Establishing Devotional Service to God
The path of bhakti-yoga is often misunderstood as a mere sentiment or emotional fervor. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that devotional service is a scientific process established on the solid foundation of Vedic authority. To be genuine, devotion must adhere to the standard scriptures; otherwise, it is simply a "make-show" that disrupts society. The mission of the great ācāryas has always been to defeat mental speculation and establish the living entity in their eternal occupation of service to the Supreme Lord.
Scriptural Foundation
True devotional service is not manufactured by the mind. It is supported by the evidence of the śruti, smṛti, and Purāṇas. Śrīla Prabhupāda cites the example of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who, despite being the Supreme Lord Himself, used the Vedas and Vedānta to defeat the arguments of scholars and establish the supremacy of bhakti.
- Devotional service is established on the principles of sruti, smrti, purana or pancaratra authorities, the make-show of devotional service should at once be rejected.
- All of these adherents of various scriptures were ready to present the conclusions of their respective scriptures, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu broke all their opinions to pieces and established His own cult of bhakti based on the Vedas, Vedanta.
- Formerly whatever is given under Vedic evidence, people will accept all it is correct. Therefore nana-sastra-vicaranaika. They used to collect all the Vedic references and put into the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu to establish that bhagavad-bhakti.
Mission of Gosvāmīs
The immediate followers of Lord Caitanya, the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, were entrusted with the task of establishing this cult of devotion. They did not simply sit in meditation; they actively studied the śāstras to find evidence that would substantiate the process of pure devotional service and refute the paths of karma and jñāna.
- The Lord dispatched Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami to Vrndavana to excavate and renovate the holy places and from there establish the cult of bhakti. Therefore Vrndavana was given to Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami as their place of residence.
- They (the Six Gosvamis) were very, very expert in studying sastra very scrutinizingly. Why they studied so much? Because they wanted to establish sad-dharma, real type of religion, bhakti. They are quoting, therefore, from so many, nana-sastra.
- Establish devotional service to Lord Krsna and Radharani in Vrndavana. You should also compile bhakti scriptures and preach the bhakti cult from Vrndavana.
Reawakening Relationship
The ultimate goal of establishing these principles is to revive the lost relationship between the soul and God. This relationship is not generic; it is specific and personal, manifested in five primary rasas or mellows: neutrality, servitude, friendship, parenthood, and conjugal love. Bhakti-yoga clears the material covering and establishes the soul in its innate, ecstatic nature.
- In bhakti-yoga there is a relationship established between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotee. Such a relationship is established in the transcendental mellows known as dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya.
- Transcendental relations between the Personality of Godhead and the living entities are eternally established in five different affectionate humors, which are known as santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya.
- One attains the purest stage of equal vision when one ceases to take into consideration the outer covering of the soul, the body, but rather is established in the soul's innate nature of serving the Lord.
Practical Application
Establishing devotional service begins with proper training. Śrīla Prabhupāda insists that children must be taught bhāgavata-dharma from the very beginning of life so they can be firmly fixed in Kṛṣṇa's service. Even philosophical systems like the Sāṅkhya yoga of Kapila Muni are ultimately meant to bring one to the platform of firm devotion, not speculative analysis.
- The clear conception of life, how to serve God, Krsna, that is called bhagavata-dharma. This should be taught to the children. Otherwise it will be very difficult to drag him from this false engagement and again establish him to the Krsna's service.
- Devotees are not interested in speculative knowledge. Therefore, the Sankhya enunciated by Kapila Muni is meant to establish one firmly in devotional service.
Conclusion
To be established in devotional service is the perfection of life. It requires hearing from the disciplic succession and engaging the senses in positive actions like chanting, worshiping, and surrendering. By the mercy of the ācāryas, this path has been cleared of all obstacles and established as the supreme dharma for all humanity.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Establishing Devotional Service to God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.