Prema bhakti-Perfect devotion
God has an intimate divine power called Svarupa Shakti. As soon as the seeker starts sadhana bhakti, by the grace of Guru, Svarupa Shakti enters the seeker’s mind and starts cleansing it of all material desires.
At the zenith of bhav bhakti, mind is cleansed of all material desires and yearning for meeting God is at its acme. It is at this opportune moment that Guru transforms the seeker’s material mind into divine. In that divine receptable Guru bestows the Prem.
This divine power is called Prema Bhakti (Devanagari: प्रेमा भक्ति ISO15919: premā bhakti).
It is also referred to by many other names
- Siddha Bhakti (Devanagari: सिद्धा भक्ति ISO15919: siddhā bhakti). The word siddha means ripe or perfect.
- Anapiyini bhakti (Devanagari: अनपायिनी भक्ति ISO15919: anapāyinī bhakti) means bhakti which is unattainable and any and every means. It is bestowed by Guru.
- Nirbhara bhakti (Devanagari: निर्भरा भक्ति ISO15919: nirbharā bhakti) devotion in which solely reliant on God.
- Kevala bhakti (Devanagari: केवला भक्ति ISO15919: kevalā bhakti) means pure devotion.
- Nirguna bhakti (Devanagari: निर्गुणा भक्ति ISO15919: nirguṇā bhakti) means devotion which is not laced with gunas of Maya.
No sooner does the bhakt gets Prema Bhakti God gives darshan and removes Maya forever.
What is Prema Bhakti?
Know that this topic is beyond words. It is only to be experienced. Still, in words you can know the definition as follows.
This Prema Bhakti is a divine power.
The Supreme God Shri Krishna has a power of bliss called Haldini shakti. The word hladini means “the giver of bliss”. Essence of Haldini shakti is Prem - divine love.
Fruit of sadhana bhakti is bhav bhakti. This Prem is a divine gift hence NOT a fruit of sadhana bhakti. Receiving this gift is the ONLY way to relish it. That is why scripture advise to perform sadhana bhakti under the sublime guidance of an authentic Guru.
Categorically stating, this divine Prem cannot be attained even after performing astounding amount of spiritual activities for any length of time. This Prem is bestowed by Guru as a divine gift.
Prem is unlimited and everlasting. Yet based on the sweetness and intimacy with Shri Krishna, it can be divided into eight levels.
Prem
The is the lowest level of perfect love. Two kinds of devotees attain this level - those who worship
1. Paramatma form of The Supreme Lord
2. Shri Krishna with sadharani rati
Sneh
The Sanskrit word sneh (Devanagari: स्नेह ISO15919: sneha) means oil. When the oil is put into the lamp the flame burns stronger and brighter.
Similarly, in this state love attains excellence. The lover perceives the beloved all the time and this melts the lover’s heart.
When sneh is enkindled in the heart, the longing to meet Shyam Sundar does not subside.
आरूह्य परमां काष्ठां प्रेमा चिद्दिपदीपनः । हृदयं द्रावयन्नेष, स्नेह इत्यभिधीयते ।
ārūhya paramāṁ kāṣṭhāṁ premā ciddipadīpanaḥ । hr̥dayaṁ drāvayanneṣa, sneha ityabhidhīyate ।
अत्रोदिते भवेज्जातु न तृप्तिर्दशनादिषु ॥ उ.नी.म. ७९
atrodite bhavejjātu na tr̥ptirdaśanādiṣu ॥ u.nī.ma. 79
हमारो सहज सनेही श्याम... प्रेम रस मदिरा (विरह माधुरी २०४)
hamāro sahaja sanehī śyāma... prema rasa madirā (viraha mādhurī 204)
अङ्गसङ्गे विलोके च श्रवणादौ स च कमात् । कनिष्ठो मध्यमो श्रेष्ठस्त्रिविधोऽयं मनोद्रवः । उ.नी.
aṅgasaṅge viloke ca śravaṇādau sa ca kamāt । kaniṣṭho madhyamo śreṣṭhastrividho'yaṁ manodravaḥ । u.nī.
