{"id":57674,"date":"2021-09-24T00:05:29","date_gmt":"2021-09-24T04:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/?p=57674"},"modified":"2023-09-24T00:18:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T04:18:11","slug":"nectar-of-devotion-chapter-thirty-six-transcendental-affection-servitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/nectar-of-devotion-chapter-thirty-six-transcendental-affection-servitude\/","title":{"rendered":"Nectar of Devotion CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: – Transcendental Affection (Servitude)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Transcendental Affection (Servitude)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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The transcendental mellow of affection has been accepted by authorities like \u015ar\u012bdhara Sv\u0101m\u012b as a perfectional stage of devotion. It is just above the humor of neutrality and is a requisite for the development of the serving humor. In literature such as N\u0101ma-kaumud\u012b<\/em> this state of existence is accepted as continuous affection for or attraction to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Authorities like \u015aukadeva consider this stage of affection to be in the neutral stage, but in any case this affection is relished by the devotees in different transcendental tastes, and therefore the general name for this state is affection, or pure affection for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.,,,<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Devotees engaged in servitude are attached to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in the affection of reverence. Some of the inhabitants of Gokula (V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana as exhibited on earth) are attached to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a on this platform of affection in reverence. The inhabitants of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana used to say, \u201cK\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is always manifest before us with a complexion like a blackish cloud. He holds His wonderful flute in His lotus hands. He is dressed in yellow silks and bedecked with a peacock feather on His head. When K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a walks near Govardhana Hill with these personal features, all the inhabitants of the heavenly planets, as well as the inhabitants of this earth, feel transcendental bliss and consider themselves the eternal servants of the Lord.\u201d Sometimes the devotee becomes filled with the same awe and reverence by seeing a picture of Vi\u1e63\u1e47u, who is dressed like K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and who has a similar complexion. The only difference is that Vi\u1e63\u1e47u has four hands, in which He holds the conch shell, the disc, the club and the lotus flower. Lord Vi\u1e63\u1e47u is always decorated with many valuable jewels, such as the candrak\u0101nta<\/em>stone and the s\u016bryak\u0101nta<\/em> stone.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the Lalita-m\u0101dhava<\/em> by R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b there is the following statement by D\u0101ruka, one of the servants of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a: \u201cCertainly Lord Vi\u1e63\u1e47u is very beautiful with His necklace of kaustubha<\/em> jewels, His four hands holding conch shell, disc, club and lotus flower, and His dazzlingly beautiful jewelry. He is also very beautiful in His eternal position, riding upon the shoulder of Garu\u1e0da. But now the same Lord Vi\u1e63\u1e47u is present as the enemy of Ka\u1e41sa, and by His personal feature I am completely forgetting the opulence of Vaiku\u1e47\u1e6dha.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Another devotee once said, \u201cThis Supreme Personality of Godhead from whose bodily pores come millions of universes, permanently rising, who is the ocean of mercy, who is the owner of inconceivable energies, who is always equipped with all perfections, who is the origin of all incarnations, who is the attraction for all liberated persons\u00a0\u2013 this very Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme controller and the supremely worshipable. He is all-cognizant, fully determined and fully opulent. He is the emblem of forgiveness and the protector of surrendered souls. He is munificent, true to His promise, expert, all-auspicious, powerful and religious. He is a strict follower of the scripture, He is the friend of the devotees, and He is magnanimous, influential, grateful, reputable, respectable, full of all strength, and submissive to pure love. Surely He is the only shelter of devotees who are attracted to Him by the affection of servitorship.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The devotees of the Lord in servitude are divided into four classes: appointed servants (such as Lord Brahm\u0101 and Lord \u015aiva, who are appointed to control the material modes of passion and ignorance), devotees in servitude who are protected by the Lord, devotees who are always associates and devotees who are simply following in the footsteps of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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APPOINTED SERVANTS<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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In a conversation between J\u0101mbavat\u012b, one of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s wives, and K\u0101lind\u012b, her friend, J\u0101mbavat\u012b inquired, \u201cWho is this personality circumambulating our K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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K\u0101lind\u012b replied, \u201cShe is Ambik\u0101, the superintendent of all universal affairs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then J\u0101mbavat\u012b inquired, \u201cWho is this personality who is trembling at the sight of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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K\u0101lind\u012b replied, \u201cHe is Lord \u015aiva.