Comparing Ragatmika and Raganuga Bhakti

Question

Can God love us more than He loves the Ashta Mahasakhis like Lalita and Vishakha?Answer
​​
Shri Krishna Himself answers this question in the Gita -

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम । ​
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थ सर्वश: ॥ गीता 4.11
yē yathā māṁ prapadyantē tāṁstathaiva bhajāmyahama ।
mama vartmānuvartantē manuṣyā: pārtha sarvaśa: ॥ gītā 4.11

“The harder a devotee tries to please Shri Krishna, the more Shri Krishna reciprocates that feeling, making the devotee happier and happier. This competition between Shri Krishna and the devotee continues until eternity.”

​Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj says, “In the realm of Hari and Guru, if you understand just one thing, this question will be gone from your mind once and for all. The straightforward answer to this question is that Hari and Guru love us, and HAVE to love us to the same extent as our love for them. The extent of their love is an exact measure.”

Still, in order to resolve this doubt, it is important for all aspiring devotees to understand that there are two kinds of God-realized saints -

1. Nitya siddha jeev - ​​There are some saints who are part of Jeev shakti yet they have never afflicted by Maya. Some of them are associates and intimate servants of God. They are engrossed in serving Him continuously. They are called Nitya siddha mahapurush. For example, hymns of Vedas. (Yes, Vedic hymns are also living beings not just mere strings of words!).

2. Sadhan siddha jeev - Then there are those saints who were once bound by Maya. Over time they did devotion under the guidance of a Saint. By the grace of the Saint they attained the divine vision and bliss of God. They are referred to as Sadhan Siddh Mahapurush. For instance, if we attain the vision of God through sadhana and the grace of a saint, we will fall under the category of Sadhan Siddh Mahapurush.

Based on this distinction, the devotion (Bhakti) of these saints is also of two kinds - Ragatmika and Raganuga.

Nitya Siddh Mahapurush are very rare to be found, and manifestations of Ragatmika Bhakti can be seen in them.

By following the instructions of saints with Ragatmika Bhakti, one develops a natural love for Shri Radha Krishna. This bhakti also has no trace of fear of the rules and regulations mentioned in the scriptures. This kind of devotion is called Raganuga Bhakti.  So Raganuga means devotion which is done by following a saint who does Ragatmika Bhakti.

More about Ragatmika Bhakti

Shri Krishna descended 5000 years ago along with the Divine Vrindavan in India. Along with Him many saints with Ragatmika Bhakti also descended from Golok. They were residents of Braj.

विराजन्तीमभिमुखं ब्रजवासिजनादिषु ।
​रागात्मिकामनुसृता या, सा रागानुगोच्यते । भक्ति रसामृत सिंधु
virājantīmabhimukhaṁ brajavāsijanādiṣu ।
​rāgātmikāmanusr̥tā yā, sā rāgānugōcyatē । 
bhakti rasāmr̥ta siṁdhu

“The devotion which is evident and naturally present in the residents of Braj, is called Ragatmika Bhakti. The devotion which is attained by following Ragatmika Bhakti is called Raganuga Bhakti.” Ragatmika Bhakti is the foundation of Raganuga Bhakti. Hence, in order to understand Raganuga Bhakti, it is imperative to understand Ragatmika Bhakti.

इष्टे स्वारसिकी रागः परमाविष्टता भवेत् तन्मयी या भवेद्भक्तिः, सात्र रागात्मिकोदिता ॥​ भक्ति रसामृत सिंधु
iṣṭē svārasikī rāgaḥ paramāviṣṭatā bhavēt tanmayī yā bhavēdbhaktiḥ, sātra rāgātmikōditā ॥​
bhakti rasāmr̥ta siṁdhu

“When one is naturally absorbed in beloved Shri Krishna and yet the  yearning for Him continuously increases, such unalloyed love is called Ragatmika Bhakti”.
​
Having a very deep longing for beloved Shri Krishna is a characteristic trait of raag, and becoming extremely passionate towards the Beloved is a secondary trait of this form of bhakti.

अब खुदा की इबादत की आदत गई, हम ही तुम हो गए, तुम ही हम हो गए
aba khudā kī ibādata kī ādata gaī, hama hī tuma hō gaē, tuma hī hama hō gaē

“Now I am out of the habit of worshiping God” because I have become so raptly engrossed in Him that I have reached the state of “I have become You, and You have become I”. 