जब चित्त श्याम सुन्दर के अङ्ग सङ्ग से द्रविभूत होता है तो इसे कनिष्ठ कहते हैं । जब दर्शन से हो है तो इसे मध्यम और जब श्रवण मात्र से ही उत्पन्न हो तो उसे श्रेष्ठ माना जाता है ।
Sneh has three levels of purity -
- When the heart melts with physical association of Shri Krishna then it is called kanistha (Devanagari: कनिष्ठ ISO15919: kaniṣṭha) - little love.
- When heart melts at His sight then is is called madhyam (Devanagari: मध्यम ISO15919: madhyama) - medium love.
- When heart melts at merely hearing His voice then it is shrestha (Devanagari: श्रेष्ठ ISO15919: śreṣṭha) - superior love.
Sneh bhakti has two sentiments in it
स्नेह दो प्रकार का - घृत स्नेह, मधु स्नेह ॥
sneha do prakāra kā - ghr̥ta sneha, madhu sneha ॥
स घृतं मधुचेत्यक्तः स्नेहो द्वेधा स्वरूपतः ॥
sa ghr̥taṁ madhucetyaktaḥ sneho dvedhā svarūpataḥ ॥
"sneh is of two types. Ghrit sneh and madhu sneh".
Ghrit Sneh
Ghrit means ghee – purified butter. Ghee liquefies with warmth but solidifies in cold. Similarly,
आत्यन्तिकादरमयः स्नेहो घृतमितीर्यते ॥
ātyantikādaramayaḥ sneho ghr̥tamitīryate ॥
"the heart of a lover with Ghrit Sneh (Devanagari: घृत स्नेह ISO15919: ghr̥ta sneha) needs care and attention from the Beloved and in the absence of care and attention devotee's heart hardens".
Ghee tastes sweet only when it is mixed with sugar, otherwise not.
In ghrit sneh the sentiment is “I belong to him”.
Madhu Sneh
As opposed to ghee, honey (madhu) is sweet by itself and temperature fluctuation doesn’t drastically impact its consistency. Madhu sneh (Devanagari: मधु स्नेह ISO15919: madhu sneha) is similar to honey.
This love increases with or without any attention and association of the Beloved, therefore love never diminishes. The predominant sentiment in madhu sneh is
मदीयत्वादतिशयभाक् प्रिये स्नेहो भ्वेन्मधुः ।
madīyatvādatiśayabhāk priye sneho bhvenmadhuḥ ।
“Shri Krishna is mine that is why I love Him".
Madhu sneh is considered superior than Ghrit sneh.
There is another form of love called lakshaavat sneh (Devanagari: लाक्षावत स्नेह ISO15919: lākṣāvata sneha). Laaksh (लाक्ष) is a resin (wax) used for sealing envelops. To melt it one has to heat it quite a bit and it stays molten as long as heat is high.
The heart of devotees in this category melts only while they receive a lot of care and attention of their beloved. In the absence of lot of care and attention their love withers. This form of love is even lower than Ghrit sneh.
Maan
When the love exults, it becomes sweeter and brings the devotee closer to The Divine Couple. In maan (Devanagari: मान ISO15919: māna) state
स्नेहस्तूकृष्टतावाप्त्या माधुर्यंमानयन्नवम् यो धारयत्यदाक्षिण्यं स मान इति कीर्त्यते ॥
snehastūkr̥ṣṭatāvāptyā mādhuryaṁmānayannavam। yo dhārayatyadākṣiṇyaṁ sa māna iti kīrtyate ॥
"the devotee discards all formalities and reservations. Even though love is brimming the lover expresses a fake resentment towards the beloved".
For example, Beloved Shyam Sundar wants to shower His love on the gopi, whose heart is brimming with love for Him. Yet she pretends her reluctance in accepting that love. Faking her disinclination, she also scolds Shyam Sundar saying
मुंचांचलं चंचल पश्य लोकं बालोऽसि नालोकयसे कलंकम्।
भावं न जानासि विलासिनीनां गोपाल गोपाल पंडितोऽसि ॥
muṁcāṁcalaṁ caṁcala paśya lokaṁ bālo'si nālokayase kalaṁkam।
bhāvaṁ na jānāsi vilāsinīnāṁ gopāla gopāla paṁḍito'si ॥
“Leave me alone. Don’t you know that people would fabricate stories to defame us. Kanha! You are totally uncivilized and know nothing except grazing the cows.”
