Conjugal Love for God - The Zenith of Spiritual Mellows
In the absolute realm of the spiritual sky, the exchange of love between the living entity and the Supreme Lord is not uniform; it is characterized by profound, individual varieties known as rasas or mellows. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that these relationships progress in intensity and intimacy, culminating in the highest possible platform: mādhurya-rasa, or conjugal love. In this supreme state, the Lord and His pure devotees enjoy an unparalleled, ecstatic intimacy that perfectly satisfies the supreme desires of the Absolute Truth.
Progressive Development of Mellows
The various relationships with God develop sequentially, adding layers of intimacy at each stage. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses a profound Vedic analogy to explain this: just as the material element of earth contains the qualities of all previously manifested elements (like sound and touch), conjugal love contains the essence of all other devotional relationships.
- Self-realization with a sense of servitude for the Lord is certainly transcendental, but when a sense of fraternity is added the relationship develops, and as affection increases, this relationship develops into parenthood and conjugal love.
- Just as various characteristics develop in the progression from ether down to earth, so the five characteristics of devotion develop and are all found in the relationship of conjugal love.
- To explain the topmost quality of conjugal love, Krsnadasa Kaviraja gives the example of the material elements - sky, air, fire, water and earth. In the sky (space) there is the quality of sound. Similarly, in air there are the qualities of sound and touch.
- In earth we can find all the qualities of material nature. The same can be applied to the rasa known as madhurya-rasa, or conjugal love.
The Completeness of Conjugal Love
Because it encompasses all other mellows, mādhurya-rasa is the most complete offering of the soul to the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that through the inclusion of servitude, friendship, and parental affection, the Lord is so deeply satisfied that He willingly submits to the loving control of His devotee.
- In conjugal love there are the qualities of neutrality, servitorship, fraternity and parental affection, as well as those of conjugal love itself. The conclusion is that through conjugal love the Lord is completely satisfied.
- The loving services in parental love, fraternity and servitude are included in conjugal love of God. In conclusion, therefore, every confidential devotee is a pure devotee of the Lord.
- The five rasas (mellows) in the transcendental world are practiced by the inhabitants of Goloka Vrndavana in neutrality, servitorship, friendship, parental affection and conjugal love. All these please the Lord so much that He is controlled by the devotees.
- Conjugal love (madhurya-rasa) is also known as srngara-rasa. It is the conclusion of Srimad-Bhagavatam that in the complete combination of loving service to the Lord - namely in conjugal love - the Supreme Lord fully agrees to be under the control of the devotee.
Intimacy and Ecstasy of Mādhurya-rasa
The level of spiritual bliss experienced in conjugal love is unmatched anywhere else in existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes that while other mellows offer transcendental joy, the highly advanced ecstasy known as mahābhāva is exclusively found within the intimate exchanges of conjugal love.
- By impartially judging, one can find that the internal potencies of the Supreme Lord who are engaged in conjugal love with the Lord are the best of all devotees.
- Krsna and His devotees become perfectly intimate in conjugal love of Godhead. In other mellows, the Lord and the devotees do not enjoy transcendental bliss as perfectly. The next verse (CC Madhya 8.95 from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.33.6) will illustrate this point.
- The platform of mahabhava includes rudha and adhirudha. These platforms are possible only in conjugal love. Advanced ecstasy is found in Dvaraka, whereas highly advanced ecstasy is found among the gopis.
- The very sweet attraction of conjugal love increases through affection, counterlove, love, attachment, subattachment, ecstasy and highly advanced ecstasy (mahabhava).
Unique Gift of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
This highest, most confidential relationship with the Supreme Lord was generally hidden from the world. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda glorifies Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for descending specifically to bestow this unprecedented gift, practically demonstrating how to attain it by following the mood of the gopīs.
- Although they (other scriptures) officially promote love of Godhead, they have no idea how to execute it. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives a practical demonstration of how to love God in a conjugal relationship - Caitanya Caritamrta Intro.
- Even other Vaisnava philosophies cannot explain the higher relationships with God, which Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained. These are vatsalya-rasa (parenthood), and madhurya-rasa - conjugal love.
- Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.
- To attain such service (of the Lord in conjugal love), one has to follow in the footsteps of the gopis in the ecstasy of sakhi-bhava. Then only can one understand the transcendental mellow of conjugal love.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the science of devotional service is not a flat, monotonous affair; it is a brilliantly variegated progression of love that culminates in the supreme zenith of mādhurya-rasa, or conjugal love. As Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully outlines, because conjugal love incorporates the reverential servitude, the intimate friendship, and the protective affection found in the lower mellows, it perfectly and completely satisfies the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this highest ecstasy, the majestic awe of the Lord is set aside, allowing for an intimacy so profound that the Lord willingly accepts the loving control of His pure devotees. This magnificent, highly confidential relationship, characterized by the ultimate ecstasy of mahābhāva, was freely distributed to the fallen souls of this age by the causeless mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. By strictly following His teachings and adopting the mood of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana, any sincere soul can awaken their dormant affection and eternally relish the supreme sweetness of conjugal love for God.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Conjugal Love for God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.