This document discusses the differences between vaidhi bhakti (regulated devotion) and raganuga bhakti (spontaneous devotion). It explains that one must be free from material contamination and have attained nisthita bhakti (steady devotion) to practice raganuga bhakti. While vaidhi bhakti follows strict rules, raganuga bhakti is spontaneous and not dependent on rules, though one must still understand scriptural teachings. The destination of vaidhi bhaktis is Aishwarya Goloka or Dvaraka, while raganuga bhaktas reach Gokula (Vrndavana). There are debates around whether raganuga bhaktas
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Raganuga Bhakti and Vaidhi Bhakti in Gaudiya Vaishnava Bhakti
This document discusses the differences between vaidhi bhakti (regulated devotion) and raganuga bhakti (spontaneous devotion). It explains that one must be free from material contamination and have attained nisthita bhakti (steady devotion) to practice raganuga bhakti. While vaidhi bhakti follows strict rules, raganuga bhakti is spontaneous and not dependent on rules, though one must still understand scriptural teachings. The destination of vaidhi bhaktis is Aishwarya Goloka or Dvaraka, while raganuga bhaktas reach Gokula (Vrndavana). There are debates around whether raganuga bhaktas
This document discusses the differences between vaidhi bhakti (regulated devotion) and raganuga bhakti (spontaneous devotion). It explains that one must be free from material contamination and have attained nisthita bhakti (steady devotion) to practice raganuga bhakti. While vaidhi bhakti follows strict rules, raganuga bhakti is spontaneous and not dependent on rules, though one must still understand scriptural teachings. The destination of vaidhi bhaktis is Aishwarya Goloka or Dvaraka, while raganuga bhaktas reach Gokula (Vrndavana). There are debates around whether raganuga bhaktas
Differences Between Raganuga Bhakti and Vaidhi Bhakti
Who can follow Raganuga Bhakti?
One who has attained the greed for attaining a bhava similar to that of the inhabitants of Vraja (absorbed in ragatmika bhakti). He should be free from "most" of the anarthas. (Fully freed from all anarthas is "not" a requirement since that happens only in the stage of Bhava). The person, when hears about the sweentess of madhurya and other bhavas of associates of Krsna, he shoud think (due to his lobha) "I should also attain such a bhava". (Also, as HG Srivas Pandit pr pointed out, the person in Raganuga would be fixed in his bhava and would "not" be changing it every other day) In my opinion, one can only take up the path of Raganuga if one has at least attained Nisthita Bhakti. HH Suhotra Swami says that one develops Raganuga at the stage of asakti, but HH Bhanu Swami's opinion is "there is no specific stage at which to start, since the greed may arise at anytime (usually due to past life's progress). However, if it does not arise then one must practice vaidhi. To practice raganuga a person would have to be free of contamination relatively. However, sadhana bhakti of any form indicates the person is not 100% pure. Even bhava after sadhana is not completely pure." Prabhupada says that one should be free from material contamination. But Srila Vishwanatha says in Madhurya Kadambini "Since all of the impurities are completely removed (etair anaviddham) only at the stage of Bhava, the slight presence of anarthas does not act as an obstacle during Nisthita Bhakti". So Prabhupada's statement can be understood to mean Nisthita Bhakti or above). Nisthita Bhakti means, one person is steady (without fluctuation) in his devotional activities and his mind is unaffected by lust, greed, anger, hatred, and illusion that arise from rajas and tamas (note: all the impurities are completely removed only in bhava stage and so, here we mean that the mentioned impurities may slightly be present but they don't act as an obstacle anymore). Generally, the spiritual desire is more than material desire for a devotee in Nisthita Bhakti (definitely more than 50%). Unless, one has attained the qualifications of Raganuga Bhakti, one has to follow Vaidhi bhakti.