A gopi was restless all night to meet Shyam Sundar. Early morning she left home with an intention to see Him but on the pretext to sell yogurt. Still, when He comes to meet the gopi, she says
हट खोलो न घँघट पट ओ नटखट ।
आगे है ननद सास है पाछे, अबहिं होयेगी झट खटपट ।
द्वै दिन भये ब्याहु कहँ मो कहँ, अबहिं जायेगो पिट चटपट ।
haṭa kholo na gham̐ghaṭa paṭa o naṭakhaṭa ।
āge hai nanada sāsa hai pāche, abahiṁ hoyegī jhaṭa khaṭapaṭa ।
dvai dina bhaye byāhu kaham̐ mo kaham̐, abahiṁ jāyego piṭa caṭapaṭa ।
“O naughty one! Don’t lift my veil and try to flirt around with me. My mother-in-law is walking ahead of me and sister-in-law is walking behind me. I got married 2 days ago, if You flirt with me, my husband will beat You up.”
Pranay
A more intensified stage of Maan is known as pranaya (Devanagari: प्रणय ISO15919: praṇaya)
मानोदधानो विश्रम्भं प्रणयः प्रोच्यते बुधैः ॥
mānodadhāno viśrambhaṃ praṇayaḥ procyate budhaiḥ ॥
"The lover feels so much intimacy with Shyam Sundar that she can't distinguish between herself and the beloved." She says -
कान्ह भये प्राणमय प्राण भये कान्हमय, हृदै ते न जानि परे प्राण हैं कि कान्ह हैं ।
kānha bhaye prāṇamaya prāṇa bhaye kānhamaya, hr̥dai te na jāni pare prāṇa haiṁ ki kānha haiṁ ।
“When I see Shri Krishna I see myself and when I see my reflection I see the love of my life. I am confused as to who Shri Krishna is and who I am”.
Raag
At the stage of perfection the spontaneous love intensifies by leaps and bounds and the devotee cannot spend even a moment without seizing an opportunity to please Beloved by serving Him.
दुखमप्यधिकं चित्ते सुखत्वेनैव व्यंज्यते । यतस्तु प्रणयोत्कर्षात स राग इति कीर्त्यते ॥
dukhamapyadhikaṁ citte sukhatvenaiva vyaṁjyate । yatastu praṇayotkarṣāta sa rāga iti kīrtyate ॥
“In raag (Devanagari: राग ISO15919: rāga) due to excessive love, experiencing miseries for the pleasure of the beloved becomes a source of great joy”.
The devotee finds pleasure in the greatest possible misery if it results in pleasure of Shri Radha Krishna. On the contrary, the devotee is miserable if the self-happiness causes any disruption in the happiness of the Divine Couple. Understand this with a real example state in Shrimad Bhagawatam.
In their separation from Shri Krishna the gopis considered a single moment an entire yuga. Their distress of separation knew no bounds. To calm down the pangs of separation they are excessively eager to embrace the lotus feet of Shyam Sundar. The bliss of touching His lotus feet is ineffable. Yet, when she has the opportunity to embrace Him this is what she is concerned about :
यत्तेसुजातचरणाम्बुरूहं स्तनेषु भीताः शनैः प्रियदधीमहि कर्कषेषु ।
तेनाटवीमटसि तद्व्यथते न किंस्वित् कूर्पादिभिर्भ्रमतिधीर्भवदायुषां नः ॥ भाग १०.३१.१8
sadānubhūtamapi yaḥ kuryānnavanavaḥ priyam yattesujātacaraṇāmburūhaṁ staneṣu bhītāḥ śanaiḥ priyadadhīmahi karkaṣeṣu ।
tenāṭavīmaṭasi tadvyathate na kiṁsvit। kūrpādibhirbhramatidhīrbhavadāyuṣāṁ naḥ ॥
bhāga 10.31.18
"O Shree Krishna! As Your feet are more tender than a lotus, we use utmost caution while putting them on our chest. With the same tender feet, You wander in the deep forest bare feet. The mere thought of You treading with those tender feet on the thorny, stony paths in the forest gives us immense pain!"
In spite of such yearning they do not greedily hold His feet tightly. Gopis are cognizant of the softness of His feet and the hardness of their own chest. They exercise great restraint as they gently place the soles of His feet on their own chest.