Devotion which has such sentiments is called Ragatmika Bhakti. An unquenchable desire for serving Shri Krishna is the life-force of Ragatmika Bhakti. Such thirst is always manifested in the gopas (cowherd boys of Braj) and gopis (milk-maidens of Braj) who are Nitya siddha jeev and are associates of God.

By following the guidance of His associates of Braj, when an overwhelming desire to serve Shri Krishna arises in a jeev, it is called Raganuga bhakti. In other words, following the footsteps of the associates of Braj, upholding their extremely selfless attitude of service as the ideal to follow, is the characteristic of Raganuga Bhakti. Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj has given a short introduction to this in Radha Govind Geet -

रागानुगा भक्ति गोविंद राधे । ​आनुगत्यमयी ही होती है बता दे ॥ 
​रा. गो. गी. 5865
rāgānugā bhakti gōviṁda rādhē । ​ānugatyamayī hī hōtī hai batā dē ॥ 
​rā. gō. gī. 5865

“Raganuga Bhakti always follows (the philosophy of Ragatmika Bhakti)”.

रागात्मिका भक्ति गोविंद राधे । स्वातंत्र्यमयी ही होती है बता दे ॥ 
​रा. गो. गी. 5866
rāgātmikā bhakti gōviṁda rādhē । svātaṁtryamayī hī hōtī hai batā dē ॥ 
​rā. gō. gī. 5866

“Ragatmika Bhakti is always free”.

Here free means that it is not governed by any rules and  regulations of karma, gyan, yog, vedas or scriptures.

रागात्मिका वारे गोविंद राधे । स्वरूप शक्ति के नियन्ता बता दे ॥ 
​रा. गो. गी. 5868
rāgātmikā vārē gōviṁda rādhē । svarūpa śakti kē niyantā batā dē ॥ 
​rā. gō. gī. 5868

“Ragatmika Bhakti can be found only in those who govern God’s intimate personal power called Swaroop shakti, or Yogmaya shakti.”

रागात्मिका भक्ति गोविंद राधे। जीव ते है अप्राप्य बता दे॥ 
​रा. गो. गी. 5869
rāgātmikā bhakti gōviṁda rādhē। jīva tē hai aprāpya batā dē॥ 
​rā. gō. gī. 5869

“Ragatmika Bhakti can never be attained by a jeev”.
​
A devotee who practices Raganuga Bhakti is not governed by the scriptures. The foundations of this devotion are a deep thirst, yearning and incessant eagerness to serve Radha Krishna. However, this does not mean that we completely ignore the scriptures.

​In this, the role of scriptures is to strengthen the constant feeling of - How and by what conduct will my Raganuga Bhakti be strengthened.

​Continuously increasing the eagerness to serve the Lord by following  the instructions of the scriptures and Guru in a disciplined manner is very important in Raganuga Bhakti.

Always remember, the Gopas, Nand baba, Yashoda, gopis etc are a part of the intimate power of Shri Krishna called Swaroop Shakti. You should follow them, but not mimic their physical actions.

In other words, the associates of Braj serve Shri Krishna with soft, selfless feelings. Their only desire is to make Shri Krishna happy. You should understand these feelings and adhere to this underlying philosophy of selfless love. However, you should not consider yourself as a gopi and mimic their actions. Doing so will not only be inappropriate, but will also considered a transgression.

Only those who had it ever since will continue to have Raganuga bhakti. Ragatmika Bhakti cannot be attained by anyone. Examples of divine personalities who have Ragatmika Bhakti  are Nand-Yashoda, Subal, Madhumangal and other sakhas, Shri Radha Rani, Lalita and other sakhis. Serving in accordance with the sentiments of the devotees of the category of Ragatmika Bhakti is Raganuga Bhakti.

The rights of a jeev are limited only till this area. If an attendant of a queen serves her, she will be praiseworthy. However if the same attendant begins imitating the actions of the queen, she will be ridiculed and would also be punished. 

Some people are so ignorant that they ask if they can have the feelings of Madhurya Bhav towards Shri Radha.

Don’t you realize that she is our Divine Mother ?

