''Brihad-bhagavatamrita'' is a
sacred text
Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual prac ...
for followers of the
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
tradition of
Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Gaudiya Vaishnavism (), also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism, is a Vaishnava Hindu religious movement inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) in India. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gaura or Gauḍa region of Bengal, with Vaishnavism meanin ...
. Along with ''Hari-bhakti-vilasa'', it is one of the most important works of Vaishnava theologian
Sanatana Goswami
Sanatana Goswami ( sa, सनातन गोस्वामी, ; bn, সনাতন গোস্বামী; 1488–1558) was a principal follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sanatana wrote a number of important works in the bhakti tradition ...
. While ''Hari-bhakti-vilasa'' sets out guidance for Vaishnava behavior and
ritual
A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized, b ...
, ''Brihad-bhagavatamrita'' contains an analysis of the teachings of
Chaitanya from an
ontological
In metaphysics, ontology is the philosophical study of being, as well as related concepts such as existence, becoming, and reality.
Ontology addresses questions like how entities are grouped into categories and which of these entities exis ...
and
metaphysical
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality, necessity, and possibility. It includes questions about the nature of conscio ...
perspective.
Contents
Sri Brhad-bhagavatāmṛta is divided in two cantos: Pūrva-khaṇḍa,
or first, and Uttar-khaṇḍa, or last. The name of the First Canto is Śrī
Bhagavat-kṛpā-sāra-nirdhāraṇa khaṇḍa – Ascertaining the Essence of the
Mercy of the Supreme Lord. The Second Canto is known as Śrī Golokamāhātmya-
nirūpaṇa khaṇḍa – Ascertaining the Glories of Śrī Goloka.
[Śrī Brhat Bhāgavatāmta Second Canto by Sri Srimad Bhakti vedānta Narayana
Gosvāmi Mahārāja]
In the first part of ''Brihad-bhagavatamrita'' Sanatana Goswami has described a conversation between
Parikshit
Parikshit ( sa, परीक्षित्, ) was a Kuru king who reigned during the Middle Vedic period (12th-10th centuries BCE). Along with his son and successor, Janamejaya, he played a decisive role in the consolidation of the Kuru state, ...
and his mother,
Uttara Uttara, which means "north" in Sanskrit and many other South Asian languages, may refer to:
Places
* Uttara Export Processing Zone, Bangladesh
* Uttara, a suburb north of Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Uttara East Thana
*Uttara West Thana
*Uttaradit, a city i ...
. It took place after Parikshit heard the ''
Bhagavata Purana
The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in Sa ...
'' from
Śuka
Shuka ( sa, शुक , also Shukadeva ) is a rishi (sage) in Hinduism. He is the son of the sage Vyasa and the main narrator of the scripture ''Bhagavata Purana''. Most of the ''Bhagavata Purana'' consists of Shuka reciting the story to the ...
. Uttara asked her son to explain the essence of ''Bhagavata Purana'', and Parikshit revealed to her the stages of confidential
Bhakti
''Bhakti'' ( sa, भक्ति) literally means "attachment, participation, fondness for, homage, faith, love, devotion, worship, purity".See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. It was originally used in Hinduism, referring to d ...
. He told her a story about how
Narada
Narada ( sa, नारद, ), or Narada Muni, is a sage divinity, famous in Hindu traditions as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is one of mind-created children of Brahma, the creator god. He ...
was looking for greatest devotee of
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
. The Great
Rishi
''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...
began his search with devotees of Krishna whose
Bhakti
''Bhakti'' ( sa, भक्ति) literally means "attachment, participation, fondness for, homage, faith, love, devotion, worship, purity".See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. It was originally used in Hinduism, referring to d ...
was mixed with
karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...
and
jnana (
Brahma
Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 21 ...
and
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
), then went up to
Shanta-rasa (
Prahlada),
Dasya-rasa (
Hanuman
Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...
),
Sakhya-rasa (
Arjuna
Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Panda ...
), and finally came to the greatest devotee of Krishna -
Uddhava
Uddhava () is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, described to be the friend and counsellor of Krishna. He plays a significant role in the Bhagavata Purana, being taught the processes of yoga and bhakti directly by Krishna. The principl ...
, who always longed to be in
Vrindavan
Vrindavan (; ), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban, is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance in Hinduism as Krishna spent most of his childho ...
, and showed that the highest level of Bhakti is the love of the
gopi
Gopi ( sa, गोपी, ) or Gopika in Hinduism are worshipped as the consorts and devotees of Krishna within the Vaishnavism and Krishnaism traditions for their unconditional love and devotion ('' Bhakti'') to god Krishna as described in the ...
s for Krishna.
The second part of ''Brihad-bhagavatamrita'' tells us about the glory and bliss of the spiritual abode
Goloka
Goloka ( sa, गोलोक) or Goloka Vrindavan () is the celestial abode of the Hindu god Krishna and his divine consort Radha. In the ''Bhagavata Purana'', Krishna is portrayed as the highest person who resides in Goloka.
According to Gaudiy ...
, as well as of the process of renunciation of the material world, true knowledge,
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti yoga ( sa, भक्ति योग), also called Bhakti marga (, literally the path of ''Bhakti''), is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on loving devotion towards any personal deity.Karen Pechelis (2014), ...
