Keeping secrets in bhajan -

I'd like to start the discussion with the last one, Silence. I'd be really happy is someone could comment on the concept of confidentiality in bhajan. I find it very interesting that some things, while not explicitly secrets (say for example, the wording of Gayatri) are kept very 'close to the breast' by practicioners. Is it out of respect? For what? Personally, I understand very 'deep down' why these things just should not be spoken of, but I would have a hard time putting into words exactly why.

On another note, this item most likely refers more to keeping quite about the faults, etc. of others.. I just thought it might be a good entry point into keeping bhajan secrets. And, being polite towards others is being discussed in a different thread. This may be more in reference to what I am talking about...

That isn't actually what the 26th quality means. (More on that in that other thread later on.) I'm splitting this to a separate thread. It definitely merits one.

There are several reasons on why matters of intimate bhajan are kept undisclosed.

1. Particularly in the realm of one's private experiences at the time of bhajan, there is a bond of confidentiality between the devotee and the iSTa-deva who has been worshiped. As one wouldn't commonly speak of the previous night's affairs with the beloved, one doesn't speak openly of one's inner life. It may be spoken of among one's confidants. However if it becomes a matter of public discourse, the nectar of the intimate experience vanishes in thin air.

1b. When such secrets are kept within the heart, they compress like steam, bringing about a tremendous inner force that brings our devotion forth with unseen power. Vide Rupa Goswami's Utkalika-vallari, opening verses.

2. The individual methods of bhajan are sacred. There are many people who may, out of foolishness, criticize them if they are publicly disclosed. This is not good for them, nor is it good for us to hear ill talks about our methods of worship.

That's something to start with.

Tarun and I had a really sweet exchange at Radhakunda with Dina Das while he was packing up some books for me. He is very attentive and respectful to the books so it took a long time but thankfully he started discussing different matters as he did it. At one point he explained to us how we shouldn't speak about our or another's bhajan, that it was a matter between guru and disciple. He made the point that pride could enter if you told others of your bhajan.

We also received a summary lesson on Madhurya-kadambini from him. He went over several of the diagrams of Sri Param-gurudeva, Kunjabihari Das Baba, in detail. I only unpacked these books the other day (his and Baba's books in Bangla and Hindi) and will try to scan some of the covers soon.

I relished this exchange even though I "already knew" what the MK diagram was all about. And remembering Dina Das brings back not just his sweetness but Baba's call--"Oh Dina Das!"

I remember too, how sweet it was , upstairs in that huge book-etage....

"Oh, Dina das,..."

This was explained very well, thank you.

I find this to be a wonderfully beautiful explanation. I just wanted to add that from the standpoint of the neophyte (i.e. me), secrets drive one on. For me personally, bhajan 'secrets' let me know that there are deeper things to be revealed to the devotee (not that I didn't know this... but they present 'goals' if you will). Furthur levels of sweetness to be relished, and more pieces of the puzzle to be put into place.

Radhe Radhe!

I also appreciate the analogy of how when secrets are kept within the heart, they compress like steam, bringing about a tremendous inner force that brings our devotion forth with unseen power. Very sweet.

The glimpses we get are such powerful treasures. Personally they are impossible to articulate but you can feel a connection and exchange with Gurudeva and those who are dear to your heart even if these glimpses aren't shared in an external sense. When I taste something I naturally think of my Gurudeva and my dear friends whom I share devotional bonds with. I even yearn to be with such friends and often am brought back to different moments of our time together in Vraja. These moments may just be a glance at one another over something we witnessed or was said. This is what has really impressed upon me the need for Vaisnava friendships. I can’t think of my Gurudeva without thinking of my friends and vice versa.

The taxi rides with Braja to Radha Kunda. The walk to Madhava and Malati’s. Seeing the sweet family they stay with and their warm smiles and “Radhe Radhe!” The walk up the stairs and knocking on their door. Sitting in front of their Giridhari and having toast and tea. Seeing the radiant Yugal Kishor das and his enthusiasm at every step. Walking to our Gurudeva’s place. Baba putting on my tilaka and giving me mantra. Seeing Braja walk out after taking diksa and the powerful sense of purpose in his eyes.The moment Baba handed me my dear Girdhari and experiencing Braja receive his! Dina das… with his sweet smile and warm demeanor. Seeing Baba sitting in the sun and how he smiled at my clumsy attempts. Sitting with everyone taking Prasad as Baba looked on. Baba and Dina das carefully ensuring Malati had Prasad to eat that wouldn’t disturb her health. The walks back to catch a Taxi with everyone including Tarun, Krsnamayi and Radhacarana… I miss everyone so...