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then J\u0101mbavat\u012b inquired, \u201cWho is the person offering prayers?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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K\u0101lind\u012b replied, \u201cHe is Lord Brahm\u0101.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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J\u0101mbavat\u012b then asked, \u201cWho is that person who has fallen on the ground and is offering respect to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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K\u0101lind\u012b replied, \u201cHe is Indra, the king of heaven.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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J\u0101mbavat\u012b next inquired, \u201cWho is this person who has come with the demigods and is laughing with them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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K\u0101lind\u012b replied, \u201cHe is my elder brother, Yamar\u0101ja, the superintendent of death.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This conversation offers a description of all the demigods, including Yamar\u0101ja, who are engaged in services appointed by the Lord. They are called adhik\u1e5bta-devat\u0101,<\/em> or demigods appointed to particular types of departmental service.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DEVOTEES UNDER THE PROTECTION AND SHELTER OF THE LORD<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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One resident of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana once told Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, \u201cMy dear K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, O pleasure of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana! Being afraid of this material existence, we have taken shelter of You, for You can completely protect us! We are well aware of Your greatness. As such, we have given up our desire for liberation and have taken complete shelter under Your lotus feet. Since we have heard about Your ever-increasing transcendental love, we have voluntarily engaged ourselves in Your transcendental service.\u201d This statement is by a devotee who is under the protection and shelter of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Upon being chastised by K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s constant kicking on his head, K\u0101liya, the black snake of the Yamun\u0101, came to his senses and admitted, \u201cMy dear Lord, I have been so offensive unto You, but still You are so kind that You have marked my head with the impression of Your lotus feet.\u201d This is also an instance of one\u2019s taking shelter under the lotus feet of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the Apar\u0101dha-bha\u00f1jana<\/em> a pure devotee expresses his feelings: \u201cMy dear Lord, I am ashamed to admit before You that I have carried out the orders of my masters named lust, anger, avarice, illusion and envy. Sometimes I have carried out their orders in a way most abominable. Yet in spite of my serving them so faithfully, they are not satisfied, nor are they kind enough to give me relief from their service. They are not even ashamed of taking service from me in that way. My dear Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, now I have come to my senses and I am taking shelter of Your lotus feet. Please engage me in Your service.\u201d This is another instance of surrendering and taking shelter of the lotus feet of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There are many instances in the various Vedic writings of persons who were aspiring after liberation by speculative knowledge but gave up this process in order to take complete shelter under the lotus feet of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Examples of such persons are the br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> headed by \u015aaunaka in the forest of Naimi\u1e63\u0101ra\u1e47ya.* Learned scholars accept them as devotees having complete wisdom. There is a statement in the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya<\/em> in which these great br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> and sages, headed by \u015aaunaka \u1e5a\u1e63i, told S\u016bta Gosv\u0101m\u012b, \u201cMy dear great soul, just see how wonderful it is! Although as human beings we are contaminated with so many taints of material existence, simply by our conversing with you about the Supreme Personality of Godhead we are now gradually decrying our desire for liberation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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*\u00a0These are the br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> to whom \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/a><\/em> was spoken by S\u016bta Gosv\u0101m\u012b, as described in the author\u2019s \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/a>,<\/em> First Canto, first chapter.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In Pady\u0101val\u012b<\/em> a devotee says, \u201cPersons who are attached to speculative knowledge for self-realization, who have decided that the supreme truth is beyond meditation and who have thus become situated in the mode of goodness\u00a0\u2013 let them peacefully execute their engagement. As for us, we are simply attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is by nature so pleasing, who possesses a complexion like a blackish cloud, who is dressed in yellow garments and who has beautiful lotuslike eyes. We wish only to meditate upon Him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Those who are from the very beginning of their self-realization attached to devotional service are called sev\u0101-ni\u1e63\u1e6dha. Sev\u0101-ni\u1e63\u1e6dha<\/em> means \u201csimply attached to devotional service.