Imagine! the extent of love of these gopis. The mere thought of causing discomfort to Shri Krishna was unbearably more painful than the horrible pangs of separation. Who can fathom this love?
Anurag
सदानुभूतमपि यः कुर्यान्नवनवः प्रियम् रागो भवन्नवभवः सोऽनुराग इतीर्यते ॥
sadānubhūtamapi yaḥ kuryānnavanavaḥ priyam rāgo bhavannavabhavaḥ so'nurāga itīryate ॥
Anuraag (Devanagari: अनुराग ISO15919: anurāga) is such an intensified level of love that no matter how much she has experienced the beauty, sweet voice, gestures and actions of Shyam Sunder, they are ever new to her. Every time her excitement is as if she is meeting her Beloved for the very first time. All day long Shyam Sundar grazes cows in the forest and returns in the evening. So, a gopi says
अटति यद् भवानह्नि कानने, त्रुतिर्युगायते त्वामपश्यताम्।कुटिल कुन्तलं च श्रीमुखं च ते, जड़ उदीक्षतां पक्ष्मकृद्दृशाम्॥
भाग १०.३१.१५
aṭati yad bhavānahni kānane, trutiryugāyate tvāmapaśyatām।kuṭila kuntalaṁ ca śrīmukhaṁ ca te, jaṛudīkṣatāṁ pakṣmakr̥ddr̥śām॥
bhāga 10.31.15
"After an entire day of yearning, when I see You the blinking of my eyelids becomes intolerable, for it blocks my vision of You for a fraction of a second”. So they curse the creator Brahma for making eyelids which innately are designed to blink.
In Anurag the following exclusive qualities emerge automatically:
परस्पर वशीभावः प्रेमवैचित्त्यकम् तथा । अप्राणिन्यपि जन्माप्त्यै लालसाभर उन्न्तः । उज्वल नीलमणि १४.१४९
paraspara vaśībhāvaḥ premavaicittyakam tathā । aprāṇinyapi janmāptyai lālasābhara unntaḥ ।
ujvala nīlamaṇi 14.149
“Controlling each other, strangeness of love, personification of objects etc”. Lord Krishna says:
साधवो हृदयं मह्यं साधूनां हृदयं त्वहम्। मदन्यत्। ते न जानन्ति नाहं तेभ्यो मनगपि । भाग ९.४.६८
sādhavo hr̥dayaṁ mahyaṁ sādhūnāṁ hr̥dayaṁ tvaham। madanyat। te na jānanti nāhaṁ tebhyo managapi ।
bhāga 9.4.68
“The pure devotee always lives within My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them”. It proves that Shri Krishna is fully controlled by His devotees and His devotees are controlled by Him.
Shri Radha personifies the insentient flute, and admires its blessedness as Shri Krishna refuses to part with it.
अलि ! मुरलि के बड़ भाग रे ।
याने जाने कौन कियो तप, नित मोहन मुख लाग रे ।
निधरक पियत अधर रस निशि दिन, सरस प्रेम रस पाग रे ।
कबहुँक कर कबहुँक उर हरि नहिं, इक छिन कहँ नहिं त्याग रे ।
शुक सनकादि शंभु से योगिहुँ, याय करत अनुराग रे ।
कह कृपालु यह लोकहिं वेदहिं, कुलहिं लगावति दाग रे ॥
प्रे. र. म. मुरलि माधुरी
ali ! murali ke baṛ bhāga re ।
yāne jāne kauna kiyo tapa, nita mohana mukha lāga re ।
nidharaka piyata adhara rasa niśi dina, sarasa prema rasa pāga re ।
kabahum̐ka kara kabahum̐ka ura hari nahiṁ, ika china kaham̐ nahiṁ tyāga re ।
śuka sanakādi śaṁbhu se yogihum̐, yāya karata anurāga re ।
kaha kr̥pālu yaha lokahiṁ vedahiṁ, kulahiṁ lagāvati dāga re ॥
pre. ra. ma. murali mādhurī
"O Sakhi! the flute is extremely blessed. I don't know what austerity it performed to be so intimate with Shyam Sundar. Imbued with Shyam Sundar's love, it unhesitatingly drinks the nectar of His lips day and night. Besides, sometimes Shyam Sundar holds it in His hands and at other times clasps it to His heart. Shyam Sundar is so attached to her that He does not leave it even a moment. Up to what extent can we say, even the greatest gyanis Shuk, Sanak etc and the greatest yogis - like Bhagawan Shankar - are crazily in love with it. In the words of Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj, the most concerning thing is that it blemishes our ancestral propriety (because, mesmerizing us by its enchanting music , it forces us to forget all decorum)."
