Jagad Guru Chris Butler - Siddhaswarupananda - Practical Wisdom

by Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode

6 / Sastha-yama Sadhana
Bhajana during Evening Bhava
(Transcendental Emotion)

The external symptoms of perfection are given in the Siksastaka (6):
nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada tava nama-grahane bhavisyati (1)

My dear Lord, when will my eyes be beautified by filling with tears that constantly glide down as I chant Your holy name? When will my voice falter and all the hairs on my body stand erect in transcendental happiness as I chant Your holy name?

Without love of Godhead, my life is useless. Therefore I pray that You accept me as Your servant, and give me the salary of ecstatic love of God.

The form of bhava is stated in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu:
premnastu prathamavastha bhava ity abhidhiyate satvikah svalpa-matrah syuh kampasru-pulakadayah (2)

The first stage of prema is known as bhava, where the eight sattvika vikaras (bodily transformations) such as standing of the hairs on end and crying, slightly manifest.

by Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode

Attachment to seeing the beautiful form of the Deity is described in these words from the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.23.22):
syamam hiranya-paridhim vanamalya-barha-dhatu-pravala-nata-vesam anuvratamse vinyasta-hastam itarena dhunanam abjam karnotpalalaka-kapola-mukhabja-hasam (15)

His complexion was dark blue and His garment golden. Wearing a peacock feather, colored minerals, sprigs of flower buds, and a garland of forest flowers and leaves, He was dressed just like a dramatic dancer. He rested one hand upon the shoulder of a friend and with the other twirled a lotus. Lilies graced His ears, His hair hung down over His cheeks, and His lotuslike face was smiling.

Again from the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.21.5):
barhapidam nata-vara-vapuh karnayoh karnikaram bibhrad vasah kanaka-kapisam vaijayantim ca malam randhran venor adhara-sudhayapurayan gopa-vrndair vrndaranyam sva-pada-ramanam pravisad gita-kirtih (16)