Rupas love

Rupa Gosvami’s theory of bhaktirasa uses and reworks the theory of the Natyasastra on rasas towards a devotional and religious context in which aesthetic delight is used to achieve union with Krsna. In the present missive, I will compare Rupa Gosvami’s theory with the rasa theory of the Natyasastra and the model of and examine Radha’s role as a model for devotion, contrasting this model with the models set forth by Jayadeva’…

…be merely the perfect example of a devotee, with the focus and intensity of her love for Krsna. We will see that this very love sets Radha that sets Radha apart will contribute to our understanding of the duality of Radha’s role as both vessel and receiver of devotion. D.M. Wulff “proposes that it is the transcendental quality of Radha’s love that permits her this double role.” (JS Hawley, Preface, Divine Consort)