakare miṁ vā kṣaṇe dakṣiṇe,
doṣṇaste karavāma kāmamadhunā savyāsyā saṁvāhanam।
"O Kanha! You are holding this mountain on the little finger of Your left hand. We are terribly pained to see You hold a single posture and not eat or drink anything for seven straight days. Please hand it over to Shri Dama for a while. If You don’t want to hand it over then please hold it on Your right hand, so,we can press your left hand. We cannot see You like this anymore.”
Once, friends had put wager that the loser will become a horse and winner will ride on the loser's back. Shri Krishna lost so friends compelled Him to act like a horse and cowherd boys rode on His back. Brahma saw this amazing scene and says
अहोभाग्यमहोभाग्यमं नंदगोपब्रजौकसाम्।
यन्मित्रं परमानंदं पूर्णं ब्रह्म सनातनम्।
भा १०.१४.३२
ahobhāgyamahobhāgyamaṁ naṁdagopabrajaukasām।
yanmitraṁ paramānaṁdaṁ pūrṇaṁ brahma sanātanam।
bhā 10.14.32
"What a grace on these illiterate cowherd boys! The veritable Bliss, absolute Brahma-Supreme God has become their eternal bosom buddy!!"
These devotees enjoy sweeter bliss than the devotees of dasya bhav.
सख्य भाव वालों को गोविंद राधे । भक्ति अनुराग पूर्व तक पहुँचा दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5617
sakhya bhāva vāloṁ ko goviṁda rādhe । bhakti anurāga pūrva taka pahum̐cā de ॥
rādhā goviṁda gīta 5617
"Devotees serving Shri Krishna with this bhav can attain up to initial (lower) level of anurag bhakti. "
There are even higher states of love which cannot be attained by these devotees.
Vatsalya bhav
Loving Shri Krishna as a son is vatsalya bhav (Devanagari: वात्सल्य भाव ISO15919: vātsalya bhāva). Pampering baby Shri Krishna with ever increasing parental love is the chief traits of vatsalya bhav.
वात्सल्य में है निष्ठा गोविंद राधे। सेवा विश्रम्भ ममता बता दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5606
vātsalya meṁ hai niṣṭhā goviṁda rādhe। sevā viśrambha mamatā batā de ॥
rādhā goviṁda gīta 5606
The bliss, that Nand Baba experiences when Shri Krishna sits in his lap surpasses words. Mother Yashoda's state is inexplicable when the Supreme Lord drinks her milk.
This bliss is so sweet that devotees of vatsalya bhav never ever want to know that their son is God. They want to enjoy their son to the fullest. Once Yashoda adorned her little baby Kanha in beautiful clothes and tiny ornaments. After sometime she stepped away for a bit. When she returned she saw him playing in mirk (water mixed in dirt).
She got angry and scolding her child she said,
पंकाभिषिक्तसकलावयवं विलोक्य,
दामोदरं वदति कोपवशाद्यशोदा ।
त्वं शूकरोऽसि गतजन्मनि पूतनारे
रित्युक्तिसस्मितमुखोऽवतु नो मुरारिः ..
कृ. कर्णामृत
paṁkābhiṣiktasakalāvayavaṁ vilōkya,
dāmōdaraṁ vadati kōpavaśādyaśōdā ।
tvaṁ śūkarō'si gatajanmani pūtanārē
rityuktisasmitamukhō'vatu nō murāriḥ ..
kr̥. karṇāmr̥ta
"Kanha! I bathed You and adorned You with nice clothes . Within no time you played in the mirk and became dirty again. It seems you were a pig in your past life". Shri Krishna smiled on this comment of Mother Yashoda thinking, 'Yes, Maiya you are right. I have taken a Shookaravatar (Devanagari: शूकरावतार ISO15919: śūkarāvatāra) in satyug'."
The fortune of such devotees cannot be fathomed.
Yashoda was fed up of listening to the complaints of Shri Krishna. Once she tied Him to a mortar. With tears rolling down His cheeks He was begging Maiya to release Him. Seeing his Lord in such a pitiable condition, Narad Ji, admiring the fortune of Mother Yashoda says-
यशोदा समा कापि महात्मा नास्ति भूतले ।
उलूखले यया बद्धो म्य्क्तिदो मुक्तिमिच्छति ॥
yaśōdā samā kāpi mahātmā nāsti bhūtalē ।
ulūkhalē yayā baddhō myktidō muktimicchati ॥
“Who can be more blessed saint on this earth than mother Yashoda! She has tied Shri Krishna to a mortar. Let alone Shri Krishna Himself, even His name is so potent that it grants liberation to the individual souls. That Shri Krishna is crying and begging Maiya to release Him”.
