Raganuga bhakti - the follower
Spontaneous love for Shri Krishna aroused in the heart of a most fortunate jiva is known as raganuga bhakti (Devanagari: रागानुगा भक्ति ISO15919: rāgānugā bhakti) .
Those who follow the precepts of raganuga bhakti are not ruled by the scriptures at all. Still, beware, disobeying or dishonoring scriptures is not the principle of raganuga bhakti. Sometimes to acquire knowledge to enhance devotion or to fortify raganuga bhakti, an aspirant may need help of the scriptures.
To increase the desire to serve beloved Shri Krishna, aspirants have to remain surrendered to the scriptures, to your chosen Guru and great devotees. This exclusivity is essential in raganuga bhakti.
The foundation of their devotion is to love Shri Krishna to have the opportunity to service Him according to His choice. These devotees follow the ideology of Ragatmika Bhakti. CAUTION: They should not mimic the actions of those with Ragatmika Bhakti.
Raganuga bhakti is of two types
Kamroopa raganuga bhakti
The devotees of Madhurya bhav follow the ideology of gopis of Ragatmika Bhakti.
Sambandhroopa Raganuga Bhakti
The devotees of dasya, sakhya and vatsalya bhav follow the Ragatmika devotees of the corresponding bhavas.
When jiva worships God with dasya, sakhya and vatsalya bhav according to the ideals of the eternal associate of the same bhava, it is called sambandhroopa raganuga bhakti (Devanagari: संबंधरूपा - रागानुगा भक्ति ISO15919: saṁbaṁdharūpā - rāgānugā bhakti).
These devotees should have deep reverence for the ideal devotees of Sambanadhroopa Ragatmika Bhakti e.g. Raktak, Sudama, Arjun, Yashoda, Nandbaba etc.
They should read the stories and sing the episodes of Ragatmika devotees of the same bhavas while cultivating the same sentiments for Shri Krishna. These devotees can choose to physically serve Shri Krishna with the help of an Idol to improve their devotion. Alternately, they could mentally serve Shri Krishna to please Him.
They are supposed to serve or love God according to modesty of the relationship. When Tulasidas Ji reached Vrindaban and visited a Radha-Krishna Temple, The Divine Couple stood embracing each other.
Tulsidas immediately closed his eyes lest he transgresses teh modesty of his relationship. A servant is not supposed to enter the private quarters of his master, where Master is present in a romantic pose. Then he requested Lord Krishna-
कहा कहौं छवि आज की, भले बने हो नाथ । तुलसी मस्तक तब नवै, धनुष बाण लेहु हाथ ॥
"Your beauty is ineffable in this stance! Yet my Lord! I am your servant. How can I enter your room? So, please hold Bow and arrows, thus you will not be in that posture and I will be able to see you".
Devotees of raganuga bhakti have to surrender to devotees of Ragatmika Bhakti and follow their ideals and instructions. Aspirants are not supposed to imitate them.
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