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Rádhá(1) attained Krśńa through madhura bháva [sweet devotion]. In Krśńa she found everything that was charming and sweet in life. The spirit of madhura bháva is this: “I will focus my entire existence, whether physical, mental, social, or spiritual, one-pointed to derive sweet bliss from my dear Krśńa”. Usually, ninety-nine percent of all devotees maintain this Rádhá bháva due to its intense sweetness. Krśńa of Vraja increased the degree of sweetness by playing on His flute. Some people said, “I shall never look at Him again, I shall never even think of Him, but shall remain content to look after my little worldly family”, but actually were unable to resist His attraction. The very next moment they would ask, “Why are You not coming today? I’m sitting anxiously waiting for You”. This is madhura bháva. In the history of the world, Parama Puruśa first appeared as the personification of charm and sweetness in Krśńa of Vraja.
Naviinameghasannibhaḿ suniilakomalacchavim suhásarainjitádharaḿ namámi Krśńasundaram.
Yashodánanda nandanaḿ surendrapádavandanam suvarń aratnamań dalaḿ namámi Krśńasundaram.
Bhavábdhikarń dhárakaḿ bhayárttináshakárakam mumukśu mukidáyakaḿ namámi Krśńasundaram.
What is Krśńa like? He is like the dark patches of clouds which appear as harbingers of hope in the northeastern sky after the scorching, simmering heat. Krśńa brings hope, Krśńa means hope – hope of protection, hope of deliverance. The very sight of Him brings peace to the mind, delight to the eyes, and joy to the heart. Some chew betel to colour the lips and mouth; others use cosmetics, but my Krśńa needs nothing to redden His lips except His sweetly enchanting smile.
Krśńa is one, but adored in different ways. He was treated as a son by Nanda and Yashodá, and as a friend by the cowherds of Vraja. Rádhá adored Him in madhura bháva. Yashoda and Nanda worshipped him in vasalya bháva, and the cowherds – who had no schooling, no learning, but sincerity and a loving heart – adored Him in sákhya bháva as a friend.(2)
Footnotes
(1) Rádhá is both the mythological figure of the Krśńaliila and a philosophical concept representing the highest state of devotion. Many poems and mythological stories have been written depicting Rádhá and Lord Krśńa as young lovers. All of them are symbolic of the inner relationship a devotee has with the Supreme. –Trans.
(2) When the devotee assumes the attitude of a loving parent towards God it is called vasalya bháva. Sakhya bháva is the attitude of a dear friend. –Trans.