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What excites madhur ras? (uddipan vibhâv) |
Sri Hari’s and His sweethearts’
· qualities,
· names,
· characteristics,
· decoration,
· associated elements and
· some marginal objects – all arouse this ras.
Qualities – They are divided into three –
1. physical quality – age, looks, lâvanya, beauty, sweetness etc.
2. verbal quality – sweet speech that delights the auditory sense is the ‘verbal quality’.
3. mental quality – gratefulness, forgiveness and kindness are the mental qualities.
Names – Sweet sounds such as ‘Râdhâ’ and ‘Krishna’ are the ‘names’ that excite ras in a devotee of madhur ras.
Characteristics – We can categorize them into two – (1) anubhâv (2) leelâ. We shall discuss the ‘anubhâv’ separately, since it is a long topic. Here let us see the leelâs that arouse madhur ras. Sri Krishna’s characteristics are – playing the flute, Râs-sports, ball-game. Srimati Râdhârâni’s characteristics are – graceful-ness, playing the veenâ, music, cooking.
Decoration – It is of 4 types –
- clothes
- ornaments
- flower-garlands
- unguents
Associated elements – We can classify them into two –
- lagna1 – Sri Krishna’s lagna are – the flute-song, sound of the horn, singing, body-fragrance etc. Srimati Râdhârâni’s lagna are – song of the veenâs, music and body-fragrance.
- sannihita2 – Sri Krishna’s sannihita are – flower-garland, gunjâ-mâlâ, saffron anointments. Srimati Râdhârâni’s sannihita are – flower-garlands, veenâ, dear friends such as Lalitâ and Sri Râdhâkund.
Some marginal objects – moonlight, clouds, lightning, spring season, sharad season, full moon, breeze, peacocks, cuckoo, he-parrot and she-parrot.
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What are the reactions of a devotee in madhur ras (Anubhâv)? |
In madhur ras we have three types of anubhâvs – alankâr, udbhâswar, vâchik
1. Alankâr3 – The commonly maidens are at the height of youthfulness, and they are always absorbed in their life and soul – that is – Sri Krishna. Their heart is attacked with all sorts of bhâvs, called ‘alankâr’. We can list twenty alankârs –
1. hâv4,
2. bhâv5,
3. helâ6,
4. beauty,
5. splendor,
6. glow,
7. sweetness,
8. pragalbhatâ (prâgalbhya)7,
9. generosity,
10. patience,
11. leelâ8,
12. love-dalliance,
13. vichchhitti9,
14. vibhram10,
15. kilakinchit11,
16. mottâyita12,
17. kuttumita13,
18. bibbok14,
19. lalit15 and
20. vikrita16.
Stupefaction and surprise are two additional alankârs.
2. Udbhâswar – loud reactions of a devotee in madhur ras – the sweetheart’s skirt-string loosens, her uttariya (dupattâ)17 falls, she stretches the upper body, yawns, flares the nostrils, sighs heavily, rolls on the earth, sings, does not care for the public, spins around and hiccoughs; these are the udbhâswar reactions.
1 Things you cannot separate from Him.
2 Those things that are close to Him, but can be separated from Him.
3 The literal meaning is ‘jewellery’. These are actually bhâvs that are so beautiful and loving that they entice Sri Krishna instantly, just like jewellery makes an ordinary girl appear beautiful and attracts a mundane ‘lover’.
4 It is a mood in which one turns the neck and moves the eye-brows and the eyes; it is more expressive than the mood called ‘bhâv’. – (U.N.11.9-10)
5 When one is in the erotic ras, and a seed called ‘rati’ or passion appears in the heart, and then certain feelings occur where there was none earlier – we call it ‘bhâv’. – (U.N.11.6)
6 When ‘hâv’ clearly indicates erotic desire then we call it ‘helâ’. – (U.N.11.11)
7 When a sweetheart has no qualms regarding love-making; adopts a carefree attitude. – (U.N.11.21)
8 To dress up attractively and imitate the beloved’s actions – (U.N.11.28)
9 To wear just one simple ornament and yet look beautiful. E.g. Srimati Râdhârâni wore an earring made of a rosy mango-leaf (newly-budding) that quivered in the breeze; this looked so novel that it charmed Mukunda immensely and His lotus-face became exultant.
10 When a Vraja-bâlâ is extremely eager to meet her lover, she puts all the ornaments in the wrong places – we call this as ‘vibhram’.
11 A mood where joy is predominant. However it is mingled with arrogance, desire, tears, smile, malevolence, fear and anger – all expressed simultaneously.
12 In this mood, the Vraja-gopi reminisces about her Beloved and reveals the feelings in her heart.
13 When Sri Krishna kisses or touches Srimati Râdhârâni’s breasts, She is happy within, yet expresses anger externally – the wise call it ‘kuttumita’.
14 Sometimes in spite of getting what she desires, a Gopi disregards it – this may be due to (a) over-arrogance or (b) mân. We call it ‘bibbok’.
15 Very soft gestures and love-play of the eye-brows; Govinda is an expert in this mood.
16 Not revealing the feeling in one’s heart, due to shyness, mân and jealousy, yet the lover cannot conceal his feeling, since it gets expressed through some other way. E.g. When Sri Krishna sought a date with a Vraja devi, she refused, yet her cheeks manifested gooseflesh and looked very beautiful.