This is why the gopis are jealous of the flute. They wish to become a flute to attain more love and association of Shyam Sundar.
The inital state of this level is attainable by devotees of sakhya bhav. Devotees who serve Shri Krishna with vatsalya bhav can reach the zenith of this level. Also, those who worship Shri Krishna with samanjasa rati of madhurya bhav can reach the zenith of this level.
Bhavavesh
अनुरागः स्वसंवेद्यदशां प्राप्य प्रकाशितः । यावदाश्रयवत्तिश्चेद् भव इत्यभिधीयते। उज्वल नीलमणि १४.१५४
anurāgaḥ svasaṁvedyadaśāṁ prāpya prakāśitaḥ । yāvadāśrayavattiśced bhava ityabhidhīyate।
ujvala nīlamaṇi 14.154
Transformation and exaltation of Anurag gives rise to spiritual trance called bhavavesh (Devanagari: भावावेश ISO15919: bhāvāveśa).
Ever new waves of love sentiments keep on sprouting in the hearts of such devotees and the symptoms of love cannot be hidden. A gopi says-
अनुपम रूप नीलमणि को री ।
प्रति अंगनि छवि कोटि अनंगनि, सुष्मा सुधा सार रस बोरी ।
जिनहिन अंगनि नैनन निरखत, तिनहिन कहँ कह सरस बड़ो री ।
नख शिख लखि सखि अँखियनहुँ ते, पल पल तलफति देखन को री ।
कह ‘कृपालु’ गागर महँ सागर, आव न यतन करोर करो री ।
प्रे. र. म. श्री कृ. माधुरी
anupama rūpa nīlamaṇi ko rī ।
prati aṁgani chavi koṭi anaṁgani, suṣmā sudhā sāra rasa borī ।
jinahina aṁgani nainana nirakhata, tinahina kaham̐ kaha sarasa baड़o rī ।
nakha śikha lakhi sakhi am̐khiyanahum̐ te, pala pala talaphati dekhana ko rī ।
kaha ‘kr̥pālu' gāgara maham̐ sāgara, āva na yatana karora karo rī ।
pre. ra. ma. śrī kr̥. mādhurī
"The beauty of Shri Krishna's divine form is matchless. Every part of His body is more beautiful that the beauty of countless cupids. Whosoever sees His divine form says it is imbued with divine nectar. Even after seeing His whole form with my own eyes, I still wriggle to see Him. Poet Kripalu Maharaj says -No matter how hard you try, you cannot contain the whole ocean in a pitcher".
Upon attaining perfection in this state only the gopis enter the state of Mahabhav.
Mahabhav
The zenith of Bhav transforms in to Mahabhav (Devanagari: महाभाव ISO15919: mahābhāva). It is like the sun, which is beneficial in two ways.
1. Removes the darkness and
2. Bathes everything with its bright rays.
Precisely, by the inestimable grace of Shri Radha Krishna the heightened state of love Mahabhav rises in the heart of the rarest of devotees. It uproots the darkness of desire of self - happiness and fills the heart with ever-growing divine love and ever new brilliance.
The Mahabhav has two incomprehensible love-sentiments -
स रूढ़श्चाधिरूढ़श्चेत्यच्यते द्विविधो बुधैः । उ. नी
sa rūṛhścādhirūṛhścetyacyate dvividho budhaiḥ । u. nī
1. roorh mahaabhaav (रूढ़ भाव)
2. adhiroorh mahaabhaav (अधिरूढ़ भाव)
Roorh Mahabhav
उद्दीप्ता सात्विका यत्र स रूढ़ इत्यभिधीयते ।
uddīptā sātvikā yatra sa rūrh ityabhidhīyate ।
Multiple symptoms of divine ecstasy reveal in roorh mahabhav (Devanagari: रूढ़ भाव ISO15919: rūṛh bhāva). Gopis in Roorh mahabhav enjoy the uddeept state. At this stage of ecstasy the symptoms of love cannot be concealed or controlled.
