Chapter 5: Panchama-yama Sadhana - Bhajana in the Afternoon Krsnasakti (Attachment to Krsna)

Panchama-yama Sadhana
 
     The characteristic of one who chants the holy name and his prayer as the eternal servant of Krsna are
     given in the Siksastaka(5):

     ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram
     patitam mam visame bhavambudhau
     krpaya tava pada-pankaja-
     sthita-dhuli-sadrsam vicintaya (1)

     Oh, my Lord, O Krsna, son of Maharaja Nanda, I am Your eternal servant, but because of my own
     fruitive acts, I have fallen in this horrible ocean of nescience. Now please be causelessly merciful to
     me. Consider me a particle of dust at Your lotus feet.
     I am Your eternal servant, but I forgot Your Lordship. Now I have fallen in the ocean of nescience and
     have been conditioned by the external energy. Be causelessly merciful to me by giving me a place with
     the particles of dust at Your lotus feet so that I may engage in the service of Your Lordship as Your
     eternal servant.
     The stage of bhava is gradually attained by the mercy of Krsna and regular chanting of the holy names
     without offenses. In the Srimad Bhagavatam (1.2.17-19) it is said:

     srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
     punya-sravana-kirtanah
     hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani
     vidhunoti suhrt satam

     nasta-prayesv abhadresu
     nityam bhagavata-sevaya
     bhagavaty uttama-sloke
     bhaktir bhavati naisthiki

     tada rajas-tamo-bhavah
     kama-lobhadayas ca ye
     ceta etair anaviddham
     sthitam sattve prasidati (2)

     Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma (Supersoul) in everyone's heart and the
     benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee
     who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly
     heard and chanted.
     By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering service to the pure devotee, all
     that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality
     of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.
     As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature's modes of
     passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire, and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the
     devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.
     Such a devotee prays for Krsna's mercy as stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.14.8):

     tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamano
     bhu?jana evatma-krtam vipakam
     hrd-vag vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
     jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak (3)

     My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while
     patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his
     heart, words, and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.
     One who is situated in this condition attains supreme spiritual peace, as confirmed in the Srimad
     Bhagavatam (11.2.43):

     ity acyutanghrim bhajato 'nuvrttya
     bhaktir viraktir bhagavat-prabodhah
     bhavanti vai bhagavatasya rajams
     tatah param santim upaiti saksat (4)

     My dear King, the devotee who worships the lotus feet of the infallible Personality of Godhead with
     constant endeavor thus achieves unflinching devotion, detachment, and experienced knowledge of the
     Personality of Godhead. In this way the successful devotee of the Lord achieves supreme spiritual
     peace in the form of prema.
     The nine types of bhakti are listed in the Srimad Bhagavatam (7.5.23/24):

     sravanam kirtanam visnoh
     smaranam pada-sevanam
     arcanam vandanam dasyam
     sakhyam atma-nivedanam

     iti pumsarpita visnau
     bhaktis cen nava-laksana
     kriyeta bhagavaty addha
     tan manye 'dhitam uttamam (5)

     Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities,
     paraphernalia, and pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord,
     offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord,
     becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in
     other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) these nine processes are accepted as pure
     devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krsna through these nine methods
     should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.
     As the stage of bhava arises, attachment for service is spontaneous. The following prayer of Vrtrasura
     is given in Srimad Bhagavatam (6.11.24):

     aham hare tava padaika-mula-
     dasanudaso bhavitasmi bhuyah
     manah smaretasu-pater gunams te
     grnita vak karma karotu kayah (6)

     O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be able to serve Your eternal servants,
     who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so that my
     mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my words always glorify those attributes, and
     my body always engage in the loving service of Your Lordship.
     The living entity is the enjoyed and Krsna is the enjoyer. Therefore by regularly discharging devotional
     service, the hope for achieving the service of the ever-blissful Sri Radha gradually increases. At that
     time one's feelings for serving in the mood of the gopis manifests. The mood of the gopis is described
     in the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.29.38):

     tan nah prasida vrjinardana te 'nghri-mulam
     prapta visrjya vasatis tvad-upasanasah
     tvat-sundara-smita-niriksana-tivra-kama-
     taptatmanam purusa-bhusana dehi dasyam (7)

     Therefore, O vanquisher of all distress, please show us mercy. To approach Your lotus feet we
     abandoned our families and homes, and we have no desire other than to serve You. Our hearts are
     burning with intense desires generated by Your beautiful smiling glances. O jewel among men, please
     make us Your maidservants.
     The Srimad Bhagavatam (10.29.39) tells how to take shelter of the perfect mood of the gopis:

     viksyalakavrta-mukham tava kundala-sri-
     ganda-sthaladhara-sudham hasitavalokam
     dattabhayam ca bhuja-danda-yugam vilokya
     vaksah sriyaika-ramanam ca bhavama dasyah (8)

