{"id":57794,"date":"2020-09-24T12:44:04","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T16:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/?p=57794"},"modified":"2023-09-24T12:46:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T16:46:14","slug":"nectar-of-devotion-chapter-sixteen-spontaneous-devotion-further-described","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/nectar-of-devotion-chapter-sixteen-spontaneous-devotion-further-described\/","title":{"rendered":"Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER SIXTEEN: – Spontaneous Devotion Further Described"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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Spontaneous Devotion Further Described<\/span><\/h1>\n

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RELATIONSHIP<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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In the attitude of the denizens of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, such as Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and mother Ya\u015bod\u0101, is to be found the ideal transcendental concept of being the father and mother of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the original Personality of Godhead. Factually, no one can become the father or mother of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, but a devotee\u2019s possession of such transcendental feelings is called love of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in a parental relationship. The V\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47is (K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s relatives at Dv\u0101rak\u0101) also felt like that. So spontaneous love of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in the parental relationship is found both among those denizens of Dv\u0101rak\u0101 who belonged to the dynasty of V\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47i and among the inhabitants of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Spontaneous love of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as exhibited by the V\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47is and the denizens of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana is eternally existing in them. In the stage of devotional service where regulative principles are followed, there is no necessity of discussing this love, for it must develop of itself at a more advanced stage.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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ELIGIBILITY FOR SPONTANEOUS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Persons desiring to follow in the footsteps of such eternal devotees of the Lord as the V\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47is and V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana denizens are called r\u0101g\u0101nug\u0101<\/em> devotees, which means that they are trying to attain to the perfection of those devotees. These r\u0101g\u0101nug\u0101<\/em>devotees do not follow the regulative principles of devotional service very strictly, but by spontaneous nature they become attracted to some of the eternal devotees such as Nanda or Ya\u015bod\u0101, and they try to follow in their footsteps spontaneously. There is a gradual development of the ambition to become like a particular devotee, and this activity is called r\u0101g\u0101nug\u0101.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We must always remember, however, that such eagerness to follow in the footsteps of the denizens of Vraja (V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana) is not possible unless one is freed from material contamination. In following the regulative principles of devotional service, there is a stage called anartha-niv\u1e5btti,<\/em> which means the disappearance of all material contamination. Sometimes someone is found imitating such devotional love, but factually he is not freed from anarthas,<\/em> or unwanted habits. It has been seen that a so-called devotee proclaims himself a follower of Nanda, Ya\u015bod\u0101 or the gop\u012bs,<\/em> while at the same time his abominable attraction for mundane sex life is visible. Such a manifestation of divine love is mere imitation and has no value. When one is actually spontaneously attracted to the loving principles of the gop\u012bs,<\/em> there will be found no trace of any mundane contamination in his character.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Therefore, in the beginning, everyone should strictly follow the regulative principles of devotional service according to the injunctions of the scriptures and the spiritual master. Only after the stage of liberation from material contamination can one actually aspire to follow in the footsteps of the devotees in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It is said by \u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b, \u201cWhen one is actually liberated from material contamination, he can always remember an eternal devotee in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana in order to love K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in the same capacity. And developing such an aptitude, one will always live in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, even within his mind.\u201d The purport is that if it is possible one should go and physically be present at Vraja-bh\u016bmi, V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, and be engaged always in the service of the Lord, following the devotees in Vraja-dh\u0101ma, the spiritual realm of Vraja. If it is not possible, however, to be physically present at V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, one can meditate anywhere on living in that situation. Wherever he may be, one must always think about life in Vraja-dh\u0101ma and about following in the footsteps of a particular devotee in the service of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A devotee who is actually advanced in K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness, who is constantly engaged in devotional service, should not manifest himself, even though he has attained perfection. The idea is that he should always continue to act as a neophyte devotee as long as his material body is there. Activities in devotional service under regulative principles must be followed even by the pure devotee. But when he realizes his actual position in relationship with the Lord, he can, along with the discharging of regulative service, think within himself of the Lord under the guidance of a particular associate of the Lord, and develop his transcendental sentiments in following that associate.