Madhura Bhakti (sweet devotion) was discovered, developed and dragged to climax by the devotees only and not by God. It is the main theme of the scripture Bhāgavatam. Without understanding the topic, some religions try to mock at Hinduism. For the first time in 5000 years, Shri Swami is explaining why this is the highest scripture that gives salvation to the soul in 7 days. The triad (Tripuṭī) of this topic is also highest since 1) Gopikas (Gantā) are the highest reborn sages, who were being worshipped even by angels, 2) Kṛṣṇa (Gamyam) is the highest form of incarnation (Paripūrṇa tamaḥ) and His highest abode is Goloka, which is higher than Brahma loka and 3) The path (Gamanam) adopted to reach the highest goal was liberation from all worldly bonds including the bond with life-partner in which even worldly justice is opposed (Sarvadharmān... Gītā).
Read these articles to know more on Madhura Bhakti.
QA:13-20
13. Did the Gopikas divert their uncontrollable lust towards God or transformed their true devotion into lust for God?
[Thank You for the wonderful answer given to Shri Phani Sir on his birthday. My question is whether the Gopikas divert their uncontrollable lust towards God or did they transform their true devotion for God into lust for God?]
Swami replied:- The sages have no lust at all. That is why, at the time of Rama, they had full confidence that they will pass the test for the bond with spouse very easily. They have rejected...
QA:9-12
9. Is my following hypothesis correct?
[Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Swami, the word 'Radha' is not mentioned in the entire Bhagavatam. After listening to Your answer about how Krishna created His unreal forms to satisfy Gopikas, I framed the following logical hypothesis:- Firstly, Radha is an imaginary character created by Krishna and described as His real female form. To satisfy all the Gopikas based on devotional justice, Krishna has to tell and prove...
QA: 4-8
4. Why did not the 12 Gopikas get the association of real form of Krishna?
[Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Swami, You told that unreal Krishnas were dancing with all the Gopikas during the test of Daareshanaa. But, 12 Gopikas passed all the three tests and attained Goloka as reward. Since they are not married-women anymore, why didn’t they get the association of real form of Krishna in Goloka?]
Swami replied:- The soul does not change after leaving the gross body on the earth. Whatever objection is there for soul and God in this world, the same objection will apply to the same soul and same God even...
QA-3:
3. Swami, can You explain the contradiction between the following statements.
Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Swami, can You explain to me the contradiction between the two statements:- i) God Krishna satisfied the sexual desire of sweet devotion of Gopikas to encourage them in the spiritual path to reach God for permanent association through the similar sweet devotion. ii) God Krishna while satisfying Gopikas did not lose His celibacy since God Brahma told that Krishna is the real celibate. Please don’t use the omnipotency...
QA-2:
2. Since we cannot distinguish between real and unreal forms of God, how can we believe this theory of illusory Krishnas?
Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Swami, I have forwarded Your reply to the learned person. He shared the below text “Every political leader before elections, tries to bring an emotional angle while canvassing for votes. The answer about real Krishna and Gopikas as Father and daughters based on the Gita verse appears like that coverup only. God definitely did not realize the fact of being their...
(Some of my friends, who are atheists, have asked these questions on sweet devotion and related topics. I have sent those questions to H.H. Shri Datta Swami, who has answered these questions. - Ms. Thrylokya)
1) Why does God Krishna appear like having fascination for females and wealth?
Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Swami, God is misunderstood due to the topic of sweet devotion or Madhura Bhakti. Greater devotees like Hanuman exist even without Madhura Bhakti and Hanuman is not lesser than Radha. Draupadi loved Krishna as sister and surpassed all the romantic bonds through her sacrifice in tearing...
Prof. JSR Prasad asked:- When Rama and Sita or Krishna and Radha are meeting, Sita and Radha are getting the satisfaction that they got the union with the God-component. In the case of Gopika and illusory Krishna, the Gopika is not getting that satisfaction because the God-component is absent in illusory...
Part-3:
11. Some devotees fail loving God Krishna even though they try their level best. Please enlighten us.
Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Swami, some devotees will be failing to love God Krishna even though they try their level best. They like to worship God Shiva and love His spotless straight forward personality. They still find it very difficult to worship God Krishna since He can do anything and He can say anything based on His will and wish. They feel that He misuses His omnipotence
1. The real Krishna should have danced with the 12 Gopikas, who passed all the tests. Kindly clarify.
[Shri Anil asked: Out of the 1000 Gopikas, 12 Gopikas passed all 3 tests. In such a case, the real Krishna should have danced with these 12 Gopikas (real devotees) rather than the unreal Krishna? Kindly clarify this.]
