Chapter 37: Swelling Emotions Rising in Radha-Krishna's Madhuri (Sweetness)

 
Krishna is Compared to The Moon & Radha to the Moonbeams

Dark-hued Krishna is compared to the moon of Braj and Radha to the moonbeams.His beloveds like  revolve around Him constantly, like entranced planets. Each site of Braj is steeped with His romantic dalliance as the dark god gives joy to milkmaids of Braj on every path. The gopis are the ones who can actually relish Krishna's madhurya as they are the replications of Radha. By cultivating the gopi bhava of sweet and total commitment and love for Krishna, religious devotion is nourished.


Well Bobo was steeped in the bliss of Priya-Priyatam, and it was difficult to measure her ardent longing.  

“This intense longing points at a yearning," she says. "When the parched earth flares up and nature is stifled , dark clouds gather and overcast the sky.Dispelling the sluggishness of nature they make it flirtatious and rain,narrating their tale in rumbling.Krishna, the Supreme Lover along with Radha and His beloveds is seated on the green lap of nature to confer greater coolness, sweetness and a cool balm.Busy in various amorous frolics enacted in bucolic groves and forests,the blue-hued one fills them with a delicious anguish.

Bobo Describes Supreme Lover Krishna's Traits

Describing the trait of handsome Shyam, Bobo says,“It is not as if He listens when we call out repeatedly but is startled even on hearing a feeble call which may just be a longing. Occasionally one wonders if this is true or an illusion. Is He not listening and why is He silent?This is His stratagem.Feigning ignorance,Krishna invades His beloveds with a mysterious love-and soon after makes them relish His nectarine closeness soon after.”

“Everything is topsy turvy in the realm of our impassioned Yugal, Radha-Krishna. Until there is a yearning for Krishna we are at peace but a pathos of longing afflicts us till we get Him. Who can bear this agony but the impassioned couple are always on fire with desire for each other. 

 Dark-hued Krishna's Love-lorn State

“One may figure out the gushing waves and count stars twinkling in the sky but no one can fathom my love-lorn state" Krishna tells Radha.

Similarly Kishoriji says, “Sakhis I can never adulate Him to my heart's content. Such is my fortune that my eyes turn teary when I look at Krishna yet the heart pines for Him.”

Krishna's Mysterious Attractiveness is Captivating

Adulating Krishna's shringar Bobo says,“ He dallies with majesty and posits it in His fragrant limbs, spirited antics, captivating smile,frolics, beautiful adornments such as the vanamala, fluttering pitambar and melodious flute play.Shri, an attractiveness as mysterious as it is compelling, invades every fiber of His being, His gestures, His demeanour and His chest.Shri or in other words Shri Radhika and the Braj maidens are His dalliance site and His wide chest is theirs.Self assured and dignified Shri (Radha) frolicks in His loving tenderness, delicate movements, evocative clothes, serene sensuality and graceful manners.

And the idyllic and sensuous Vrindavan provides a perfect setting for the sweet love of Krishna.His madhurya abounds in the groves and forests of Vrindavan. It is here that Shri resides in the lyrical Yamuna, clouds showering rain,

A Peacock Dancing in Ecstasy

peacocks dancing in ecstasy, birds singing passionately, blossoms blooming affectionately, creepers caressing tree trunks, bees dancing around lotus pollen, cranes and swans flying towards and cows drawn to the call of the flute. She follows Radhe-Krishna wherever they tread or reaching beforehand invades the fields, forest and streams. Therefore this forest area is known as 'Shri Van'.

Lotus Feet of Vrishbhanu Nandini

Well let us go to the isolated nikunjas of Shri Van. It so happened that seeing Shri being pampered, dalliance turned greedy and became friends with her. Shri has constant entry and similarly dalliance stepped in but needed absolute isolation for its evolution. Decorating Shri in the redness of her feet, when Vrishbhanu Nandini frolicks with the Supreme Lover, their love play peaks. Krishna's epithet as 'Vihari' or sportive reaches perfection.

