VYAVAHARIK SHIKSHA KE PRATEEK PANCH BHOOT
VYAVAHARIK SHIKSHA KE PRATEEK PANCH BHOOT
The Five elements Symbolize the lessons about social behaviour.
Pravachan on 10-9-1938
From the Book LEKH aur UPDESH
Compiled in hindi by Smt Dhiruben Patel.
The Gopis had surrendered their Atma at the service of the Lord by emotions of Madhur Bhav ( in this kind of devotion the devotee considers himself as the `wife’ of the Lord who is the `husband’).
In the field of bhakti there are five main emotions that have been popularly accepted. The devotee establishes a relationship with the Lord very easily by these emotions.
SHANT BHAV
This is the first emotion which is the foundation for all the other four. When a devotee experiences this emotion of `quietude’ he is disinterested in everything and becomes a `Virakt’ ( a recluse).He considers the Lord to be all pervasive `Vyapak’ who governs everything . Nothing else in life holds any importance for such a devotee.
For him it is only the Lord and this relationship with the Lord finds a permanent place in the heart of the devotee. This is what we call Shant Bhav.
This gives rise to other emotions. In other words you can liken this with the first expression of Brahman (with the aid of Maya) and that is the manifestation of `Aakash’ sky or ether .
This can be called the first son of Brahman and Maya. There are no `gunas’ qualities in Brahman and Maya but their first born `aakash’ has the `guna’ of `shabd’ sound.
The son of `Aakash’ is `Vayu’ air who adds an extra `guna’ to itself and that is of `sparsh ` touch . This is one more than its father the `Aakash’. `
`Vayu’ thus retains both sound and touch.
When the air moves there is some kind of sound that is produced. `Vayu’ did not let go off the wealth of the father`Aakash’ and in fact added more to it.
This is the quality of a `Suputra’ a good son who inherits the wealth of his father and is capable of amassing more wealth while retaining the original inheritance.
Nowadays in fact we find sons who are not capable of earning anything, and on the contrary, waste and spend off all that they acquire. They just feel happy seeing the wealth of the father and get into the grip of `Vishaya Vaasna’worldly desires and finish off everything in no time. These are not the qualities of a good son. A true son is capable of earning more than the father.
From the five elements we get these instructions and by adapting this knowledge we can generate new wealth and at the same time acquire the skill to retain the wealth of the father, grandfather and great grandfather.
Now let us understand the content of the elements.
Aakash’s son is Vayu who retains the quality of sound and generates another of touch.
Agni is the offspring of Vayu because Fire can only be produced from Air.
`Agni’ generates another `guna’ and at the same time retains the `gunas’ of `Vayu’ and `Aakash’.
When Fire burns we hear the sound of `bhuk bhuk’. It is proved that Agni has form , and has sound from his grand father `Aakash’ and touch from his father `Vayu’.
Agni’s own guna is `Roop’ or form.
We learn that `agni’ created its own new wealth and retained the others also and became the owner of three qualities.
`Jal’ water is the son of `Agni’ because from fire , we can get water which has its own wealth of taste `Rasa’.
When we drink water we get a good taste and hence we see that water has all the gunas which are sound, touch, form and taste.
After that one daughter was born , `Prithvi’ or earth. This girl child is so intelligent and skillful in everything and not only does she retain the wealth of her family but also adds one more.
This quality is that of smell .
This is called `Gandh’. This is the quality of earth.
The other four qualities also gather in `prithvi’ and they can all be experienced by us by way of a flower which is a product of `Prithvi’.
If you move the flower a sound emanates. If you hold it, you can sense the touch. If you eat it you can get the taste and if you inhale it, you can smell the fragrance of the flower.
We learn that each of the elements goes on adding an extra, quality to their inherent one.
We shall understand the five emotions of Bhakti in this context.
The first one of Shant Bhav is where the devotee understands the glory of the Lord and becomes a ‘Virakt’ free and indifferent from worldly desires.
In this state the devotee generates another quality within himself and that is of Dasya Bhav wherein He retains the Lord’s glory, remains indifferent and at the same time adds the quality of serving the Lord by mind, deed and word.
He finds tremendous love in serving the Lord –Bhagwat Seva and desires nothing else in life.
This is Shant and Dasya Bhav together.
The devotee has a bit of formality and also fear in his relationship with the Lord. He is afraid to pour out his feelings to the Lord for fear of displeasing Him or making Him angry.
The sevak always wants to serve the master and make him happy with the services rendered.
These feelings of formality prove to be a barrier between the devotee and the Lord.
Now in the Dasya Bhav another emotion can fructify and that is of Sakhya Bhav ( The relationship of a friend).
