Ocean of Ecstacy
By Swami Tripurari, from Siksastakam of Sri Caitanya.
Anandambudhi-vardhanam
As knowledge of one’s svarupa manifests, one passes from the final stage of sadhana-bhakti into bhava-bhakti. The sadhya of sadhana is bhava. At this stage the sadhaka has pulled up the anchor of material life and is now adrift in a sea of ecstasy. Although the jiva remains infinitesimal, in bhava-bhakti it nonetheless experiences infinite bliss in a shoreless ocean of spiritual emotions. Sri Krishnacandra sankirtana causes this ocean of ecstasy to increase without limit, just as the moon causes the ocean’s tide to rise. Bhava-bhaktas are not agitated by the demands of the senses. They are sober people. However, the ecstasy of nama-sankirtana sometimes makes them appear agitated and intoxicated.
Bhava-bhakti is indicated in the phrase anandambudhi-vardhanam: “[Sri Krishna sankirtana] increases the ocean of ecstasy.” This same phrase is used by Srinivasa Acarya in his Sad-goswami-astakam when he describes how the Six Goswamis were expert in increasing the ocean of ecstasy through their engagement in nama-sankirtana, anandambudhi-vardhanaika-nipunau. Srinivasa goes on to say that these Goswamis saved others from the mere drop of ecstasy found in salvation, kaivalya-nistarakau. This statement refers to the fact that bhava-bhakti makes little of salvation (moksa-laghutakrt), which is like a drop of water in comparison to an ocean. This effect of sankirtana is explained in greater detail in the sixth verse of Siksastakam.
Discover more from Harmonist
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Related Posts
Impediments to Devotion →
Conquering the World →
Sanga: Sakhya or Madhurya →
