2026-03-22 15:52:04 by ambuda-bot
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19. BHAKTI THE BEST MEANS.
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lower should be made among devotees, according to
the difference of sentiment cultivated by them.
All these eleven types of divine love were found
developed among the Gopis.
The nine modes or stages of Bhakti are described
here. The highest is Madhurya Rasa or Kaantaasakti
where the lover and the beloved become one. Sufists
also entertain this Bhav. The Bhakta begins with
Dasya bhav, attitude of a servant like Hanuman. This
is the lowest rung in the ladder of Bhakti. Then he
takes up a friendly attitude towards God like Arjuna.
Fear vanishes now. He claims equality with his
object of worship. Then he develops a Bhav of
parental affection towards God. He takes Lord
Krishna as his son.
The students of the school of thought of Sri
Vallabhacharya Sampradaya entertain this Bhav. All
fears and expectations vanish. There is fear of down..
fall in Kaantaasakti, if the devotee is not careful. He
is carried away by lustful propensities. He mistakes
physical sensations for devotion. Emotion is not
devotion. Many unhappy, unpleasant occurances take
place in those who cherish this Bhav. A high stand-
ard of purity is required in those who take this Bhav.
This Bhav is purely mental. Dressing like a female
and showing gestures like a woman is mere hypocri-
tical show. This is not necessary in this Bhav.
205
lower should be made among devotees, according to
the difference of sentiment cultivated by them.
All these eleven types of divine love were found
developed among the Gopis.
The nine modes or stages of Bhakti are described
here. The highest is Madhurya Rasa or Kaantaasakti
where the lover and the beloved become one. Sufists
also entertain this Bhav. The Bhakta begins with
Dasya bhav, attitude of a servant like Hanuman. This
is the lowest rung in the ladder of Bhakti. Then he
takes up a friendly attitude towards God like Arjuna.
Fear vanishes now. He claims equality with his
object of worship. Then he develops a Bhav of
parental affection towards God. He takes Lord
Krishna as his son.
The students of the school of thought of Sri
Vallabhacharya Sampradaya entertain this Bhav. All
fears and expectations vanish. There is fear of down..
fall in Kaantaasakti, if the devotee is not careful. He
is carried away by lustful propensities. He mistakes
physical sensations for devotion. Emotion is not
devotion. Many unhappy, unpleasant occurances take
place in those who cherish this Bhav. A high stand-
ard of purity is required in those who take this Bhav.
This Bhav is purely mental. Dressing like a female
and showing gestures like a woman is mere hypocri-
tical show. This is not necessary in this Bhav.