Shukdev Paramhans also says -
नेमं विरिञ्चो न भवो न श्रीरप्यङ्गसंश्रया ॥
प्रसादं लेभिरे गोपी यत्तत् प्राप विमुक्तिदात॥
भा 10.9.20
nēmaṁ viriñcō na bhavō na śrīrapyaṅgasaṁśrayā ॥
prasādaṁ lēbhirē gōpī yattat prāpa vimuktidāta॥
bhā 10.9.20
“The grace attained by Yashoda is not accessible even to the son of Shri Krishna - Brahma, the most loved Shankar and eternal consort Maha Lakshmi, the one who always resides on His chest (the Shri Vatsa sign)”.
Devotees with this bhav can attain the highest level of Anurag bhakti and not beyond.
वात्सल्य भाव वालों को गोविंद राधे ।
भक्ति अनुराग अंत तक पहुँचा दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5618
vātsalya bhāva vālōṁ kō gōviṁda rādhē ।
bhakti anurāga aṁta taka pahum̐cā dē ॥
rādhā gōviṁda gīta 5618
Madhurya Bhav
Loving Shri Krishna as a beloved is called Madhurya Bhav (माधुर्य भाव). This is the most intimate relationship with Him. In this bhav in addition to the 5 traits mentioned in the bhavs above, devotee also surrenders herself.
माधुर्य में हैं चारों गोविंद राधे। पाँचवा है आत्मसमर्पण बता दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5607
mādhurya mēṁ haiṁ cārōṁ gōviṁda rādhē। pām̐cavā hai ātmasamarpaṇa batā dē ॥
rādhā gōviṁda gīta 5607
In this relationship there are three levels
Depending of their level of selflessness and self-surrender, these devotees can attain up to Mahabhav bhakti.
मधुर भाव वालों को गोविंद राधे । भक्ति महाभाव भक्ति तक पहुँचा दे ॥राधा गोविंद गीत 5619
madhura bhāva vālōṁ kō gōviṁda rādhē । bhakti mahābhāva bhakti taka pahum̐cā dē ॥
rādhā gōviṁda gīta 5619
In UJJVAL NEELMANI, the exclusive scripture on nectar of devotion, Roop Goswami has explained these levels as follow
Sadharani Rati
साधारणी निगदिता समंजसाऽसौ समर्था च।
कुब्जादिषु महीषीषु गोकुलदेवीषु क्रमतः ॥
sādhāraṇī nigaditā samaṁjasā'sau samarthā ca।
kubjādiṣu mahīṣīṣu gōkuladēvīṣu kramataḥ ॥
Sadharani Rati ( Devanagari: साधारणी रति ISO15919: sādhāraṇī rati) is rare like a gem (mani) which is found in great devotees like Kubja only. Although this kind of love is not selfless, so though condemnable it is not commendable either. It rises in association of beloved. Fulfilling one's Self-desire of copulation is the base of Sadharani Rati.
Ujjval Neelmani defines this love as lowest in Madhurya Bhav -
असांद्रत्वाद्रेतेरस्या समंभोगेच्छा विभिद्यते ।
एतस्या ह्रासतोह्रासस्तद्हेतुत्वाद्रतेरपि ॥
asāṁdratvādrētērasyā samaṁbhōgēcchā vibhidyatē ।
ētasyā hrāsatōhrāsastadhētutvādratērapi ॥
"Yet to love the Supreme Brahma Shri Krishna as beloved, rejecting all other gods and all kinds of allurements, is not an ordinary task". That’s why the Bhagavat says,
कृष्णभक्तः सकामोऽपि वरान्यखलु सेवकात्।
निष्कामादपि तत्कामो यतो मोक्षाय कल्पते ॥
kr̥ṣṇabhaktaḥ sakāmō'pi varānyakhalu sēvakāt।
niṣkāmādapi tatkāmō yatō mōkṣāya kalpatē ॥
Out of devotees of all forms of God, Shri Krishna's devotees are greater for even a selfish devotee of Shri Krishna can attain what selfless devotees of other deities cannot attain. Devotees of Shri Krishna discard liberation in favor of love bliss ".
