SRÉ BHAGAVÄN
is known or perceived; and (3) hlädiné, by which activity and bliss is generated. Çré Baladeva is the principle of existence (sandhinéçakti). Çré Kåñëa is the Consciousness Who enables awareness of our own existence (saàvit-çakti). Çré Rädhikä is hlädiné-çakti or the pleasure-giving potency. The çakti that brings the greatest joy to Çré Kåñëa is the essence of all that is bliss, and is the very form of mahä-bhäva (the highest stage of Divine Love). She is the daughter of Våñabhänu—Çrématé Rädhikä. Çré Nanda Mahäräja and Çrématé Yaçodä-mätä, who serve in parental mellow (vätsalyarasa), are the best among devotees because they too give supreme joy to Çré Kåñëa. Today is the Änandotsava, the festival of joy of Çré Nanda Mahäräja. With his grace, we may also be blessed with the grace of Çré Kåñëa. çrutim apare småtim itare bhäratam anye bhajantu bhava-bhétäù aham iha nandaà vande yasyälinde paraà brahma (Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä 19.96, quoted in Padyävalé 126) “Those who are afraid of material existence may worship the çruti, småti or Mahäbhärata, but I pay my obeisances to Nanda Mahäräja because Çré Kåñëa, the Param Brahman, becomes trapped by the love of Çré Nanda and crawls around as a baby in his courtyard.” çré-räjoväca nandaù kim akarod brahman çreya evaà mahodayam yaçodä ca mahä-bhägä 49