This stage is so rare that even the chief queens of Shri Krishna are not eligible to enjoy the bliss of this state.
As Roop Goswami says
मुकुन्दमहिषीवृन्दैरर्प्यसावतिदुर्लभः । ब्रजदेव्यैकसंवेद्यो महाभावाख्ययोच्यते ॥
mukundamahiṣīvr̥ndairarpyasāvatidurlabhaḥ । brajadevyaikasaṁvedyo mahābhāvākhyayocyate ॥
“They rise in the utterly pure hearts of those gopis only who are exclusively concerned about the happiness of Shri Radha Krishna. These gopis have no desire for self-happiness.”
Adhiroorh Mahabhav
रूढ़ोत्येभ्योऽनुभावेभ्यः कामप्याप्ता विशिष्टताम् । यत्रानिभावा दृश्यन्ते, सोऽधिरूढ़ो निगद्यते ॥ उ. नी.
rūṛhotyebhyo'nubhāvebhyaḥ kāmapyāptā viśiṣṭatām । yatrānibhāvā dr̥śyante, so'dhirūṛho nigadyate ॥ u. nī.
When exclusive sentiments of Roorh mahabhav reach higher and denser states of love, they are called Adhiroorh mahabhav (Devanagari: अधिरूढ़ महाभाव ISO15919: adhirūṛh mahābhāva).
Only Shri Krishna can reach here. In this unintelligible state of love the unparalleled bliss of meeting beloved and pangs of separation manifest simultaneously.
मोदनो मादनाख्यचासावधिरूढ़ो निगद्यते
modano mādanākhyacāsāvadhirūṛho nigadyate
There are two kinds of Adhiroorh bhav –
Modan
मोदनः स द्वयोऽत्र सात्विकोद्दीप्त सौष्ठवम् ।
modanaḥ sa dvayo'tra sātvikoddīpta sauṣṭhavam ।
In the higher states of modan mahabhav (Devanagari: मोदन महाभाव ISO15919: modana mahābhāva) state uddeept symptoms of ecstasy of divine love constantly appear in the divine body
राधिकायूथ एवासौ मोदनो न तु सर्वतः ।
यः श्रीमान् ह्लादिनी शक्तेः सुविलासः प्रियो वरः ॥ उ. नी.
rādhikāyūtha evāsau modano na tu sarvataḥ ।
yaḥ śrīmān hlādinī śakteḥ suvilāsaḥ priyo varaḥ ॥ u. nī.
“It is found only in the most intimate group of Shri Radha. All the symptoms of ecstasy keep on springing up incessantly. There is no trace of any distress”.
Only Shri Radha, Shri Krishna and Asht Maha Sakhi reach this state of Prema bhakti.
These symptoms appear only by the grace of Shri Radha.
Mohan
The same Modan Mahabhav turns into more obscure form in separation and that state of ecstasy is called Mohan Mahabhav (Devanagari: मोहन महाभाव ISO15919: mohana mahābhāva) .
मोदनोऽयं प्रविश्लेषदशायां मोहनो भवेत्। यस्मिन् विरहवैवश्यात् सूद्दीप्ता एव सात्विकाः ॥
modano'yaṁ praviśleṣadaśāyāṁ mohano bhavet। yasmin virahavaivaśyāt sūddīptā eva sātvikāḥ ॥
In this incomprehensible state of love the asht satvik bhav disappear and only the feeling of separation stays. This feeling is so strong that even in the presence of beloved Shri Krishna, Shri Radha experiences unbearable pangs of separation.
While sitting right beside Shri Krishna or resting Her head on the lap of Shri Krishna, She feels an unexcelled state of separation. Beloved Shyam Sundar keeps on reminding Her, “O My beloved Radha! See I am right here. You are in My arms. I am talking to You.” But She feels unbearable pangs of separation. His arms feel like a snakes to Her. This state is beyond the comprehension of even those who have the intellect like that of creator Brahma and Lord Shankar.
