Topic: Madhurya Kadambini
Madhurya Kadambini describes the gradual elevation of devotion. It begins with shraddha. The next stage is sadhu sanga followed by bhajana kriya. Anartha nivruthi and nishta are higher stages. Ruchi, ashathi and bhava are the following stages in the devotional service. Finally, it culminates at prema.
A devotee in whose heart the devotional seed has been planted is bound to receive two benedictions namely, kleshagni and shuvada. Kleshagni is termination of all sufferings due to material contamination and shuvada is all auspiciousness. Kleshagni is of five types- avidha, ashmita, raag, dvesh and avinivesh. Shuvada is of twelve types – detachment from material nature, attachment to devotional service, favorably disposed towards devotional service, mercy, forgiveness, truthfulness, simplicity, equanimity, fortitude, gratitude, respect and humility. Anishtitha or unsteadiness is of six aspects – false enthusiasm, sporadic endeavor, indecision, combat with Maya, inability to follow the vows and floating in the facilities that comes along with devotional service.
Devotional service is of two types – pure and mixed. Pure devotional service is of three types – sadhana bhakti, bhava bhakti and prema bhakti. Sadhana bhakti destroys all distresses and bestows all auspiciousness. Bhava bhakti makes one realize that liberation is insignificant compared to devotional service which is very rare. Prema bhakti gives transcendental joy and attracts Krsna.
The anarthas or contamination can be removed in five ways - ekadesha vartini, bahudesa vartini, prayichi, purna and atyantithi. Ekadesha vartini or localized removal of material contamination is due to the practice of bhajana kriya. In the stage of nishta, many anarthas are removed. When bhava manifests, the eradication of anarthas is general. Prema or pure love for Krsna removes all the anarthas and hence complete. As a living entity reaches the lotus feet of the Lord the eradication of anarthas is absolute.
There are five impediments to nishta or to become fixed up in devotional service. They are sleep, restless due to material attachment, spiritual indifference, sinful habits (anger, greed and pride) and taste for material enjoyment. The tendency to sleep is more while sravanam or hearing. One who is situated in nishta is free from these symptoms. In India, all the children have tasted sugarcane. One who has relished the taste of sugarcane cannot give it up easily. Similarly, anyone who has developed a taste for devotional service cannot renounce it easily. As a result, one who has developed a taste for devotional service becomes indifferent to the material enjoyment. He becomes fixed up and his sadhana becomes steady.
Nishta is of two types – direct devotion, indirect devotion. Direct devotion is steadiness towards the objects that are favorable to devotional service. Steadiness in bhakti itself has three aspects – bodily, vocal and mental. The gross body is used in the service and vocal refers to kirtan etc. Mental devotional service is remembering. Ether is a substance which is subtler and sound is produced out of ether. Ether is very close to the spiritual sky and hence vocal aspect of devotional service is a very important one. Sound is the best way to control our mind and hence there is so much emphasis on chanting the Holy Name of the Lord. The favorable activities for attainment of nishta are no desire of respect for oneself, giving respect to others, friendliness and mercy. Mahaprabhu gave attachment to the Holy Name, compassion for the living entities and service to the devotees. In this way we cover up to nishta.
Ruchi is the next stage described by Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur. The manifestation of ruchi is when the golden coin of bhakti shines effulgently by the fire of steady practice and being propelled by its own energy and becomes fixed up. Radharani’s complexion has been compared to molten gold. The word propelled is significant in this verse as when one develops taste for the Holy Name it becomes easy for a devotee to make advancement. A Brahmana boy studies scriptures with endeavor and as a result, learning thereafter becomes facile. The stage till nishta is accomplished with arduous endeavor. In this stage, a devotee has to be precautious about guarding himself against namaparadha or offenses to the Holy Name. If one can take care of namaparadha, his most of the impediments are cleared off. One should always guard himself against the offenses especially from blaspheming the devotees. Ruchi is of two types – that which depends on excellence of the element, that which doesn’t depend on the excellence of the element. The first one means that appreciation of kirtan or any service when it is pleasingly delivered. For example, when a person without strong appetite invited for dinner will inquire about the menu. He might take the food depending on his appetite. On the other hand, a person who is really hungry will not care about the menu of the dinner and will take anything that is offered to him. Similarly, if the ruchi or taste is not strong enough, one might or might not relish the devotional service depending on the excellence of the element delivered. In the higher stage, one develops an appetite for the Holy Name and relishes the devotional service irrespective of the excellence of the element.
Ashathi is the attraction for Krsna. When the taste for bhajan reaches an extreme death and Krsna becomes the very object of the devotional activities, ashathi develops. Prabhupada often pointed out that the attraction between a young boy and girl is intense. In the course of rendering devotional service, one becomes intensely attached to Krsna and He alone becomes the object of love. Thus, the devotee doesn’t care for anything else but Krsna. At the stage of ashathi, the creeper of bhakti bears the clusters of buds which within no time become flowers at the stage of bhava and fruits at the stage of prema. Ashathi polishes the mirror of the heart to such a condition that the Lord becomes suddenly visible in one’s heart. One can become effortlessly fixed up on the Lord in this stage.