Significance of kavya - ...in raganuga sadhana

Jagat, would you like to elaborate on the specific significance of knowledge of kavya in raganuga sadhana?

preSTha-svapAni kRta-kausuma-hAra-kAJcI
keyUra-kuNDala-kirITa-virAjitAGgIm |
tvAM bhUSayANi punar Atma-kavitva-puSpair
AsvAdayAni rasikAli-tatIr imAni ||

When Krishna has covered You with ornaments
He Himself has made out of flowers--
garlands, girdle, armbands, earrings and crown--
I will further decorate You with my own poem flowers,
entertaining You and Your sophisticated sakhis.

Sankalpa-kalpa-druma, 15 (Vishwanath)

This leads me to yet another question...

While speaking the words above, Visvanath is in absorbed in his manjari-seva in a form befitting the service. Are we to master the arts and services rendered in siddha-deha in the realm of sadhaka-deha as well?

I would think so. The "puritan" revolution in Vaishnavism said that music was a bad thing, and tended to shanta and dasya themes in art. Whatever the historical and social reasons for this, the cultivation (anuzIlanam) of Radha-Krishna consciousness is essentially an aesthetic and artistic one.

Though generally we think of Rupa and Raghunath as the ideals of spiritual life, we must remember Srinivas Acharya, Narottam Das and Govinda Das Kaviraja, who popularized devotion through artistic achievement.

The crux of the whole problem seems to be the possibility of worldliness and the temptations of sexuality. The concept of yukta vairagya is very far reaching, however. The "nirbandhaM" in "nirbandhaM kRSNa-sambandhe" means that one should approach even this with a disciplined (yogic) attitude.

It is unfortunate that of the few of us who have been attracted by raganuga bhakti, most are intellectuals rather than artists. As such, we seem to be "Vrindavan" mood rather than "Gauda". Gadadhar Pran is in the Gauda mood.

Jagat

Historically speaking, could you contribute a word or two in regards to the musical tradition in Vaishnavism?




The artistic achievements of Srinivas Acharya? Never read much on his life...

This is one of our first topics ever, from two and half years back. I came across it as I browsed through the archives, and it seemed worth resurrecting, as the topic was never really thoroughly discussed. Any further thoughts from our good audience?

I must admit that at heart I am more of an artist than an intellectual. I play a number of musical instruments from harmonium to electric guitar in a wide range of styles. I also write poetry. Perhaps I'll post some in appropriate forums.

I feel that this artistic nature of mine aids my attraction to Radha Krishna since they are mostly portrayed through music, poetry and art. The beauty, asthetics and sublime eroticism of their pastimes attracts me. That's how I want to spend eternity. Being married and at my age, I don't worry much about the dangers of worldliness or sexuality. Even as a sannyasi, the sexual nature of Radha Krishna's pastimes was sublimated to a spiritual level. The increased energy or prana is helpful.

We should not let the puritans prevail. This is exciting erotic stuff which should not be tip toed around.

'Tis hard, my friend, to write in such an age,
As damns not only poets, but the stage;
That sacred Art, by heaven itself infused,
Which Rupa, Sanatan and Raghunatha have used,
Is now to be no more; the muses foes
Would sink lord Hari's praises into prose!