That’s why even Shukdev Ji admired highly the love of Kubja in Bhagavat -
दुराराध्यं समाराध्य विष्णुं सर्वेश्वरेश्वरम्।
यो वृणीते मनोग्रामसत्त्वात् कुमनीष्यसौ ।
भा 10.18.11
durārādhyaṁ samārādhya viṣṇuṁ sarvēśvarēśvaram।
yō vr̥ṇītē manōgrāmasattvāt kumanīṣyasau ।
bhā 10.18.11
"Kubja loved Shri Krishna, the one who is not accessible to the great paramhansas and even to Lord Brahma, Lord Shankar and saint Narad etc. !! It is reprehensible to please Shri Krishna only to turn around and ask Him to fulfill material desires. She is not so dumb-witted. She loved Shri Krishna and wished for Him to be her beloved".
These devotees are of Madhurya bhav yet due to their desire of self-happiness they can attain only up to Prem bhakti.
साधारणी रति गोविंद राधे । प्रेमा भक्ति तक जाए बता दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5646
sādhāraṇī rati gōviṁda rādhē । prēmā bhakti taka jāē batā dē ॥
rādhā gōviṁda gīta 5646
Due to the desire of self-happiness they cannot attain higher levels of love described below. They get to be servants of Queen Rukmani in Dwarka.
Samanjasa Rati
Samanjasa rati (Devanagari: समंजसा रति ISO15919: samaṁjasā rati) is
पत्निभावाभिमानित्वाद् गुणादिश्रवणादिजः ।
क्वचिद्भेदित् संभोगतृष्णा सान्द्रा समञ्जसा ॥
patnibhāvābhimānitvād guṇādiśravaṇādijaḥ ।
kvacidbhēdit saṁbhōgatr̥ṣṇā sāndrā samañjasā ॥
This is like a Chintamani (wish fulfilling gem), which is very rare in the universe. This type of love is found in the queens of Shri Krishna only. His wives are proud of the fact that “I am His wife”.
Sometimes, these devotees have an over-powering desire of physical association for pleasing themselves. This love increases more upon hearing about His attributes, character and beauty etc. Yet it is profound.
Devotees of this kind of love can rise up to highest level of Anurag bhakti only and not beyond.
समंजसा रति गोविंद राधे । अनुराग भक्ति तक जाए बता दे ॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5647
samaṁjasā rati gōviṁda rādhē । anurāga bhakti taka jāē batā dē ॥
rādhā gōviṁda gīta 5647
Samartha Rati
Samartha Rati (Devanagari: समर्था रति ISO15919: samarthā rati) is like Kaustubh Mani, which is not found anywhere else in the universe except with Shri Krishna only. Precisely, Samartha Rati is exclusively found in Gopis only.
क्वचिद्विषेमायान्त्या संभोगेच्छा ययाऽभितः ।
रत्या तदात्मापन्ना सा समर्थेति भण्यते ।
स्वस्वरूपात्तदियाद्वा जातो यत्किञ्चदन्वयात्।
समर्था सर्वविस्मारिगन्धा सान्द्रतमा मता ।
उ. नी
kvacidviṣēmāyāntyā saṁbhōgēcchā yayā'bhitaḥ ।
ratyā tadātmāpannā sā samarthēti bhaṇyatē ।
svasvarūpāttadiyādvā jātō yatkiñcadanvayāt।
samarthā sarvavismārigandhā sāndratamā matā ।
u. nī
Samartha rati is laden with unique nature of love-sentiments, which easily fascinates Shyam Sundar. Even a hint of this love immediately terminates shyness, patience, modesty and all other kind of obstacles. A gopi whose heart is brimming with of Samartha rati says –
कोउ कहौ कुलटा कुलीन अलीन कहौ,
कोउ कहौ रंकिनी कलंकिनी कुनारी हौं ।
कैसो नरलोक परलोक बर लोकन में,
लीनी मैं अलीक लीक लोकन ते न्यारी हौं ।
तन जाहु मन जाहु देव गुरुजन जाहु,
प्रान किन न जाहु टेक टरति न टारी हौं ।
वृदाबन वारी बनवारी की मुकुट वारी,
पीतपट वारी वही हुरति पै वारी हौं ॥
kōu kahau kulaṭā kulīna alīna kahau,
kōu kahau raṁkinī kalaṁkinī kunārī hauṁ ।
kaisō naralōka paralōka bara lōkana mēṁ,
līnī maiṁ alīka līka lōkana tē nyārī hauṁ ।
tana jāhu mana jāhu dēva gurujana jāhu,
prāna kina na jāhu ṭēka ṭarati na ṭārī hauṁ ।
vr̥dābana vārī banavārī kī mukuṭa vārī,
pītapaṭa vārī vahī hurati pai vārī hauṁ ॥
They openly proclaim, “we don’t care at all if anyone defames us by accusing us about our character, clan, immorality, family etc. We don’t care if the entire world rejects us. We also don’t care for achievements of this planet or thereafter or even higher planets. We have chosen the unique path of love and our life is entirely sacrificed to Shyam Sundar alone.”
