sha

You must try to understand, with all due respect, that trying to prove siddhanta on the authority of 'Manjari bhava upasakas' means very little when the very conceptions of theirs are not TOTAL and ULTIMATE. You'll have to refer to (the Lord Himself, Gauranga Mahaprabhu and His eternal intimate Associates and other Siddha Mahapurusha Vraja Rasik Saints) higher than that. It is not in the interests of sincere devotees to judge others simply on account of their different inclination. But if someone wishes to propose and propagate his or her way of 'manjari bhava upasana' as the ultimate path given by Mahaprabhu for everyone, that is clearly distortion and disservice to the Divine Couple. seyi mahAbhAva haya cintAmaNi sAra kRSNa vAJchA pUrNa kare eyi kAryya jAra mahAbhAva bhAva cintAmaNi rAdhAra svarUpa lalitAdi sakhI tAra kAyavyUha rUpa C.C. 2. 8. I have responded to this quote which I perceived as distortion, since I am hurt too, as I worship 'Sri Radha Para Tattva' as the Supreme and Ultimate limit of Divine Love, not 'manjaris' or the devotees. sA bhrU nartana cAturI nirupamA sA cAru-netrAJcale, lIlA khelana cAturI varatanos, tAdRg vaco cAturI, sanketAgama cAturI nava nava krIDA kalA cAturI , rAdhAyA jayatAt sakhIjana - parihAsotsave cAturI (Sri Radha Sudhanidhi- 63) <font color="red">All glory to the matchless Expert Sri Radharani Who possesses these extraordinary expertise :- 1. Shri Radha is expert in a unique dance of the eyebrows. 2. Shri Radha is expert in performing games of Her lovely side-long-glances. 3. Shri Radha is expert in performing various delightful pastimes. 4. Shri Radha is expert in the art of conversation. 5. Shri Radha is expert in the art of creating ever-new romantic love sports. 6. Shri Radha reveals Her unique expertise, especially in playing humorous jokes on Her playmates in the joyous mood of celebration.</font> premollAsaika sImA parama rasa camatkAra - vaicitrya sImA saundaryasyaika sImA kimapi nava vayorUpa lAvaNya sImA lIlA mAdhurya sImA nija jana param audArya vAtsalya sImA sA rAdhA saukhya sImA jayati rati kalA keli mAdhurya sImA (Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi- 130) <font color="blue">All glory to Sri Radhika Who is the ultimate Limit of the boundaries of remarkable divine attributes:- 1. Shri Radha is the zenith of ever-blooming love, 2. Shri Radha is the zenith of the queerness of fantastic expressions of divine ecstasy. 3. Shri Radha is the zenith of the sheer beauty, 4. Shri Radha is the zenith of fascinating splendor with Her ever-fresh youth. 5. Shri Radha is the zenith of supremely sweet pastimes. 6. Shri Radha is the zenith of most generous affection for Her devotees in kindness. 7. Shri Radha is the zenith of the divine joy and bliss. 8. Shri Radha is the zenith of the finesse of the sweet and amorous pastimes of divine love.</font> And also replied to these: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.32.22 tathAhi gItam (rAmAnanda rAya): pahilahi rAga nayana bhaMga bhela anudina bADhala-avadhi nA gela nA so ramaNa nA hAm ramNI duhun mana manobhAva peSala jAni ye sakhi! se saba prema kahinI kAnuThA me kahiva, vichuraha jAni nA ravojaluM dUtI, nA ravojaluM Ana <big>duhikeri milane madhyata paMcabANa</big> aba soyi virAga, tuMhu bheli dUtI supuruSa-prema ki echana rIti C.C. 2. 8. Please read my posts carefully with unbiased heart. You may discover they are intended only to glorify Srimati Ji. Even Sri Rupa Manjari admitted in 'Sri Radhikashtakam': hari pada nakha koTI pRSTha paryanta sImA taTam api kalayantIM prANa koTer abhISTam pramudita madirAkSI vRnda vaidagdhya dIkSA gurum ati guru kIrtiM rAdhikAm arcayAmi Verse. 7- 'Radhikashtakam' by Sri Roopa Goswami <font color="red">I fondly worship my great<big> Preceptor, Radhika,</big> to Whom even the farthest area surrounding Beloved Lord Krishna's moon like toes, is millions of times more sacred and dearer than Her very own life and soul.</font> <big><font color="blue">My eternal Guru, Srimati Radharani,</big> INITIATES and perfectly coaches the groups of beautiful Maidens with Love intoxicated eyes and ecstasy filled hearts into the arts of passionate Amorous Sports with Sri Krishna. Thus She alone attains immense fame as the universal Prema Rasa Acarya.</font> Hari Bol!

Please contact your forum members of so called "Raganuga Discussions" what they can post and not, as I am not a member. This forum belongs JNDas ji and run according to his set of rules. If 'Raganuga' is interpreted according to some limited perception as 'manjari bhava sadhana.com', may be all, not only members but visitors also have to be warned. Thanks for clarifying.

