Chapter Six: The Rasika Lineage of Rama Worship
- No one is capable of adequately expressing that great soul’s supreme greatness: homage to him, homage to him, again and again.
- His widely renowned disciple was the profoundly wise rasika Janakivarasharan, knower of every sacred duty.
- He remained steadfast in the guru’s teachings and among many saints; in eloquence he was Brihaspati himself, in patience equal to Earth.
- He increased the nectars of Sita-Rama, clarified their distinctions, cut through doubts, and advanced the sovereignty of rasa.
- Beloved of every being and giver of the Rama mantra, he knew the essence of the guru’s word and lived upon the bank of the Sarayu.
- Near Sita-Rama at Lakshmanashrama, close to his guru, he praised residence in the sacred field.
- His disciple, firmly devoted to the guru and skilled in poetry, was Rama’s servant Sri Ramavallabhasharan.
- He lived in the beautiful abode of the true guru on the Sarayu’s bank, steadfast and accomplished in musical knowledge.
- His nearby disciple was the younger Sri Kantasharan, dwelling in the true guru’s hut and wholly devoted to Rama’s name.
- “I bow to the guru-lineage beginning with Sita’s Lord, having Ramananda at its middle, and extending to my own teacher.”
Thus Rama first gave the six-syllable mantra-king to Janaki, and Janaki then gave it to Hanuman. The order should be understood as follows:
- Sri Rama; 2. Sri Janaki; 3. Sri Hanuman; 4. Sri Brahma; 5. Sri Vasishtha; 6. Sri Parashara; 7. Sri Vyasa; 8. Sri Shukadeva; 9. Sri Purushottamacharya; 10. Sri Gangadharacharya; 11. Sri Sadacharya; 12. Sri Rameshvaracharya; 13. Sri Dvarananda; 14. Sri Devananda; 15. Sri Shyamananda; 16. Sri Shrutananda; 17. Sri Chidananda; 18. Sri Purnananda; 19. Sri Shriyananda; and 20. Sri Haryananda—