Ref: BRS 1.2.291, NOD Chapter 16 (Eligibility for Spontaneous Devotional
Service), Madhurya Kadambini (Nisthita Bhakti), HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj lectures and emails, HH Suhotra Swami Maharaj http://www.suhotraswami.net/library/Raganuga-bhakti_and_ISKCON__An_Examination.pdf How can one achieve the greed? By the mercy of Krsna and His Devotees. The general path given by Prabhupada is "Follow Vaidhi bhakti, specifically in the worship of Rdh and Ka in the temple. Then you'll gradually develop a spontaneous love for the Deity, and by hearing of the Lord's exchange of loving affairs with the gops, you gradually become attracted to these pastimes." Vishwanatha Chakravarthy Thakura: Greed can arise after taking shelter from Guru or from previous lifetime activities. Ref: BRS 1.2.309, NOD Chapter 16 (Conjugal love), Raga vartma candrika (Chapter 1) Should one need to give up rules in Raganuga Bhakti? In Vaidhi, there's a dependence on rules of scriptures for doing Bhakti until the stage of Bhava. In Raganuga, it's spontaneous and one can practice bhakti without limitations (can follow with or without dependence on rules of scriptures). In Raganuga, it's assumed that the person who has achieved the greed (discussed later), must have studied scriptures in order to attain the greed and to understand proper sadhana for Raganuga. Also, see answer for "angas of bhakti in raganuga"
Ref: Jiva Goswami & Vishwanatha Chakravathy Thakura's Commentary on BRS
1.2.293 What angas of Bhakti can one follow in Raganuga Bhakti? (64 major angas of Bhakti are given by Rupa Goswami in BRS) For Raganuga Bhaktas: Whichever angas of Vaidhi-Bhakti that are favorable for one's particular raganuga cultivation. Angas such as hearing, chanting, surrendering to Guru, are favorable. One should "not" take activities that are contrary to one's own
sentiments for Krsna. Worshipping Rukmini, meditation on Dvaraka, performing mudras
and nyasas, ahangrahopasana (thinking "I'm Krsna") should be rejected. Raganuga bhaktas still should observe Ekadasi vrata, perform worship as performed by Rupa Goswami and other great devotees. Ref: Jiva Goswami & Vishwanatha Chakravarthy Thakur commentary on BRS 1.2.296 What's the destination of Vaidhi Bhaktas and Raganuga Bhaktas? Vaidhi Bhaktas (who worship Krsna) can reach Aishwarya Goloka or Dvaraka. Raganuga Bhaktas will reach Gokula (Gokula is Vrndavana. Goloka is majestic aspect of Gokula). If a person following Vaidhi Bhakti, develops a strong desire for conjugal relationship with Krsna, but if he thinks that giving up all the rules in the scripture is improper, and unfavorable for nourishing his sentiments, then he attains the position of being an associate of the queens in Dvaraka (also he doesn't have desire for the gopis' type of love). This is because, he completely follows the rules of Vaidhi-bhakti without rejecting any portions, such as meditation on Dvaraka, worship of the queens, as being unfavorable for his bhava. If a person, who desires to taste the sweetness of Radha and Krsna, but worships according to vaidhi bhakti, using mudras and nyasas, will attain a position in Aishwarya Goloka (this is neither Radha and Krsna in "proper" Vrndavana nor Krsna in Dvaraka with Rukmini) Ref: Viswanatha Chakravarthy Thakur commentary on BRS 1.2.303 Method of following Raganuga Bhakti: TBD How Raganuga is followed in ISKCON: TBD. Reference -> http://www.suhotraswami.net/library/Raganugabhakti_and_ISKCON_-_An_Examination.pdf (Apparently) contradicting quotations:
Prabhupada: "Activities in devotional service under regulative principles must be
followed even by the pure devotee." Even Vishwanatha Chakravarthy Thakur acknowledges this in Raga Vartma Candrika. "sruti smrti puranadi...." - "Even if a person seems to have attained steadiness in practicing pure bhakti to the Lord, that bhakti is a misfortune if it rejects the rules of sruti, smrti, purana, pancaratra due to lack of faith in them". So, there's a fault if there's irregularity in the devotional activities (such as hearing, chanting, etc) performed by the Raganuga devotee. Also, please refer to CC Adi 4.33 (both translation and purport) Ref: NOD Chapter 16 (Eligibility for Spontaneous Devotional Service), Raga vartma candrika (Chapter one) Sanatana Goswami, Rupa Raghunatha Goswami followed vows of completing specific no of times in their devotional activities (such as circumambulating Govardhan, etc) TBD FROM HERE. HH Bhanu Swami's opinion - "In Vaidhi Bhakti, the rules are applied within each anga such as chanting: do 16 rounds japa, arcana with specific rules etc. Here the idea is that a vow would indicate a limit to the chanting. However in raganuga the devotee could make a vow to chanting more and more without limit."