Prem Sudha Dhara: Vimlaji

(Page 242)

Dark-hued Krishna Swings Shri Radha on a Jhulan

Shri Hari

Shri Vrindavan Dhaam

16th August 1975

Dear Vimla,

With love, Jai Shri Hari.

Reading your affectionate letter reminds me of an incidence I can write about but can't see your haughty expression. Although no one can possibly equate the Supreme Being, I shall narrate the episode lest it be forgotten .

Lord Krishna Tries to Pacify Sulking Shri Radha

Once Shri Radha sulked and Lord Krishna had a tough time pleasing Her. He tried to placate Her with His ardent entreaties and winsome manners but the adamant Kishori's vexation did not melt away. Finally Shyam Sundar left, certain that Priyaji distressed on not seeing Him would cool down naturally. And this is precisely what happened. She stepped out of the forest bower, sure that Krishna would come soon but was bewildered when He didn't.

She timidly requested Shri Lalita,"Lalite! You go and get Priyatam. I swear never to sulk now onward." 

 " Under no condition am I going. Whenever Krishna comes you turn away, utter harsh words and don't adulate Him. And when not in sight, your heart is enthused with exultation for Him. Your voice and entire persona are absorbed in the terrifying rush of love, entreating us to call Him. What is the reason for this idiosyncrasy? I will not get Krishna or the same scene will be repeated," pretending to be irritabe, Lalitaji retorted.

Shri Radha Promises Sakhi Lalita that She Wont Sulk Again

Shri Radha whined helplessly,"No sakhi! I won't but what can I do? When the Lord arrives, pride and conceit also come along and when He leaves they vanish with Him. Why don't you give a suggestion?"

'Thore mahan samujhahin sayanen.'' You must have grasped the underlying essence of the amusing escapade. Isn't it absolutely true?.

The pleasant pastures of the rainy season are blossoming these days. Braj maidens elated with the arrival of sawan ,desirous for enjoying the swings, headed toward their beloved Kishori. Shri Radha also welcomed them with fervent enthusiasm. 

Soon after,the sakhis appealed," Sain kam ki layo, so savan aayo! Chal sakhi jhuliye surat hindore, keeje Shyam man bhayo."

Shri Radha Hides Her Passionate Feelings for Krishna

Priyaji understood, Her attractive face adorned with a lustrous smile. Veiling Her passionate feelings, Shri Radha stood up and accompanied them. The sakhis had put up a swing at a beautiful nikunja, a sort of wild sylvan hideaway. Brajraj Sundar had not yet arrived but everyone knew He could not resist the offer. However He had not been informed about their whereabouts.

Anyway they made young Shri Radha sit on the swing. The sakhis swung alongside by turns, rocking Her alone at times; looking around with delicious anguish. The mellifluous songs of the sakhis enthused the entire forest. They sang malhar (name of a ragini sung in the rains) in a high pitch. Lost in the rendition, they pushed the swing; nostalgic about the mazes and mysteries of their love-play which rotated around none else than Krishna, the Supreme Lover.

Dark-hued Krishna Pushes Shri Radha's Swing

Steeped in Krishna's thoughts, the herd did not have the slightest inkling when the dark-hued Vanamali (wearing a garland, a title of Krishna) stepped out of the thicket, stood behind Priyaji and began swaying the swing forcefully. Kishori Radhika was startled and turned Her neck to have a look...Ah! Krishna, the paragon of sweetness, Her teasing, elusive and insistent paramour looked radiant. A deep blush suffused Shri Radha's fair complexioned face and a tenderly soft smile played on Her soft lips. Before the sakhis were alert, the mischievous Kishore violently hugged Priyaji with thrusts of ecstasy. Soon after, He made all of them savour His passionate love, in various ways, turn wise.

Guess what! He stood on the swing board and began scaling great heights. Shri Radha was scared of the swing's swiftness but Chatur Shiromani Krishna would not listen. Giving support occasionally with His muscular arms and enchanting at times with delightful talk, He made Her oblivious of the scenario.

Shri Radha-Krishna Sing Raag Malhar on the Jhulan

The sakhis instantly broke into the sweet passionate notes of raag malhar. The handsome god joined in and sang simultaneously. Priyaji managed to recover from a stumble as the speed of the swing slowed a bit. Her sweetly charming voice sang a melody in the blossoming pastures and soon enough the entire forest was bathed in the joyous abandon of the ragini.

Sakhis Look on as Shri Radha-Krishna Enjoy the Swing

The world outside the nikunja had clouds pouring rain whereas the world inside the bower had love being pampered. Spirited splendour and exquisite beauty of this realm is eternal; the same passionate rhapsody and swings swaying Shri Radha-Krishna, and the sakhis is constant in the fabled land of Vraja.

Okay then, Jai Shri Hari.

With love,
Yours Bobo.

Prem Sudha Dhara: Abhaji

(Page 240)

Gopis in Search of Shri Krishna

Shri Hari

Shri Vrindavan Dhaam

30th May 1961

Dear Abha,

Jai Shri Hari.

It is fine for love-struck devotees to do japa (meditation on the name of a deity) and paath (recitation of a sacred text) with a bhava not in search of self gratification. But dwellers in the world of temporality must do smarana or concentrated meditation upon the Supreme Being and bhajan either with a selfless bhava or a self-centered one. Bhava is understood as love flowing towards the Lord and so by binding the mind to the Lord we may ideally achieve nirodha or salvation.

Goswami Shri Tulsidasji Maharaj confirms:

Jag jachiye kahu na, jachiye jo jiya jachiye Janki Nathhin re.

Jehi jachat jachakta jari jaye jo jarti jor jahanahin re.

Every ardent entreaty should be made to the Supreme Protector as we abandon begging from anyone else. Parabhakti or perfected devotion demands that completely absorbed in his meditation, unconditioned by his physical presence, we begin to know the Krishna that abides in our hearts. But if we are distressed there is no harm in demanding from the enigmatic Shri Hari, solely concerned about our well-being.

I recall two lines woven around nostalgia:

Vah chand ashk jo ankhon se bah gaye meri.

Vah hain gavah ki dil ki lagi ne yaad kiya.

What is this perennial quest of mankind for a divine and transcendental love?The restlessly agitated state, staggering mannerisms and strangely odd behaviour, are indicative of the impassioned soul moving in a delicious anguish to the Lord's side.

A person who has once glimpsed the divine trove of infinite beauty and loving tenderness, reaches the deeper ecstasies of devotion. With great good fortune, the two snares (a glimpse of the supreme lover and bliss after observing him minutely) make us develop an all consuming intimacy with the Lord; irrespective of family honour and restrictive social constraints.

Stepping out of her house, the crazed Brajbala was invaded by the charm of dark-hued Krishna. The handsome god's eyes struck her, seeming like a caress. Brajraj Kunwar is seen as the object of longing and of a love; of the enraptured maiden's union with her teasing, elusive and insistent paramour. The barricade of social conventions is dumped, as she flaunts her open desire.To find respite from aching separation and bodily longing, the cowherdess is speedily drawn towards Krishna; no obstacle can dare stop her.

No longer in search of satisfaction of her lust alone, stripped of pride and conceit she is urged into complete absorption in the joy of Krishna. Tied in the love noose of the supreme lover, she loves constantly, freely without purpose. No one can administer the antidote for this ailment except Krishna. He seems to cure the affliction apparently but triggers it on the contrary.

Probably this escalation of desire for union with God is the remedy. Vamiit madhur shamit madhur. The succeeding episodes of the pathos of longing and joy of belonging are madhur or tenderly sweet in Lord Krishna's cosmic world.

With Love,

Yours Bobo.