Gopi's love is called Madhu Sneh in which the devotee has a very heightened feeling of “He is mine” hence I love Him. This is the reason, no matter how adverse the situation might be, the fervor of their love never diminishes.
Based on the bhav and selflessness of relationship, the divine bliss can be categorized into 8 levels out of those Mahabhav is the highest level. Only the gopis can rise up to Roorh Mahabhav.
A Rasik saint depicts their love beautifully in this composition.
Uddhav, the foremost gyani of Dwapar Yug, was very dear friend of Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna wanted Uddhav to give up his gyan of impersonal form of Brahm and taste the sweetness of love. But Uddhav was very proud of his gyan. Also, being a friend he could have dismissed the advice of Shri Krishna. So, Shri Krishna hatched a clever plan to convince Uddhav to visit the gopis. He said,”Gopis used to love Me a lot. Now that I have left Braj they are devastated. Go give them your gyan, so they can overcome their pain".
The gopis are the professors in the school of love. Shri Krishna was sure that after seeing the exclusive love of the gopis, Uddhav would surely discard his pride of gyan and assimilate the true meaning of knowledge which is true love for God. Without love gyan is nothing but sheer ignorance.
So, Uddhav went to the gopis to impart the insipid knowledge of Vedant to convince them to forget Shri Krishna. He told them,“Shri Krishna does not love you anymore. The gyan of Vedant will help you renounce all attachments resulting in peace of mind and liberation”.
Hearing this, the gopis mocked His knowledge and said -
उधो! कहियो हरि समुझाय ।
हम सब उनहिं न कबहुँ बिसरिहैं, वे चाहे बिसराय ।
वे मेरे प्रियतम प्राणेश्वर, हम अबला असहाय ।
हम सब भईं सनातन चेरी, वे चाहे ठुकराय ।
चितवत पंथ रैन दिन दैहौं, अगनित जनम बिताय ।
पै कृपालु को भय पिय जग सों, तव परतीति न जाय ।
प्रेम रस मदिरा
udhō! kahiyō hari samujhāya ।
hama saba unahiṁ na kabahum̐ bisarihaiṁ, vē cāhē bisarāya ।
vē mērē priyatama prāṇēśvara, hama abalā asahāya ।
hama saba bhaīṁ sanātana cērī, vē cāhē ṭhukarāya ।
citavata paṁtha raina dina daihauṁ, aganita janama bitāya ।
pai kr̥pālu kō bhaya piya jaga sōṁ, tava paratīti na jāya ।
prēma rasa madirā
“O Uddhav! Convey this message to your friend as it is. He should not try to befool us. We have accepted Him as our beloved. In other words we have solely surrendered our life to Him. Now we cannot even die unless it is His wish. He might not have submitted His life to us but we have. So, we will wait for Him for millions of lives until He decides to come back. We, however, do fear that the world will lose faith in His graciousness”.
समर्था रति तो गोविंद राधे। सर्वोच्च भक्ति महाभाव दिला दे॥
राधा गोविंद गीत 5648
samarthā rati tō gōviṁda rādhē। sarvōcca bhakti mahābhāva dilā dē॥
rādhā gōviṁda gīta 5648
Those with samartha rati rise to the level of Mahabhav bhakti.