Here is a message on 'Smarana' from another board: Namaste. A question was raised by a devotee about the 'proper and improper' methods of 'Lila Smarana and Roopa-Dhyan', loving remembrance and contemplation upon the Divine form of the Lord and His exploits. My answer is given: Whether the 'Smarana' and 'Roopa Dhyan' is done on familiar personalities or paintings, pictures or deities, the 'smarana' is all still material and it is not considered as Divine contemplation. So whatever helps the 'sadhaka' to fondly remember his/her Divine Beloved, 'Ishta Deva', should be practiced, naturally and spontaneously. yena tena prakAreNa manaH kRSNe nivezayat.. Divine contemplation is only possible with Divinized (liberated) mind and senses, when the heart of the devotee is completely purified and blessed with 'Divya Prema', 'Svaroopa Shakti' of the Lord. In other words only 'Siddha' Prema Bhaktas, Rasik Saints are ever engaged in the Divine contemplation of Nitya lila. All the rest are still have to engage their 'material' minds in 'sadhana' until they attain 'Siddha Prema Bhakti'. One can choose the most beautiful form of the Divine Couple according to one's taste, mellow (rasa) and affection for contemplation, so that one's Divinelove is constantly increased, totally purifying one's heart, destroying all 'anartha', impediments and the impurities of material mind. This is the declaration of the Scriptures: bhidyate hRdaya graMthiz chidyante sarva saMzayAh kSIyante cAsya karmANi mayi dRSTe 'khilAtmani. (Bhagavatam 11. 24. 30) The Blessed Lord said: <font color="red">"When the devotee SEES ME, the SELF OF ALL, the material knot (body, mind, intellect, ego etc.,) of his heart BREAKS TO PIECES, all his doubts of avidya, ignorance are dispelled and all the accumulated karmas of the past as well as karmas of the future are destroyed."</font> At the blessed moment of God-realization the pure devotee, Siddha Premi, only perceives Lord's original Divine Form, no matter on what form he or she has been contemplating during sadhana all along. premAGjanacchurita bhakti vilocanena santaH sa daiva hRdayeSu vilokayanti, yaM zyAma sundaram<big> acintya guNa svarUpaM</big> govindam Adi puruSaM tamahaM bhajAmi" (Sri Brahma Samhita. 38) <font color="blue">"I worship my Lord Beloved Govinda, the Primeval Supreme Personality, Syama Sundara Whom the PURE DEVOTEES ever SEE in the CORE of their HEARTS with EYES ANOINTED with DIVINE LOVE, as His transcendental form is beyond the contemplation of the material mind and His Blissful attributes as well as lilas are INCONCEIVABLE to ordinary MINDS (acintya guNa svarUpam)"</font> aMgAni yasya sakalendriya vRttimanti pazyanti pAnti kalayanti ciraM jaganti, Ananda cinmaya sadujjvala vigrahasya govindam Adi puruSaM tamahaM bhajAmi (Sri Brahma Samhitam. 32) <font color="red">"I worship my Divine Beloved Govinda, the primeval Supreme Personality, Whose transcendental form is full of Amorous Love, absolute Knowledge, Truth and eternal Bliss. EACH of the limbs of His transcendental figure POSSESSES the FULL FLEDGED functions of ALL ORGANS, and eternally perceives, pervades and maintains countless souls and universes, both spiritual as well as material."</font> Saint Tulasidas says in Sri Rama Carita Manas, prabhu vyApaka sarvatra samAnA, prEma sE prakata hOm mai jAnA <font color="blue">The Lord is present equally (samaanaa) every where (sarvatra) and is known to be OMNIPRESENT. But He MANIFESTS His Divine form by ONLY THROUGH Siddha PREMA Bhakti, DIVINE LOVE, to His pure devotees! That is why Gauranga Mahaprabhu also said: athaH zrI kRSNa nAmAdi na bhaved grAhyam indriyaiH, sevonmukhe jihvAdau svayam eva sphuraty adaH" "ataeva kRSNera 'nAma','deha','vilAsa' prAkRtendriya grAhya nahe, haya sva prakAza" C.C.2.17.134, BRS <font color="red">With these "MATERIAL MIND, SENSES DEVOID OF PURE LOVE", ONE CAN NOT UNDERSTAND NOR PERCEIVE the TRANSCENDENTAL FORM, HOLY NAME AND HIS BLISSFUL EXPLOITS.</font> <font color="blue">HOWEVER, WHEN ONE IS ACTUALLY DEVOTED TO HIM IN SPONTANEOUS Divine Love and Seva, Lord is REVEALED by His Divine GRACE." I hope this information is helpful to the devotees. from: spiritualecstasyandmeditation/ Hari Bol!