Swami replied:- It is only a test about the fascination to spouse. The important point is to conduct the test and declare the result. The question paper was setup by the real Krishna only. Anybody can conduct...
Smt. Sudha Rani asked:- Swami, You said that God Krishna enjoyed the fruits of sins done by Gopikas so that He underwent the punishment twice (one time for the sake of Gopika and another time on behalf of Himself). A special exceptional rule is created by God for His convenience. Is it not a black mark on the part of God Krishna? Moreover, till now, Your explanation about Krishna suffering the punishments was not available anywhere and hence, the imitation-sin...
Ms. Bhanu Samykya asked: Paadanamaskaaram Swami, why did the 12 Sthitaprajna Gopikas commit suicide when God Krishna left the body, but could control their emotions when He physically left Vrindavan? In both the cases, they were living Physically away from Him right? And their sole desire is always to please God only. What was their thought process behind this decision after God's physical...
1. Why did God Brahma tell Naarada that the only celibate is Krishna only?
[Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Paadanamaskaaram, Swami. God Krishna married 16,108 women and produced 10 sons plus 1 daughter through each wife! Why God Brahma told Sage Naarada that the only celibate (Brahmacaarii) is Krishna only?]
Swami replied:- First of all, I can say that your question is actually the question and its answer. The number of children (1,77,188) itself proves that Krishna is God. God is omnipotent. Omnipotence...
Part-2:
5. Why did Krishna say that He is Radha and also Gopika, who are real and unreal forms respectively?
[Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Swami, God Krishna said to Radha that He and Radha are one and the same. God Krishna told the same sentence to every Gopika also. Every Gopika is the unreal form of the Maayaa power of Krishna whereas Radha is the real form of Krishna. In such case, how He could say the same sentence to both real and unreal forms?]
Swami replied:- In the case of Radha, really, Krishna and Radha are one and the same as explained above. Hence, in the case of Radha, Krishna told the truth. In the case of each Gopika, He told the same...
1. Since Gopikas jumped into fire after Krishna left His body, they are failed as Sthitaprajna. What do You say?
[Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Paadanamaskaaram, Swami. The 12 Gopikas were Sthitaprajnas throughout their lives. There is no doubt in this. But, You have to accept that they failed when they jumped into fire after God Krishna left His gross body. Failure is always a failure and cannot be treated as pass. What do You say?]
Swami replied:- Actually, the 12 Gopikas passed this test of sacrifice of life also by jumping into fire and they did not fail. I was telling that they failed with a view that such suicide shall not be encouraged. By your bombarding...
Shri Anil asked: Padanamaskaram Swami; Please give Your answers to the following questions. At Your Divine Lotus Feet-anil. Swami, 12 Gopikas were successful in 3 tests, however after God Krishna left His body they could not control their emotions and jumped into fire and committed suicide. Since they could not control...
Smt. Chhanda asked: Paadanamaskaaram Swami! Swami, in reply to a question asked by Shri Anil recently, You said that excess of devotion will spoil the health and bring madness. You also said that devotion is emotion that is uncontrolled due to lack of complete spiritual knowledge. Swami, can I apply this same concept to understand...
Shri Abhiram Kudala asked: Padanamaskaram Swamy, Swamy, in one of the articles, You have mentioned the below statement: Radha was so amazing that she broke the divine promise done on God (God Krishna Himself) for the sake of the same God Krishna. Could You please explain a little more on the above statement? Can one keep a false promise on God? If yes, in what circumstances...
1. Is it correct to say that a Gopi is anyone, who hides his/her real devotion towards God? Is Sthitaprajna also a Gopi?
[Ms. Swathika & Smt. Priyanka asked: Paadanamaskaaram Swami, In discussion with Swathika about the Gopikas, certain doubts came up between us as listed below. Please give us clarification on these points. Is it correct to say that a Gopi is anyone, who hides their real devotional feelings towards God? If yes, can Sthitaprajnas be called as Gopis because they hide their real love for God and do their duties..
[A question by Smt. Ramya]
Swami replied:- It is not possible because such great devotees like the Gopikas, who were sages doing penance through millions of births, were not found either in the life of Krishna or after the life of Krishna. Hence, such a story is never heard...
[17. Smt. Chhanda asked: Why is the Bhagavatam said to be very highly critical and the most holy scripture so that it is said that the spiritual knowledge of a scholar must be tested in understanding the Bhagavatam? Please explain in elaborated manner.]
Swami replied:- As far as all other Skandhas are concerned, the normal devotion-paths are explained and the whole complexity comes in 10th Skandha only because of the incarnation of God Krishna. We must see the just precedent situation before the birth of Krishna. Sages approached God Rama and wanted to hug Him becoming females through their superpower. Such thought came in their minds...