\u201d The best examples of such devotees are Lord \u015aiva, King Indra, King Bahul\u0101\u015bva, King Ik\u1e63v\u0101ku, \u015arutadeva and Pu\u1e47\u1e0dar\u012bka. One devotee says, \u201cMy dear Lord, Your transcendental qualities attract even the liberated souls and carry them to the assembly of devotees where Your glories are constantly chanted. Even great sages who are accustomed to living in solitary places are also attracted by the songs of Your glory. And, observing all Your transcendental qualities, I have also become attracted and have decided to dedicate my life to Your loving service.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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CONSTANT ASSOCIATES<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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In the city of Dv\u0101rak\u0101 the following devotees are known as K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s close associates: Uddhava, D\u0101ruka, S\u0101tyaki, \u015arutadeva, \u015aatrujit, Nanda, Upananda and Bhadra. All of these personalities remain with the Lord as His secretaries, but still they are sometimes engaged in His personal service. Among the Kuru dynasty, Bh\u012b\u1e63ma, Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it and Vidura are also known as close associates of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. It is said, \u201cAll the associates of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a have lustrous bodily features, and their eyes are just like lotus flowers. They have sufficient power to defeat the strength of the demigods, and the specific feature of their persons is that they are always decorated with valuable ornaments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a was in the capital Indraprastha, someone addressed Him thus: \u201cMy dear Lord, Your personal associates, headed by Uddhava, are always awaiting Your order by standing at the entrance gate of Dv\u0101rak\u0101. They are mostly looking on with tears in their eyes, and in the enthusiasm of their service they are not afraid even of the devastating fire generated by Lord \u015aiva. They are souls simply surrendered unto Your lotus feet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Out of the many close associates of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, Uddhava is considered the best. The following is a description of him: \u201cHis body is blackish like the color of the Yamun\u0101 River, and it is similarly as cool. He is always decorated with flower garlands first used by Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, and he is dressed with yellow silk clothing. His two arms are just like the bolts of a door, his eyes are just like lotus flowers, and he is the most important devotee among all the associates. Let us therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto Uddhava\u2019s lotus feet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Uddhava has described the transcendental qualities of \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as follows: \u201cLord \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, who is our master and worshipable Deity, the controller of Lord \u015aiva and Lord Brahm\u0101, and the controller of the whole universe as well, accepts the controlling orders of Ugrasena, His grandfather. He is the proprietor of millions of universes, but still He begged a little land from the ocean. And although He is just like an ocean of wisdom, He sometimes consults me. He is so great and magnanimous, yet He is engaged in His different activities just like an ordinary person.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Those who are constantly engaged in the personal service of the Lord are called anugas,<\/em> or followers. Examples of such followers are Sucandra, Ma\u1e47\u1e0dana, Stamba and Sutamba. They are all inhabitants of the city of Dv\u0101rak\u0101, and they are dressed and ornamented like the other associates. The specific services entrusted to the anugas<\/em> are varied. Ma\u1e47\u1e0dana always bears the umbrella over the head of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Sucandra is engaged in fanning with the white c\u0101mara<\/em> bunch of hair, and Sutamba is engaged in supplying betel nuts. All of them are great devotees, and they are always busy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As there are anugas<\/em> in Dv\u0101rak\u0101, so there are many anugas<\/em> in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana also. The names of the anugas<\/em> in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana are as follows: Raktaka, Patraka, Patr\u012b, Madhuka\u1e47\u1e6dha, Madhuvrata, Ras\u0101la, Suvil\u0101sa, Premakanda, Marandaka, \u0100nanda, Candrah\u0101sa, Payoda, Bakula, Rasada and \u015a\u0101rada.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Descriptions of the bodily features of the anugas<\/em> in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana are given in the following statement: \u201cLet us offer our respectful obeisances unto the constant associates of the son of Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Nanda. They always stay in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, and their bodies are decorated with garlands of pearls and with bangles and bracelets of gold. Their colors are like black bees and the golden moon, and they are dressed just to suit their particular special bodily features. Their specific duties can be understood from a statement by mother Ya\u015bod\u0101, who said, \u2018Bakula, please cleanse the yellowish dress of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. V\u0101rika, you just flavor the bathing water with aguru<\/em> scent. And Ras\u0101la, you just prepare the betel nuts. You can all see that K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is approaching. There is dust overhead, and the cows can be seen very distinctly.