Soon after the companions of beauty and dalliance followed suit. Shri's loving tenderness, charm, exquisite beauty, delicate limbs, bright coloured hue, coupled with dalliance's infatuation-attachment,loving entreaty, offense-sulking, clever appeasement,charming-endeavour and the art of Kama.The impassioned Yugal smiled and welcomed these newcomers, and soon enough the dalliance of sportive Krishna gushed forth.

Shri Radha-Krishna's Eyes are Captivated & Fatigued

Bobo absorbed in Priya-Priyatam was intoxicated. Moreover, her daily routine concerning Radha-Krishna reached perfection. Her ardent longing found the support of Shyama-Shyam and alongside stirred by emotions she says,“Both their eyes are captivated as well as fatigued. When Priyaji adulated the triumphant Supreme Lover-Kamdev's arrows shot from her side long glance and piercing Krishna's eyes struck His heart.But amazingly Priyaji seemed enchanted this time on glimpsing Krishna's enraptured state.The teasing paramour took advantage and what ensued later is unknown.

We acquire this desire relying on Krishna's power. He is the sole support for frail women of the likes of us and makes us relish His charming lilas.

Reaching the heights of elation and ecstasy, several scenes of the Supreme Lover were reflected in front of Bobo.“There is no site in Braj where He is not upto some spirited antic.Look He is making merry with a Braj maiden on banks of the Yamuna.Tucking her sari and pushing back a lock of hair, the new maiden had just immersed her water pot in Yamuna waters when the teasing Krishna sang some lovable melody making her rapturous.

A  Braj Maiden Enraptured by dark-hued Krishna 

The pot slipped from her hands, sari was ruffled and heedless she was about to stumble when the Supreme Lover ran and came close. Propping her head on His sturdy thigh, Krishna gave support.The flute play which made her swoon, impassioned her now. Her eyes opened but shut soon after- a smile played on her lips and this Rasika adored it with His laughing lips.Their frolic paused since they were apprehensive of sakhis arriving. And the beauty filled with His mysterious love had to give its account to them.

Those maidens were discussing His spirited antics whereas the clever Paramour listened as he hid. The herd came to the same banks and asked about the girl's condition, as the Son of Nanda arrived to delight them. Laughing merrily, He enchanted them with his winsome manners and made merry on banks of the Yamuna. A romantic escapade gushed forth, filling them with inspiration and delight.

Even the wells are resounding with this frolic. Holi is far away but there is no rest to the holi of rasa as Radha and Krishna adore each other.

Well then Bobo was absorbed in the legends of Priya-Priyatam.Whatever the Supreme Lover made her relish, those rasa particles invaded her heart and burst forth through the medium of her writing.

“I have sat down to write and Bowing to the sportive Krishna' tugs my mind.Though a love-lorn state is washed away in the dark hued god's terrifying rush of love and compositions surge forth on their own," says Bobo.

Romantic Dalliance Of Shri Krishna & His Beloved in Spring

These days the spring breeze has begun blowing and basant struts ahead in even in the bitter cold. In such a scene the lover of dalliance takes refuge in His beloveds and Shri Radha, the supreme object of Krishna's passionate love.And those beauties and Shri Radhika are hungry too for His love.Soon after the same dalliance gushes forth and absorbs these cowherdesses in its delicious anguish.

His frolics have no respite in any season, month...day or night...evening or dawn. And thus He is known as Vihari or constantly busy in spirited antics. And Priyaji is the one capable of managing His thrusts of ecstasy, His secret or His sudden love. Radha's characterization represents the highest ideal of religious rapture experienced through the sentiment of sweet romance. Even the ardent longing of sakhis is due to Priyaji who manifests as the many gopis of Braj to fulfil Krishna's desire for a loving relationship in a variety of ways.

