Significance of Divine love
Divine love, as described in various spiritual traditions, signifies the ultimate form of affection that transcends ordinary feelings. It encompasses an intense devotion directed toward God, particularly exemplified in the loving relationships between devotees and divine figures like Shri Krishna and Radha. This profound love, often characterized by longing and ecstasy, is considered the goal of spiritual practice and is a central theme in Vaishnavism, representing universal devotion that connects individuals to the divine, fostering a deep emotional and spiritual connection.
Synonyms: Heavenly love, Sacred love, Spiritual love, Transcendent love, Divine affection, Holy love, Celestial love, Spiritual affection, Unconditional love, Eternal love, Infinite love
In Dutch: Goddelijke liefde; In Finnish: Jumalallinen rakkaus; In Spanish: Amor divino; In Portugese: Amor divino; In German: Göttliche Liebe; In Italian: Amore divino; In Polish: Boska miłość
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Hindu concept of 'Divine love'
Divine love in Hinduism embodies unconditional affection towards God and others, transcending rituals and focusing on spiritual connections. It emphasizes deep devotion, profound emotions, and transformative experiences, ultimately fostering a sacred bond with the divine.
From: Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
(1) A sacred and profound form of love that brings about significant emotional transformations.[1] (2) The affectionate devotion (priti) generated by Shri Govardhana in service to Shri Krishna.[2] (3) A profound and unconditional affection that is associated with a spiritual or sacred aspect.[3] (4) A profound, spiritual affection that arises within an individual’s heart, often associated with a strong emotional response.[4] (5) The innate affection and devotion that living entities, including trees and creepers, experience as a result of being enlightened by pure goodness.[5]
From: Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation
(1) It is a powerful emotion that fills the heart of the Alvar, causing him to revel and experience joy.[6] (2) It is enriched all the time by the bliss of Divine presence and union and the cruel pangs of separation, whetting his appetite and enriching his wisdom.[7] (3) The type of love that causes the Alvar to experience a mental imbalance and prompts the individual to acts that are praiseworthy and exceptional.[8] (4) The Alvar’s appetite for God-enjoyment is whetted, and this process enriches his divine love and wisdom constantly through the experiences of divine presence and separation.[9] (5) An intense and fervent affection towards the divine, which offers solace and satisfaction to the souls despite worldly disapproval.[10]
From: Chaitanya Bhagavata
(1) Divine Love is the ecstatic emotion experienced by Advaita Acharya, causing him to float in ecstasy during the events described.[11] (2) Gauracandra experienced and expressed divine love in various ways, including laughter, tears, and profound statements of identity and purpose.[12] (3) A term referring to the powerful devotional love experienced by devotees towards God.[13] (4) A profound spiritual feeling that connects individuals to God, emphasized in the context of the listeners' reactions to Mukunda's performance.[14] (5) The concept of love associated with the divine, exemplified by the relationship between devotees and God.[15]
From: Garga Samhita (English)
(1) "Divine love" is embodied by Radha and Krishna, who represent the ultimate connection and affection, granting auspiciousness as described in the text.[16] (2) Divine love signifies a spiritual bond and devotion that transcends material attachments.[17] (3) Divine love signifies the profound and spiritual affection that the speaker desires to maintain eternally towards Lord Krishna.[18] (4) The eternal and pure love between Krishna and the gopis, exemplified through their exchanges and pastimes.[19] (5) A central theme represented by Radha's character, emphasizing the spiritual and transcendent aspects of affection.[20]
From: Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
(1) Divine love is a profound and overwhelming affection for the Lord, leading to a state of ecstasy where personal concerns are forgotten.[21] (2) The profound affection directed towards the divine, often associated with various sentiments or emotional states in spirituality.[22] (3) A higher, spiritual love that transcends ordinary relationships.[23] (4) The ultimate expression of devotion and connection with the divine, sought after in kamanuga-bhakti.[24]
From: Bhajana-Rahasya
(1) The profound emotional connection and devotion experienced by the gopis towards Krishna, marked by deep attachment and longing.[25] (2) The profound love exhibited in the pastimes of Shriman Mahaprabhu and His interactions with Lord Jagannatha.[26] (3) The blissful, transcendent affection that Krishna bestows upon His devotees, enabling them to experience profound joy through their devotion.[27]
From: Sri Krishna-Chaitanya
(1) The pure, unconditional affection displayed through the relationships and acts of devotion towards Krishna, transcending worldly understandings of love.[28]
From: Bhagavad-gita-rahasya (or Karma-yoga Shastra)
(1) Unselfish and intense love toward the divine, necessary for the path of devotion.[29]
From: Naishadha-charita of Shriharsha
(1) The idealized affection seen in the relationship between Nala and Damayanti, symbolizing purity and virtue.[30]
From: Tiruvacakam Part I
(1) The fundamental theme of the poem indicating that pure love for God surpasses ritualistic practices and external qualifications.[31]
The concept of Divine love in local and regional sources
Divine love is an exalted, unconditional connection between humanity and the divine, fostering compassion and spiritual understanding. It transcends mere human affection, symbolizing a profound, inherent bond reflected in various cultural teachings and experiences.
