Expressions of Love for Krsna 252

forests of Vrndavana. The gopis were loudly singing the glories of
Krsna and wandering from one forest to another in search of Him.
They knew that Krsna is not localized, but all-pervading. He is in the
sky, He is in the water, He is in the air, He is the supersoul in every-
one’s heart. Thus the gopis began to inquire from all kinds of trees
and plants about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is an
instance of ecstatic madness on the part of devotees.

Similarly, there are symptoms of diseases caused by ecstatic love.
This condition is credited by learned scholars as mahabhava. This
highly elevated condition is also called divyonmada, or transcenden-
tal madness.

Forgetfulness

When Krsna was absent from Vrndavana and was staying in Ma-
thura, Srimati Radharani sent news to Him that His mother, the
Queen of Braja, was feeling such separation from Him that there was
foam coming from her mouth, like the foam on the shore of the
ocean. And sometimes she was raising her arms like the waves of the
ocean, and because of her intense feelings of separation, she was roll-
ing on the ground and creating a tumultuous roaring sound. And
sometimes she was remaining completely silent, like a calm sea. These
symptoms of separation from Krsna are called apasmara, or forgetful-
ness. One completely forgets his position when he manifests these
symptoms in ecstatic love.

Another message was once sent to Krsna informing Him that after
He had killed Karnsa, one of Kamsa’s demon friends had gone insane.
This demon was foaming at the mouth, waving his arms and rolling
on the ground. This demonic demonstration is in relationship with
Krsna in ghastly humor. This mellow or flavor is one of the indirect
relationships with Krsna. The first five kinds of relationships are
called direct, and the other seven are called indirect. Some way or
other, the demon must have had some relationship with Krsna, be-
cause these symptoms developed when he heard that Krsna had al-
ready killed Kamsa. Srila Ripa Gosvami remarks that there is also
transcendental excellence in this kind of symptom.
