Yogamāyā and Balarāma (05/29/12)
Dear P____,
Hare Kṛṣṇa.
I am happy to receive your question about Yogamāyā.
Kṛṣṇa has three principle energies; internal, external and marginal. Indeed, Yogamāyā is from the internal energy, certainly not the external or marginal energies, but it is not as simple as all that.
Balarāma is generally considered the first expansion of Kṛṣṇa and as such Kṛṣṇa’s energies manifest from Balarāma also. Yogamāyā arranges the lila of Kṛṣṇa and for the līlā of Kṛṣṇa with his Goloka and Gokula devotees in vātsalya-rasa, sakhya-rasa and dāsya-rasa — that Yogamāyā is from the side of Balarāma. In mādhurya-rasa, the Yogamāyā is Paurṇamāsī and she comes from the side of Śrimatī Rādhārāṇī. Even then there are many subtleties to the arrangements of Kṛṣṇa and all are not at our fingertips. Ultimately, Kṛṣṇa and his energies are adhokṣaja, inconceivable by our tiny brain. But right conception in the right direction is possible/necessary. And the best way to have the right conception is to hear from self-realized ācāryās. What information i am passing on to you about Yogamāyā i have heard from Srila B.R. Śrīdhara Mahārāja and the śāstra.
Presently i am writing an article called “The Case of Subhadrā” in which the question regarding Subhadrā’s position as yogamaya or not Yogamāyā is discussed.
Again i thank you for your question. Hoping this meets you well.
Swami Narasingha
