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QUOTE(braja @ Nov 4 2003, 01:10 AM)
I'm a dimwit and can't even follow your instructions to leave feedback in the right place, but this is more in the line of a question anyway and I'm not sure where it belongs.
Just go to the feedback page there and fill in the form at the bottom.
QUOTE
Twas interesting to see:
"in an order of superiority: Vraja, Madhu-puri (Mathura), Dvaraka and Goloka"
I'd never thought of Vraja as less-superior than Mathura. I guess it makes sense if Mathura is a sub-set of Vraja, but can you elaborate on that any gradation any more? What are the other pastimes/areas in Vraja where Krishna's manifestation is not as complete as Mathura or Goloka? Or does Vraja here refer to Bhauma Vrindavan?
"in an order of superiority: Vraja, Madhu-puri (Mathura), Dvaraka and Goloka"
I'd never thought of Vraja as less-superior than Mathura. I guess it makes sense if Mathura is a sub-set of Vraja, but can you elaborate on that any gradation any more? What are the other pastimes/areas in Vraja where Krishna's manifestation is not as complete as Mathura or Goloka? Or does Vraja here refer to Bhauma Vrindavan?
The order of superiority obviously means from the best downwards in this context. This is explained that very same text.
QUOTE
tasya vAsa-sthAnAni pUrva-pUrva-mukhyAni catvAri | vraje madhu-pure dvArAvatyAM goloke ca | kRSNo'pi sa-parivAro baladeva-sahito vraje pUrNatamaH | mathurAyAM pUrNataraH | dvArakAyAM pradyumnAniruddhAbhyAM parivAra-sahitaH pUrNaH | goloke pUrNa-kalpo'pi vRndAvanIya-lIlAtvAt pUrNatama-sajAtIyaH | pUrva-pUrveSu mAdhuryAdhikya-tAratamyAd aizvaryasyAcchAdana-tAratamyam uttarottareSu mAdhurya-hrAsa-tAratamyAd aizvaryasya prakAza-tAratamyam ||12||
There are four places where He resides, in an order of superiority: Vraja, Madhu-puri (Mathura), Dvaraka and Goloka. In Vraja, Krishna, with His associates and Baladeva, is purnatama (most complete). In Mathura, He is purnatara (more complete). In Dvaraka, with Pradyumna, Aniruddha and His associates, He is purna (complete). In Goloka, He is purna-kalpa (equal with complete), but due to the Vrindavana-pastimes, He is purnatama-sajatiya (akin to the most complete). In the aforementioned abodes, there is a gradation of the prominence of madhurya (sweetness) and a consequent a gradation of the concealment of aisvarya (prowess), and a gradation of the lack of madhurya and a consquent gradation of the manifestation of aisvarya.
There are four places where He resides, in an order of superiority: Vraja, Madhu-puri (Mathura), Dvaraka and Goloka. In Vraja, Krishna, with His associates and Baladeva, is purnatama (most complete). In Mathura, He is purnatara (more complete). In Dvaraka, with Pradyumna, Aniruddha and His associates, He is purna (complete). In Goloka, He is purna-kalpa (equal with complete), but due to the Vrindavana-pastimes, He is purnatama-sajatiya (akin to the most complete). In the aforementioned abodes, there is a gradation of the prominence of madhurya (sweetness) and a consequent a gradation of the concealment of aisvarya (prowess), and a gradation of the lack of madhurya and a consquent gradation of the manifestation of aisvarya.
And in case you wondered, the Goloka mentioned here is not the same as Vraja, it is an aisvaryamayi-prakasa; think of it as an abode for those who have an attraction for Radha and Krishna but who worship them as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Original Potency of Godhead, maintaining such an awe-filled perception in the course of their worship.