Gokul, Dense Forest Site of Krishna's Lila
Yamuna Maharani
Shri Thakurani Ghat-Gokul
Thakur GokulNathji
Meanwhile, the sweetness of Shri Gokulnathji steeped her in a blissful experience many a time.
Meanwhile, the sweetness of Shri Gokulnathji steeped her in a blissful experience many a time.
Krishna Janamashtami was celebrated in 1989 with joyous abandon in Vrindavan. It was decided that they would go to Barsana via Giriraj for the birth celebrations of Radharani. Along with Thakurji, revered Bobo, Sushila Bahenji and Vijay reached Goverdhan.
Bobo Saw Priyatam Krishna & Priya Radha Sitting on Shri Giriraj
Bobo saw the beauteous forms of Priya-Priyatam posited on the dark-fair boulders of Shri Giriraj, overshadowing the dense nikunjas. Dark clouds had gathered and were rumbling . The parrot and mynah were busy raving about the romantic dalliance of Radha-Krishna. A peacock was strutting around enchanted by the condensed sky and dancing in ecstasy due to the dark god's closeness.
The clouds bent downwards to catch a glimpse of the Yugal and the drizzle soon transformed into a deluge. Drenched,Radha-Krishna arranged their dishevelled hair and were busy squeezing their clothes. Smiling, they adored each other's majestic limbs and enraptured everyone. As if sensing Their desire for a romantic dalliance, the rain weakened and a cool breeze blew. The terrifying rush of love escalated and seated on the peak of Giriraj the Supreme Lover along with His Beloved sent passionate messages to their beloved sakhis.
Every moment of Bobo was engrossed in the playful dalliance of Radha-Krishna. It is tough to ascertain when she joined in the lila with her divine body.
Well Bobo stayed for a couple of days in Giriraj as always, absorbed in the divine play of Priya-Priyatam.
Devotees Outside Shriji Temple on Radhashtami
Then she came to Vrashbanupur to revel in the festivities of Priyaji's birth celebrations.The joyous abandon of panchami (fifth day of a lunar half month)of Bhadon (sixth month of the Indian lunar calendar,mid August to mid-September) in 1989 absorbed all the sakihs and Bobo in this joy.
Shri Chandravaliji
To present a gift to Chandravaliji on her birthday and grant the closeness of Krishna, Beloved Radha went to her along with the sakhis. Meanwhile the teasing paramour Krishna also reached to accept her secret love.
Shri Lalita Sakhi's Birth Celebrations at Uncha Gaon
The very next day Shri Radha went to attend Her close sakhi Shri Lalita's birth celebrations. Remembering their love escapades with the handsome Shyam both of them were delighted. Always keen to give shape to His reminiscences, the dark god was busy listening to their spicy gossip.Hearing the sound of the blue-hued god both of them were startled and blushed. Everyone was ecstatic and the ensuing flow of rasa drenched all those who were present.
Shriji Temple, Barsana
At this end Vrashbhanupur was revelling in the joyous abandon of Kishori Shri Radha's birthday. Carrying novel gifts, excited Braj gopis and gopas thronged at the entrance of Vrashbhanu Bhavan. Crowds surging in the lanes and royal paths, singing melodies in different tones, were amazing! Hearing the laughter and voice of Priyaji everyone was thrilled.The whole of Braj contributed in reaching the heights of elation and ecstasy.
And as for the darling son of Nanda! The thrill of rapture...was reflected in His mischievous roving eyes, was contained in the tinkling of His prancing feet and pervaded the varied colours of his garments.Steeped in that rasa Bobo's joyous abandon spilled over from her verses and she sang about the glorious celebrations.
Bobo Was Absorbed in the Romantic Dalliance of Shri Radha-Krishna
Absorbed in the passionate playful dalliances of Priya-Priyatam Bobo was ecstatic.
The personas of saints are an ideal and herein I mean only those saints whose every moment revolves around Shri Radha-Krishna.Above all, the loving sacred couple who are a support and caress their dedicated devotion and dependence at every step. And rather there is nothing separate or detached there.
This mundane world represents a mirrored illusion, a temporal reflection of Golok Dham where the dark god forever dwells. Even on appearing different they are identical. In case we want to know about that eternal world,and Braj which displays Krishna's presence and power, we must seek the refuge of Priya-Priyatam, their intimate sakhis and great saints steeped in those bhavas with firm resolve.
Revered Bobo
How can we explain the persona of revered Bobo and her condition. How far was her reach, her closeness to Shri Radha-Krishna and intimacy with them? As far as we can gather from her hand-written compilations, sensitive perceptions put to verse and the sermons she gave, Bobo had a constant bond with Priya-Priyatam, taking part in their lilas with her divine body.
Simultaneously when we focus on her visible form, her loving tenderness, artistic disposition, unique mastery of poetry, we can affirm that such harmony is feasible only by a grand person like her where there is reverence, faith and feelings along with compounded intelligence.That is precisely the path to be adopted according to the shastras and the absolute refuge of god.
Well Bobo was busy revelling in the birth celebrations of Chandravaliji, Lalitaji and Kishori Radha in Vrashbhanupur.
Mahavan-Gokul
All of a sudden it was decided that they leave for Gokul. Everything was fixed and around 10th-`12th September they left for Gokul. An arrangement to put them up in a place just outside the great forest was made. Everyone was pleased with the secluded site a bit distant from the village, its natural beauty and enchanting terrain.
Raskhan, a Great Devotee of Krishna
They recollected the supreme bhakta Raskhanji on seeing a row of tall trees, undulating slopes and bucolic groves in the distance.