You can not insult and criticize forum members. As JNDas ji stated, please follow this courtesy and watch your language while throwing your comments around and do not confuse between forum members and non-members. I never expect you nor other 'manjari bhava upasaks' to agree with my posts. Hari Bol!

na pAraye 'haM niravadya-samyujAM sva-sAdhu-kRtyaM vibudhAyuAapi va yA mAbhajan durjara geha zRnkhalAH saMvRzcya tad vaH pratiyAtu sAdhunA (SB 10.32.22)] The Blessed Lord said to His beloved Gopis: <big><font color="red">"I am never able to repay My debt for your selfless Love, even within a lifetime of the cosmic creator Brahma. Your total dedication to Me is beyond My ability of reciprocation. You have sincerely loved Me alone, shattering all your domestic shackles and worldly attachments which are very difficult to overcome. So, please let your own glorious Divine Love be your cherished eternal compensation."</big></font> Sorry, I do not agree with this misconception and distortion. There is no mention of 'manjaris' but ONLY Gopis and Sakhis by Sri Caitanya. The distorted understanding is given only by certain Rupanuga manjaris because they follow the writings and teachings of Manjari Bhava upasana as they do not know beyond that. The Truth is vice versa. For expanding the Divine Love Bliss of manjaris, Gopi Sakhis as well as all loving devotees of Vraja, the Divine Couple perform all pastimes including the confidential 'nikunja lilas', for 'Rasa Vistara', to drown the entire Vraja, in the sublime, shoreless, Bliss of Vraja Prema Rasa Madhuri. This is very Unique of Sri Radha Para Tattva. There is nothing beyond the Supreme Power of Divine Love. sakhina jUtha sanga, nita prati navarasa, barasAvati manamAnI, Along with Her intimate eternal Associates, Sakhis and their assisting groups of unlimited playmate manjaris,<big> Sri Radhaji,</big> continuously rains down the torrential currents of Bliss of Prema Rasa,<big> according to Her own loving moods and ecstasies.</big> These higher secrets of 'Unnatojjvala (Radha) Rasa' are not for everyone on the internet forums but only for a few devotionally evolved, pure, deserving souls. Only those who have 'adhikara' can learn from the intimate circle of Radha's eternal Associate Maha Sakhis, and the rest can follow Her 'dasis and manjaris'.

A message from another board: <center> <big>Râdhâ herself breaks silence. <font color="red">In the kadamba grove what man is (that) standing? What sort of word coming is this: the plough of whose meaning has penetrated startlingly the path of hearing?</font> <font color="blue">With a hint of union, with its manner of penetrating making one well-nigh mad: My mind is agitated, it cannot be still, streams flow from my eyes: I know not what manner of man it is who utters such words: I see him not, my heart is perturbed, I cannot stay in the house: My soul rests not, it flutters to and fro in hope of seeing him:</font> <font color="red">When she sees him,</font> <font color="blue">she will find her soul,</font> <font color="red">quoth Urdbab Dâs</font></big> from: http://www.sacred-texts.com/ <big><font color="blue">rAdhA kRSNAtmikA nityaM kRSNo rAdhAtmiko dhRvam</font></big> (Sri Radha Stotram-Brahmanda Purana) <big><font color="red">Sri Radha is the Soul of Lord Krishna. Sri Krishna alone is the Soul of Sri Radhika. This is the eternal Truth.</big></font>

<center>Great Jnani devotee Uddhava revealed in Srimad Bhagavatam: naivapanyanty apachitim kavaya tavesa barhmayasapi krtamrddam udah smarantah yo' antarbahis tanubhritam asubham vidhunvan na acarya caitaya vapusa svagatim vyanakti The devoted Uddhava said to Lord Krishna : <font color="red">"O Lord, the surrendered devotees, whose joys increase as they THINK of THY favours, can NEVER- not even in the lifetime of Brahma (Cosmic creator)- repay their DEBT of gratitude to Thee, Who revealest Thy naure, by removing the evil (hankering for sense-pleasures) of ALL beings </font><font color="blue">in a DOUBLE form - outside, as the TEACHER, and inside as the Indwelling Ruler."</font>

<center>Great Jnani devotee Uddhava revealed in Srimad Bhagavatam: naivapanyanty apachitim kavaya tavesa barhmayasapi krtamrddam udah smarantah yo' antarbahis tanubhritam asubham vidhunvan na acarya caitaya vapusa svagatim vyanakti The devoted Uddhava said to Lord Krishna : <font color="red">"O Lord, the surrendered devotees, whose joys increase as they THINK of THY favours, can NEVER- not even in the lifetime of Brahma (Cosmic creator)- repay their DEBT of gratitude to Thee, Who revealest Thy naure, by removing the evil (hankering for sense-pleasures) of ALL beings </font><font color="blue">in a DOUBLE form - outside, as the TEACHER, and inside as the Indwelling Ruler."</font>

<big><font color="red">yad bhAva-bhAvita dhiyo manujas tathaiva samprApya rUpa-mahimAsana yAnabhUSAH</big></font> sUktair yam eva nigama-prathitaiH stuvanti govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi <big><font color="red">Ananda-cinmaya-rasAtmatayA manaHsu yaH prANinAM pratiphalan smaratAm upetya</font> <font color="blue">lIlAyitena bhuvanAni jayaty ajasraM</big></font> govindam adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi

<big><font color="red">sei gopI-bhAvAmRte jAnra lobha haya |</big></font> veda-dharma-loka tyaji se kRSNe bhajaya || vraja-lokera kona bhAva layA yei bhaje | <font color="red"><big>bhAva-yogya deha pAiA kRSNe pAya vraje ||</font></big> (C.C.2.8. 177-179) <font color="red"><big>ataeva gopI-bhAva kari aGgIkAra |</font></big> rAtri-dina cinte rAdhA-kRSNera vihAra || siddha-dehe cinti kare tAhAi sevana | <font color="red"><big>sakhI-bhAve pAya rAdhA-kRSNera caraNa || gopI-anugati vinA </font></big>aizvarya-jJAne | bhajileha nAhi pAya vrajendra-nandane || (C.C 2.8.183-185)

