The Visa to Vraja: Reflections on Rāgānugā-bhakti, Līlā-smaraṇa, & Siddha-praṇālī: Siddha-praṇālī

This publication presents the case for siddha-praṇālī. We are the followers of Gaurāṅga - Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the Six Gosvāmīs. They have come to give us harināma-saṅkīrtan and rāgānugā-bhakti (rāga-marga-bhakti loke korite pracārana) - the spontaneous loving devotional service mood of the vrajavāsīs, the eternal associates of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in Vraja, especially the gopīs. Rāgānugā-bhakti, līlā-smaraṇa and siddha-praṇālī go hand in hand. Līlā-smaraṇa is the essential practice of rāgānugā-bhakti, the life and soul of pure bhakti. Līlā-smaraṇa is performed in one's guru-given, internally conceived spiritual form called siddha-deha or svarūpa. The process of getting siddha-deha in all the traditional Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava lines is called siddha-praṇālī, literally meaning the channel of spiritual perfection. There is no question of rāgānugā-bhakti without līlā-smaraṇa and there is no question of progress in līlā-smaraṇa without siddha-praṇālī. Even though rāgānugā-bhakti is rare and difficult to attain, it is the ultimate spiritual perfection, as stated by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā "Uttamā-bhakti is not covered by jñāna, karma, yoga, or tapasya and is free from any desires other than aspiring to make Kṛṣṇa happy. It is favourable to Kṛṣṇa and performed according to his desire." (BRS 1.1.11) Those of us who aspire for the perfection of gopī-bhāva or mañjarī-bhāva will surely develop an intense spiritual desire (lobha) to practice rāgānugā-bhakti and līlā-smaraṇa, for which the prerequisite is siddha-praṇālī. In recent years the practice of siddha-praṇālī has been usurped by unqualified gurus who give it to unqualified disciples, making it a business, a means to secure disciples. However, siddha-praṇālī itself is a standard practice in all traditional Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava lines and is also rooted in śāstra. We pray that our faithful readers will be inspired by this humble contribution to aspire for the essence of pure bhakti and the loftiest ideals of this ancient wisdom tradition .

Pagina's: 167, Paperback, Independently published