Friday, April 9, 2010

Chapter 31: Usha Bahenji Ardent Longs To Have Darshan of Shri Giriraj, Relishes Krishna's Lila at The Divine Site


Lord Krishna Says I am Giriraj

Proclaiming that I am Giriraj, Shri Krishna honoured Govardhan Hill and made it worthy of worship. Shri Giriraj is a living presence of Krishna and simultaneously a character of His lila.Krishna arranges for the intimate romantic dalliances with His beloved Shri Radha and sakhis in the caverns and bowers of this mountain along with grazing cows,dalliances of daan(extolling tribute), maan (pride), and wrangling.Saints se these lilas and like the kalpavriksha it fulfills all the cherished wishes of its devotees.

Relishing the amorous frolics of Radha-Krishna, revered Bobo was residing in the idyllic environs of Vrindavan. Wishing to have darshan of Shri Giriraj.She ventured there accompanied by Shri Rama Devi, Sushilaji, Darshan, Uma, Urmila, Tripta, Kapoor, Sumitra, Saroj,Vimla Kapoor, Kaki,Narang, Pushpa and others.

Govardhan Parikrama

Joyous on circumambulating Giriraj, roaming in the sites, adulating the enchanting trees and creepers, and listening to the vast repertoire of the ashtachap kavis, Bobo was deeply absorbed

Jatipura Temple in Govardhan, Shri Nath ji's Original Home

Bobo was ecstatic on recollecting the playful dalliances of Shri Nathji amidst these dark-fair hued boulders.Often she was lost while sighting the fluttering flag of Shri Nathji's Temple at a distance.

At times she was enchanted by Govind Kund on the parikrama path. On one side of the parikrama was the residence of Shri Chaturbhuj Das ji in Jatipura. Sitting amid a cluster of trees nearby the sakhis who had gone along with Bobo were listening to padas. At one end Bobo kept listening to the devotional verses sitting at that spot and was engrossed in adulating a lila simultaneously.

"A peacock in search of food was heading towards that enchanting site. Everyone could see the peacock but Bobo could hear the sound of tinkling anklets by the fortunate peacock's side.Instantly wearing a sky blue lehenga (having broad zardosi work)and a dupatta covering Her head with both ends tucked in front of Her kanchuki,Priyaji was coming along.


Shri Radha Waits For the Peacock

Shri Radha with seeds Held in Her fair hand was strutting in front of that lucky peacock; placing the seeds on one boulder after another.Several times the peacock lagged behind and Kishoriji waited for him.

Fluttering its beautiful feathers, enchantingly the peacock would hastily go close to Priyaji and circling around Her, peck at the grains again. At times Priyai caressed him with Her affectionately loving touch.

Leaning against an evergreen tree, Priyaji lifted Her hands and held the peacock. The intoxicating grandeur of that moment...Standing in a charming fashion Priyaji looked stunning..This tree is actually present there.

The handsome god saw this captivating scene and tiptoed from behind, caught both of Radha's lotus hands and stood adjacent to her on the the right side. Initially startled, Radha was thrilled on identifying the touch.The sweet smile of Priyaji, flushed cheeks, pearly teeth peeping between slightly parted lips... the Supreme Lover played with the zone of bells around Her waist with His left arm...there were infinite showers or rasa.

After a while Priyatam joined His right lotus hand with Radha's left and both began feeding seeds to the peacock. Bobo was engrossed in seeing the grandeur of blue-hued and fair-hued lotuses.

In another episode Sushila Bahenji, Bahen Darshan, Uma, Uthma and Vijay were sitting in the dense bowers of Shri Giriraj and narrating the legends of Krishna. Suddenly Bobo asked Darshan Bahen to sing a pada and then Bobo saw in front,


The Charming Supreme Lover

"Dressed charmingly with a turban tied around his head, the Supreme Lover stood smiling with His lakuti ( a small club especially that held by Krishna) propped on a boulder. When she sang that He should not abandon conventional norms and resort to spirited antics He thumped his right foot on the boulder and teased," I will for sure!" Hearing this retort, Bobo smiled and when asked about the matter she narrated the incident.

Revered Bobo never considered nitya lila (eternal or daily) and prakat lila (visible) as separate.She said that eternal Vrindavan where the god forever dwells manifests in the earthly streams and fields of Vrindavan where we have seen Krishna and the gopis play. According to Vaishnava doctrine the material world is a manifestation of Brahman and as such is true and not illusory or maya. Worldly form being in essence of the same nature as the Lord, is not viewed as different from Him but as  an expressional variations of form.

Vrindavan Krishna's Presence is Strongly Felt in Vrindavan

Thus this whole land with its sites, idyllic character, forest birds, herds of deer is ultimately only a symbol displaying Krishna's presence and power. Prakriti the power of earth, and Purusha, the power of heaven are the same but appear as two distinctive identities due to limitations of our worldly vision. There is a difference only in word...They have two bodies but the soul is identical...Krishna created prakriti for the sake of joy. Vrindavan has the constant competence to conceive ordinary life here as parallel with the other, cosmic life of Krishna.

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