From: Triveni Journal
(1) Kumaarasambhavam is the long poem of divine love and Raghuvamsais is the longer poem of the life of generations.[32] (2) This refers to the love for God or a higher power, which is often the central theme in poetry and mystical experiences, transcending the boundaries of the human experience.[33] (3) Divine Love is the highest form of love, and human love is a shadow of it, which means that the love that humans experience is a reflection of the divine love.[34] (4) This refers to the spiritual love that human love can symbolize, illustrating the connection between the earthly and the divine.[35] (5) Divine Love is personified by Radha, and represents a key element in the Gita Govinda, where she is the personification of Divine Love and Beauty, representing the heavenly aspect.[36]
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) Divine Love is a topic of teaching that is deemed unnecessary, which is a particular subject that is not to be taught, indicating a specific exclusion within the teachings.[37] (2) This is the highest form of love, characterized by giving all and asking for nothing, without regret, and is the only kind of love that the text is concerned with.[38] (3) Divine Love is something everyone will be a sharer of in the Satya-Yuga, and it is associated with the teachings of Shri Ramakrishna.[39] (4) Divine love is something that the disciple shall attain, along with knowledge, by the blessings of Shri Ramakrishna, representing a desired spiritual state.[40] (5) Divine love is a high ideal that common people could not grasp and assimilate, and it is exemplified in the life of Shri Chaitanya, who was perfectly selfless and bereft of any vestige of lust.[41]
The concept of Divine love in scientific sources
Divine love, as per regional sources, is a mutual love within the Trinity. It extends beyond the Father and Son relationship to encompass the Holy Spirit, signifying a complete and shared divine affection.
From: Religions Journal (MDPI)
(1) "Divine love" is spontaneous and unmotivated; the true religiosity of Jesus is based on the relationship of love between the human and the divine, and motivated love is human, spontaneous and unmotivated love is Divine.[42] (2) "Divine Love" is a theme associated with Hosea, although changing perspectives and approaches have made this prophetic work increasingly difficult and problematic for contemporary readers.[43] (3) Human beings still naturally long for but lack the means by which they can render themselves proportionate to it.[44] (4) Divine love is mentioned as a force that wrests, burns, and grips, and it is the condition of possibility for the experience of 'the Feminine' to emerge in the poetry.[45] (5) Divine love, in this context, is the essential nature and message conveyed by Christ's life and teaching, pointing to a hidden background that founds its intelligibility.[46]
From: Religious Inquiries (Journal)
(1) Human love and divine love are sacred events that need space and time in order to occur and the world of ideas provides such space and time.[47] (2) Divine love is a means of achieving peace and reconciliation through the remembrance of "suffering for," offering a transcendent solution to human conflict.[48] (3) It is one of the common concepts between the Islamic and Christian mystic traditions.[49] (4) Divine love is what rational knowledge cultivates in man, strengthening the rational substance of human nature and enabling comprehensive knowledge of the cosmos.[50]