Vaikuntha Rasa

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Rasa, which can be translated as juice, essence or taste, is what all of us long to experience in life in different ways. This Rasa is what makes the various situations in life relishable. Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, in one of his numerous books on the esoteric subject matters pertaining to bhakti, explains the different types of Rasa. The first kind of Rasa is known as Parthiva Rasa, or Earthly Rasa, which arises when one enjoys a particular item towards which one may feel attraction. Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur explains this rasa with the example of Sugar. When a person has a sweet tooth and is very eager to taste sweets, then the rasa, juice or pleasure that one experiences on eating sugary delicacies is known as Parthiva rasa. This Rasa pertains to the senses and the pleasure that they derive from contact with the sense objects, in this situation the sense of taste is being gratified with sweets and the resultant pleasure experienced is called Parthiva Rasa. Higher than this is the second kind of Rasa known as Swargiya Rasa, which is the mellow that one experiences when one has affection for another person. Being the perverted reflection of the spiritual world, in this material world also, the living entities have loving relations in the moods of servitude, fraternity, parental affection and conjugal love. When one feels deep love and affection for another person, than the pleasure experienced is not associated with the body but rather with the mind, which experiences great bliss in such loving relationships. Therefore this Rasa is known as Swargiya, or that which makes one enjoy heavenly pleasure. However, due to the temporary nature of this material world, both Parthiva and Swargiya Rasa are inferior and not capable of giving pure bliss to the jiva. Therefore, one should endeavour to taste Vaikuntha Rasa. This Vaikuntha Rasa is the topmost Rasa beyond the jurisdiction of this material world. Being eternal, full of bliss and ever fresh, Vaikuntha Rasa is the only Rasa that intelligent personalities endeavour to taste and relish to their hearts fullest content. Vaikuntha Rasa is the mellow experienced when the jiva directs their attraction towards Sri Krishna or one of his other incarnations like Lord Ram, Narayan or others. Developing a loving relationship with the Lord in one of the five Rasas of Shanta, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya, the living entity becomes immersed in the highest limits of transcendental bliss in their loving interactions with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This Vaikuntha Rasa is what all the Viashnavas are desiring to relish and this very Rasa is what one experiences when one develops deep loving attachment to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar, who are eternally performing sweet pastimes in the groves of Vraja with their dear Gopi friends.