We only have to adopt the sentiments of extreme levels of selflessness of these associates of Braj and only develop the feelings of rendering service. We are eternal servants of Shri Radha Krishna. Devotees of Ranagua bhakti develop these kinds of sentiments

• They are causelessly merciful by nature. 
• My will lies in serving them how-so-ever They want to be served.
• All of Their actions are delightful to me.
• May my sole desire always be Their happiness.

Such sentiments are how one adheres to ideals of Ragatmika Bhakti. This is what aspiring devotees of Raganuga Bhakti should learn and implement in their lives. ​​

सा कामरूपा सम्बन्धरूपा चेति भवेद्विधा ॥
sā kāmarūpā sambandharūpā ceti bhavedvidhā ॥

“Ragatmika Bhakti is of two kinds - Kama rupa (amorous) and Sambandh rupa (relational)”. 

​In sambandh rupa, the dignity of the relationship has the upper hand. These devotees serve Shri Krishna while remaining within the confines of their relationship with Him. They can neither serve in a manner which goes beyond the dignity of the relationship nor do they desire for obliterating the boundaries.

Let us understand both of these in detail.

Kama Rupa

The love of gopi  is only filled with natural attachment in which there are no limitations of a relationship.

रागबन्धेन केनापि तं भजन्तो ब्रजन्तयमी । 
अंघ्रिपद्मसुधा प्रेम रूपास्तस्य प्रियाः जनाः ॥भ.र​.सिं 281 
rāgabandhena kenāpi taṁ bhajanto brajantayamī । 
aṁghripadmasudhā prema rūpāstasya priyāḥ janāḥ ॥
bha.ra​.siṁ 281 

“Shri Krishna’s most beloved gopis worship Shri Krishna with an indescribable affection for His divine lotus feet. They constantly chant His glories and relish the nectar of love for His lotus feet.”

सा कामारूपा सम्भोगतृष्णा या नयति स्वताम्।
यदस्यां कृष्णसौख्यार्थमेव केवमुद्यमः ॥भ.र​.सिं 283
sā kāmārūpā sambhogatr̥ṣṇā yā nayati svatām।
yadasyāṁ kr̥ṣṇasaukhyārthameva kevamudyamaḥ ॥bha.ra​.siṁ 283

The devotion that gives a divine form to the amorous divine sentiments of the gopis is called Kama Rupa Bhakti (amorous divine love).

This is because here, efforts are made solely for the happiness of Shri Krishna. In other words, the gopis do not have any desire of their own. Even the amorous yearning depends on Shri Krishna’s desire and His happiness. The gopis experience the infinite amount of divine bliss in whatever He does willingly, whatever He says or gives on His own accord.

The gopis never seek anything for themselves. Their only desire is to make Shri Krishna happy in every possible way. They are so devoted that they don't hesitate to offer their bodies in service to Him.

माधुर्य भाव की तो गोविंद राधे । ​कृष्ण भक्ति कामानुगा है बता दे ॥
​- रा. गो. गी.5652
mādhurya bhāva kī to goviṁda rādhe । ​kr̥ṣṇa bhakti kāmānugā hai batā de ॥
​- rā. go. gī.5652

“Worshiping Shri Krishna with Madhurya Bhav is Kama Rupa Bhakti”. Hence the word kama originates from the selfless love of gopis. In the modern day the same word is used to describe selfish material love.

प्रेमैव गोपरामाणां काम इत्यगमत्प्रथाम्। 
​भ.र​.सिं 285
premaiva goparāmāṇāṁ kāma ityagamatprathām। 
​bha.ra​.siṁ 285

This supreme love is such that it gives a divine form to the gopi's amorous desires, who yearns for Shri Krishna’s service and His happiness alone. There is absolutely no place for the sensual desires in this.

​A question also arises as to whether there was no desire to embrace or kiss Shri Krishna at all?

However, one should understand that kissing someone is just an expression of one’s love. For example a father hugs and kisses his little daughter. Small children also hug and kiss their parents. However in this divine love, there is not even a trace of worldly sensual desires. These actions cannot be called bestial sense gratification. In the same manner, the gopis embraced Shri Krishna for His happiness, because in His happiness alone lies their utmost happiness. This zenith of selfless love in which there is no desire of self happiness gives them an amazing inexplicable nectarine bliss. Hence,

इत्युद्धवादयोऽप्येतं वाञ्छति भगवत्प्रियाः ॥  
​भ.र​.सिं 286
ityuddhavādayo'pyetaṁ vāñchati bhagavatpriyāḥ ॥  
​bha.ra​.siṁ 286

“Shri Krishna’s dearest friend Uddhav and others who sought liberation from Maya crave to attain Kama Rupa Bhakti. Nevertheless they cannot attain it.”

