Vatsalya (“calf-like”) Bhava

The fourth of the five modes of devotion
to God that were most prominently
articulated by Rupa Goswami, a devotee
(bhakta) of the god Krishna and a follower of the Bengali saint Chaitanya.
Rupa used differing types of human
relationships as models for differing
conceptions of the link between deity
and devotee. These five models showed
growing emotional intensity, from the
peaceful (shanta) sense that comes
from realizing one’s complete identity
with Brahman or Supreme Reality, to
conceiving of God as one’s master,
friend, child, or lover. In the Vatsalya
mode of devotion, devotees consider
themselves as God’s parents, lavishing
love and care on the deity as a cow cares
for her calf. This is an emotionally
intense mode of relationship, but without the erotic element present in the
fifth mode, madhurya bhava.