stages

In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives us a short summary of this complicated description of the different rasas. He states that by becoming firmly fixed in the Lord's service, one is devoid of all material desires. There are two transcendental qualities on the santa-rasa platform. In all the material elements, sound vibration is found. Similarly, santa-rasa is spread over all the other transcendental mellows, which are known as dasya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vatsalya-rasa and madhura-rasa. Although there is attachment for Krsna in awe and veneration in the santa-rasa along with two valuable transcendental qualities-attachment for Krsna and detachment from material desires-nonetheless the sense of intimacy is lacking. Therefore in the santa-rasa, attachment for impersonal Brahman and localized Paramatma is prominent. The sense of intimacy is lacking. By that intimacy one thinks of Krsna as one's only shelter and only friend. In the santa-rasa one accepts Krsna as the impersonal Param Brahma or the localized Paramatma. This is based on the speculative knowledge of the jnani. However, when this knowledge is further developed, one is convinced that Paramatma, the Supreme Lord, is master and that the living entity is His eternal servant. One then attains the platform of dasya-rasa. In dasya-rasa the Lord is accepted with awe and veneration. However, although in the santa-rasa there is no active service, in the dasya-rasa active service is prominant. Thus in the dasya-rasa, the qualities of santa-rasa and service are predominantly visible. Similarly, when this same rasa is developed into fraternity (sakhya-rasa), a friendly intimacy is added. There is no awe or veneration in the sakhya-rasa. The sakhya-rasa is invested with three qualities-santa, dasya, and sakhya. Similarly, on the platform of parental love, the qualities of santa-rasa and dasya-rasa are fully developed in another form-the sense of maintaining the Lord. Therefore on the platform of parental love there exists a combination of four transcendental qualities-santa, dasya, sakhya, and the qualities of paternity, which put the devotee in the position of a maintainer. Thus on the platform of parental love the four qualities of transcendental love are present.    (More...)

There are three stages of devotional service: the first stage is called the beginner's cultivation stage, and the second is called the realization of the service, and the third, the supreme stage, is called attainment of love of Godhead. There are nine different methods for cultivating devotional service, such as hearing, chanting, remembering, etc. All these processes are employed in the neophyte stage of cultivation. If one is engaged in the matter of chanting and hearing with devotion and faith, then gradually his material misgivings become vanquished. Gradually his faith in devotional service increases more and more, and such stages assure him a higher perfectional position. Thus, one becomes firmly fixed, increases the taste for it, becomes attached to it, and feels an ecstasy which is called the preliminary stage of love of Godhead. Attainment of ecstasy is produced by execution of the cultivation of devotional service. Such attainment, when still more developed by that same process of hearing and chanting, gradually becomes thickened, and it assumes the name of love of Godhead.    (More...)

The five primary rasas, or flavors, constantly remain within the heart of the pure devotee, and the other seven, which are secondary, sometimes appear and disappear, and enrich the existing flavors and tastes. After enriching the primary flavors, they disappear. The example of Santa Bhaktas or santa devotees are the nine yogis named Kavi, Havi, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalayana, Havirhotra, Dravid or Drumil, Chamass, and Karabhajan. The four Kumaras, great sages, are: Sanaka, Sanandan, Sanatkumar and Sanatana. Examples of devotees in the transcendental mode of servitorship are, in the Gokula, Raktak, Chitrik, Patrak; these are all servants of Krishna. In Dwarka there are Daruka, and in the Vaikuntha planets, there is Hanuman, and other persons. Devotees in friendship are like Sridam in Vrindaban, and Bhima and Arjuna in Dwarka or on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. So far as those in paternal love with Krishna are concerned, the devotees are his mother, father, uncle, and similar relatives. In conjugal love, the devotees are first the damsels of Braja, Vrindaban, and the Queens and Goddesses of Fortune in Dwarka. No one can count how many they are.    (More...)

The existence of the transcendental qualities of santa rasa and dasya rasa is certainly there, but beyond that there is another quality, confidential attachment, which is pure transcendental love. This confidence in the Supreme Personality is technically known as visrambha. In that status of visrambha, fraternity, there is no sense of awe or veneration toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As such, in the transcendental relationship of sakhya rasa there are three transcendental qualities: the sense of greatness, the sense of kinship, and the sense of intimacy without any impression of awe or veneration. Therefore, in the relationship of fraternity, one transcendental quality is further increased.    (More...)

Similarly, in the status of paternal affection there are four qualities: above the three qualities already mentioned there is another sense of the devotee, that the Supreme Lord is dependent on the mercy of the devotee. As parent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the devotee also sometimes chastises the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and considers Him as maintained by such devotee. This transcendental sense of being the maintainer of the Supreme Maintainer is very much pleasing both to the devotee and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.    (More...)

The Lord instructed Srila Rupa Goswami to write the transcendental literature named Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu, the Science of Devotional Service, indicating therein the substance of the five transcendental relationships. It is explained there how the transcendental quality of santa rasa in the shape of unflinching faith in Krishna, is further developed to the form of dasya rasa with the spirit of service, and then to sakhya rasa for undeterred fraternity, and can be still more developed in the transcendental flavor of paternal love, with the sense of maintaining the Lord. All culminates in the highest platform of conjugal love, wherein all the different transcendental relationships exist    (More...)

If someone, on account of some righteous activities which provoke devotional service, is influenced by such an attitude of service, and takes shelter of the good association of the pure devotees, then he develops an attachment for chanting and hearing. In such a state of mind the development of chanting and hearing makes him advance further and further in the matter of regulative devotional service to the Supreme Lord. And, as he advances in the regulative service of the Supreme Lord, so, proportionately, his misgivings for the material world diminish. Beginning with faith, and advancing in the process of hearing and chanting, the devotee becomes more and more firmly fixed in that faith. That faith gradually develops into taste, and that taste gradually develops into attachment. When the attachment becomes purer, then it is exhibited in two characteristics, which are called Bhava and Rati. When this principle of Rati becomes deeper, it is called love of Godhead. Love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of human life.    (More...)

This process is summarized in the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu [1.4.15-16] by Rupa Goswami: "The first thing required is faith, and from faith one associates with pure devotees, and, by such association, one develops devotional service. And when he develops devotional service, his misgivings are diminished. Then he is situated in firm conviction, and from that conviction he develops a taste and advances up to the attachment stage of life, known as the regulated principles of devotional service. And, after that stage, when he still further makes progress, it is called Bhava, or a permanent situation. Such love of God can go further and deeper and deeper, and then is called the highest stage of love of Godhead."    (More...)

In Sanskrit, this highest stage is called Prema. The word Prema can be explained as love of God without any exchange or return. Actually, the words Prema and love are not synonymous, but still one can say that Prema is the highest stage of love. One who has attained this stage of Prema is the most perfect human being. Srimad Bhagwatam also confirms this statement in the Third Canto, Twenty-fifth Chapter [25]: Only by the association of pure devotees can one develop a taste for Krishna Consciousness; and when he tries to apply such developed Krishna Consciousness in his life, one can achieve all other things up to the stages of Bhava and Prema.    (More...)