The cool breeze aroused an ardent longing in Krishna while Shri Radhika in the prime of her youth and radiant like spring stretched out.Being dignified it was not possible for her to transgress the constraints of society which have no significance for the Supreme Lover. All of a sudden he stepped out of the bhavan and reached the personal garden of Kishoriji.

Priyaji had no inkling but suffering pangs of love she reached somehow. Leaning against a huge tree she stood amidst a cluster as the cool breeze played with her aanchal and teased Her long tresses.She was unknowingly waiting for Krishna and guess what He actually reached the same thicket. Adulating Her, He was taken aback for a couple of seconds and then instantly moved forward-keeping His hand on Priyaji's shoulder...

The whiff of spring breeze enflamed them with greater passion. Kamdev due to His close friendship with spring, placed the Yugal in a new nikunja. And now that Madan was nonplussed and Rati enchanted, the Yugal gave them the boon of residing in their limbs.The romantic dalliance of Radha-Krishna is in motion even today-nonstop and constant.

The grandeur of this dhaam is with Shri Radhika and the Supreme lover who is forever frolicking with Her, thus His name is Vihari or sportive.Shri Radha-Krishna are adept in giving a chance to every season for attending to their needs. Everyday there is a new amorous frolic between the Braj beauties, Radhika and the son of Nanda who is fond of dallying.

Shri Radha-Krishna in Warm Summer Months

Nature brought about a new turn of events in Braj, the cool breeze of spring turned into warm whiffs of summer but not to heat the body. The warmth of love began to yearn for a certain coolness and it arrived.Summer dalliances ensued in bucolic groves, dark-hued foliage and solitude. Delicate garments gave the lustrous fair-dark bodies' of Radha-Krishna a great chance of dallying flirtatiously.

Nikunjas illuminated with the radiance and body fragrance of the Yugal drove Madan crazy-and he kind of swooned. Instantly Radha-Krishna held him, giving him life. At times ringing the moonlit night's solitude with His passionate rasa, Krishna would take Shri Radha and the herd of sakhis, to the sandy river bank of the Yamuna.

Krishna Takes Priyaji & the Sakhis For a Boat ride in the Yamuna

When the boat rocked Priyaji's tender body and mind trembled in fear which was exhilarating! And Krishna's ecstasy at that moment was inexpressible.

In Vrindavan we have wafts of the summer season which are likeable(It is always spring in Vrindavan) and hence it abounds with the joys of spring. Summer gave rains a chance to serve the Yugal and left willingly, turning to look back at times. Dark rumbling clouds overcast the blue sky. When the sun peeped it would light up the earth shrouded in darkness.And the sacred couple would find ways of becoming one with each other.

Priyatam's ardent longing would cross all constraints and search for refuge in Priyaji's cool limbs and succeed.The serious rumbling of clouds, the clap of lightning, light rain showers and drumming heavy rains would enflame their romantic sentiments, leading to a romantic dalliance.

Shri Radha-Krishna Were Strolling When it Rained

In the dark shade Radha-Krishna were strolling one fine day. Talking of imagined pleasures they were adoring the neatly manicured green lawns.And behold the pitter-patter of rain began.Running to the shade of a dense tree Priya wanted to avoid getting wet and holding Priyatam's hand head straight for shelter but the teasing Shiromani did not let Her do so on purpose.

A new scene prevailed with the speedy gust of rain wetting Her body and clothes.The blue-hued lustre sparkled from Krishna's yellow garments and it was extremely tough to control this terrifying rush of love.

How could the Sacred Couple dallying in this isolated nikunja possibly come to know when the rain stopped but the love play within the grove was at its peak.And in case we need to know about those pleasures which an impassioned man and an enraptured woman may enjoy let us ask the bevy of birds and creeper thickets.

