Page 25 - Sri Ramanujacharya Sahasrabdhi - 1000th year anniversary of Ramanujacarya

The Sri Vaisnava tradi on can elevate a person out of the material
world and ive entrance into the eternal spiritual world of Vaikuntha.
There the devotee experiences the rela onship of neutral apprecia on

of the Lord Narayana’s super-excellent quali es. Then progressively
one can achieve dasya rasa or servitorship of the Lord with awe and
reverence on the spiritual Vaikuntha planets with Lord Narayana and
His eternal consort Laxsmi devi. On this level one can progress even
further to the lower sakya rasa level of subordinate friendship with ad-
ora on of Lord Narayana.
The higher rasas of equal friendship with Lord Krishna, parental rasa,
and conjugal rasa are experienced by the devotees who come under
the influence of Yogamaya. They are freed of all restric ons to express
their love and devo on very in mately with the Lord Krishna in His ex-

quisitely beau ful and charming two-armed form.
The rela onship with Lord Narayana is formalized with beau ful ritual
ceremonies that inspire awe and reverence for the Lord. By contrast,
the pris ne rural se ng of Goloka Vrindabana promotes spontaneous
a rac on and in mate love for Lord Krishna without any restraints of
formal rituals.
Lord Caitanya enlightens Venkata Bha a about the rela onship of
Narayana and Krishna
Lord Caitanya visited Sri Rangam and stayed in the house of Venkata

Bha a, one of the chief priests of that temple during the four months
of Caturmasya. During His stay, He had many profound philosophical
discussions with Venkata Bha a. Lord Caitanya broached the subject of
Krishna and Narayana. Their conversa on follows:
CC Madhya 9.109 — Being a Vaiṣṇava in the Rāmānuja-sampradāya,
Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa worshiped the Dei es of Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa. Seeing
his pure devo on, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very sa sfied.
CC Madhya 9.110 — Constantly associa ng with each other, Śrī Cai-
tanya Mahāprabhu and Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa gradually developed a friendly
rela onship. Indeed, some mes they laughed and joked together.

CC Madhya 9.111 — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told the Bhaṭṭācārya,

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