B H A K T I (DEVOTIONAL SERVICE). part 12.

Persons desiring to follow in the footsteps of such eternal devotees of the Lordas the Vṛṣṇis and Vṛndāvana denizens are called rāgānugā devotees, whichmeans that they are trying to attain to the perfection of those devotees.These rāgānugā devotees do not follow the regulative principles ofdevotional service very strictly, but by spontaneous nature they becomeattracted to some of the eternal devotees such as Nanda or Yaśodā, and theytry to follow in their footsteps spontaneously. There is a gradual developmentof the ambition to become like a particular devotee,and this activity is called rāgānugā.(The Nectar of Devotion).We must always remember, however, that such eagerness to follow in the footstepsof the denizens of Vraja (Vṛndāvana) is not possible unless one is freed frommaterial contamination. In following the regulative principles of devotional service,there is a stage called anartha-nivṛtti, which means the disappearanceof all material contamination.(The Nectar of Devotion).It is said by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, "When one is actually liberated from materialcontamination, he can always remember an eternal devotee in Vṛndāvana inorder to love Kṛṣṇa in the same capacity. And developing such an aptitude,one will always live in Vṛndāvana, even within his mind." The purport is thatif it is possible one should go and physically be present at Vrajabhūmi,Vṛndāvana, and be engaged always in the service of the Lord, following thedevotees inVraja-dhāma, the spiritual realm of Vraja. If it is not possible,however, to be physically present at Vṛndāvana, one can meditate anywhereupon living in that situation. Wherever he may be, one must always thinkabout life in Vraja-dhāma and about following in the footsteps of a particulardevotee in the service of the Lord.(The Nectar of Devotion).A devotee who is actually advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, who is constantlyengaged in devotional service, should not manifest himself, even though he hasattained perfection. The idea is that he should always continue to act as aneophyte devotee as long as his material body is there. Activities in devotionalservice under regulative principles must be followed even by the pure devotee.But when he realizes his actual position in relationship with the Lord, he can,along with the discharging of regulative service, think within himself ofthe Lord, under the guidance of a particular associate of the Lord, and develophis transcendental sentiments in following that associate.(The Nectar of Devotion).Devotional service following in the footsteps of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana or thequeens at Dvārakā is called devotional service in conjugal love. This devotionalservice in conjugal love can be divided into two categories. One is indirectconjugal love, the other direct. In both of these categories, one has to followthe particular gopī who is engaged in such service in Goloka Vṛndāvana.To be directly attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in conjugallove is technically called keli. This keli performance means to directly joinwith the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are other devotees who donot wish direct contact with the Supreme Person, but who relish the conjugallove affairs of the Lord with the gopīs. Such devotees enjoy simply byhearing of the activities of the Lord with the gopīs.(The Nectar of Devotion).This development of conjugal love can be possible only with those who arealready engaged in following the regulative principles of devotional service,specifically in the worship of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in the temple. Such devoteesgradually develop a spontaneous love for the Deity, and by hearing of theLord's exchange of loving affairs with the gopīs, they gradually becomeattracted to these pastimes.(The Nectar of Devotion).This development of conjugal love for Kṛṣṇa is not manifested in women only.The material body has nothing to do with spiritual loving affairs. A womanmay develop an attitude for becoming a friend of Kṛṣṇa, and, similarly,a man may develop the feature of becoming a gopī in Vṛndāvana.How a devotee in the form of a man can desire to become a gopī is statedin the Padma Purāṇa as follows: In days gone by there were many sagesin Daṇḍakāraṇya. Daṇḍakāraṇya is the name of the forest where LordRāmacandra lived after being banished by His father for fourteen years.At that time there were many advanced sages who were captivated bythe beauty of Lord Rāmacandra and who desired to become women inorder to embrace the Lord. Later on, these sages appeared in GolokaVṛndāvana when Kṛṣṇa advented Himself there, and they were born asgopīs, or girl friends of Kṛṣṇa. In this way theyattained the perfection of spiritual life.(The Nectar of Devotion).Conjugal love is divided into two classifications — namely, conjugal loveas husband and wife and conjugal love as lover and beloved. One whodevelops conjugal love for Kṛṣṇa as a wife is promoted to Dvārakā, wherethe devotee becomes the queen of the Lord. One who develops conjugallove for Kṛṣṇa as a lover is promoted to Goloka Vṛndāvana, to associatewith the gopīs and enjoy loving affairs with Kṛṣṇa there. We should notecarefully, however, that this conjugal love for Kṛṣṇa, either as gopī or asqueen, is not limited only to women. Even men can develop suchsentiments, as was evidenced by the sages of Daṇḍakāraṇya. If someonesimply desires conjugal love, but does not follow in the footsteps of thegopīs, he is promoted to association with the Lord at Dvārakā.(The Nectar of Devotion).In the Mahā-kūrma Purāṇa it is stated, "Great sages who were the sons offire-gods rigidly followed the regulative principles in their desire to haveconjugal love for Kṛṣṇa. As such, in their next lives they were able toassociate with the Lord, the origin of all creation, who is known asVāsudeva, or Kṛṣṇa, and all of them got Him as their husband."(The Nectar of Devotion).Devotees who are attracted to Kṛṣṇa as parents or as friends should followin the footsteps of Nanda Mahārāja or Subala, respectively. Nanda Mahārājais the foster father of Kṛṣṇa, and out of all of the friends of Kṛṣṇa,Subala is the most intimate in Vrajabhūmi.(The Nectar of Devotion).In the development of becoming either the father or friend of the Lord,there are two varieties. One method is that one may try to become thefather of the Lord directly, and the other is that one may follow NandaMahārāja and cherish the ideal of being Kṛṣṇa's father. Out of these two,the attempt to directly become the father of Kṛṣṇa is not recommended.(The Nectar of Devotion).Elevation to the ecstatic stage of life is generally attained through associationwith pure devotees, while elevation to that stage by the specialmercy of Kṛṣṇa or His devotee is very rare.(The Nectar of Devotion).The purport is that one should execute devotional service rigidly in theassociation of devotees so that there will be certainty in raising oneself tothat ecstatic position. In special cases, of course, there is special favourfrom Kṛṣṇa, and although we should always expect that, we should notsit idly and simply wait for Kṛṣṇa's special mercy;the regular duties must be performed.(The Nectar of Devotion).An example of rising to the stage of ecstatic love by executing the regulativeprinciples of devotional service is given in the life story of Nārada, which isdescribed to Vyāsadeva in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Nārada tells there of hisprevious life and how he developed to the stage of ecstatic love. He wasengaged in the service of great devotees and used to hear their talks andsongs. Because he had the opportunity to hear these pastimes and songsof Kṛṣṇa from the mouths of pure devotees, he became very attractedwithin his heart. Because he had become so eager to hear these topics,he gradually developed within himself an ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. Thisecstatic love is prior to the pure love of Kṛṣṇa, because in the next verseNārada confirms that by the gradual process of hearing from the greatsages he developed love of Godhead.(The Nectar of Devotion).These are practical examples of how one can develop to the stage ofecstatic love simply by the association of pure devotees. It is essential,therefore, that one constantly associate with pure devotees who areengaged morning and evening in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.In this way one will get the chance to purify his heart and developthis ecstatic pure love for Kṛṣṇa.(The Nectar of Devotion).