\u2019\u2009\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Among all the anugas,<\/em> Raktaka is considered to be the chief. The description of his bodily features is as follows: \u201cHe wears yellow clothing, and his bodily color is just like newly grown grass. He is very expert in singing and is always engaged in the service of the son of Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Nanda. Let us all become the followers of Raktaka in offering transcendental loving service to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a!\u201d An example of the attachment felt by Raktaka toward Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a can be understood from his statement to Rasada: \u201cJust hear me! Please place me so that I may always be engaged in the service of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, who has now become famous as the lifter of the Govardhana Hill.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The devotees of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a engaged in His personal service are always very cautious because they know that becoming personal servitors of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is not an ordinary thing. A person who offers respect even to the ants engaged in the service of the Lord becomes eternally happy, so what is there to say of one who offers K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a direct service? Raktaka once said within himself, \u201cNot only is K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a my worshipable and servable Lord, but also the girlfriends of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the gop\u012bs,<\/em> are equally worshipable and servable by me. And not only the gop\u012bs,<\/em> but anyone who is engaged in the service of the Lord is also worshipable and servable by me. I know that I must be very careful not to become overly proud that I am one of the servitors and devotees of the Lord.\u201d From this statement one can understand that the pure devotees, those who are actually engaged in the service of the Lord, are always very cautious and are never overly proud of their service.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This mentality of the direct servitor of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is called dh\u016brya.<\/em> According to expert analytical studies of the direct associates of the Lord, \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b has divided these into three classes\u00a0\u2013 namely, dh\u016brya, dh\u012bra<\/em> and v\u012bra.<\/em> Raktaka is classified among the dh\u016brya,<\/em> or those who are always attached to serving the most beloved gop\u012bs.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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One dh\u012bra<\/em> associate of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is the son of Satyabh\u0101m\u0101\u2019s nurse. Satyabh\u0101m\u0101 is one of the queens of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in Dv\u0101rak\u0101, and when she was married to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the son of her nurse was allowed to go with her because they had lived together from childhood as brother and sister. So this gentleman, the son of Satyabh\u0101m\u0101\u2019s nurse, used to live with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as His brother-in-law, and sometimes as brother-in-law he used to play jokes with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. He once addressed K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in this way: \u201cMy dear K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, I never tried to gain the favor of the goddess of fortune, who is married to You, but still I am so fortunate that I am considered one of the members of Your house, the brother of Satyabh\u0101m\u0101.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A v\u012bra<\/em> associate once expressed his pride, declaring, \u201cLord Baladeva may be a great enemy of Pralamb\u0101sura, but I have nothing to worry about from Him. And as far as Pradyumna is concerned, I have nothing to take from him, because he is simply a boy. Therefore I do not expect anything from anyone else. I simply expect the favorable glance of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a upon me, and so I am not even afraid of Satyabh\u0101m\u0101, who is so dear to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the Fourth Canto of \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/a>,<\/em> twentieth chapter, verse 28, King P\u1e5bthu addresses the Lord, saying, \u201cMy dear Lord, it may happen that the goddess of fortune becomes dissatisfied with my work, or I may even have some misunderstanding with her, but I will not mind this, because I have full confidence in You. You are always causelessly merciful to Your servants, and You consider even their menial service to be very much advanced. So I have confidence that You will accept my humble service, although it is not worthy of being recognized. My dear Lord, You are self-sufficient. You can do anything You like without the help of anyone else. So even if the goddess of fortune is not satisfied with me, I know that You will always accept my service anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Devotees attached to the transcendental loving service of the Lord may be described either as surrendered souls, as souls advanced in devotional knowledge, or as souls completely engaged in transcendental loving service. Such devotees are called (respectively) neophyte, perfect and eternally perfect.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Transcendental Affection (Servitude) The transcendental mellow of affection has been accepted by authorities like \u015ar\u012bdhara Sv\u0101m\u012b as a perfectional stage of devotion. It is just above the humor of neutrality and is a requisite for … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-04 01:40:22","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57674"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57674\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}