Nectar of Devotion

The tradition of krishna-bhakti is worship of the personal God Sri Krishna. Although one of the oldest Vedantic traditions, it reached its pinnacle under Sri Chaitanya who is regarded by His followers as incarnation of Sri Krishna himself in the form of His devotee. He deputed His six ascetic disciples headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami, the former prime minister of Bengal, to create exegetical works systematizing the precepts of His teachings thereby creating a school which came to be known as Gaudiya Vaisnavism.

At the heart of this tradition lies the core philosophy of loving devotional service, a reciprocal relationship with the Personal God fraught with moods (bhavas) and devotional experiences (rasa). These form the subject matter of
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami’s literary masterpiece, a classic of devotional literature composed in Sanskrit and describing the complete science of bhakti-yoga, or linking with the Supreme God, Krsna through transcendental loving devotion.

In this summary study, Srila Prabhupada gives a complete translation and provides occasional commentary. Topics include the characteristics of pure devotional service, ecstatic love of God, the qualities of Sri Krishna, and stimulation for ecstatic love.