So, Uddhav Ji says,

एताः परं तनुभृतो भुवि गोपवध्वो गोविन्द एव निखिलात्मनि रूढ़​भावा: ।
वांछन्ति यद्भवभियो मुनयो वयं च, किं ब्रह्मजन्मभिरनन्त-कथारसस्य ॥
भागवत 10.47.58
etāḥ paraṁ tanubhr̥to bhuvi gopavadhvo govinda eva nikhilātmani rūṛh​bhāvā: ।
vāṁchanti yadbhavabhiyo munayo vayaṁ ca, kiṁ brahmajanmabhirananta-kathārasasya ॥
bhāgavata 10.47.58

"Out of all the people in the world, only these gopis have lived the best lives because they have the purest love (Roorh Bhav) for Lord Govinda. Their love is so special that even great renunciates, great sages, and others like us wish we could have it too. What’s the point of being born as Lord Brahma if one does not get intoxicated with bliss upon hearing the lilas of Shri Krishna?"

Hence, Shri Krishna tells the gopis,

न पारयेऽहं निरवद्यसंयुजां स्वसाधुकृत्यं विबुधायुषापि व: ।
या मा भजन् दुर्जर गेह श्रृंखलाः संवृश्च्य तद् वः प्रतियातु साधुना ॥
na pāraye'haṁ niravadyasaṁyujāṁ svasādhukr̥tyaṁ vibudhāyuṣāpi va: ।
yā mā bhajan durjara geha śrr̥ṁkhalāḥ saṁvr̥ścya tad vaḥ pratiyātu sādhunā ॥
bhāgavata 10.32.22

“I am unable to repay My debt for your pristine service, even within a lifetime of Brahma. Your connection with Me is faultless. You have worshiped Me and forsaken all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. So. please let your glorious deeds be your compensation.” 

Following the gopis and continuously feeding the thoughts of serving Shri Krishna selflessly is Kama Rupa Raganuga Bhakti.

Sambandh Rupa

संबंधरूपा गोविन्दे पितृत्वद्यभिमानता । अत्रोपलक्षणातया वृष्णीनां वल्लवा मता । 
यदैश्यज्ञानशून्यत्वादेषां रागे प्रधानता ॥  ​ 
भ.र​.सिं 288
saṁbaṁdharūpā govinde pitr̥tvadyabhimānatā । atropalakṣaṇātayā vr̥ṣṇīnāṁ vallavā matā । 
yadaiśyajñānaśūnyatvādeṣāṁ rāge pradhānatā ॥  ​ 
bha.ra​.siṁ 288

“In Sambandh Rupa Bhakti, a devotee sees themselves as being connected to Shri Krishna through a specific relationship, like being His father, mother, friend, or something similar. Similar to the associates of Kama  Rupa Bhakti, these devotees also have pure sentiments of love. Just as the gopis are an exemplary representation of Kama Rupa Bhakti, the Nitya Siddh saints such as Yashoda are an exemplary representation of Sambandh Rupa Bhakti.”

दास्य सख्य​ वात्सल्य गोविंद राधे। सम्बंधानुगा है भक्ति बता दे॥
​रा.गो.गी 5651
dāsya sakhya​ vātsalya goviṁda rādhe। sambaṁdhānugā hai bhakti batā de॥
​rā.go.gī 5651

Conclusion

From the above description, it is clear that a jeev can never reach the level of Lalita or Vishakha. Therefore, it is unrealistic to try to match their level of divine love. Moreover, the divine love that we can attain through the grace of the Ashta Mahasakhis and the saints who follow them is already infinite and beyond description.

What to say of being able to serve Shri Radha Krishna? Even serving these saints is so great that it can make the infinite bliss of Brahm seem insignificant.

In short, stop worrying about how much love you will receive from Them. Instead, focus on growing your desire to be completely selfless. Only by doing this can you experience the unmatched, immeasurable, supreme divine bliss of love.