The Nature and Degree of Bhakti in Chaitanya's Thought

Subject Areas : Christianity

Mahdie  Aminzadeh Gohari ¹ (PhD Candidate of Comparative Religion and Mysticism, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Aboulfazl  Mahmoudi ² (Associate Professor of Comparative Religion and Mysticism, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2021-12-17 Accepted : 2021-12-17 Published : 2021-08-23

Keywords: Chaitanya, Bhakti, Krishna, Love,

Abstract :

Chaitanya (1585-1485) is one of the prominent figures of the Vaishnavite Hinduism. Some of the believers consider him the embodiment of Krishna. Bhakti is the path of love and devotion, and according to the followers of this path, only through Bhakti one can achieve the knowledge of God. From Chaitanya's point of view, love is divided into five categories: Shanta Rati (quiet and gentle love), Dasia Rati (love based on service), Sakia Rati (respectful love), Vatsalia Rati (fatherly and motherly love), and Madhuria Rati (marital love).   In this article, an attempt has been made to answer the question of what is the nature of this love and what is the method of reaching the highest degrees of Bhakti from the perspective of Chaitanya?

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