Prem Ras Madira by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj

The pastimes of the divine couple Radha Krishna have been depicted in these 1008 padas or devotional songs, that are divided into twenty-one madhuri’s or devotional sweetnesses in accordance with narrations in the Vedas, Puranas and other scriptures and the writings of the Rasik Saints.

An extraordinarily unique range of pastimes have taken place especially during the descension of Shree Krishna. These form the basis of these blissful, devotional chants recorded here. 

In this miraculous book, Shree Maharajji succeeds in evoking intense devotional sentiments in the reader by expertly taking him through the various moods of devotional love, including the sweetness of meeting and the sweetness of separation from Shree Radha Krishna. The words and their arrangement, together with the incredibly detailed intricacy of the descriptions of Shree Radha Krishna and Their various ornamentation, natures and behaviour is simply breathtaking.

This second edition in English (Vol I - III) of Prem Ras Madira is sumptuously presented over three volumes, and also includes an elaborate and helpful Appendix Section at the back of each volume.

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Who should we meditate on, Guru or God? Explanation by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj

 

It is not that the Guru will grant more power upon you if you meditate on him, or that God will bestow less if you meditate on him.  The result is exactly the same whether you meditate on the Guru or God.  However, meditating on Guru is more convenient, in the sense that everything related to him is directly perceptible, whereas we have to make use of our imagination to meditate on God's divine pastimes and actions.

For example, if the Guru has given some prasad to you from his own hand, you will certainly derive great benefit whether you accept it with full faith or not.  It will help you in your devotional practice.  Moreover, the variety of actions or leelas that the Guru performs are done right before your eyes, and so you can easily recall them for meditative purposes and derive great happiness from doing so.  Since God is not yet perceptible to you, you have to imagine his leelas in order to meditate upon him.  In truth, it is much easier to meditate on what we can directly perceive with our own eyes. 

Nevertheless, a devotee is free to meditate on either, depending on his or her personal preference.  What is proper and the best option is that you should meditate on both Guru and God, since by doing so you will not give rise to any conflict in your mind while you are practicing sadhana.

Watch this video lecture by Shree Maharajji on the topic, "Who is a Guru" with
English Subtitles:

 

Tridha Bhakti - The Threefold Devotion Explained by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj

 

Tridha Bhakti - The Threefold Devotion

 

The threefold devotion is also called ‘tridha bhakti’ and it is because of its power that people engage in devotion day and night and experience the bliss of God.  Chanting, hearing and remembering the Names, Forms, Virtues and Leelas (pastimes) of God is the simplest and most powerful form of devotion in Kaliyug. Engaging in this threefold devotion cleanses the mirror of the heart and extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence.  This form of devotion is extremely sweet because it helps us to easily attach our mind to God.  We can chant the names of God, sing His glories, contemplate on His beautiful form for hours and hours.  On the other hand if we are asked to sit in a yagya, we get distracted in no time as we are unable to understand the mantras that the pundit recites.  But if we have to sing the beautiful kirtans of God or listen to a spiritual lecture by a God-realized Saint we will feel the inspiration to engage in it much longer.

As one engages in this threefold devotion, there is however an important point to keep in mind.  The heart and soul of tridha bhakti lies in the involvement of the mind in devotion.

Unfortunately in today’s world, external behaviour takes precedence.  We say many things, but we hardly feel them from within.  For example, we often say “thank you” and “sorry” to each other, but we rarely feel gratitude or regret from within.  This may be a trend in the material world, but God says that such craftiness and deception is of no importance in the spiritual realm.  God says, “I will only consider the feelings in your mind”.  Hence, you may think you are engaging in chanting and hearing really well, but actually you may be practicing devotion merely with your material senses.  You may be hearing the Guru’s lectures with your ears and reciting prayers with your lips, but your mind could be wandering elsewhere.   There is no benefit of engaging in such devotion.

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj teaches us to meditate upon God, which means we have to meditate upon the form of God.  Along with this we can also chant His Divine Names and Pastimes and sing kirtans that will be helpful in the remembrance of God.  Thus, foremost we have to engage the mind in remembrance of God and then involve the material senses in devotion.