The enormous narration of devotion in the Srimad Bhagavata is esoteric,not everyone can study or hear the full Bhagavata with its occult meaning due to their preoccupation with material distress of life.For these materially engaged person,mystic or saints have derived the gem of Bhakti suitable and easily assessable . Some of Such literary treasures are Bhavartha Deepika of Sridhara ,Bhakti Ratnavali of Vishnupuri and Bhakti Ratnakar of Sankardev.These books are the cream produced from the milk ocean of Bhagavata.
Visnupuri's Bhakti Ratnavali is a compendium of verses selected from Srimad Bhagavata portraying the nine limbs of devotion or Nabadha Bhakti. Vishnupuri lived somewhere between mid or late 14th century AD to Mid 15th century AD.Ratnavali literary means the Necklace or gem (of devotion) is available with a commentary called 'Kantimala' by the same author .It is written -
Vanarasayam Mahesh asya sanidhe Hari Mandire
Bhakti Ratnavali Siddha Sahita Kanti Malaya .
That means, Visnupuri composed the Ratnavali along with Kantimala in Baneras .Originally, he was from Tirhut and latter settled down in Kashi.There are two sampradays associated with Him - Brahma Sampraday and Dashanami Vedanta Sampraday ! these disciplic successions are -
1. Madhavacharya-Padmanabha-Narahari-Dvija Madhav-Akkhobhya-Jayatirtha-Jnanasindhu-mahanidhi-Vidyanidhi-Rajendra-Payadharma-Vishnupuri
2. Shankaracharya-Paramanada puri-Nirsimha puri-Sridhara Swami-mahabharati-purushuttam-Vishnupuri-Brahmanada-Jagadisha
Out of these two, the second one is more reliable .
As per the legends, Vishnupuri was a householder earlier in his life, with Vedantic influences he embraced Sannyasa,but the young monk unable to resist himself ,one-day returned to his wife . He was criticized not only by the society but also by his wife ; with such insult and self degradation ,he was about to commit self-immolation . But at that time,Sri Krsna inspired him to perform Bhagavatic Bhakti! Vishnupuri embraced Bhagavata Marga and achieved spiritual realization.According to the book of Bhakt-Mal ,Visnupuri never visited the Jagannath temple,so Lord Jagannath send divine garlands to him through some devotee,So Vishnupuri after composing Bhakti Ratnavali ,offered it to Lord Jagannatha.
Bhakti Ratnavali Starts with a verse from the 10th canto Bhagavata- Jayati Jaganibasho Devakijanmavado! The book consists of glorification of devotion,praises of holy association,Nine types of devotion and Saranagati .Visnhupuri included some verses from Bhavartha dipika in his composition too .
There's one more version of Ratnavali available in Assamese language,this book was trans-created by Sri Madhavdeva,chief disciple of Srimanta Sankardeva, in 16th century AD .As per the Mahapurushiya charits, When Sankardeva was at Kamrupa Kingdom, there lived a Brahmin Pandita namely Dvija KanthaBhusana ,who was also a court pandita of King Naranarayana.He was envious of Sankardeva's postion and wisdom .Hence to defeat the saint in arguments, he went to Baneras to learn philosophical conclusion of Shastras and became a disciple of Brahmananda ; (Whereas another book says he was a disciple of Rama Bhatta) but when the Guru came to know about the intention of his new disciple,became ashamed and make him understood the divinity of Saint Sankardeva. So, Brahmananda send a copy of Bhakti-Ratnavali to Sankardeva as a token of apology for his disciple .Brahmananda himself composed some other verses glorifying devotion,devotees etc and send it to kamrupa through KanthaBhusana .At Sankardeva's request, Madhavdev translated Visnupuri's Ratnavali into Assamese. But there's a basic difference between the Sanskrit Ratnavali and Mahpurushiya Ratnavali ,and that is the eka sarana (one shelter in Krsna) ,which is in the main topic of all Virasanas of the Assamese Ratnavali.
The first strand of Visnupuri's Ratnavali is the basic reflection on Bhakti .With more than hundred verses from the bhagavata, the first section of the book is the longest of all sections.Vishnupuri declared the supremacy of Bhakti (devotion) over Mukti (liberation) here;Lord Vishnu's (Vasudeva) Supremacy is another feature of the same strand .A general instruction for all types of seekers is given as-
Akamo Sarvakamo va mokshya kamo udharadhi
Tritena BhakiYogena Bhajate Purusam Param
Meaning: Person with no desire or with desires and seeker of liberation ,all three shall render devotion to the Parama Purush (Sri Hari)
The Second section of the Ratnavali consists of Satsanga viracana means - Association of Holy Company ;This is the important instructions also for the worldly people ,who can get rid of their material distress just by associating with Saints.Sadhu sanga is glorified above all tirtha,tapa and so on .As in Madhavdeva's Ratnavali -
Sadhu sanga bine sadye nupuje Bhakati
Ehimane tatpoijyo dekhailu samprati
Meaning: Without association of Saintly beings,the devotion can't awake .
The third section speaks about the nine fold devotion and glories of devotion.It glorifies the Indriyas (senses) dedicated to Lord Vishnu (the speech glorifying Hari,the ear listening to His glory and so on.)
From 4th to 12th strand of the Ratnavali,Sri Vishnupuri Composed the glories ,procedures and examples of Sravana (listening),Kirtana (Glorification),Smarana(remembrance),Pada seva( Divine Service),Archana(worship),Vandana(salutation),Dasya(Servitude),Sakhya(Comradeship) and Atma samarpan(Surrender).
The Last section of the book is known as Saranagati (meaning: Taking refuge in Lord Krsna). In Mahapurushiya Ratnavali of Madhavdeva,this Viracana is the most important of all sections .Vishnupuri composed only 13 verses in this section;in the last two verses, the humble and ideal characteristic of Vishnupuri is declared .Sri Madhavdeva too declared his own servant position in the last part of his version and glorified Vishnupuri as well .
Vaikunthar Shastra itu Chariu VedorSar
Krsna r mukhor bani
Bhagavta sara tuli Visnupuri mahamati
Karlilanta sangraha pramani
summary : The Scripture of Vaikuntha is the summary of the holy Vedas ;it is the speech of Lord Krsna as well . The intelligent Vishnupuri collected the authentic essence of that Bhagavata .
Picture courtesy : Cover page ,Bhakti Ratnavali ,ISBN:9788180402012,Ubodhan Karyalaya
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