Mixing of Rasas 394

whole, or the prominent humor, is called the permanent ecstasy. It is
confirmed in the Visnu-dharmottara that when there are many mel-
lows of devotional ecstasy mixed together, the prominent one, or the
whole, is called the steady ecstasy of devotional service. Although
the subordinate mellow may be manifested for a certain time, at
length it will become merged into the prominent whole. Thus it is
called an unconstitutional ecstasy. of devotional service.

There is a good analogy in this connection, showing the relation-
ship between the part and the whole. Lord Vamanadeva is actually
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He appeared to have been
“born” as one of the brothers of Indra. Although Vamanadeva is
sometimes taken as a less-important demigod, He is actually the
maintainer of Indra, the King of the demigods. Thus, although some-
times Vamanadeva is considered to be a subordinate demigod, His
actual position is that of the supreme whole, the source of the entire
demigod system. In the same way, a rasa which is actually prominent
may sometimes appear to be manifested in a subordinate way, al-
though its actual position is as the main or prominent loving feeling
of a devotee.

When an unconstitutional ecstasy of devotional service is mani-
fested prominently at a certain time, it is still accepted as the part. If
it is not very prominently manifested, it appears only slightly and
quickly merges back into ithe whole. At such times of slight ap-
pearance, no consideration is given to it; as when one is eating some
palatable dishes, if one also eats a small blade of grass, he will not
taste it, nor will he care to distinguish what its taste is like.