This does not mean that when Sakhya Bhav prevails the other two disappear!
They remain intact and in fact with this new emotion the devotee becomes informal and comfortable in his relationship with the Lord.
Sudama’s character is a perfect example of this emotion. He was Shri Krishna’s childhood friend and they studied together at the gurukul of their vidya guru Sandeepany.
Sudama was very learned and free from all desires, serene and Nishkaam (did actions with no expectations of returns).
They both went to their respective homes after completing their education.
Sudama’s situation at home was not very good and there were times when the whole family had no food for several consecutive days.
His wife would be tormented seeing the state of the children, crying out of hunger.
When she learnt that Dwarkadeesh Shri Krishna was her husband’s friend she sent him to go visit Him in Dwarka.
Sudama was a Nishkaam Bhakt therefore he told his wife-“Sarle( her name) you are sending me to my friend for wealth .Does a Brahmin ever have expectations of wealth? The duty of a Brahmin is to pray and serve the Lord at all times”.
His wife replied-“What you are saying is right, but what to do! We are not able to collect any alms and my children pull at my torn clothes and cry out of hunger. I am unable to see their suffering. I do not need any wealth and nor am I asking you to ask for Lakshmi (money) or status. Just go to Him in this state”.
Sudama was afraid to do this as it would put a blemish on his spotless character of Nishkaam Bhakti.
True devotees sometimes feel that it would be perhaps better if God was not Sarvagya ( knower of everything) because as Sarvagya He knows about our status of Nishkaam Bhakti and immediately grants some fruit or the other and makes us Sakaam Bhakts ( devotees who pray and expect some returns).
Sudama was afraid of this Sakaam Bhav and so hesitated from visiting Dwarka .
We should glorify the devotee who has the Lord of Dwarkadeesh as his friend and yet not have any expectations out of this friendship.
Opposed to this is wanting something from a friend. The minute we get to know the status of a friend who may have reached the rank of an officer or a deputy commissioner we would not hesitate to pick up the phone and introduce our self as an old friend who studied together or were neighbors!
The photo taken at the graduation ceremony is proof of this friendship but this deputy commissioner is a difficult person now!
There is no trace of friendship or relationship. The name of the other person sounds unfamiliar and the reply that he gives the excited friend is –”Maybe we met sometime but I do not recollect properly because I meet so many people”.
This is to illustrate that you maybe happy to meet your friend even if he has made a small achievement in life and expect that he may be able to get you some small job.
Sudama’s friend was a Chakravarti Raja, but since Sudama did not desire to get something from Him he was hesitant to visit Him.
Finally he had to go on the insistence of his wife and he told her-“Kalyani! How can I visit my friend empty handed? I must take something for Him”.
His wife hunted all over the house and got him a handful of rice and tied them in a dirty rag.
When Sudama reached Dwarka and stood in front of the palace he found the gatekeeper there who laughed at him and informed Sudama that it was not possible to meet Shri Krishna.
Great Rajas and Maharajas were also unable to have His darshan. The gatekeeper asked Sudama to move away as he was dirtying the floor.
Sudama again requested and asked the gatekeeper to at least inform Shri Krishna that His friend Sudama, the Brahmin had come to see Him.
The gatekeeper went inside and just stood near Shri Krishna because he was afraid to tell Bhagwan about the poor old Brahmin waiting to see Him.
Bhagwan asked what the matter was and not to be afraid.
The Dwarpal said, “There is a person who does not wear a turban nor any clothes. I do not know his village. His dhoti is torn and he has no footwear. He stands at the gate, weak and malnourished and has a desire to meet you and has introduced himself as Sudama.”
The minute Bhagwan heard the name `Sudama’ He forgot everything and immediately got up. His crown lay there, His Pitambar fell somewhere and He ran towards the gate without wearing the `padukas’.
He embraced Sudama and brought him inside with respect and made him sit on the throne. As soon as he saw the sorry condition of His friend he said-“Why is your state so despondent? There are thorns on your feet. You have undergone such sorrow and yet have not visited me for so long!”
Seeing the sorry state of His friend Karuna Nidhaana ( the compassionate one ) cried and washed the feet of Sudama with the His tears.
Jagad Pati’s ( the Lord of the world) wife Lakshmiji who is Sakshat Jagdamba ( the primordial mother) washed Sudama’s feet (as Lord Krishna’s wife Rukmini).
Is there any greater example of friendship?
Someone has very rightly written about this friendship—
Jehi Sur saada Pukaarte
JagadAmba Jagad Taarani
Tinhe Aaj sur Dekhta
Bhikshik Charu Padhrani
The sages always sing praises of Jagdamba, Jagad Taarani
( The Universal Mother of the world who helps us cross the ocean of life).