One can have an inkling of Shri Radha Rani’s extraordinary dignity in state of separation from the following verse:
और्वस्तोमात्कटुरपि कथं दुर्बलेनोरसा मे, तापः प्रौढ़ो हरि विरहजःसह्यते तत्र जाने ।
निष्कान्ता चेद्भवति हृदयाद्यस्य धूमच्छटाऽपि, ब्रह्माण्डामपि सखि ज्वालया जाज्वलेति ॥
aurvastomātkaṭurapi kathaṁ durbalenorasā me, tāpaḥ prauढ़o hari virahajaḥsahyate tatra jāne ।
niṣkāntā cedbhavati hr̥dayādyasya dhūmacchaṭā'pi, brahmāṇḍāmapi sakhi jvālayā jājvaleti ॥
After bearing the blaze of separation from Shri Krishna for an extended period, Shri Radha says to her innermost friend Vishakha, “O sakhi ! In separation from Shyam Sundar My heart is burning in the fire, which is much more scorching than Badvanal (Devanagari: बड़वानल ISO15919: baṛvānala). I don’t know with what power I am bearing it. Alas ! if as little heat as is in the tip of this flame escapes My heart the entire creation will instantly turn into ashes.”
Badvanal is a blazing fire which emanates from the third eye of Lord Shiva. It shows no grace or mercy to anyone but consumes everything that comes in its way.
This love is expressed in mainly two ways : udghurna and chittra jalp.
Udghurna
Udghurna (Devanagari: उद्घूर्णा ISO15919: udghūrṇā) is a state of various emotional contortions caused by the extreme sorrow of separation from the Beloved Shri Krishna.
Chittra Jalp
Chittra jalp (Devanagari: चित्रजल्प ISO15919: citrajalpa) is outburst of the suppressed pathos of separation, and also of intense solicitude for the absent lover. There are 10 kinds of Chittra jalp:
- Prajalp (Devanagari: प्रजल्प ISO15919: prajalpa)
- Parijalp (Devanagari: परिजल्प ISO15919: parijalpa)
- Vijalp (Devanagari: विजल्प ISO15919: vijalpa)
- Ujjalp (Devanagari: उज्जल्प ISO15919: ujjalpa)
- Sanjalp (Devanagari: सन्जल्प ISO15919: sanjalpa)
- Abhijalp (Devanagari: अभिजल्प ISO15919: abhijalpa)
- Avijalp (Devanagari: अविजल्प ISO15919: avijalpa)
- Aajalp (Devanagari: आजल्प ISO15919: ājalpa)
- Pratijalp (Devanagari: प्रतिजल्प ISO15919: pratijalpa)
- Sujalp (Devanagari: सुजल्प ISO15919: sujalpa)
The best idea of all these states of Chittra Jalp can be taken from Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapuran, Gopi Geet in 10th canto. This divine stage of deepest love is also known as Divyonmaad (Devanagari: दिव्योन्माद ISO15919: divyonmāda) - divine ecstasy.
Maadan
Among the two aspects of adhiroorha mahabhava, maadan (Devanagari: मादन ISO15919: mādana) or amatory intoxication is the fullest development of all the sentiments of divine love. Shri Radha alone experiences this bliss.
सर्वभावोद्रगमोल्लासी मादनोऽयं परत्परः ।
राजते ह्लादिनी सारो राधायामेव यः सदा ॥
sarvabhāvodragamollāsī mādano'yaṁ paratparaḥ । rājate hlādinī sāro rādhāyāmeva yaḥ sadā ॥
Shri Krishna is Parbrahm - Absolute Brahm. Even He cannot access this exclusive stage of love. There is nothing beyond this bliss. That is why this state is called Paraatparah (Devanagari: परात्पर ISO15919: parātpara), which means it is beyond par (aka Shri Krishna).
Upon revelation of Mahabhav, Shri Radha experiences the limitless bliss of all aspects of Beloved Shri Krishna, all at the same time. e.g. the bliss of simultaneously talking to Him, seeing Him, touching Him, kissing Him, embracing Him, smelling His fragrance etc.
Although Shri Radha is established on the highest stage of love, where Shri Krishna also cannot reach, yet she is enraptured by everything of beloved Shyam Sunder. Let alone human being this is beyond comprehension of creator Lord Brahma, Lord Shankar, sage Narad etc. as well.
