{"id":633,"date":"2008-09-12T12:07:43","date_gmt":"2008-09-12T06:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/?p=633"},"modified":"2008-09-12T15:37:18","modified_gmt":"2008-09-12T10:07:18","slug":"chapter-9-bhaav-equalization-how-we-can-relish-sri-krishnas-sweetness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/sweet_books\/how-to-realize-ras\/chapter-9-bhaav-equalization-how-we-can-relish-sri-krishnas-sweetness\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 9 – Bhaav-equalization – how we can relish Sri Krishna’s sweetness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Equalization of Bh\u00e2v<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

What is bh\u00e2v?<\/em>
\nHow can we get the bh\u00e2v<\/em> of the eternal associates?<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2018Bh\u00e2v<\/em>\u2019 is an experience of Sri Krishna\u2019s sweetness. Although we live in the material world, all of us can get this bh\u00e2v<\/em> by the mercy of Sri Krishna and His devotees. But how? When the bh\u00e2v<\/em> of the loving eternal associates get equalized with the tendencies of the s\u00e2dhak<\/em>, the devotee too can realize and relish Sri Krishna\u2019s immense sweetness. What is equalization? It means when two things become non-different from each other, yet maintain individuality. Let\u2019s put it like this \u2013 our bh\u00e2v<\/em> remains independent<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>, yet become equal to the bh\u00e2v<\/em> of a saj\u00e2tiya<\/em> devotee. We call this bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization. <\/span>By the effect of bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization, we \u2013 the mundane devotees \u2013 too can perform the extraordinary deeds of eternal devotees \u2013 and very easily, at that. Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d states \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Formation of ras<\/em> is beyond this material world. Hence, it is true that, it is very difficult to comprehend. We find that the vibh\u00e2vs<\/em> and ratis<\/em> manifest themselves easily and in an excellent manner in the senior as well as junior devotees. Bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization means \u2018unable to distinguish between each other\u2019s bh\u00e2v<\/em>\u2019. Bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization has such an impact that even the new devotees can have the same feelings or perform the activities that the experienced devotees can.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2013 (B.R.S. 2.5.101-102)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Srila Vishwan\u00e2th Chakravartip\u00e2d has elucidated the above statement as follows \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

“During a sat-sang<\/em>, someone was reciting R\u00e2m\u00e2yan. He came to the part when Hanum\u00e2n was about to take a leap to cross the Indian Ocean. Then an emotional devotee, from the audience, jumped up without any embarrassment or hesitation. He was so much absorbed in the same bh\u00e2v<\/em> as that of Hanum\u00e2n that he wanted to cross the ocean there in the assembly itself!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Another example \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

An emotional devotee was performing the role of King Dasharath in a drama. When he heard that \u2013 \u2018R\u00e2m has gone to the forest\u2019 \u2013 he really and truly died on the stage. This happened since he was extremely absorbed in the bh\u00e2v<\/em> of Dasharath.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus we see that when we develop passion, although we may be newbies in devotion, we can equalize our bh\u00e2v<\/em> with that of the mature devotees and ras<\/em> will arise in us. Rhetoric says \u2013 bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization has an inconceivable impact. It can make an immature devotee feel non-different from Hanum\u00e2n and he leaps up in an assembly to cross the ocean. Although he was an ordinary man, bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization lent him an extraordinary enthusiasm to rescue Mother Sitaa, which is an astonishing feat. S\u00e2hitya-Darpan states \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

“There are such bh\u00e2vs<\/em> with which we feel non-different; we can equalize with those bh\u00e2vs<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

However for this we have to have passion (rati<\/em>). Then even newcomers (in devotional practice) can experience their bh\u00e2v <\/em>equalized with the mood of siddha<\/em> devotees. This forms ras<\/em>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sage Bharat has said \u2013 “Bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization has an inexpressible power. It makes the audience\/reader feel non-different from a certain character or situation.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

During bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization sometimes we feel different and at other times non-different. When we relish ras<\/em>, we feel completely non-different. E.g. the devotee relished the same ras<\/em> as did Sri Hanum\u00e2n. When we feel entirely non-different, this stage is called \u2018tanmayi-bhavan<\/em>\u2019<\/span>2<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>. We should remember that the literature or drama has a very minor role in creating bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization; the main thing is rati.<\/em> If we do not possess rati<\/em>, the narrator\/actor cannot arouse bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization in us. Rati<\/em> makes Sri Krishna appear sweet, and therefore it reveals all that is pertaining to Sri Krishna. Rati<\/em> makes Sri Krishna\u2019s sweetness relishing to us, and this in turn, enhances rati.<\/em> Thus we find that the vibh\u00e2vs<\/em> (the objects that cause ras) and rati <\/em>(our passion) help each other to make us relish ras.<\/em> Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has written \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

“There are pandits who strongly vote that divine literatures and dramas are completely responsible in arousing bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization, and hence, they instruct us to read\/hear divine literature and dramas to the greatest degree. However we state that rati<\/em> for Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> is remarkably powerful and precious. We can never ever doubt its sweetness. We ascertain rati<\/em> as the topmost requisite for bh\u00e2v<\/em>-equalization.\u201d \u2013 (B.R.S. 2.5.90-91)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is also true that although a devotee may be emotional, and equalize his bh\u00e2v<\/em>, he will not relish ras<\/em> if he does not have sansk\u00e2r<\/em> or ras<\/em>-desire in past life. Ras<\/em>-relish is directly proportional to our ras<\/em>-desire. If our ras<\/em>-desire is less, when the cause of ras <\/em>is removed, our relish too will disappear. On the other hand, a rasik<\/em>-devotee continues to relish ras<\/em> even when the cause of ras <\/em>is no more. Ras<\/em> keeps on expressing itself right in front of him; it enters his heart and caresses every pore of his body. Even though the cause of ras<\/em> has vanished, a rasik<\/em>-devotee continues to relish ras<\/em>. He forgets everything else \u2013 after all, <\/span>ras IS magic !!! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

(to be contd..)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
\n

1<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span> My bhaav<\/em> remains as my bhaav<\/em> \u2013 it has a distinct flavor of its own, that it never loses, in spite of equalization with another\u2019s bhaav<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span> Complete absorption<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Equalization of Bh\u00e2v What is bh\u00e2v? How can we get the bh\u00e2v of the eternal associates? \u2018Bh\u00e2v\u2019 is an experience of Sri Krishna\u2019s sweetness. Although we live in the material world, all of us can get this bh\u00e2v by the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-to-realize-ras","tag-ras"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=633"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":636,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/633\/revisions\/636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}