Raganuga - 1.2: Two Kinds of Sadhana

The practice of devotion is divided into two distinct paths.

vaidhI rAgAnugA ceti sA dvidhA sAdhanAbhidhA || (brs 1.2.5)

"Practice is of two kinds, namely vaidhi and raganuga."

The word "vaidhi" is derived from the Sanskrit word "vidhi", referring to the commandments of the scriptures. The word "raganuga" is a compound of two words, namely "raga", "loving attachment", and "anuga", "following in the wake of". The general characteristics of these two paths are explained as follows:

vaidhi-bhaktir bhavet zAstraM bhaktau cet syAt pravartakam |

rAgAnugA syac ced bhaktau lobha eva pravartakaH || (rvc 1.3)

"When devotion is caused by scriptural injunctions, it is called vaidhi-bhakti, but when its cause is spiritual greed alone, it is called raganuga-bhakti."

yatra rAgAnavAptatvAt pravRttir upajAyate |

zAsanenaiva zAstrasya sA vaidhI-bhaktir ucyate || (brs 1.2.6)

"That devotion which knows no attachment or greed, but which is prompted by the commandments of the scriptures, is called vaidhi-bhakti."

virAjantIm abhivyaktaM vrajavAsi-janAdiSu |

rAgAtmikAm anusRtA yA sA rAgAnugocyate || (brs 1.2.270)

"The devotion which is clearly present in the associates of the Lord in Vraja is called devotion filled with loving attachment (ragatmika-bhakti), and devotion following in the wake of this ragatmika-bhakti is called raganuga-bhakti."

As one desires to approach the Lord, so the Lord will approach the aspirant. (bg 4.11) Whatever one remembers at the time of death, that he will attain without fail. (bg 8.6) Reflecting on these famous words of the Bhagavad Gita, one can easily understand that varieties of goals are attained in accordance with one's desires. It is not that all paths lead to the same goal.

vaidhI-rAgAnugA-mArga-bhedena parikIrtitaH |

dvividhaH khalu bhAvo'tra sAdhanAbhinivezajaH || (brs 1.3.7)

"The paths of vaidhi and raganuga are known to be separate from each other. Engagement in these two forms of practice certainly awakens two distinct varieties of bhava."

The goals of these two paths of devotion in practice are understood as follows:

vidhi-bhaktye pArSada-dehe vaikuNThete yAya || (cc 2.24.87)

"Through vidhi-bhakti, one will attain the form of an associate in Vaikuntha."

aizvarya-jJAne vidhi-bhajana kariyA |

vaikuNThake yAya catur-vidha mukti pAJA || (cc 1.3.17)

"Those who worship according to scriptural commandments, being aware of the Lord's superhuman prowess, attain the four kinds of liberation in Vaikuntha."

rAga-bhaktye vraje svayaM-bhagavAne pAya || (cc 2.24.85)

"Through raga-bhakti, one will attain the Lord Himself in Vraja."

rAgAnuga-mArge tAGre bhaje yei jana |

sei-jana pAya vraje vrajendra-nandana || (cc 2.8.221)

"He who worships on the path of raganuga will attain Vrajendra-nandana (Sri Krishna) in Vraja."

In the realm of Vraja, the sweet and intimate human-like pastimes of God prevail. Only in such an atmosphere love can attain its pinnacle. Love which is filled with awareness of the Lord's almight is of an inferior quality. As stated by the Lord Himself:

sakala jagate more kare vidhi-bhakti |

vidhi-bhaktye vraja-bhAva pAite nAhi zakti ||

aizvarya-jJAnete saba jagat mizrita |

aizvarya-zithila-preme nAhi mora prIta || (cc 1.3.15-16)

"Everyone in this world worships Me through vidhi-bhakti. Vidhi-bhakti has no power for attaining the feelings of Vraja. The devotion of the world is mixed with knowledge of My divine prowess. I do not delight in love diluted with prowess."

It is thus evident that there is a need to deeply reflect on the nature and practice of raganuga-bhakti for anyone who desires to perfect his loving faculty in relationship with God. There is no other means for tasting the ambrosial sweetness of the Vraja-pastimes of the Lord!

karma, tapa, yoga, jJAna, vidhi-bhakti, japa, dhyAna |

ihA haite mAdhurya durlabha ||

kevala ye rAga-mArge, bhaje kRSNe anurAge |

tAre kRSNa-mAdhurya sulabha || (cc 2.21.119)

"Sweetness is very difficult to attain through fruitive activities, austerity, yoga, intellectual speculation, vidhi-bhakti, recitation of mantras or meditation. The sweetness of Sri Krishna is easily attainable only for the one who affectionately worships Him on the path of raga."