<center>bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM govindaM bhajamuuDhamate . <big>naamasmaraNaa dhanyamupaayaM</big> nahi pashyaamo bhavataraNe .. 33.. <font color="blue">Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool !</font> <font color="red"><big>Other than chanting the Lord's names, there is no other way to cross the life's ocean.</font></big> http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/1415/bhaja1.html ******

<center>rahu gaNai tat tapasA na yAti na cejyayA nirvapaNAd gRhAd vA na cchaMdasA naiva jalAgni sUryair vinA mahatpAda rajobhiSekaM Jada Bharata declares to King Rahugana, <font color="blue">"O Rahugana, one does NOT attain this (state of Divine consciousness of Self-realization) through asceticism nor through Vedic rituals, nor again by dealing out food and other necessaries among the needy, nor by duly performing one's religious duties pertainig to household life, nor through a proper study of Vedic scriptures, nor through the worship of gods presiding over water, fire and sun, NOR by ANY OTHER MEANS,</font> <font color="red">EXCEPT by sprinkling one's body, mind and soul with <big>the dust of feet of exalted Godrealzed saints."</big></font>

According to my sources (BVNM desciples), BVNM will be in South Florida around the end of February, 03. and arrangements for his visit are being planned.

I watched this documentary and felt very dissapointed to see how the Hindu fundamentalist groups are using God and religion for ulterior purposes. Shouting slogans of 'Ram and Bhajarang bali (Hanuman)' and killing innocent women, men and children, these groups are bringing shame and disgrace to Lord Ram. This activist group called (Bajaranga dal) 'Brigade of Monkey God', seemed like the KKK of America. Training the youth and mob for brutal vilolence, instilling racism in the name of patriotism and spreading hatred for other religions as revenge by these Hindu groups are so disgusting, makes one renounce his or her so called Hindu status. The film is very well made with good commentery and guests. Also very touching and thought provoking. The suffering, the loss of human life and property and total disregard for Gandhiiji's principles of non-violence and his ideals for free secular India, the proliferation of out and out fascism, make any sincere God conscious (whether Indian or non Indian) person depressing to see what is happening in today's India. Has anybody else watched this documentary? It was aired at 9.00 PM EST and also at 10.PM on two PBS stations.

<center>A few enchanting divine love verses from: <big>Vrindavana Mahima-amrita</big> by the Rasik Saint Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati Shataka-16 <font color="blue"><big>51 Sometimes, as a dark cloud with lightning, overcome with amorous desire, Lord Hari plays with His beloved on His chest. Sometimes, as a handsome tamala tree by a new golden vine, Lord Hari is embraced by a splendid golden form.</font> <font color="red">52 With Her plantain-tree arm, its hairs erect with wild passion, She sometimes embraces Her beloved's neck, her hairs also erect. Sometimes She places her lover's aguru scented arm around Her neck. Sometimes She places His lotus hand over Her heart.</font> <font color="darkred">53 Tossed by waves of amorous desire, She sometimes pulls Her beloved on the pretext of seeing the forest's beauty. Sometimes, pretending that She yearns to smell the lotus of His face, again and again She kisses the smiling lotus mouth that brings enchantment from the flute.</font> <font color="navy">54 With her left lotus hand She tilts Lord Hari's peacock-feather crown and with Her right hand She touches His enchanting chin and handsome cheeks where the hairs stand erect. With many passionate kisses she extracts the nectar from His lips.</font> <font color="red">55 Sometimes She decorates Lord Madanamohana with Her own ornaments. Sometimes he happily decorates Her with His ornaments. Sometimes He anoints His beloved with His own fragrant powders. Sometimes She anoints Him with the kunkuma and other fragrant powders on Her breasts.</font> <font color="blue">56 Sometimes She takes the garland from Lord Hari's neck and places it on Her own neck. Sometimes She takes the garland from her neck and places it on His neck. Sometimes she scolds Him. Sometimes She offers prayers of love. Sometimes She is angry. Sometimes, Her heart filled with deep thoughts, She glorifies Him.</font> <font color="maroon">57 Sometimes, tormented by desire, She weeps. Leaving Her friends, She goes to the forest to be alone. With hints from Her eyes and the movements of Her fingers, She points Her beloved to the cottage of vines where She will come to His side.</font> <font color="navy">58 In the sweet forest by the Yamuna's shore I meditate on King Vrsabhanu's daughter who, in the company of the young gopis, who are an ocean of beauty where the beauty of the goddess of fortune and all other beautiful girls is rarely a single drop, is like a beautiful crescent moon among a host of wonderful stars.</font> <font color="red">59 All glories to my queen, who is a flooding ocean of the sweetness of transcendental amorous pastimes, whose limbs are more splendid than a host of glittering golden campaka flowers, who is a glittering ornament on Lord Madanamohana's chest and whose youthfulness has just begun to sprout.</font> <font color="blue">60 Conquering He who is all handsome, who is splendid as dark clouds and blue lotuses beginning to bloom, who is a treasure-house of noble pastimes, who is young and charming, and whose form is filled with the nectar of amorous love, and placing Him at Her feet, Sri Radhika enjoys pastimes in the forest.</font> <font color="darkred">61 All glories to my queen, who at every moment is the most learned in the arts of wonderful transcendental amorous pastimes, whose form is at every step flooded with wonderful splendour, who is an eternal awe-filled ocean of passionate love for Lord Krishna, and whose virtues have no equal.</font> <font color="navy">62 Meditate on Sri Radha's young Vraja maidservants, whose hearts rejoice in the waves of their queen's every splendid meaningful, and sweet gesture, who are the most expert and talented of all artists, and whose beautiful limbs, with hairs standing erect, are tossed to and fro out of great love.</font> <font color="red">63 I meditate on the circle of Sri Varsabhanavi's maidservants, who are busy in the transcendental amorous pastimes ocean filled with eternal, limitless, nectar waves of pure love, who have Lalita as their leader, and who celebrate a festival of giving good advice to their dear friend.</font> <font color="blue">64 O goddess Lakshmi, renounce your shining palace filled with the nectar of bliss and hosts of blue lotuses and humming bees, and with great love find happiness in Sri Radhika's sweet madhavi-vine palace beautiful with the opulence of passionate love for Lord Madanamohana.</font></big> source: http://www.indiadivine.com/vrindavana-mahimamrita-shataka16.htm *********

