more N.P.

The notes by Sw. Vijnananada go on to say that these subtle forms of gods manifest on their festival days either seen or unseen to the participants.

He also says in the intro that the NP contains the essence of what Sri Vallabh taught, when in fact it is much more similar to Gaudiya thought in my opinion; that is the development of the Pancaratra away from the obligatory discussion of the vyuhas etc. Alot is found about Sri Radha, including her sahasranam as well as that of Gopal. Obviously a lot of Kundalini references. There is a lot of stuff that would be considered sakama bhakti by most ardent Vaisnavs; instructins for puja to gain certain boons etc. Radha and Krishna are the only deities honored.

Elucidation and construction of mantras is a concern. Very similar to some stuff I read in the Brahmavaivarta P. today, as a matter of fact. They are very similar texts in many ways. I agree with Cheever Mackenzie-brown and others that there is much Bengali influence at least in BvP. Puri is mentioned; the name Ayana is found (for someone, I can't remember), a popular name in medieval Bengal apparently.

Swamiji concludes his intro with a very strange passage of how the development Ekanta worship of Bhagavan was concurrent with Christian missions in S. India, and the Vaisnavs borrowed from them, but Hinduism is the mother of all (?) I didn't get his point. Or perhaps I did get it and it just was a non-sequitur of the likes sometimes uttered by the devoutly religious, I don't know.

Strangely the NP, as well as the Vraj Kartik-like weather coming over N. Florida is making me intrested in GV again. I took a book of Ananta Das Pandit Baba yesterday and read wit great interest. Nostalgia for somethings such as the katha of Babaji Maharaj confer benedictions that are untouched by time and space.

The marvel of Vaisnavism to me over all Indic philosophies and otherwise is the level of pure and dedicated selflessness one relishes. Not selflessness, or realization of the Self for the sake of Mukti, but the desire to give relish to the concentrated bliss which is Parabrahman, known variously by the muktas.

A selfless exchange of love, that transcends and religious concern or even self-concern.
What is better than that?!