Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c8.s2.27

c8.s2.27

The fourth and last Laharī of the Pūrva-vibhāga gives a general exposition of the third and highest type of Uttamā Bhakti, namely, Prema-bhakti, which is really a further direct ripening of the Bhāva-bhakti itself (bhāva-bhakti-paripāka eva, Viśvanātha Cakravartin). It occurs when the Bhāva or emotion has developed or solidified into (sāndrātmā) a sentiment of love (Preman); it makes the soul entirely smooth (samyaṅ-masṛṇa-svānta) and is marked by an exclusive and loving attachment (ananya-mamatā). It may develop from either the Vaidhī Bhāva or the Rāgānugā Bhāva, but it may also originate from the grace (Prasāda) of the deity. The grace may be either pure, that is, not dependent on any other circumstance (Kevala), or the result of the knowledge of his greatness (Māhātmya-jñāna), the former being Rāgānugā and the latter following the Vaidhī Mārga. The sequence by which this devotional love or Prema-bhakti develops is given thus: Faith (Śraddhā)—companionship of saintly persons (Sādhu-saṅga)—acts of worship (Bhajana-kriyā)—withdrawal from unworthy objects (Anartha-nivṛtti)—devotedness (Niṣṭhā)—relish (Ruci)—attachment (Āsakti)—emotion (Bhāva)—love (Preman).