Rāsa: The Bhāgavata’s Eternal Dance of Divine Love

Abstract

The article "Rasa: The Bhagavata’s Eternal Dance of Divine Love" by Graham M. Schweig explores the Rasa Lila, the iconic circle dance of Krishna with the Gopis (cowherd maidens) as depicted in the Bhagavata Purana. The article establishes the Rasa Lila as the climactic event of the Bhagavata, akin to the crucifixion in the New Testament, and a paramount revelation of divine love, particularly within the Chaitanya (Gaudia) Vaishnava tradition. Schweig analyzes the dramatic structure of the five chapters dedicated to the Rasa Lila, detailing the sequential "acts" and "scenes" that build to the central dance. He emphasizes Krishna's unique ability to multiply himself, ensuring each Gopi experiences his exclusive presence. The article also delves into the ancient origins of the Rasa dance form, its transformation into a spiritual metaphor for the "harvest of divine love," and the dialectical movement of divine love encompassing both separation and union. Through exegetical illuminations of key Sanskrit verses, Schweig provides a nuanced understanding of this profoundly significant event, highlighting its symbolic representation of boundless, eternal love between the divine and the devotee.