Five Rasas of Bhakti: How Devotees Love Krishna in Vrindavana | Sripad Sundarananda Prabhu

Discover the five primary rasas of bhakti and learn why the residents of Vrindavana love Krishna without constantly thinking of Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This class explains the difference between awe and reverence, spontaneous devotion, and why the love of the gopis is considered the highest expression of bhakti. 📖 Scripture: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta — Madhya-lila, Chapter 19, Verses 185–209 🎤 Speaker: Sundarananda Dasa GuruMaharaja 📍 Location: Krishna Temple — Gaura Bhakti Yoga Center, Langenthal, Switzerland 🗓️ Date: July 23, 2026 In this morning class, Sundarananda Dasa GuruMaharaja continues Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings on bhakti-rasa by explaining the five primary relationships with Krishna: shanta, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya. Using verses from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, he describes how Krishna reciprocates perfectly with every devotee according to their unique mood of devotion. The class introduces the principal devotees in each rasa. The Four Kumaras and the Nava-yogendras represent shanta-rasa. Krishna's confidential servants such as Raktaka, Citraka, Patraka and Daruka exemplify dasya-rasa. Sridama, Sudama, Bhima and Arjuna illustrate friendship with Krishna, while Mother Yashoda, Nanda Maharaja, Vasudeva and Devaki reveal different expressions of parental love. The highest example of madhurya-rasa is found in Srimati Radharani and the gopis of Vrindavana. A major theme of the lecture is the difference between devotion mixed with aisvarya—awareness of Krishna's supreme position—and pure spontaneous love. In Mathura, Dvaraka and Vaikuntha, devotees know Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so their love naturally includes awe and reverence. In Vrindavana, however, Yogamaya covers this awareness, allowing Krishna's eternal associates to love Him naturally as a son, friend or beloved. GuruMaharaja explains why Mother Yashoda never thinks of Krishna as God. Although Krishna lifts Govardhana Hill, kills powerful demons and performs unlimited miracles, her motherly affection remains stronger than awareness of His divinity. This intimate love allows her to chastise Krishna, bind Him to a wooden mortar after He steals butter, and care for Him exactly as a mother cares for her child. The class contrasts this with the love of Vasudeva and Devaki. After Krishna kills Kamsa and offers obeisances to His parents, they hesitate to embrace Him because they recognize Him as the Supreme Lord. Their parental affection becomes mixed with reverence, demonstrating how awareness of Krishna's majesty can reduce spontaneous intimacy. Another important example comes from Bhagavad-gita, where Krishna reveals His universal form to Arjuna. Before this vision, Arjuna freely joked, ate and traveled with Krishna as his close friend. After seeing the universal form, he repeatedly offers obeisances and asks forgiveness for treating Krishna so casually. This illustrates how awareness of Krishna's unlimited opulence transforms one's mood. GuruMaharaja also recounts the playful pastime in which Krishna accepts defeat during a game with the cowherd boys and carries Sridama on His shoulders. During the same pastime, the demon Pralamba disguises himself as a cowherd boy, carries Balarama away and is ultimately killed by Balarama. Even after witnessing such extraordinary events, Krishna's friends quickly return to their natural mood of intimate friendship. The lecture concludes with the exalted love of Srimati Radharani. After leaving the rasa dance alone with Krishna, She asks Him to carry Her through the forest. Krishna invites Her to climb onto His shoulders but disappears at that very moment, deepening the mood of loving separation. GuruMaharaja explains that Krishna reciprocates differently with every devotee, yet the gopis' love is completely selfless. They abandoned everything only for Krishna's happiness, and therefore Krishna Himself says that He can never repay their love. By hearing these beautiful pastimes and understanding the unique relationships between Krishna and His devotees, we gradually develop a deeper appreciation for pure devotional service and the eternal sweetness of Vrindavana. We hope this class strengthens your faith in #HareKrishna, inspires your journey in #KrishnaConsciousness, and encourages you to continue studying the timeless teachings of #ISKCON.