Bobo was delighted and rumbling clouds added to the scene. Relishing the hide and seek of sunshine and shade, revered Bhaiya, Bobo,Sushila Bahenji, Dulari Bahenji, Sneh Bahenji, Uthma, Uma,Darshan, Vimla Kapur,Tripta, Urmil, Malka, Sumitra, Saroj, Santosh, Santosh Narang, Sudesh, Kaaki, Pushpa, Deepa, Venu, Nirmal, Mrs.Sangra, Nirmal's mother, Kamda, Santosh Mahajan, Baby, Omi, Basheshur, Nirmala, Vijay, Anil and others left for Gokul situated on banks of the Yamuna. Bobo saw the herd of sakhis amused by spirited antics of the enchanting Rasika at that very spot.
Krishna, the Prince of Gokul
“The prince of Gokul seated beneath a kadamba tree with both His feet spread out, holding a lotus in one hand and the flute in the other,was sitting at leisure. Dense clouds were gathering and the breeze tickled the trees plus creepers. With love lorn eyes and twisting the lotus in His hand,Krishna struck a note of some sweet love song. His tinkling anklets seem to be giving beat to the melody.
Sakhis Admiring Supreme Lover Krishna
At a distance other sakhis were admiring the passionate Supreme Lover, lost in His ineffable beauty. All of a sudden the dark god raised His eyes and laughed on seeing those sakhis.They were thrilled on hearing their names called out and speedily...came to Him on the pretext of calming their ardent longing. The dark god welcomed them with flowers and stood up as a mark of respect. And soon after everyone was absorbed in that rush of love.”
Revered Bobo adored this scene and her emotions was apparent in her intoxicated gait.Bobo along with her associates went to Gokul located on the banks of Shri Yamuna.And was moved by surging dark waves of the daughter of Kalind (the mountain on which the river Yamuna rises).
Vallabhacharyaji Maharaj
Roaming around the sites of Shri Vallabhacharyaji Maharaj delightedly, she had darshan of Gokulnath Shri Thakur whose splendid beauty is inexpressible.
Dauji Maharaj
The next day she went to have darshan of Dauji Maharaj offering flowers to express her reverence.
Brahmand Ghat
Then via Brahmand Ghat she sighted several sites renowned for Shri Krishna's playful dalliances as a child and returned.
Therein she also visited Raman Reti in Gokul
Raskhan Tila
and Raskhan Tila.She relished, the site steeped in Raskhan's love flowing towards the Lord.The undulating slopes, wild terrain, bucolic groves and the secluded site gives form to padas sung by the greatly fortunate Raskhan even today. Truly blessed is this Muslim poet saint, surpassing hundreds of Hindus.
Shri RadhaRani
The very next day she left for the village Raval, where Priyaji manifested. And was so impressed by this site full of nikunjas on banks of the Yamuna that she longed to stay on for a few days.
Residing for some days in Mahavan (Gokul) and sending everyone to their respective places, she came to Vrashbhanupur as was her routine. And began relishing the romantic dalliance of this passionate Yugal again. Going through Gahar Van she saw their amorous frolic and was spellbound.
“Today this teasing paramour Krishna thought of a new prank and draped a blue veil around Himself, putting one end on His shoulder.
Krishna Guised as a Sakhi
In the guise of a woman, Krishna stood amidst the sakhis.It seemed as if a capricious black bee hid amidst lotuses and the sakhis could not figure out even on being so sharp.In a short while Priyaji came clad in rosy pink clothes.She had been hiding there among the creepers and plotting with handsome Shyam so that no one could unveil their secret. But as soon as He entered, the sakhis, her replications, could gather what was on. All the gopis,Kishori Radha and handsome Krishna were absorbed in a romantic dalliance which ensued."
During that time span Bobo went to Uncha Gaon. Rows of green trees had a narrow track, the clear highlands of Unch Gaon peeped from a distance, with a mountain range at the other end. Bobo was constantly chatting with her friend Sushilaji when Shri Lalitaji's clever sweetness accosted them Suddenly Bobo lifted her eyes and saw:
Lalita Sakhi
“Clad in a green saree Lalitaji is seated in Her high balcony. Staring fixedly far away She seems lost in a reverie. Her right hand moves mechanically from top to bottom of her saree's edge. Sitting on the branch of a tree beforehand, the gaze of handsome Shyam falls on Her shimmering saree. The very next second He jumps and speedily reaches Her side in the next second. And soon after their amorous frolic reaches sakhis in the vicinity."
Relishing the madhurya of Vrashbhanupur and Unch Gaon, Bobo came to Nangaon.Savouring the divine play of Radha-Krishna was not due to any effort or dedicated devotion on her part Rather every fiber of her being was loaded with the sweet romance of Radha-Krishna and thus their playful dalliance was perpetually attainable for her.
If we say that she was obtainable for inferior beings like us with one of her bodies and with her spiritual form she relished and took part in the dalliance of Priya-Priyatam, it would not be an exaggeration.
Nandgram
Now she came to her village Nandgram and sighted the same sweet scene, “Affectedly the handsome Shyam stood on the roof of His bhavan and hummed a song. Kunwari Shri Radha along with her intimate sakhi Shri Lalita and Vishakha could be seen coming from Lalita Sarovar.
Shri Radha-Krishna & Sakhis
Instantly the dark god breathed into His flute and gave a message. Priyaji and Her sakhis understood. Astonished they looked at the flute player...Eyes met eyes-and hearts were ecstatic.The aanchals of their sarees slipped but had to be put in place. All three of them were taken aback and stood standstill. Soon after the dark god arrived there. And now the impassioned Radha-Krishna with their sakhis laughed and made merry with Lalitaji counting the heights of elation and ecstasy reached.”
And so absorbed in these bhavas, Bobo came back to the bucolic groves of the idyllic forest of Vrindavan
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