Describing Love for Kṛṣṇa - The Science of Kṛṣṇa-prema
The pursuit of spiritual perfection culminates in the awakening of our eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the ultimate goal of human life is not to merge into a formless void, but to achieve the priceless treasure of pure, ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.
The Treasure of Pure Love
True spiritual attachment is a completely different experience from mundane affection. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that when one strictly follows the path of pure devotional service, the heart gradually softens, shedding all material desires until the highest state of transcendental emotion is achieved.
- These activities are called suddha-bhakti, pure devotional service. If one renders such pure devotional service, he develops his original love for Krsna in due course of time. In Vedic literatures like the Pancaratras and Srimad Bhagavatam, these symptoms are described.
- In the material world there is attachment for material enjoyment, but this is not rati. Transcendental rati can be awakened only on the spiritual platform. Ecstatic love for Krsna (prema) is described in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu - 1.41.
- Krsna-prema is described in the Brs (1.41) - When the heart is completely softened and devoid of all material desires and when one's emotional feelings become very strong, one becomes very much attached to Krsna. Such purified emotion is known as pure love.
- This brief description is an elaboration of the ultimate goal of life. Indeed, this is the fifth and ultimate goal, which is beyond the platform of liberation. It is called krsna-prema-dhana, the treasure of love for Krsna.
The Divisions of Ecstatic Love
Spiritual love is not a monolithic experience; it exhibits a magnificent variety of relationships. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that according to the authorized scriptures, a devotee's affection blossoms from initial attraction into one of the five distinct divisions of ecstatic love.
- These are the symptoms of a person who has developed attraction (bhava) for Krsna. Now let Me (Caitanya) describe the symptoms of a person who is actually elevated to love of Krsna. O Sanatana, please hear this from Me.
- This ecstatic love for Krsna can be divided into five divisions, which will be described by Sri Rupa Gosvami later on.
- Srila Rupa Gosvami states herein that according to some learned scholars, the three kinds of transcendental mellow so far described - namely, servitude, fraternity and parental affection - are sometimes mixed up.
- For evidence (that love for Krsna imbues everyone with the spirit of service of Krsna), please listen to the examples described in the revealed scriptures, which are corroborated by the realization of great souls.
Parental and Conjugal Affection
The higher realms of spiritual intimacy involve the most profound and overwhelming emotions. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights how the parental love of Mother Yaśodā and the conjugal love of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa represent the absolute zenith of completely selfless, transcendental devotion.
- Learned scholars have described the impetus of parental love for Krsna, existing in the elderly personalities who are in relation with Him, as follows.
- The parental love of Mother Yasoda for Krsna steadily increases, and her love and ecstasy are sometimes described as intense affection and sometimes as overwhelming attachment.
- The conjugal love of Radha-Krsna is never disturbed by any personal consideration. The undisturbed nature of the conjugal love between Radha and Krsna is described thus.
- In conjugal love (srngara) there are two departments - meeting and separation. On the platform of meeting, there are unlimited varieties that are beyond description.
Dispelling Material Misconceptions
Because the highest spiritual mellows somewhat resemble worldly interactions, they are often misunderstood by the unqualified. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against the imitation of the sahajiyās and clarifies that the love of the gopīs is entirely free from the contamination of material lust.
- Nonetheless, because their (the gopis') desire sometimes appears to resemble material lust, their transcendental love for Krsna is sometimes described as lust.
- In the same Padyavali there is the following description, which is taken as a sign of frustration in conjugal love. Srimati Radharani said - Dear Mr. Cupid, please do not excite Me by throwing your arrows at My body.
- The sahajiyas describe themselves as the most advanced devotees in spontaneous love, as knowers of transcendental mellows, as the topmost devotees in conjugal love of Krsna, and so on.
- The Third Chapter specifically describes the distribution of love of Godhead. It also describes the religion of the age, which is simply to distribute the holy name of Lord Krsna and propagate the process of loving Him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the true science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not aimed at mere liberation, but at the attainment of kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana—the supreme treasure of love of Godhead. While material attachment binds the soul to the cycle of birth and death, transcendental rati liberates the living entity, softening the heart and extinguishing all selfish desires. The authorized scriptures and great ācāryas have carefully divided and described the progressive stages of this love, from the initial awakening of bhāva to the overwhelming ecstasies of parental and conjugal affection. Although these intimate exchanges—especially those between Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs—may superficially resemble mundane romance, they are perfectly pure and absolutely devoid of material lust. By rejecting the cheap imitations of unauthorized groups and strictly adhering to the path of śuddha-bhakti given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the sincere soul can systematically awaken their dormant love and enter into the eternal, blissful pastimes of the Supreme Lord.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Describing Love for Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.