<center> <big>'Radha' In Indian Song & Dance</big> Her eyes are pink-tinged as if they have eaten a 'tamboola' and her gem-encrusted 'tika' glows like a many-splendoured flame. She is the fountainhead of happiness, at which even the Lord finds his joy. Such is Radha - arguably the most famous woman in Indian mythology, the most sung about, the most portrayed. Who is she? How do the authors of mythological texts portray her? As a goddess? As a woman with earthly qualities? Or as an admirable mixture of the two? Some of the earliest references to her are found in the Brahmavaivarta Purana. The most imaginative portrayal is perhaps in the Vishnu Purana, which refers to the Lord's Leela and gives her a form which is at once divine and human. A The following verse from the Vishnu Purana refers to her as a beautiful woman: Ka-pi tena samayata kritapunya madalasa .. padani tasyaischaitani ghananyalpatanuni cha (5.13.33) Roughly translated, this verse describes her as a languid beauty, with a graceful gait and feet that are small and beautiful. The Padma Purana speaks of her as the "Adyaprakriti" -- the first among the "Prakritis" of Vishnu, who is the "Purusha". The Radha who figures in the literature, music, dance and art of later years is, swathed in eroticism; she is the eternal lover who, with single -minded purpose, walks the dark forests in the hope of catching a glimpse of Krishna, and who finds her self-fulfillment in total surrender. The origin of this Radha can be traced to the many cults which flourished in the later centuries -- all centred on Krishna, and all regarding love as the finest way to achieve divinity. The Madhurabhakti cult, for instance, considers a devotee's relationship with his god as that between two lovers. Krishna, the dark-skinned, flute-playing, magical lover is the male archetype for the followers of this cult and the beautiful Radha is the female archetype. To them she is love incarnate, the quintessence of all the romance that the human heart is capable of dreaming of, and the symbol of the most sublimated form of devotion. It is not surprising that many poets, painters, dancers and singers over the centuries have regarded her as their special deity and painted her and Krishna with all the colours of their dreams and longings. The finest products of the Krishna-Radha cult, which had its home chiefly in eastern, upper and central India, are some poetic and prose compositions in Sanskrit. Written in the 11th and 12th centuries, they were responsible for its spread to other parts of the country. The Geeta Govinda of Jayadeva, a work of great lyrical beauty, written during the reign of Lakshmanasena of Bengal, bears traces of the influence of the Kamasutra. It is with this poem that Radha emerges as the supreme nayika. Since Jayadeva lived and wrote his immortal classic in Orissa, it was befitting that the Geeta Govinda should find pride of place in the repertoire of Odissi dancers in the Jagannatha temple at Puri, a great centre of Vaishnavism in those days. The sakhibhava aspect of Vaishnavism enhances the appeal the poem, for it shows Krishna as the supreme god and the devotees, male or female, as his consorts. In Orissa, the gotipus, or male dancers, dress as females and enact excerpts from the Geeta Govinda to this day. How does Jayadeva visualise Radha? She is dejected at Krishna's dalliance with other women and is then wooed back by a subdued lover. He pictures her as a sensual woman with a body that arouses amorous longings in Krishna. He speaks of her as one whose "limbs are tender as the flowers of spring,who is consumed by the fever of love," "who, blinded by love, seeks Krishna in whatever she sees". She is a woman with curly black tresses, with lips like the bimba fruit, with moist eyes, and a fragrant lotus-pink mouth. Her face is round and "softly lustrous as the moon". There is some evidence to show that Jayadeva, who was himself a Natyacharya, wrote his poem for dancers. His own wife, Padma-vati, is said to have been one of the first to translate the Geeta Govinda into dance. The ashtapadis (compositions) are set to definite ragas (melodies) and talas (rhythms), which suggests that they were meant for singing or as accompaniments to dancing. There are at least two manuscripts of the poem -- both in the Saraswati Mahal Library at Tanjore in south India -- in Sanskrit, where abhinaya for its 17 ashtapadis is clearly delineated. Jayadeva presents Radha in the form of seven nayikas, namely: Abhisarika, Khandita, Vipralabdha, Virahotkantitha, Vasakasajja, Kalahantarita and Swadhinapatika. She is not Prostitapatika, since her lover is never abroad or away throughout the duration of the poem. The 'Krishna Geeti' by Manaveda, one of the Zamorins of Calicut, was inspired by the theme of Geeta Govinda. It is a known fact that the classical dance form of Kerala, Kathakali, developed from Krishnattam. The spirit of the Geeta Govinda influenced painting, poetry and dancing wherever Vaishnavism spread. In Andhra it was popularised through the work of Narahari. Beginning with the 16th century, when Tansen gave a new impetus to the tradition of Hindustani music, court musicians began to travel around and receive patronage at the princely courts in and around the region which is known as Braj --Agra, Mathura and Bharatpur. Here, the folklore was replete with legends of the loves of Krishna and Radha. Many musicians, Muslims and Hindus, were captivated by these and wrote and sang about the amours of Krishna and Radha. Here is a composition in; the raga Abhogi which treats her as a goddess: Jayati shri Radhike, sakal sadhike .. Taruni mani, nitya nautran kishori.. This composition hails Radha as the giver of happiness, as a jewel among women, an ever-youthful beauty who waits like the legendary chataka bird for the blue-faced Krishna and who is as beautiful as a moonbeam resting upon a drift of snow. In other compositions, invariably in the language of that region,Brajabhasha, musicians see in her all the traditional nayikas. For instance, in a composition in the raga Khamaj, she is the submissive, fun-loving woman who pleads with Krishna to forget his quarrel with her and participate in the holi dance. Then tired of pleading, she threatens that she will never play the raas with him: Abahon faga khelon nahi tumse.. Are Kanha, jo bhai so bhai ri. In a composition in an old raga -- Gandhaar -- she is very picturesquely described as the Virahotkantitha : "Kahiyo Udho tum jo neha beeja bo.. Gavan kino Madho, biraha lago Radhake mana.. " (Oh Uddhav, tell Madhava that after sowing the seed of love, he has gone away and Radha is very lonely without him. Her starlike eyes are now like deep sunken wells and bear the weight of tears with great difficult. Her thick lashes shower tears of agony.) As an abhisarika, she goes to the banks of the Yamuna looking for Krishna and the composer warns her (raga Bhairavi): "Akeli mata Jaiyo Radha Jumna ke teer" (Do not go alone to the banks of the Jumna, oh Radha..) There are times when the composer visualises her tryst with Krishna and then teases her (raga Ramkali) : "Aaj Radhe tore badanpar.. Shyam mile ki chori re.." (The marks of Shyam's love-making are visible on your body, oh Radha. Your errant lips and your eyes, intoxicated with love, show that you are dancing with joy after your tryst with your beloved.) She is sometimes a sorceress (raga Jai-jaiwanti) : "The hori today was wonderful," says the composer, "and Krishna has come home in joy. But the people of Gokul say that Radha has cast her evil eye upon him. A black mark should be put upon his cheek to ward off the evil." But on a higher plane, even the uneducated musicians see the relationship of Radha with Krishna in its true light and they sing of their eternal oneness. Says a thumri in the raga Piloo : Tum Radhe bano Shyam.. sab dekhengi Brijbham.. ("Become Radha yourself, oh Shyam. Let all the women of Braj look upon you as Radha. You have never heeded my words, but this once, do as I beg of you. If you become Radha, then we shall dance as never before, and no one will know that you are Ghanshyam.") To sum up, Radha, to most Indian dancers, poets, musicians and painters, is the devotee who achieves divinity through an involvement born of love rather than through the powers of her intellect. As Randhawa and Galbraith point out in their book ' Indian Painting', "Eastern philosophy seeks god through feeling. Those who seek him in the sterile sands of intellectuality seek him in vain. Nor is mere brilliance of intellect highly regarded; emotion is the key to the realisation of God..Poetry and music have refinement as their aim. Divine love is the sublimation of sexual love. It is the music of the human soul..its most vivid expression is in and through sexual union. This gilds the vision, lends enchantment even to prosaic persons.." Source: originally posted at the website of 'soulsearchindia'. *********

