Shri Maharaj Ji in Bhav
Question:
Didi, Ji, you have explained to us that Shri Maharaj Ji’s divine body exhibits the eight symptoms of divine ecstasy Asht Sattvik Bhav. Is it not possible for someone to mimic or fake these expressions to dupe people?
Answer:
The symptoms of divine love (see Siddha Bhakti) manifest themselves in the body of a genuine saint. These symptoms are known as Sattvik Bhav. Altogether, there are eight Sattvik Bhavs, collectively referred to as Ashta Sattvic Bhav (अष्ट सात्विक भाव).
An imposter can, to some extent, fake some of these symptoms. For example
The other four divine-love symptoms are
No material being has the capability to fake all these symptoms, let alone voluntarily fake all of them and that too simultaneously .
The main symptom of ecstasy, above all the ones described above, is described in the following verse of Bhagavat Mahapuran:
Didi, Ji, you have explained to us that Shri Maharaj Ji’s divine body exhibits the eight symptoms of divine ecstasy Asht Sattvik Bhav. Is it not possible for someone to mimic or fake these expressions to dupe people?
Answer:
The symptoms of divine love (see Siddha Bhakti) manifest themselves in the body of a genuine saint. These symptoms are known as Sattvik Bhav. Altogether, there are eight Sattvik Bhavs, collectively referred to as Ashta Sattvic Bhav (अष्ट सात्विक भाव).
An imposter can, to some extent, fake some of these symptoms. For example
- Swar bhed (स्वर भेद) - quivering and changing of voice
- Vepathu (वेपथु) - uncontrollable shivering of the body
- Ashru (अश्रु) - continually shedding tears and
- Pralaya (प्रलय) - losing consciousness and falling like a cut tree
The other four divine-love symptoms are
- Stambha (स्तम्भ) - stiffness of the body, much like a pillar
- Sveda (स्वेद) – profuse sweating, so much that you can wring the clothes
- Romanch (रोमाञ्च) – experiencing thrill with goose bumps all over the body
- Veivarnya (वैवर्ण्य) – the complexion turning pale
No material being has the capability to fake all these symptoms, let alone voluntarily fake all of them and that too simultaneously .
The main symptom of ecstasy, above all the ones described above, is described in the following verse of Bhagavat Mahapuran:
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वाग्गद्गदा द्रवते यस्य चित्तं रुदत्यभीक्ष्णं हसति क्वचिच्च ।
विलज्ज उद्गायति नृत्यते च, मद्भक्तियुक्तो भुवनं पुनाति ॥ भा ११.१४.२४
vāggadgadā dravate yasya cittaṃ rudatyabhīkṣṇaṃ hasati kvacicca ।
vilajja udgāyati nṛtyate ca, madbhaktiyukto bhuvanaṃ punāti ॥ bhā 11.14.24
“In the state of ecstasy, devotee is so overcome by devotional sentiment that the voice gets choked. Sometimes the devotee cries uncontrollably and the very next moment he laughs ceaselessly as if enjoying the boundless divine bliss to the hilt. He sings and dances in gay abandon. These symptoms of a saint (drowned in divine ecstasy), create a unique divine atmosphere, which unknowingly also drowns all the spectators in divine sentiments”.
Contemplate: How would an imposter create such an environment? For the benefit of humankind, saint Ved Vyas attempted to describe these symptoms of divine love in words. But words are limited. They cannot fully describe the experience in the state of ultimate divine bliss. The real meaning of all these Asht Sattvik bhav
Most people have no idea of these ecstatic states. Of the very few who may have heard about these states, even fewer would have experienced them. How could someone, who has no theoretical and/or practical knowledge of these symptoms, even attempt to pretend these states? Furthermore, the spectators do not understand these divine states or symptoms. So, it would be pointless to pretend in front of such ignorant people. Exhibiting these symptoms in front of an ignorant audience would be like: भैंस के आगे वीणा बाजे, भैंस खड़ी पगुराय ।
bhaiṃsa ke āge vīṇā bāje, bhaiṃsa khaड़ī pagurāya । |
Shri Maharaj Ji in Bhav
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“Playing a musical instrument in front of a water buffalo (which is incapable of comprehending the melody), which continues to chew the cud.” In other words it is like “casting pearls before swine.”
Shri Maharaj Ji laughing in Bhav
In Kaliyug there is no dearth of imposters. Hence it is entirely possible that an impostor has witnessed the divine state of a saint. But such a person will more than likely have no idea of the states of divine ecstasy. And if, by a remote chance, someone has heard about the divine states of ecstasy, it is highly unlikely that they are aware of the dignity and divinity of these symptoms of divine love. Additionally, due to the impurity of their heart, instead of recognizing and enjoying the state, they might either ridicule the saint or suspect that the saint is suffering from a serious disease (e.g. a strange form of hysteria). That is why, thus far, impostors have not tried to copy these bhavs.
All of these eight ecstatic states are extremely rare even in God realized souls. In the past 5000 years of Kaliyug many genuine saints have descended on this earth to name a few Surdas, Tulasidas, Meerabai, Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans, the four Jagadgurus prior to Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, Shri Vallabhacharya, Nanak and Tukaram etc. However all eight symptoms of divine ecstasy were not seen in any of them.
All of these eight ecstatic states are extremely rare even in God realized souls. In the past 5000 years of Kaliyug many genuine saints have descended on this earth to name a few Surdas, Tulasidas, Meerabai, Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans, the four Jagadgurus prior to Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, Shri Vallabhacharya, Nanak and Tukaram etc. However all eight symptoms of divine ecstasy were not seen in any of them.
Shri Maharaj Ji dancing in Bhav
In this Kaliyug all the eight symptoms were first seen more than 500 years ago in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and then again in Shri Maharaj Ji’s divine body. By Shri Maharaj Ji’s extreme grace - several times - I had the privilege of seeing Shri Maharaj Ji in the highest ecstatic state. That is why I have some idea of the dignity and divinity of this state. Even though I am unable to express my experience in words, I can say with conviction that when Shri Maharaj Ji danced in ecstasy, everybody experienced a strange thrill and would involuntarily start shedding tears of love. This experience is a irrefutable proof of Shri Maharaj Ji’s authenticity and divinity. Shri Maharaj Ji’s authenticity was the main cause of His magnetic personality. Whosoever saw Him once, followed Him like a honey bee follows honey.
When an imposter pretends, the viewers lose their devotion. Whereas when a real saint dances in ecstasy the devotional sentiments upsurge in the hearts of viewers. This is an observable proof of the authenticity of the genuine saint.
In conclusion, first it is not physically possible for an impostor to mimic the ecstatic state of a real saint. Second, if someone were to dare imitate the ecstatic state of a Rasik Saint, he would positively be unable to impress people. Moreover, for committing namaparadh - the most heinous sin in the divine realm - in his after-life he will be doomed in narak (hellish abodes) for a long time .
When an imposter pretends, the viewers lose their devotion. Whereas when a real saint dances in ecstasy the devotional sentiments upsurge in the hearts of viewers. This is an observable proof of the authenticity of the genuine saint.
In conclusion, first it is not physically possible for an impostor to mimic the ecstatic state of a real saint. Second, if someone were to dare imitate the ecstatic state of a Rasik Saint, he would positively be unable to impress people. Moreover, for committing namaparadh - the most heinous sin in the divine realm - in his after-life he will be doomed in narak (hellish abodes) for a long time .
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भगवत प्राप्त संत के वाक्य क्रिया मुद्रा किसी मायिक जीव की समझ में नहीं आ सकते ।
No material being can truly comprehend the words, actions or expressions of a true divine saint. - Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj
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