Decoration for the forehead Lalatika is made of flowers of two different colours. It has two parts. One is of red colour. It is fastened at the top of the head and follows the parting of … Read More
The various pastimes performed during the meeting of Radha and Krishna are described in the Ujjvala-nilamani as follows: te tu sandarsanam jalpah sparsanam vartma rodhanam rasa-vrndavana-krida-yamunady-ambu-kelayah nau-khela-lilaya-cauryam-ghatta-kunjadi-linata madhu-panam vadhu-vesa-dhrtih kapata suptata dyuta-krida-patakrstis-cambaslesau-nakharpanam bimbadhara-sudhapanam-samprayogadayo matah When Radha … Read More
The outward behavior of a devotee – the symptoms and activities of one who is situated in the prema – is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.40): evam-vratah sva-priya-nama-kirtya jatanurago druta-citta uccaih hasaty atho roditi rauti gayati … Read More
Flower decorations made by Sri Lalita in her service There are numerous varieties of ornaments made of flowers: crowns (kiritas), hair bands (bala-pasyas), ear ornaments (karnapuras), forehead decorations (lalatikas), necklaces (graiveyakas), upper arm bracelets (angadas), waistbelts … Read More
b. The vara sakhis In addition to the aforementioned eight varistha sakhis there are eight other exalted sakhis, the vara sakhis. They are all twelve years old and have almost grown out of their childhood. They … Read More
Astama-yama Sadhana Night Pastimes The method of bhajana and the place of residence of one who has achieved the contemplation mentioned above are explained in the Upadesamrta (8): tan-nama-rupa-charitadi-sukirtananu- smrtyoh kramena rasana-manasi niyojya tistan vraje tad-anuragi-jananugami … Read More
The six sections that follow, i.e., the twelfth to the seventeenth theme, are meant to demonstrate that the Puranas, like the Vedas, are perfect scriptures and are in many ways superior to the Vedas. … Read More
1. Lalita-devi Sri Lalita-devi is the foremost amongst these eight varistha sakhis. She is twenty-seven days older than her dear friend Sri Radha. Sri Lalita is renowned by the name Anuradha. She is decorated by the … Read More
In the first two sections, Jiva Gosvami describes Krishna Caitanya, stating that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To demonstrate this, he first uses a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam and then his own. The … Read More
Experiencing intense feelings of separation, the moment they look at Krishna the gopis scold the creator for their eyelids. The following statement, taken from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.82.39), describes the state of the gopis as they meet Krishna … Read More
A large group consisting of two kinds of close associates is called a yutha. A yutha is divided into three groups: same age sakhis (vayasyas), maidservants (dasis) and messengers (dutis). Those who know the eternal fundamental … Read More
The first, pratyaksa-pramana, is the knowledge that can be obtained from the perception of the senses and of which we have already spoken; simply put, a thing is true to the extent that we can … Read More
The desire to see the beloved Krishna is described in Krishna-karnamrta (40): he deva he dayta he bhuvanaika-bandho he krishna he capala he karunaika-sindho he natha he ramana he nayanabhirama ha ha kada nu bhavitasi padam … Read More
6. Sastha-yama Sadhana Bhajana during the evening Bhava (The transcendental emotion) The external symptoms of perfection are found in the Siksastaka (6): nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada tava nama-grahane bhavisyati … Read More
6. Sastha-yama Sadhana Bhajana during the evening Bhava (The transcendental emotion) The external symptoms of perfection are found in the Siksastaka (6): nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada tava nama-grahane bhavisyati … Read More
6. Sastha-yama Sadhana Bhajana during the evening Bhava (The transcendental emotion) The external symptoms of perfection are found in the Siksastaka (6): nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada tava nama-grahane bhavisyati … Read More
Kandarpa Manjari’s father is Pushpakara and her mother is Kuruvinda. In his heart, Kandarpa Manjari’s father considered Krishna to be his actual son-in-law, so he did not arrange her marriage with anyone else. Kandarpa Manjari’s … Read More
On hearing this proposal from Krishna, all the boys became very glad and said, “Certainly, let us all sit down here to take our lunch.” They then let loose the calves to eat the soft grass. … Read More
Offering obeisances and asking for blessings mukam karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim yat krpa tam aham vande sri gurum dina-taranam I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His … Read More
The gopis rebuked the providence for their separation from Krishna with these words which we find in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.39.19): aho vidhatas tava kvacid daya samyojya maitrya pranayena dehinah tams cakrtarthan viyunanksy aparthakam vikriditam te ‘rbhaka-cestitam … Read More
