Brihad Bhagavatamrita

Brihad-bhagavatamrita - a sacred text for followers of Hindu tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Along with Hari-bhakti-vilasa it is one of the most important works of Vaishnava theologian Sanatana Goswami. While Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa sets out guidance for the Vaishnava behavior and ritual, Brihad-bhagavatamrita contains an analysis of the teachings of Chaitanya from ontological and metaphysical perspective.

In the first part of Brihad-bhagavatamrita Sanatana Goswami has described a conversation between Parikshit and his mother, Uttar. It took place after Parikshit heard Bhagavata Purana from Śuka. Uttar asked her son to explain the essence of Bhagavata Purana and Parikshit revealed her secret stages of Bhakti. He told her a story about how Narada was looking for greatest devotee of Krishna. The Great Rishi began his search with the devotees of Krishna, whose Bhakti mixed with karma and jnana (Brahma and Shiva) then went up to Shanta-rasa (Prahlada), Dasya-rasa (Hanuman), Sakhya-rasa (Arjuna), and finally came to the greatest devotee of Krishna - Uddhava, who always longed to be in Vrindavan and showed that the highest level of Bhakti is love of gopis to Krishna.

The second part Brihad-bhagavatamrita tells us about the glory and bliss of spiritual abode Goloka, as well as of the process of renunciation of the material world, the true knowledge, Bhakti Yoga, love for Krishna and implementation of higher purpose of life. The second part contains the narrative of wandering shepherdess, who received the mantra from a resident of Vrindavan, traveling from one planetary system to another, exploring the different levels of consciousness of living beings. His spiritual odyssey covers Vaikunta, Brahmaloka, Shivaloka and the heavenly planets.

Brihad-bhagavatamrita contains descriptions of the various categories of devotees of Krishna: close devotees, and devotees of the closest devotees. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in his comments to the «Chaitanya-charitamrita» (Adi Lila, 5.203) writes that anyone who wants to learn about the devotees and devotional service to Krishna should read Brihad-bhagavatamrita.

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