The sages are bewildered to see this sight of her washing the feet of a Bhikshu ( A brahmin who has come to take alms).
After washing his feet Prabhu gave Sudama new clothes and they both sat on the throne and talked about their childhood experiences.
He then told Sudama-“You have not forgotten your childhood habits. You are still untruthful. When we were students you ate the grams(channa) all by yourself and when I asked you what you were eating, you lied and said that the cold weather was making your teeth chatter! Now at least you must give me what my bhabhi has sent.”
Hearing this Sudama tucked the bag of rice more firmly under his arm, but since nothing remains hidden from the Lord, He immediately pulled out the small bag of rice from under Sudama’s arm.
The cloth was old and scattered so the rice fell all over the floor. Bhagwan picked up the rice and started eating each grain. After eating two handfuls and when He was about to eat the third Rukmini caught hold of His hand!
She said-“By eating two handfuls you have granted the luxuries of two worlds to Sudama and if you eat the third and give him the third Loka, where will you and I stay? Do you want that we are left to beggary? You should think about it. This Brahmin is the husband to his wife but if you become a beggar then where will you go to beg? You have 16,108 queens and countless sons!”
Prabhu replied-“Why did you not allow me to eat the third handful? You have spoilt the pleasure (`Rasa’) that I was experiencing! Why do you fear of giving away the 3rd Loka to the Brahmin? Has anyone become a pauper by feeding me, my dear wife? I cannot bear the blemish of being an ungrateful friend.”
By this story the Sakhya Bhav must have been understood by all.
Next is Vatsalya Bhav.
The devotee serves the Lord and praises Him.
He believes in Him and loves Him.
The devotee has the emotion of being the father and the mother of Prabhu!
Dasarath and Kaushalya and Nand and Yashoda were Lord Ram and Lord Krishna’s parents and yet believed that He was Sat Chit Ananda Swaroop but at the same time treated Him like a son. They would beat Him and serve Him also!
In this Vatsalya Bhav there was an inherent presence of Shant Bhav, Dasya Bhav and Sakhya Bhav.
There is also Vatsalyata —- a parent’s love towards progeny.
Love and care is showered on the Lord and when the child (Lord) is naughty, He is spanked and reproached also.
Just as the 5 elements go on expanding and imbibing each other within the expansion, in the same way after theVatsalya Bhav comes Madhur Bhav which fructifies in the devotees heart and when he offers his atma to the Lord.
He is totally immersed in devotion and in this Madhur Bhav all the other emotions or Rasas of devotion blend just as the Panchi bhoot (quitiplication) of the 5 elements.
This Rasa which is the best among all we find the–
Gaurav ( the grandeur, majesty) of Shant Bhav,
The Seva( service) of Dasya Bhav,
The informality of the Sakhya Bhav
and the oneness ( Ek Praanata) of Madhur Bhav.
All the different emotions that one feels for a master, relative, parents or friends are expressed in the Madhur Bhav.
The devotee feels Param Brahamananda ( Intense pleasure ).
To consider Bhagwan as dearest, lover or husband and to serve Him with that feeling is Madhur Bhav.
For such a devotee there is only one Purusha ( male) in the world –that is Bhagwan!
If Maya is Bhagwan’s wife she should be present in all the wives of the world. This should be our understanding.
Gold belongs to the owner of the world hence this world created by Maya belongs to Bhagwan who is the owner!
To understand this let me tell you a popular story.
Once upon a time a well known Mahatma Jeev Goswami lived in Braj. As a rule He refrained from seeing women.
When the great devotee Meera went to visit him she was denied darshan by Jeev Goswami’s sevak.
Meera told the sevak to inform him to immediately leave Braj because Braj belonged to Prabhu Nand Nandan. No one else has the right to stay here. The one who considers Prabhu as the only Purusha has the right to stay in Braj because all the rest are Gopis.
All those who live in Braj are Prabhu’s queens. It is wrong for any man to live near females.
Jeev Goswami heard this Madhur Bhav statement of Meera and was astonished. He stepped out of his hut to meet her as a true a devotee of the Lord and fell at her feet.
He said-” Mother,I made a mistake. I was not familiar with the divine Madhur Bhav that you have. Please bless me so that I too can experience the same.”
This story relates the coming together of all emotions which have no meaning, once the devotee considers God as supreme.
He is immersed in the service and devotion of the Lord and is filled with joy.
This is what is called RAAS LEELA.
The Gopis made themselves worthy of Raas Leela and this is the glory of Madhur Bhav.
The glory of Madhur Bhav unites us with the Lord.
