CHAPTER FOUR
Sādhakas and Their Spiritualisation In previous chapters we have described two kinds of devotees, practitioners and perfected. Rūpa Gosvāmī has articulated these divisions in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu with the words te sādhakāś ca siddhāś ca dvi-vidhāḥ parikīrtitāḥ.1 In conformity with the theme of this book, this chapter will elaborate on practitioners, or sādhakas. In the threefold division of Vedic literature, sambandha is knowledge of the soul’s relationship with Kṛṣṇa, first contact of which awakens faith; abhidheya is the regulated activities to revive the soul’s relationship with the Lord, equivalent to sādhana-bhakti; while prayojana, the ultimate goal of life, corresponds to prema. To Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, bhagavān — ‘sambandha’, bhakti — ‘abhidheya’ haya premā — ‘prayojana’, vede tina-vastu kaya “The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the central point of all relationships, acting in devotional service to Him is one’s real occupation, and the attainment of love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of life. These three subject matters are described in the Vedic literature.”2 Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī explains in the verses ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo that conditioned souls practising sādhana-bhakti are sādhakas.3 However, there is another category of sādhakas: the liberated devotees who have attained bhāva. Why bhāva-bhaktas are also considered sādhakas will again be described in this chapter, but in more detail than before. 71
