Poem for Mar 11



Japa Poem


“My dear mind, if you are eager to reside in Vraja-dhama and execute devotional service on the platform of ragatmika-bhakti, as well as to yearn for direct service to Sri-Sri Radha and Krishna, then simply desire to remember and worship birth after birth the lotus feet of Sri Svarupa Damodara, Srila Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami and all the other associates of Sri Caitanya who are the recipients of His mercy.” (_Manah-siksa_, Verse 3, p. 11)

In this verse of _Manah-siksa_, the author expects his mind to be eager for desiring raganuga-bhakti. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has said that these are lessons for all Gaudiya Vaisnavas. In his Sri Bhajana-darpana commentary to Verse Three, Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that the path of raganuga-bhakti is traversed by practicing vaidhi-bhakti, especially chanting and hearing under the direction of the spiritual master. At no stage does one jump over the basic activities of chanting and hearing in order to become more advanced. But with the advanced or spontaneous stage, the chanting and hearing change from duty to love.

(_Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name_)