, love for Krishna and implementation of the higher purpose of life. The second part contains the narrative of a wandering shepherd boy, who received a mantra from a resident of Vrindavan, travelling from one planetary system to another, exploring the different levels of consciousness of living beings. His spiritual odyssey covers
Vaikuntha
Vaikuntha ( sa, वैकुण्ठ, lit=without anxiety, translit=Vaikuṇṭha), also called Vishnuloka (), and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the supreme deity in the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism,Gavin Flood, An ...
,
Brahmaloka
Brahmaloka (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मालोक, IAST: Brahmāloka) or Satyaloka (Sanskrit: सत्यलोक) is the abode of Brahma, the creator god, a member of the Trimurti along with Vishnu and Shiva, along with his consort Saraswat ...
,
Shivaloka and the heavenly planets.
Second Canto contains four chapters:
(1) Vairāgya – Renunciation
(2) Jñāna – Knowledge
(3) Bhajana – Devotional Service
(4) Vaikuṇṭha – The Spiritual World
Each of the two cantos of this scripture is a separate history. Our
worshipful author has not merely written two histories. Rather, for
facilitating the worship of the divine couple, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, he has thoroughly analyzed Their Lordships’ fundamental reality and nature.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the essence of all scriptures, such as the
Vedas, Vedānta, Purāṇas, Itihāsas, and so on. By churning that essence,
this book, aptly named Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta – the Essential Nectar
of the Bhāgavatam – has become manifest. Throughout this book, all
topics regarding devotional service to Bhagavān have been presented.
The original discourse of the book between Śrī Jaimini and
Janamejaya is based on a conversation between Śrī Parīkṣit and
Uttarā. After Śrī Parīkṣit had heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the lips
of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and before the snake-bird Takṣaka arrived,
Parīkṣit's mother, Śrī Uttarā-devī, said to him, “O my dear son, please
narrate to me, in simple, easy-to-understand language, the essence
of what you have heard from Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī.” Śrī Bṛhadbhāgavatāmṛta
begins with this inquiry.
In the Second Canto, the author examines all the manifestations
and incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, beginning
with Śrī Śālagrāma Bhagavān and ending with Śrī Nandanandana,
the beloved son of Śrī Nanda Mahārāja. This volume begins with the
history of Gopa-kumāra. Gopa-kumāra receives the gopāla-mantra from
his gurudeva. Due to the influence of this gopāla-mantra, it becomes
possible for him to travel to all abodes without restriction. First, he
takes darśana of the manifestations of Bhagavān that appear in this
earthly realm, or Bhū-maṇḍala, such as Śrī Śālagrāma Bhagavān; the
Deity manifestation of the Lord who is ensconced in the palace of the
king; and the ancient Deity of Śrī Jagannāthadeva. He sequentially
describes their progressively greater glories. Then, by the influence of
the chanting of his mantra, he reaches the planets of Svarga, Mahar,
Janas, Tapas, and Satya, where one by one he has divine vision of
the worshipable manifestations of the Lord who manifest in those
abodes. Thus he also experiences Their transcendental excellences in
succession. Yet Gopa-kumāra does not experience complete happiness
in those places.
Thereafter, he takes darśana of the manifestations of Bhagavān
that are present in the eight coverings of the universe and arrives in the abode of liberation. In mukti-loka, the realm of liberation, Gopakumāra
sees the manifestation of the brilliance of the Supreme Person,
but still, complete satisfaction eludes him. After this, in accordance
with regulative principles, he performs saṅkīrtana of the holy name,
the most prominent of the nine processes of bhakti. By the potency of
nāma-saṅkīrtana, he travels first to Vaikuṇṭha, then to Ayodhyā, and
then to Dvārakā-purī. However, because in those realms the mood of
aiśvarya, or awe and reverence for the Lord, is prominent, he cannot
freely associate with the worshipful manifestations of the Supreme
Person there.
Finally, Gopa-kumāra returns to Vṛndāvana manifest on earth,
where he executes rāgānugā bhakti, spontaneous devotional service
that follows the moods of the eternal associates of Vraja. By the potency
of his practice of rāgānugā bhakti, he attains Goloka-Vṛndāvana.
There, he obtains his cherished goal – service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of
the king of Vraja.
One should not conclude from this history that there is any
difference in the tattva, or fundamental truth, of the various
manifestations of Bhagavān. All manifestations of the Lord are
complete, from Śrī Śālagrāma Bhagavān to Śrī Nandanandana
(Kṛṣṇa, the darling son of Nanda Mahārāja). From the perspective
of tattva, They are one, yet from the perspective of rasa, or the
sweetness of transcendental relationships, Śrī Nandanandana is the
most excellent.
''Brihad-bhagavatamrita'' contains descriptions of the various categories of devotees of Krishna: close devotees, and devotees of the closest devotees.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in his comments to the ''
Chaitanya-charitamrita'' (Adi Lila, 5.203) writes that anyone who wants to learn about the devotees and about devotional service to Krishna should read ''Brihad-bhagavatamrita''.
Notes
*
*
* {{Citation
, last1=Sanatana Goswami , last2=Gopiparanadhana Dasa
, year= 2002
, title=Śrī Bṛhad-bhagavatāmrta. Includes the Devanagari text, a roman transliteration, word-for-word meanings, English translation, and a summary of the Dig-darśinī commentary. (3 volumes)
, publisher=
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization. ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktived ...
, isbn=0-89213-348-1
, author1-link=Sanatana Goswami
, author2-link=Gopiparanadhana
References
Gaudiya Vaishnavism
16th-century literature
Hindu texts