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In this connection, we should be careful about the so-called siddha-pra\u1e47\u0101l\u012b.<\/em> The siddha-pra\u1e47\u0101l\u012b<\/em> process is followed by a class of men who are not very authorized and who have manufactured their own way of devotional service. They imagine that they have become associates of the Lord simply by thinking of themselves like that. This external behavior is not at all according to the regulative principles. The so-called siddha-pra\u1e47\u0101l\u012b<\/em> process is followed by the pr\u0101k\u1e5bta-sahajiy\u0101,<\/em> a pseudosect of so-called Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas. In the opinion of R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b, such activities are simply disturbances to the standard way of devotional service.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b says that learned \u0101c\u0101ryas<\/em> recommend that we follow the regulative principles even after the development of spontaneous love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. According to the regulative principles, there are nine departmental activities, as described above, and one should specifically engage himself in the type of devotional service for which he has a natural aptitude. For example, one person may have a particular interest in hearing, another may have a particular interest in chanting, and another may have a particular interest in serving in the temple. So these, or any of the other six different types of devotional service (remembering, serving, praying, engaging in some particular service, being in a friendly relationship or offering everything in one\u2019s possession), should be executed in full earnestness. In this way, everyone should act according to his particular taste.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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CONJUGAL LOVE<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Devotional service following in the footsteps of the gop\u012bs<\/em> of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana or the queens at Dv\u0101rak\u0101 is called devotional service in conjugal love. This devotional service in conjugal love can be divided into two categories. One is indirect conjugal love, the other direct. In both of these categories, one has to follow the particular gop\u012b<\/em> who is engaged in such service in Goloka V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana. To be directly attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in conjugal love is technically called keli.<\/em> This keli<\/em> performance means to directly join with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are other devotees who do not wish direct contact with the Supreme Person, but who relish the conjugal love affairs of the Lord with the gop\u012bs.<\/em> Such devotees enjoy simply by hearing of the activities of the Lord with the gop\u012bs.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This development of conjugal love can be possible only with those who are already engaged in following the regulative principles of devotional service, specifically in the worship of R\u0101dh\u0101 and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in the temple. Such devotees gradually develop a spontaneous love for the Deity, and by hearing of the Lord\u2019s exchange of loving affairs with the gop\u012bs,<\/em> they gradually become attracted to these pastimes. After this spontaneous attraction becomes highly developed, the devotee is placed in either of the above-mentioned categories.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This development of conjugal love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is not manifested in women only. The material body has nothing to do with spiritual loving affairs. A woman may develop an attitude for becoming a friend of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, and, similarly, a man may develop the feature of becoming a gop\u012b<\/em> in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana. How a devotee in the form of a man can desire to become a gop\u012b<\/em> is stated in the Padma Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/em> as follows: In days gone by there were many sages in Da\u1e47\u1e0dak\u0101ra\u1e47ya. Da\u1e47\u1e0dak\u0101ra\u1e47ya is the name of the forest where Lord R\u0101macandra lived after being banished by His father for fourteen years. At that time there were many advanced sages who were captivated by the beauty of Lord R\u0101macandra and who desired to become women in order to embrace the Lord. Later on, these sages appeared in Gokula V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana when K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a advented Himself there, and they were born as gop\u012bs,<\/em> or girlfriends of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. In this way they attained the perfection of spiritual life.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The story of the sages of Da\u1e47\u1e0dak\u0101ra\u1e47ya can be explained as follows. When Lord R\u0101macandra was residing in Da\u1e47\u1e0dak\u0101ra\u1e47ya, the sages who were engaged in devotional service there became attracted by His beauty and immediately thought of the gop\u012bs<\/em> in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, who enjoyed conjugal loving affection with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. In this instance it is clear that the sages of Da\u1e47\u1e0dak\u0101ra\u1e47ya desired conjugal love in the manner of the gop\u012bs,<\/em> although they were well aware of the Supreme Lord as both K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and Lord R\u0101macandra. They knew that although R\u0101macandra was an ideal king and could not accept more than one wife, Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, being the full-fledged Personality of Godhead, could fulfill the desires of all of them in V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana. These sages also concluded that the form of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is more attractive than that of Lord R\u0101macandra, and so they prayed to become gop\u012bs<\/em> in their future lives to be associated with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Lord R\u0101macandra remained silent, and His silence