Today is the mahotsav of Maharaas. To understand the swaroop of Maharaas, we need to understand the swaroop of Venu, Venunaad, components of Raas etc.
Dwe Dwe Gopi Bich Bich Madho
Swaroop of Venu: Mokshanand and Kamanand are worthless before Bhajananda. Venu contains the Bhajanand Sudha. If all the devataas (DemiGods), Mahadevji,Brahmaji etc got attracted with the Venunaad of Shree Thakurji done at Saraswat Kalp, then what to talk about the jeevas and physical world. The swaroop of Venu is Shree Mahaprabhuji and the one who does the progressive Ras uddipan is Shree Prabhucharan Shree Gusaiji. The seven holes (Randhra) of Shree Venuji is the swaroop of seven sons of Shree Gusaiji. The consumers of this ras is the entire pushti shrushti. These seven holes renders the pushti jeeva with seven different states i.e.
1. Bhakti
2. Prem
3. Asakti
4. Aavesh
5. Pramey
6. Vyasan
7. Murcha
The Adharamruta present in the Adhar of Shree Thakurji is with the bhav of Shree Swaminiji. The Shree Hast (Divine arms) used to the venunaad are the swaroop of Shree Chandravaliji. Venunaad is done through the Kantha which is of the swaroop of Shree Kumarikas. The six holes of the seven are of the swaroop of Shree Swaminiji. These 6 holes are the six aiswaryas. These aishwaryas are
1. Shree Chandravaliji Raspan
2. 16 Thousand Kumarikas Raspan
3. For the Raspan of Cows
4. For the Raspan of Govardhan
5. For the Raspan of birds/animals
6. For the Raspan of Devtaas
Padmanabhdasji has also described the importance of Venunaad and Venuji in the below Kirtan
Madhur Vraj Desh Madhur Kino |
Madhur Vallabh Naam Madhur Gokul Gaam Madhur Vitthal Bhajan Daan Deno |
Madhur Girdhar Adi Sapt Tanu Venunaad Sapt Swarg Randhran Madhur Rup Lino |
Madhur Fal Falit Lalit Padmanabh Prabhu Madhur Ali Gaavat Sarat Rang Bhino |
The related kirtans for the above described seven states of Bhaktas are listed below:
Bhakti: Mero Mai Shyam Lagyo Sang Dole
Prem: Gopi Prem Ki Dhuji
Asakti: Piya Mukh Dekhat Hi Pe Rahiye
Aavesh: Tate Mai Bhavan Ban Jahiyat
Prameya: Hari So Ek Ras Priti Rahiri
Vyasan: Mero Mai hari Nagar So Neh
Murcha: Vraj Ki Por Thado Sanvaro
Sharad Utsav: Maharaas
Not all jeevas are the adhikaris of Madhur Bhakti Upasana. This is not sadhan sadhya but it is krupa sandhya i.e. achieved through only grace of Shree Thakurji. Shree Harirai Mahaprabhuji has enlisted the characteristics of a bhagwat rasik. We get different interpretations of Ras in diffferent paths i.e. Margas. Gyan, Yog, Karma and Bhakti.
What is Raas?
Shree Prabhu does the Ras Leela with his anandatmika Shakti at Vrundavan of Goloka. This leela is infinite and could not be understood easily. This is a Raas Leela. Refer to this articles to understand more about Raas UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT RAAS >>
Gyanmarg: Those who acquires the Brahma Vidhya, interpretes this raas leela as "TATVAMASI". In their view, "TAT" means Shree Krishna and "VAM" means Vraj Lalanas, Gopanganas. The oneness of both is Raas or Oneness of Jeeva and Brahma is Raas.
Yog Marg: The Venunaad is the naad brahma and the Females are the Gopijanas. Shree Radhaji is the Kundalini Shakti. The Mastak is the Sahastra Kamal Chakra Vrindavan. In that, the atmaram parmatma does the Raas.
Karma Marg: The meaning of Gopi according to a karma margi is "GO" means Indiryas (senses) i.e. Shree Krishna is the Protector / Controller of Senses. The divine play with the Indriyas is Raas.
Bhakti marg: Shree Bhagwan, in his own leela does the ras leela with his ownself. Just like a small child plays with his reflection in the mirror, same way shree prabhu himself with himself does the divine play at Vrindavan. Thus in Vallabh sampraday, this is regarded as the Mahotsav.
Shree Gokulnathji has described the places of Ras as below:
1. Venunaad: Shree Prabhu gave the upadesh to Gopikas here in RITHORA after doing the venunaad. This is the birth place of Shree Chandravaliji.
2. Chandra Sarovar: During the Sarasvat Kalp, the laghu raas was done here. The night become for 6 months.Due to this only, Shree vitthalnathji worte the Vigyaptis during the Viprayog for 6 months at chandrasarovar.
3. Govardhan: Here Shree Prabhu disappeared from Gopikas and thus increased the prem for him in their hearts. Then, Shree Gopikas was searching for Shree Thakurji and asked to Jan-Ajan trees too.
4. Kunvaro: Here, Shree Thakurji took one of the swaminiji and did the shrungar vihar.
5. SarasVan: here, the Vivah leela of Shree Prabhu was done.
From the Jamnavata to Vrindavan of Sweta Varaha Kalp, Vrajlalanas reached to the Vrindavan while searching for Shree THakurji and here Gopigeet was sung and Maharaas was done.
In Vraj, there are still 12 Ras Chabutaras:
1. Barsana
2. Uncho Gaon
3. Mansarovar
4. Nand Gaon
5. Gehvarvan
6. Rasoli
7. Karhala
8. Kotvan
9. Kamvan
10. Vrindavan
11. Seva Kunj
12. Nidhu Van
The 12 components of Raas are as below:
1. Bansi Dhwani
2. Gopi Abhisar
3. Conversation with Shree Krishna
4. Laghu Raas
5. Shrungar Vihar done with Shree Radha Sahchariji
6. Re-appearance in the midst of Shree Gopikas
7. The Conversation with Gopikas
8. Beseated on the Asan
9. Ras Nrutya
10. Van Vihar
11. Jal Vihar
12. Krida
The below table describes the sequence of events.
| Day |
Leela |
| Ashwin Shukla 9 |
Venunaad and Conversation |
| Ashwin Shukla 11 |
Laghu Raas |
| Ashwin Shukla 14 |
Paridhan and Beseated again on Asan |
| Ashwin Shukla 15 |
Maharaas |
| Kartik Shukla 1 |
Sharad Shrungar Again |
Seva and Shrungar:
Today Shree Prabhu is offered the shrungar of Mukuta and Kachani. Shree Prabhu today is beseated in the Chandani (Under the moonlight) in Jagmohan, where Shree Prabhu gets the exposure to the divine moon light. Since today this moonlight releases the Amrut, Shree Prabhu is made to seat in Jagmohan.
