Raganuga - 3.1: Initial Stages of Practice

The practice of raganuga-bhakti, though aiming at spontaneous, inherent love for Sri Krishna, is not whimsical in nature. The various aspects of raganuga-sadhana have been carefully described in the writings of the saints. Anyone who desires to smoothly progress on the path of raga must study their words diligently.

Just as one must learn from a teacher if he desires to master any given subject in this mundane world, so one must approach a realized teacher who can give adequate guidance on the path of raga.

sa ca lobho rAga vartma vartinAM bhaktAnAM guru-padAzraya lakSaNam Arabhya svAbhISTa vastu sAkSAt prApti samayam abhivyApya || (rvc 1.8)

"It is described that the devotees on the path of raga gradually progress from the initial surrender to the feet of Sri Guru up to the stage of directly attaining the object of their desires."

It has been described earlier that the mercy of Sri Krishna or His devotees is the cause of that spiritual greed, which causes eligibility for the practice of raganuga-bhakti.

sa ca bhagavat kRpA hetuko 'nurAgI bhakta kRpA hetukaz ceti dvividhaH | tatra bhakta kRpA hetuko dvividhaH prAktana Adhunikaz ca | prAktanaH - paurva bhavika tAdRza bhakta kRpotthaH, AdhunikaH etaj janmAvadhi tAdRza bhakta kRpotthaH | Adye sati lobhAnantaraM tAdRza guru caraNAzrayaNam | dvitIye guru caraNAzrayAnantaraM lobha pravRttir bhavati || (rvc 1.6)

"There are said to be two causes for the appearance of the aforementioned greed, namely the mercy of God and the mercy of an anuragi devotee. There are again two kinds of mercy bestowed by a devotee, namely old and recent. Greed which is born from the mercy of such devotees of Sri Krishna in a previous life is known as old (praktana). Greed which is born from the mercy of a devotee in the present life is known as recent (adhunika). In the one in whom greed has awakened in a previous birth, his greed manifests and he then takes shelter of the feet of a raganugiya devotee guru. One whose greed is recent will first take shelter of the feet of a guru, after which his greed appears."

It is thus evident that approaching a guru is necessary for anyone who desires to progress towards the ultimate goal of life with firm confidence. In describing the 64 main aspects of practice in his Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Sri Rupa Gosvami delineates the first four as follows:

guru-pAdAzrayas tasmAt kRSNa-dIkSAdi-zikSaNam |
vizrambheNa guroH sevA sAdhu-vartmAnuvartanam || (brs 1.2.74)

"(1) Taking shelter of the feet of a guru, (2) Accepting initiation in Krishna-mantra and subsequent instructions, (3) Serving the guru with confidence, and (4) Following the path traversed by the saints."