shows that He accepted the prayers of the sages. Thus they were blessed by Lord R\u0101macandra to have association with Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in their future lives. As a result of this benediction, they all took birth as women in the wombs of gop\u012bs<\/em> at Gokula, and as they had desired in their previous lives, they enjoyed the company of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, who was present at that time in Gokula V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana. The perfection of their human form of life was thus achieved by their generating a transcendental sentiment to share conjugal love with Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Conjugal love is divided into two classifications\u00a0\u2013 namely, conjugal love as husband and wife and conjugal love as lover and beloved. One who develops conjugal love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as a wife is promoted to Dv\u0101rak\u0101, where the devotee becomes the queen of the Lord. One who develops conjugal love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as a lover is promoted to Goloka V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana to associate with the gop\u012bs<\/em> and enjoy loving affairs with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a there. We should note carefully, however, that this conjugal love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, either as gop\u012b<\/em> or as queen, is not limited only to women. Even men can develop such sentiments, as was evidenced by the sages of Da\u1e47\u1e0dak\u0101ra\u1e47ya. If someone simply desires conjugal love but does not follow in the footsteps of the gop\u012bs,<\/em>he is promoted to association with the Lord at Dv\u0101rak\u0101.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the Mah\u0101-k\u016brma Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/em> it is stated, \u201cGreat sages who were the sons of fire-gods rigidly followed the regulative principles in their desire to have conjugal love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. As such, in their next lives they were able to associate with the Lord, the origin of all creation, who is known as V\u0101sudeva, or K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, and all of them got Him as their husband.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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PARENTHOOD OR FRIENDSHIP<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Devotees who are attracted to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as parents or as friends should follow in the footsteps of Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja or Subala respectively. Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja is the foster father of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, and out of all of the friends of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, Subala is the most intimate in Vraja-bh\u016bmi.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the development of becoming either the father or friend of the Lord, there are two varieties. One method is that one may try to become the father of the Lord directly, and the other is that one may follow Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and cherish the ideal of being K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s father. Out of these two, the attempt to directly become the father of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is not recommended. Such a development can become polluted with M\u0101y\u0101v\u0101da (impersonal) philosophy. The M\u0101y\u0101v\u0101d\u012bs, or monists, think that they themselves are K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, and if one thinks that he himself has become Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, then his parental love will become contaminated with the M\u0101y\u0101v\u0101da philosophy. The M\u0101y\u0101v\u0101da philosophical way of thinking is offensive, and no offender can enter into the kingdom of God to associate with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the Skanda Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/em> there is a story of an old man residing in Hastin\u0101pura, capital of the kingdom of the P\u0101\u1e47\u1e0dus, who desired K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as his beloved son. This old man was instructed by N\u0101rada to follow in the footsteps of Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, and thus he achieved success.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There is a statement in the N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a-vy\u016bha-stava<\/em> prayers that persons who are always engaged in thinking of the Lord as their husband, friend, father or well-wisher are always worshipable by everyone. This spontaneous love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a can be developed only by the special mercy of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a or His pure devotee. This process of devotional service is sometimes called pu\u1e63\u1e6di-m\u0101rga. Pu\u1e63\u1e6di<\/em> means \u201cnourishing\u201d and m\u0101rga<\/em> means \u201cpath.\u201d Such development of sentiment nourishes devotional service to the highest standard. Thus it is called the path of nourishment, or pu\u1e63\u1e6di-m\u0101rga.<\/em> The Vallabha samprad\u0101ya,<\/em>which belongs to the Vi\u1e63\u1e47u Sv\u0101m\u012b sect of Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava religion, worships K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in this pu\u1e63\u1e6di-m\u0101rga.<\/em> Generally devotees in Gujarat worship B\u0101la K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a under this heading of pu\u1e63\u1e6di-m\u0101rga.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  \u00a0 CHAPTER SIXTEEN Spontaneous Devotion Further Described     RELATIONSHIP In the attitude of the denizens of V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, such as Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and mother Ya\u015bod\u0101, is to be found the ideal transcendental concept of being … 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-57794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-17 12:13:22","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\/57794","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=57794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57794\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}