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<center><big>Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi - 74 <font color="red">gaurAGge mradimA smite madhurimA netrAJcale drAghimA, vakSoje garimA, tathaiva tanimA madhye gatau mandimA, zroNyAJ ca prathimA bhruvoH kuTilimA bimbAdhare zoNimA, zrI rAdhe! hRdi te rasena jaDima dhyAne 'stu me gocaraH</font> <font color="blue">O my Sri Radhey! I fervently pray that I may be able to perceive Your ten-fold transcendental attributes of beauty and sweetness during my divine contemplation!</big> Ten - fold beauty and sweetness of Shri Radha:- The softness of Her exclusively fair body, The lusciousness of Her sweet smile, The sharpness of Her side-long glance The fullness of Her breasts, The slimness of Her waist, The slowness of Her beautiful gait, The magnitude of Her hips, The arch of Her eyebrows, The redness of Her cherry-lips, The extreme mellowness of Her heart, immersed in the sweetest nectar of love.</font> <big>Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi - 130 <font color="red">premollAsaika sImA parama rasa chamatkAra - vaicitrya sImA saundaryasyaika sImA kimapi nava vayorUpa lAvaNya sImA lIlA mAdhurya sImA nija jana param audArya vAtsalya sImA sA rAdhA saukhya sImA jayati rati kalA keli mAdhurya sImA</font> <font color="blue">All glory to Sri Radhika Who is the ultimate Limit of the boundaries of eight remarkable divine attributes:-</big> 1. Shri Radha is the zenith of ever-blooming love, 2. Shri Radha is the zenith of the queerness of fantastic expressions of divine ecstasy. 3. Shri Radha is the zenith of the sheer beauty, 4. Shri Radha is the zenith of fascinating splendor with Her ever-fresh youth. 5. Shri Radha is the zenith of supremely sweet pastimes. 6. Shri Radha is the zenith of most generous affection for Her devotees in kindness. 7. Shri Radha is the zenith of the divine joy and bliss. 8. Shri Radha is the zenith of the finesse of the sweet and amorous pastimes of divine love.</font> *********

