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Rasas (Relationships)

There are five kinds of relationships with Krishna: Santa, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya. Each rasa includes all the qualities of the preceding one, plus a distinguishing quality of its own.

“When the relationship with Krishna increases in affection, the mood of fear and the consciousness of the superiority of the Supreme Lord diminish. Here the fraternal relationship (sakhya) manifests in a sense of equality between Krishna and His friends. When the affection of the fraternal relationship increases, it develops into the paternal relationship (vatsalya) that is found between father and son. In other words, intimate relationships with Krishna develop from an ordinary conception of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (santa rasa); to the conception of master and servant (dasya rasa); and when this becomes confidential, it develops into a friendly relationship (sakhya), and when the relationship further develops, it becomes paternal (vatsalya), and when this develops to the highest point of love and affection it is known as conjugal love (madhurya) with the Supreme Lord.” (TLC, chap. 29)

Santa Rasa
Santa rasa is the neutral attitude of devotees who are in appreciation of the greatness of God, but are not actively engaged in His service.
“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur states that in Brajabhumi; the Yamuna River, the kadamba trees, the cows, Krishna’s cow herding stick and flute all belong to the santa rasa (the mellow of neutrality or passive adoration).” (Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 8.294 purport)

Dasya Rasa
In dasya rasa there is freedom from all material attachments and doubts, and appreciation of the greatness of God. There is also active service in dasya rasa. This rasa may be mixed with other rasas. Citraka, Patraka and Raktaka are direct servants of Krishna.

Devotees engaged in servitude are attached to Krishna in the affection of reverence. Those who are constantly engaged in the personal service of the Lord are called anugas, or followers.

Sakhya Rasa
In this rasa one feels that Krishna is my friend. The devotees relate with Krishna on equal terms and actually forget that Krishna is superior. The friends in Vrindavana are in such intimate friendship with Krishna that sometimes they think themselves as good as Krishna.

“Krishna is their lovable friend, and they cannot forget Him for a moment. All day and all night they think of Krishna. At night when they are sleeping they think, ‘Oh, in the morning I shall go and play with Krishna.’ and in the morning they go to Krishna’s house and stand by while Krishna is decorated by Mother Yasoda before going out with His friends to play in the fields.” (SSR)

Twelve important cowherd boyfriends of Krishna are: Sridama, Sudama, Arjuna, Subabu, Kusumasava, Mahabala, Subala, Vasudeva, Mahabahu, Lavanga, Stoka Krishna and Dama. Within Vrindavana, Krishna’s friends are generally divided into four groups: (1) well-wishers, (2) friends, (3) confidential friends and (4) intimate friends.

Krishna’s well-wishers are a little older than Krishna, and they have some parental affection for Him. Because of their being older than Krishna, they always try to protect Him from any harm. Counted among the well-wisher friends are Subhadra, Mandalibhadra, Gobhata, Yaksa, Indrabhata, Bhadranga, Virabhadra, Mahaguna, Vijaya and Balabadra. Among the well-wisher friends, Mandalibhadra and Balabadra are the chiefs.

Friends who are younger than Krishna, who are always attached to Him and who give Him all kinds of service are called ordinary friends. Ordinary friends are called sakhas. Some ordinary friends are Visala, Vrisabha, Ojasvi, Devaprastha, Varuthapa, Maranda, Manibandha and Karandhama.

The more confidential friends are called priya-sakhas and are almost Krishna’s age. The behavior of other friends is on the ground of paternal love or servitude, but the basic principle of the confidential friends is simply friendship on an equal level. Some confidential friends are as follows: Sridama, Sudama, Dama, Vasudama, Kinkini, Stoka-krishna, Amsu, Bhadrasena, Vilasi, Pundarika, Vitanka and Kalavinka. Out of all these confidential friends, Sridama is considered to be the chief.

There are also confidential friends. Some of them are Subala, Arjuna, Gandharva, Vasanta and Ujjvala. They are called priya-narmas. Subala and Ujjvala are the most prominent of the confidential friends.

Vatsalya Rasa
“When ecstatic love develops into the relationship of parenthood and becomes steadily established, the relationship is called vatsalya-rasa. The exhibition of this vatsalya-rasa standard of devotional service can be found in the dealings of Krishna with His devotees who represent themselves as superior personalities like father, mother and teacher.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chap. 43)

Personalities in Parental Affection Toward Krishna
This list is in order of superior important. Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja are considered the supermost of all elderly personalities.

1. Mother Yasoda
2. Maharaja Nanda
3. Mother Rohini, Balarama’s mother
4. All the elderly gopis whose sons were taken away by Lord Brahma.
5. Devaki, the wife of Vasudeva
6. Other fifteen wives of Vasudeva
7. Kunti, the mother of Arjuna
8. Vasudeva, the real father of Krishna
9. Sandipani Muni, Krishna’s teacher

Madhurya Rasa (Conjugal Love)
Madhurya rasa is the relationship with Krishna as the lover and beloved. Although such conjugal feelings are not at all material, there is some similarity between this spiritual love and material activities. Persons who are interested only in material activities are unable to understand this spiritual conjugal love. The relationships with Krishna of Srimati Radharani, Krishna’s wives in Dwarka, and the gopis are in Madhurya rasa.
“Devotional service following in the footsteps of the gopis of Vrindavana or the queens at Dwarka is called devotional service in conjugal love. The development of conjugal love for Krishna is not manifested in women only. The material body has nothing to do with spiritual loving affairs.

“Conjugal love is divided into two classifications—namely, conjugal love as husband and wife and conjugal love as lover and beloved. One who develops conjugal love for Krishna as a wife is promoted to Dwarka, where the devotee becomes the queen of the Lord. One who develops conjugal love for Krishna as a lover is promoted to Goloka Vrindavana, to associate with the gopis and enjoy loving affairs with Krishna there.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chap. 16)
Conjugal love is divided into two portions: vipralambha or conjugal love in separation, and sambhoga, or conjugal love in direct contact.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides