{"id":753,"date":"2008-09-28T21:52:40","date_gmt":"2008-09-28T16:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/?p=753"},"modified":"2008-09-29T09:14:22","modified_gmt":"2008-09-29T03:44:22","slug":"chapter-13-sakhya-ras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/sweet_books\/how-to-realize-ras\/chapter-13-sakhya-ras\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 13 – Sakhya ras"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sakhya-bhakti-ras<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“The devotees in friendly mood has three characteristics \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. the qualities of the sh\u00e2nta<\/em> devotee<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. the sev\u00e2<\/em> performed by the servants<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. The mood of non-difference is very strong in a sakh\u00e2<\/em> and the friend is devoid of awe and reverence.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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

    A sakh\u00e2<\/em> climbs on Sri Krishna\u2019s shoulders and also lets Him climb on his; he plays as well as fights with Him. He serves Sri Krishna and takes service from Him<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. He loves Sri Krishna more than the sh\u00e2nta<\/em>-devotee and the devotee in the mood of servitude. He considers Sri Krishna as non-different from Himself. In this manner the friend subjugates Sri Krishna. Hence you can recognize sakhya-ras<\/em> by the three above characteristics.\u201d \u2013 (C.C.Madhya.19.181-184)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has termed sakhya-bhakti-ras<\/em> as \u2018preyo-bhakti-ras\u2019<\/em> (preyo<\/em> = dear, loving).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    “When two friends are nearly equal, they feel non-different from one another. They are devoid of awe and reverence. We call this relation as \u2018sakhya\u2019<\/em>. They are in the mood of \u2018vishrambha<\/em>\u2019. \u2018Vishrambha\u2019<\/em> means very deep faith that lacks hesitation of any sort.\u201d \u2013 (B.R.S.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has described Sri Krishna Who is the subject of love in sakhya ras<\/em>, as follows \u2013<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    “Shy\u00e2msundar is well-dressed, has all good qualities, He is strong, speaks so many extraordinary languages and is an expert at well-articulated speech. He is extremely learned, exceptionally talented, highly capable and kind. He is bravest of all, witty, intelligent and forgiving. Sri Krishna loves all and is loved by everyone. He is upbeat, joyful and great to be around with.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    All these qualities are arousing ras <\/em>in the devotees belonging to the friendly mood. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    “The sakh\u00e2s<\/em> are the shelter (\u00e2shray)<\/em> of this ras <\/em>and they look handsome like Sri Krishna. They even dress like Him. Unlike the servants, they do not have the slightest inkling of hesitation. They only have very firm faith in Sri Krishna.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

    Arjun, Bhimsen, the brahmin Shrid\u00e2m are Sri Krishna\u2019s friends in Dw\u00e2rak\u00e2. Amongst them, Arjun is the closest. However, if we take all His friends into account<\/span>2<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, then the sakh\u00e2s<\/em> of Vraja are the topmost. They are the closest. How are these sakh\u00e2s<\/em>?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    “They are overcome with extreme grief if they don\u2019t see Shy\u00e2msundar for just one moment. They want to play with Him always and Sri Krishna is their life and soul. Such are His Brijw\u00e2si-sakh\u00e2s<\/em>. They are the greatest of all His friends.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

    Sri Krishna\u2019s Vraja-sakh\u00e2s<\/em> are of four types \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

      \n
    1. suhrit<\/em><\/strong> (companions)\u2013 These boys are slightly older to Sri Krishna. They hold weapons and are always trying to protect Him from bad men. E.g. \u2013 Subhadra, Mandalibhadra, Bhadra-vardhan, Gobhat, Indrabhat, Bhadr\u00e2nga, Veerbhadra, Mah\u00e2gun, Vijay, Balabhadra etc.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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

        \n
      1. sakh\u00e2<\/em><\/strong> (friends)\u2013 These friends are younger to Him and like to serve Him. Although they are definitely in the sakhya<\/em>-mood, they have a whiff of d\u00e2sya-ras<\/em> about them – They look up to Sri Krishna. Their names are as follows \u2013 Vish\u00e2l, Vrishabh, Ojaswi, Devaprastha, Varuthapa, Maranda, Kusum\u00e2peeda, Manibandha, Karandham etc.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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

          \n
        1. priya-sakh\u00e2<\/em><\/strong> (dear friends)\u2013 They are equal to Sri Krishna in age and are in pure sakhya-ras<\/em>. E.g. Shrid\u00e2m, Sud\u00e2m<\/span><\/span>3<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, D\u00e2m, Vasud\u00e2m, Kinkini, Stoka-Krishna, Amshu, Bhadrasen, Vil\u00e2si, Pundarik, Vitanka, Kalavinka etc. These sakh\u00e2s <\/em>please Sri Krishna by indulging in various friendly sports with Him. They have fisticuff-fights and stick-fights with Him. They joke and play pranks. Thus they give pleasure to Sri Krishna. Shrid\u00e2m is the topmost in this category.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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

            \n
          1. priya-narma-sakh\u00e2<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>(bosom friends)\u2013 They are greater than the suhrit, sakh\u00e2 <\/em>and priya-sakh\u00e2.<\/em> They have a special bh\u00e2v.<\/em> Their bh\u00e2v <\/em>is laced with sakhi-bh\u00e2v<\/em>. They help Sri Krishna to unite with the sweethearts. They are engaged in confidential services such as carrying messages between the lovers and helping in secret meetings. Therefore we call them priya-narma-sakh\u00e2s<\/em>. E.g. Subal, Arjun<\/span><\/span>4<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, Gandharva, Vasanta, Ujjwal, Mandhumangal etc. Amongst them, Subal and Ujjwal are the closest to Sri Krishna.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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

            \n\n\n\n
            \n
            \n

            What causes sakhya<\/em><\/strong>–ras<\/strong> <\/em>to arise ?<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

            Sri Krishna\u2019s age, beauty, flute, cow-horn (a type of musical instrument), jokes, witty repartees, talents, the way He mimics kings and the incarnations of God. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

            Visible symptoms or activities of a devotee in sakhya-ras <\/em>are as follows \u2013 wrestling, playing throw-ball, dice-game and various other boyish sports.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

            The silent activities (s\u00e2tvic<\/em>) are \u2013 stupefaction, perspiration.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

            The passing bh\u00e2vs<\/em> are laughter etc.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

            Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has explained with a concrete example \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

            “Mukunda looked as handsome as a mass of cloud illuminated by the star \u2018Sw\u00e2ti\u2019. When He loudly commenced the festival of sports by blowing wetly, yet forcefully into the enchanting flute, there was a shower of jubilation all around. In this joy, Shrid\u00e2m\u2019s body, that resembled an exquisite pearl-oyster, expressed little droplets of perspiration that gleamed like pearls.\u201d \u2013 (B.R.S. 3.3.98)<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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

            The vibh\u00e2vs<\/em> (cause of ras)<\/em> are as follows \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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