<center><big>Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi- 25 <font color="red">lAvaNyasAra rasasAra sukhaika sAre, kAruNyasAra madhura cchavi rUpa sAre, vaidagdhya sAra rati keli vilAsa sAre, rAdhA bhidhe mama manokhila sAra sAre.</font> <font color="blue">May my mind and heart be fondly absorbed into the Quintessence of all essences, Sri Radhika!</big> Shri Radha is the Essence of all the essences as described in the verse- Lavanya-sara-rasa-sAra-sukhaika-sAre- Essence of the essence of the all beautiful forms, mellows and Bliss of Shri Krishna, Who Himself is the essence of all the exclusive and infinite divine mellows. KArunya-sAra- Essence of mercy. Madhura-chhavi-rUpa-sAre- Essence of sweetly attractive beauty. Vaidagdhya-sAra- Essence of incomprehensible shrewdness. Rati-keli-vilAsa sAre- Essence of loving sports and amorous pastimes. akhila sAra sAre- Quintessence of all the essences.</font> <big>Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi- 63 <font color="red">sA bhrU nartana cAturI nirupamA sA cAru-netrAJcale, lIlA khelana cAturI varatanos, tAdRg vaco cAturI, sanketAgama cAturI nava nava krIDA kalA cAturI , rAdhAyA jayatAt sakhIjana - parihAsotsave cAturI</font> All glory to the matchless Expert Sri Radharani Who possesses these six extraordinary expertise :-</big> <font color="blue">1. Shri Radha is expert in a unique dance of the eyebrows. 2. Shri Radha is expert in performing games of Her lovely side-long - glances. 3. Shri Radha is expert in performing various delightful pastimes. 4. Shri Radha is expert in the art of conversation. 5. Shri Radha is expert in the art of creating ever-new romantic love sports. 6. Shri Radha reveals Her unique expertise, especially in playing humorous jokes on Her playmates in the joyous mood of celebration.</font> ******

<center> <big>Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi. 38 <font color="red"> veNuH karAn nipatitaH skhalitaM zikhaNDaM bhraSTaM ca pIta-vasanaM vraja-rAja-sUnoH yasyAH kaTakSa-zara-ghAta-vimUrcchitasya taM rAdhikAm paricarAmi kadA rasena</font> <font color="blue">Deeply wounded by the powerful arrows of Sri Radhika's side-long glance Lord Krsna, the Prince of Vrindavana, faints in Divine Love trance. His constant companion, Priya Sakhi, His flute slides down from His trembling lotus hands in delight. The peacock feathers from His diadem fall silently losing their honor in rapture. And the yellow silken garment so elegantly covering His body slips away in blissful thrill. When will I absorb myself in the sweet intoxicating mood of serving my Mistress, Srimati Radharani?</font></big>

<center><big>The Course of Sri Krishna's Love <font color="blue">prAsAde sA pathi pathi ca sA pRSTatas sA puras sA paryaMke sA dizi dizi ca sA tad viyogAtur asyahaM ho! cetaH prakRtiraparA nAstite kApi 'sA sA sA sA sA sA jagati sakale ko 'yam advaita bhAvaH?</font></big> ('Krishna Bhajanam'- Braja Rasik Paramahamsa) <big>Another Braja Rasik Mahapurusha says in the words of Lord Krishna - <font color="red">"As I am suffering in the fire of separation from My Beloved Radharani, wherever I glance, I only visualize My Radhika! When I look at My palacial home, Radhe is there! Radhe is seen at each path and every trail of Vrindavana! Radhika is blssfully present in front of Me and behind Me! Even in My resting bed, Beloved Radhe is found before My eyes! In all possible directions, I am seeing only My soul Radha! My Radhe is seen wherever My looks fall upon and every object of the world is transformed into My beautiful Beloved Radhika! What more can be said about this state of NON-duality and total ONENESS! The outside world as well as inner subtle mind along with My entire divine existence are pervaded by My eternal Beloved Radharani!"</big></font>