     Seeing Your face encircled by curling locks of hair, Your cheeks beautified by earrings, Your lips full of
     nectar, Your smiling glance, Your two imposing arms, which take away our fear, and Your chest, which
     is the only source of pleasure for the goddess of fortune, we must become Your maidservants.
     The superiority of parakiya-bhava in this stage is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.29.33):

     kurvanti hi tvayi ratim kusalah sva atman
     nitya-priye pati-sutadibhir arti-daih kim
     tan nah prasida paramesvara ma sma chindya
     asam dhrtam tvayi cirad aravinda-netra (9)

     Expert transcendentalists always direct their affection toward You because they recognize You as their
     true Self and eternal beloved. What use do we have for these husbands, children, and relatives of ours,
     who simply give us trouble? Therefore, O supreme controller, grant us Your mercy. O lotus-eyed one,
     please do not cut down our long-cherished hope to have Your association.
     The necessity for taking shelter of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani is described in the Sri
     Sva-sankalpa-prakasa-stotra of the Stavavali in these words:

     anaradhya radha-padambhoja renum
     anasritya vrndatavim tat padankam
     asambhasya-tad bhava-gambhira cittan
     kutah syama-sindho rasasyavagahah (10)

     How is it possible to immerse oneself in the ocean of Syama rasa (love for Krsna or the madhurya
     rasa) without worshiping the dust of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, or without taking shelter of
     Vrndavana, which is decorated with Her footprints, or without serving Her devotees, whose grave
     hearts are always absorbed in love for Her?
     The pride of Radha's maidservant is described in the following words:

     abhimanam parityajya prakrtavapur-adisu
     sri krsna-krpaya gopi-dehe vraje vasamy aham
     radhikanucari bhutva parakiya-rase sada
     radha krsna vilasesu paricaryam karomy aham (11)

     After giving up the pride of falsely identifying the material body with the self, by the mercy of Krsna, I
     reside in Vraja as a gopi. As Radharani's maidservant, I always take pleasure serving Radha and
     Krsna in Their parakiya-rasa pastimes.
     Giving up all other engagements for the service of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani is described in
     the Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (33):

     durad apasya svajanan sukham-artha-kotim
     sarvesu sadhana-varesu ciram nirasah
     varsantam eva sahajadbhuta-saukhya-dharam
     sri radhika carana renum aham bhajami (12)

     Abandoning attachment for family and friends, material pleasures, wealth, and all other spiritual paths,
     finding them distasteful, I take on my head and worship the dust of the lotus feet of Sri Radhika, which
     is a shower of wonderful, transcendental bliss.
     A prayer to achieve the service of Radharani within the ku?jas of Vrndavana is given in the
     Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (198):

     asasya dasyam vrsabhanu-jayas
     tire samadhyasya ca bhanujayah
     kada nu vrndavana ku?ja vithisv
     aham nu radhe hy atithirbhaveyam (13)

     O Radha, O Vrsabhanunandini, when, by Your mercy, will I stay on the banks of the Yamuna and
     wander on the paths within the groves of Vrndavana as I engage in Your service as a maidservant?
     In the Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (259) there is the following prayer to be always engaged in seeking
     Krsna by the performance of sankirtana in the mood of Radha-dasya (as a maidservant):

     dhyayantam sikhi-piccha-mauli-manisam tan nama-samkirtayan
     nityam tac caranambujam paricaran tan-mantra-varyam japan
     sri radha padasyam eva paramabhistam hrda dharayan
     karhi syam tad anugrahena paramadbhutanuragotsavah (14)

     By always remembering Krsna, who wears a peacock feather in His mukut, by performing sankirtana
     and engaging in the service of His lotus feet, by chanting the best of mantras, and by remembering the
     most cherished service of the lotus feet of Radha within my heart, when will I relish the most amazing
     festival of attachment to Radha?
     A prayer for attaining the service of Srimati Radharani birth after birth is given in the
     Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (40):

     tasya apara-rasa-sara-vilasa-murter
     ananda-kanda-paramadbhuta-saukhya-laksmyah
     brahmadi-durlabha-gater-vrsabhanu-jayah
     kainkaryam eva mama janmani janmani syat (15)

     May I attain the service of Vrsabhanunandini birth after birth. She is the personification of the essence
     of the transcendental mellows of divine sports. With a form of the most wonderful transcendental bliss,
     She is the supreme goddess of fortune. Her lotus feet are difficult to attain even for the demigods
     headed by Lord Brahma.
     Searching Radhanatha (Krsna) while engaged in the service of Srimati Radharani is described in the
     Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (142):

     radha nama sudha rasam rasayitum jihvas tu me vihvala
     padau tat padakanksita sucaratam vrnda-tavivithisu
     tat karmaiva karah karotu hrdayam tasyah padam dhyayatam
     tad bhavotsavatah param bhavatu me tat prana nathe ratih (16)