Rasaraja dasa

Certainly hearing of others' secret experiences is a very powerful factor indeed.

However let me try to explain why people shy away from sharing them openly, and especially in writing.

Remember the story of Madhavendra Puri (CC Madhya 4) and Gopinath who stole the sweet rice for him? As the news broke, everyone became enamored by Madhavendra's love and praised him without end. I cited the verse about pratiSTha following naturally in the wake of a devotee in another topic. Here's the verse right after that, describing his reaction upon reaching Puri and noticing how people praised him.



Though to others such reciprocation from Krishna, whether it be as concrete as here or svApna-darzana (dream-vision) and so forth, is a clear sign of the devotee's having attained a level of devotion so sublime that it has attracted Krishna himsef, the devotee in his humility thinks that though ordinarily that is so, in this case it is of some extraordinary grace despite his being so utterly unqualified. The devotee, then, does not want others to vainly praise him as an actual devotee, and shuns all publicity of such instances.

In truth, certainly all loving devotees feel the same way. How, then, could anyone ever come to know of the wonders we read in the biographies of so many saints of the yore? The fact is, when affection for a fallen soul awakens in the heart of a loving devotee for some unknown reason, together with a sense of confidence towards that individual, the loving devotee may narrate such accounts as examples of how kind our ishta-deva is, even to unqualified sinners such as himself. However he would obviously not want such accounts to be related here and there, what to speak of being put in writing.

Radhe Radhe!

Thanks, dear Rasaraja.
Spoken from y heart....

Wonderful.



I saved nearly the same footage on my mental harddisk...

I do believe that Madhava's coverage here is very good.

Personally, I feel that a devotional experience need be kept secret if divulging it could not do justice to it. You know how it is with some things - you try and describe it and you never feel adequate to the task. Often Harinaam singing is the only appropriate expression of the devotional secret - perhaps not its particularity but its quality.

Whatever the vision that propels us on the Path, its expression is in the way of our footsteps. Surely, great secrets are revealed unwittingly as footprints.

Jay Raadhe Shyaam !

If someone has Sri Ananta Das Baba's commentary to apana bhajana-katha na kahiba jatha tatha, perhaps they can add it here?


It is especially interesting that Thakura Mahasaya makes this statement at the end of Prema Bhakti Candrika, wherein he seems to have divulged a lot about his bhajan! Perhaps it is an example, as talasiga has mentioned, of fearing that one can't do justice to the experience?

The commentary isn't very extensive. The topic has been also touched in several other places, such as the other verses referred to in the tika, as well as in the beginning of his tika on Utkalika-vallari. What's said on this shloka has now been posted here.

Thx. BTW, what's the Bengali for "Tom, Dick and Harry"?

I wonder how this all ties in with expressing gratitude and sheer wonder at the path we have been given? I find myself unable to shut up! Maybe I'm a little blind to my own faults, but I don't see it as a humility issue. Perhaps another angle is that of attracting envy and skepticism by public shows of enthusiasm?

I believe that's a verbatim translation for Shyam, Ram and Gopal, though I'd have to look that up in the original!

Forgive me for sounding like a teacher, but 'sloka' can only refer to a Sanskrit verse. The text here in question here is a tripadi, a threefold Bengali couplet, and tikas are only Sanskrit commentaries. Bengali comments are called vyakhyas.

That's interesting there, thank you for correcting. The word vyAkhya I've seen used for both Bengali and Sanskrit however, that rule goes only one way?

Sanskrit commentaries can be called vyakhyas too, or tippanis or bhasyas, but Bengali comments are never tikas.

apanara bhajan kotha na kohibe yatha tatha - It actually means 'Dont speak of (reveal) the details of your bhajan.' Just to delight the Vaishnavas (I always had a lot of amused reactions to this translation and I realise it will eventually edited away) and to make a strong point I brought Tom Dick and Harry in.....

AALV* has offered that the common phrase in Bengali is "Ram, Shyam, Yadu, Madhu"


*An anonymous, lettered Vaisnava

The correct Bengali translation for "footnote" is "pada-tika."

Oh! The good old days! "nibhila cakite zeS Aratir zikhA" -- tIkA likha |

Let's not get carried away! Back to the topic, please.