If madhurya rasa is taught in other traditions, then what is unique about the Gaudiya tradition?
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If Madhurya Ras is taught in other traditions, then what is unique about the Gaudiya tradition? Answer, the Gaudiya tradition does not need for its uniqueness to have that Madhurya Ras not be taught at all in other traditions.
And we have to consider what the word teaching means. That there is an intimate relationship of love between the Lord and His consort in an amorous mood is described in the Vedic scriptures like the Bhagavatam itself. Some of the Puranas like Brahma-Vaibhavata Purana also talk about the Radha-Krishna relationship.
So, it is not that these scriptures are hidden from the other traditions or that the scriptures are forbidden by the other traditions. They may not be so much emphasized. But the idea that the relationship between the Lord and His consort or His consorts like Narayana Lakshmi or Ram and Sita or Radha and Krishna, that is talked about.
Now the word Madhurya is used in two different senses. Madhurya as contrasted with Aishwarya, where it refers to the sweetness of the Lord as contrasted with His greatness. And the word Madhurya is also used to refer to one of the five Rasas.
So, what is distinctive about the Gaudiya tradition? It is the combination of the two senses of Madhurya and the sweetness of Krishna where, say for example, the sweetness supersedes the greatness. And that happens, normally we say that happens in the Matsya Liras where Krishna, although He is the omnipotent Supreme Lord, is tied by His mother in Damodar Lila. But that also happens in the Madhurya Ras where, for example, Radharani takes a position superior to Krishna at the pastime of the Manamandir where Radharani is upset with Krishna and Krishna touches her feet to seek her forgiveness.
So the way that in the sweetness of the sweetest relationship mellow, so Madhurya Ras, within that the Madhurya Bhav, is such that for their love to be sanctified, there is no need for the formalization of marriage. And that love in the Parakhiya Bhav, not between Rukmi and Krishna as Varkadish, but Radha and Krishna, that is considered extremely intimate. And that too, at least if the love is fulfilled, in the sense that the lover and the object of love are united, then that is nice.
At least there is some joy. But when there is separation in that love, and still when Krishna leaves, for example, and goes away to Mathura, and Radharani has every reason to break that relationship, and yet she does not, that level of selfless love is unprecedented, is unparalleled. And that is what has won the heart of Krishna when he says, na paaraye ham.
So it is that love which is the emphasis on that love of Srimati Radharani in Parakhiya Ras, in separation from Krishna, ayi dheena dayaad na kahe, Mathura ratha kadavalokase. That is unique about the Gaudiya tradition.