FROM MOSES TO MAHAPRABHU

[anand]

Hare Krishna!

 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I offer my humble obeisance unto him!

 

This is an excerpt written by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinode Thakura

 

If the reader carefully considers, it will be found that the

spiritual science gradually evolved from ancient times and

became more simple, more clear and more condensed. The

more impurities arising from time and place are removed, the

more the beauties of the spiritual science brightly shine

before us. This spiritual science took birth in the land of kusha

grass on the banks of the Sarasvati river in Brahmavarta. As

it gradually gained strength, this spiritual science spent its

childhood in the abode of Badarikashram, which is covered

with snow. It spent its boyhood in Naimisharanya on the

banks of the Gomati river and its youth on the beautiful banks

of the Kaveri river in the province of Dravida. The spiritual

science ayyained maturity in Navadvip, on the banks of the

Ganges, which purifies the universe.

 

By studying the history of the world, it is found that the

spiritual science reached its peak in Navadvip. The Supreme

Absolute Truth is the only object of love for the living

entities. Unless one worhips Him with attachment, however,

the living entity can never attain Him. Even if a person gives

up all affection for this world and thinks of the Supreme Lord,

He is still not easily achieved. He is controlled and attained by

transcendental mellows alone. These mellows are of five

types - shanta, dasya, sakya, vatsalya and madhurya.

 

The first mellow, shanta, is the stage in which the living

entity surpasses the pains of material existence and situates

himself in transcendence. In that state there is a little

happiness, but no feeling of independence. At that time the

relationship between the practitioner and the Lord is not yet

established.

 

Dasya rasa is the second mellow. It contains all the

ingradients of shanta rasa as well as affection. "The Lord is

my master, and I am His eternal servant". This type of

relationship is found in dasya rasa. No one cares much for any

of the best things of this world unless they are connected

with affection. Therefore dasya rasa is superior to shanta

rasa in many ways.

 

Sakya is superior to dasya. In dasya rasa there is a thorn

in the form of awe and reverence, but the main ornament in

sakya rasa is the feeling of friendship in equality. Among the

servants, one who is a friend is superior. There is no doubt

about it. In sakya rasa all the wealth of shanta and dasya is

included.

 

It is easy to understand that vatsalya is superior to sakya.

A son gives more affection and happiness than any friend.

Therefore in vatsalya rasa we find the wealth of four rasas.

Although vatsalya rasa is superior to these other rasas, it

appears insgnificant before madhurya rasa. There may be

many secrets unknown between father and son, but this not

the case between husband and wife. Therefore, if we deeply

consider, it will be seen that all the above-mentioned rasas

attain perfection within madhurya rasa.

 

If we go through the histories of these five rasas, it is

clearly understood that shanta rasa was seen in the beginning

days of India. When the soul was not satisfied after

performing sacrifices with material ingredients, then

transcendentalists like Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanat-kumara,

Sananda, Narada and Lord Shiva all became detached from

the material world, situated in transcendence and realized

shanta rasa.

Much later, dasya rasa manifested in Hanuman, the

servant of Sri Ramachandra. That same dasya rasa gradually

expanded in the northwest and manifested in a great

personality named Moses.

 

In the age of Dvapara, Uddhava and Arjuna became the

qualified authorities of sakhya rasa. They preached this rasa

throughout the world. Gradually tha rasa expanded up to the

Arabian countries and touched the heart of Mohammed, the

knower of religious principles.

 

Vatsalya rasa manifested throughout India in different

forms at different times. Among the different forms, vatsalya

mixed with opulence crossed India and appeared in a great

personality named Jesus Christ, who was a preacher of Jewish

religious principles.

 

Madhurya rasa first shone brightly in Braj. It is extremely

rare for this rasa to enter the hearts of conditioned souls,

because this rasa tends to remain with qualified, pure living

entities. This confidential rasa was preached by Chaitanya

Mahaprabhu, the moon of Navadvipa, along with His followers.

 

Till now, this rasa has not crossed beyond India. Recently

a scholar from England named Newman realized something

about this rasa and wrote a book about it. The people of

Europe and America have not been satisfied with vatsalya

rasa mixed with opulence as preached by Jesus Christ. I hope,

by the grace of the Lord, in a very short time they will

become attached to drinking the intoxicating nectar of

madhurya rasa.

 

It has been seen tha any rasa that appears in India

eventually spreads to the western countries, therefore

madhurya rasa will soon be preached throughout the world.

Just as the sun rises first in India and gradually spreads its

lights to the West, the matchless splendor of spiritual truth

appears first in India and gradually spreads to the Western

countries.