     May my tongue be overwhelmed by relishing the nectar of Radha's name, may my feet be engaged in
     wandering the paths of Vrndavana which are marked by Radha's footprints, may my hands be
     engaged in the loving service of Radharani, and may my mind be engaged in meditation on the lotus
     feet of Radha. By attaining the festival of ecstatic love for Radha, may I attain firm attachment for the
     lotus feet of Her beloved, Sri Krsna.
     In Vilapa-kusuma?jali (8) the lotus feet of Sri Radha are described as the ultimate goal of life. :

     devi duhkha kula-sagarodare
     duyamana mati durgatam janam
     tvat krpa pravala naukayadbhutam
     prapaya svapada-panka-jalayam (17)

     O Goddess, please rescue this unfortunate person drowning in the ocean of unhappiness. Place me in
     the strong boat of Your mercy and carry me to the shore of Your lotus feet.
     Exclusive affinity for achieving attachment for the service of Sri Radha is described in
     Vilapa-kusuma?jali (16):

     padabjayos tava vina vara-dasyam eva
     nanyat kadapi samaye kila devi yace
     sakhyaya te mama namo 'stu namo 'stu nityam
     dasyaya te mama raso 'stu raso 'stu satyam (18)

     O most beautifully resplendent Goddess! I shall never ask You for anything other than the service of
     Your lotus feet as a maidservant. Again and again I offer my obeisances from a distance to the desire
     of becoming Your sakhi (companion on an equal level). Again and again I desire to relish the sweet
     nectar of Your service as a maidservant.
     A sincere solicitation in Radha-dasya is given in the Gandharva-samprarthanastakam of the
     Stava-mala:

     ha devi kaku-bhara-gadgadayadya vaca
     yace nipatya bhuvi danda-vadudbhatartih
     asya prasadamabudhasya janasya krtva
     gandharvike tava gane gananam vidhehi (19)

     O Devi! In great distress I fall to the ground offering You obeisances and prayers with a voice choked
     with emotion. O Gandharvike! Please bestow Your mercy on this pauper and count me amongst Your
     own associates.
     A prayer to achieve attachment for the service of Srimati Radharani, who attracts the mind of Sri
     Krsna, is given in the Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (39):

     venum karan nipatitam skhalitam sikhandam
     bhrasta?ca pita-vasanam vraja-raja-sunoh
     yasyah kataksa-sara-ghata-vimurcchitasya
     tam radhikam paricarami kada rasena (20)

     When will I delight in the service of Srimati Radharani? Struck by the arrow of Her side-long glance
     Krsna faints, His flute falls from His hands, the peacock feathers on His head become loosened and
     His yellow scarf slips from His neck.
     An introduction to the characteristics of one who has attained rati for Radha-dasya is given in the
     Srimad Bhagavatam (11.6.46):

     tvayopayuktah-srag-gandha
     vaso 'lankara-carcitah
     ucchista-bhojino dasas
     tava mayam jayema hi (21)

     Simply by decorating ourselves with the garlands, fragrant oils, clothes and ornaments that You have
     already enjoyed, and simply by eating the remnants of Your meals, we, Your (maid) servants, will
     indeed conquer Your illusory energy.
     An introduction to aparahna-lila (afternoon pastime) is given in the Govinda-lilamrta:

     sri radham prapta-geham nija-ramana-krte klrpta nanopaharam
     susnatam ramya-vesam priya-mukha-kamalaloka-purna-pramodam
     sri krsnam caivaparahne vrajam anucalitam dhenu-vrindair vayasyai
     sri radhaloka-trptam pitr-mukha-militam matr-mrstam smarami (22)

     I remember Srimati Radharani, who in the afternoon returns to Her home and prepares many sweets
     like amrtakeli and karpurakeli for Her beloved Sri Krsna. After taking Her ablution and dressing in
     beautiful clothes and ornaments, She is filled with ecstasy seeing the lotus face of Her beloved Sri
     Krsna when He returns from the forest to the cowshed.
     I also remember Sri Krsna, who is returning home in the afternoon to Nanda-grama along with His
     cows and cowherd boy friends. As they arrive on the path, He feels satisfied glancing at Srimati
     Radharani. After meeting with Nanda and other elderly people, He is then bathed and dressed by
     Mother Yasoda.

     O mind! Remember this pastime in ecstasy.

     Thus ends the Panchama-yama Sadhana of the Sri Bhajana-rahasya.



Chapter 4:  Caturtha-yama Sadhana
Chapter 6: Sastha-yama Sadhana