<center> <big><font color="blue"> gopI kadA cinmaNi piJjarasthaM zukaM vaco vAcayituM pravRttA Ananda kanda vraja candra kRSNa govinda dAmodara mAdhaveti</font></big> (Govinda Damodara Stotram- Sri Bilva Mangala) <big><font color="darkgreen">Sri Radhika, Whose mind became crazy and restless with the separation from Her Beloved, and Who saw ONLY Her Lord at EVERY place wherever She looked, started calling Her pet parrot in the diamond studded cage,</font><font color="red"> " O Personification of Bliss! O Moon of Vraja! O My Dark Beloved! O Govinda, Delighter of Senses! O Damodara Who is tied down by the rope of Bhakti! O Madhava, Dearmost Lord of Radhika!"</font color></big> ********

<center> <big><font color="maroon">karakamalena karomi charaNam aham AgamitAsi vidUram.h . kSaNam upakuru zayanopari mAmiva nUpuram anugatizUram.h .. </big></font> (Gita Govind - Sri Jayadeva) *******

<center><big><font color="blue">jayati, jayati rAdhe ! jayati jaya !!</big> Glory to Sri Radha! Glory to Radha Maharani, Who is the Other Form of Lord Krishna, Who is His PLEASURE POTENCY, and His very Soul!!!</font color> jaga ArAdhe jehi hari soyi hari, rAdhe Aradhe, <font color="red">All the three WORLDS and more, ardently WORHIP Bhagavan Sri Krishna and the same Lord Himself, inturn ADORES Sri Radha.</font color> gAvata rAdhe nAma murali maha, roopadhyAn sAthe, <font color="blue">Sri Krishna is always SINGING the Names of Radha, calling on His Flute, 'rAdhe ! rAdhe !' and meditating on the blissful, beautiful FORM of His eternal Consort, Radha.</font color> khojata gahavara-galina viraha maha, kala nahi pala Adhe, <font color="red">In the SEPARATION of Sri Radha, Sri Krishna becomes overwhelmingly RESTLESS, and even for HALF a second, He cannot REMAIN peaceful and composed. He TIRELESSLY goes around all the bushes and gardens of Vrindavan, SEARCHING for His Soul, Radha!</font color> 'rA' kahi girata dharani pai muracita, mukha kahi saka nA 'dhe' <font color="blue">Sri Krishna while CALLING OUT the Name of Sri Radha, is overpowered by "ashta sAtvica bhAva ", the eight devotional emotional ecstasies and due to the transcendental bhava vikara TAKING OVER Him, He can ONLY UTTER the first syllable of the word Radhe, that is "raa". Then He FALLS to the ground in an ecstatic TRANCE! Thus, He is UNABLE to complete the FULL Name of Radha, by missing the latter syllable, "dhe".</font color> mohi 'kripalu' sakhi, mAnu apane, prema sudhA agAdhe! <font color="red">In the concluding verse, the Rasik-Saint-Poet is PRAYING to Sri Radha for Her Grace and to accept him as Her OWN MAID SERVANT and KINDLY COUNT him as ONE among Her OWN Sakhis, since She ALONE is the UNFATHOMABLE Ocean of DIVINE Love and GRACE.</font color> (This pada is from 'Sri Radha Madhuri' of 'Prema Rasa Madira' composed by Sri Kripaluji Maharaj) I PRAY again and again, Sri Radhika, Who ALONE is the Ocean of Blissful Exploits of Lord Krishna, may be KIND enough to APPEAR in my HEART! On this happy occasion of Her Appearance, LET US ALL PRAY to Her Lotus-feet, with the AUSPICIOUS KIND GUIDANCE of Her RASIKA MAHAPURUSHA, munIndra bRnda vandite tri loka zoka hAriNe prasanna vktra paGkaje nikunja bhU vilAsinI vrajendra bhAnu nandini vrajendra sUnu saGgate kada kariSyasI ha mAM kripA katAkSa bhAjanaM <font color="blue">"O my Radhey, Queen of Vraja! O Enchanting Mistress of Vrindavan! Please ACCEPT my salutations to You. You are NOT ONLY worshipped by ALL the Sages and Saints, You ALONE are the REMOVER of the MISERIES and MISFORTUNE of ALL the three worlds. You have APPEARED as the Darling Daughter of King Sri Vrishabhanu and Enjoyed the CONSTANT COMPANY of the Son of Sri Nanda Maharaja, Lord Krishna, indulging in Amorous Pastimes in the flowery bowers of that Sacred land. Your Face is charming like a Fully Bloomed Lotus flower and always COMPASSIONATE. When will You MAKE me WORTHY of receiving Your Grace, by simply STEALING a LOOK at me with Your MERCIFUL GLANCE?"</font color> vrajesvarI vrajAdhipe zrI rAdhikA namostu te! Jayati, Jayati Radhe! *****

<center> Sri Krsna to Radhika: <big><font color="blue">As you are, so I am; there is certainly no difference between us. As Whiteness inheres in Milk, as burning in fire, my Fair Lady, As smell in earth, so do I inhere in you always.</font color></big> Radharani to Sri Krsna: <big><font color="red">I have been constructed by someone out of half your body; Therefore there is no difference between us, and my heart is in you. Just as my Self (Atman), heart, and life has been placed in you. So has your Self, and life been placed in me.</font color></big> (Krsnajanma-Khanda, Brahma Vaivarta Purana) ********