The rains departed and the autumnal season arrived. Teary eyed they handed over the service of Priya-Priyatam to glorious autumn. The divine Couple danced in joy and beloveds pranced in delight. Their senses revived as they gazed upon Krishna with joy and clung to Him with endearing gestures, intensely desirous of having him.The supreme lover, His most beloved Radha and other young maidens soon reached banks of the Yamuna where the river and the sands had turned golden in the light of the autumnal moon,

Rapturous Dance of the Maharasa on Yamuna Banks

and commenced the rapturous dance of the maharasa. The Rasa brought to halt the course of the moon and other planets filled with wonder to watch the beauty of the dance,making the night longer than other nights.

The ardent longing of Rasik Vihari was not yet content with pouring His secret and sudden love on Priyaji's kayavyuhas or replications.

Supreme Lover Bathes in the Yamuna with Radha & Her Sakhis

To dispel their fatigue Krishna got His beloved Radha and Her herd of sakhis to enter cool waters of the Yamuna.Gathering beads of their perspiration, the cool breeze handed them over to Kalindi.Episodes of such dalliances gush forth in the same manner and have not lessened a bit.

Autumn left and the cold season encamped in Braj. A biting wind blew-impassioning the handsome Rasik further. Now to calm the bitter cold, Krishna, the teasing paramour, entreated Priyaji's Shri (graceful beauty) for warmth.Creating the scene for this charming dalliance, the cold season taking along this Yugal , strutted around affectedly.
 

Shri Radha-Krishna Dally in a Nikunja in Winter

Shivering with cold, the sacred couple's lotus hands took advantage of warmth and the same amorous frolic ensued soon after. Winter gave woolens an opportunity to gather the wealth of dallying.The flitting days of Hemant (mid-November to mid-January) decked the dalliance of this Supreme Lover in a new fashion.

Music in the form of rustling leaves and creepers challenged Madan for rasa.Initially he hesitated but then mustering courage, sure that his close friend basant  would come to its rescue, he firmly posited himself-the god of love had never borne such an onslaught of arrows by the Supreme Lover and fled.But swooned and rolled over at Krishna's lotus feet.

Kamdev, the God of Love

It is not in the dark god's nature to rebuff one fallen at His feet and Krishna gave Kamdev freedom to roam around at will, to impassion every shoot-shrub of Braj's nikunjas with His presence.The constant romantic dalliance of Shri Vihari is on, non-stop unconstrained. Every season is engrossed in attending to his needs, every night-day immersed in His dallying-as he frolicks in Shri Van even as of today.

Certainly it was tough to imagine the sensitive perceptions of Bobo, her entry into the lilas of Shyama-Shyam and the scale of her ardent longing. Only an emotional person can appraise the highest ideal of religious rapture which she experienced.

Bobo kept the world she lived in so very secret that no one had an inkling of her great good fortune as she relished the rasa of Radha-Krishna. A treasure trove, she was the Shri of Braj and the majesty of Vrindavan.

I am making a feeble effort to throw light on her great persona through her compositions based on her conscientious interpretations of stotras, her letters, her sentiments reflected in personal experiences and poetry.

Chapter 36: Return to Vrindavan, Renunciation-Charming Experiences

 

Shri Radha-Krishna Beneath a Kadamba Tree

Who has the competence to describe the good fortune of Vrindavan where the amorous frolics of Radha-Krishna unfold in bucolic groves on banks of the Yamuna. They fix their tryst beneath the lovely kadamba trees, spreading their joy and love. Hence Bobo resided in idyllic Vrindavan constantly.

Relishing the joyous abandon and dalliance sites of Vrishbhanupur, Bobo returned to Vrindavan.The year of her maun, 1968-69 was running its course and she had a relentless schedule. She would note down the divine lilas bestowed by Shri Sakhaji (a siddha) in the big copy, as well as make Thakurji's ornaments and dresses.These days she was knitting warm woolens and would not rest for a moment.The handsome Krishna did not approve of this daily tough routine which was beyond her capacity.

 Bobo ji's Yugal Sarkar

“Do not note down the dalliances, stitch or knit but just bide your time,"Thakurji firmly told Bobo ji one day. Despite this warning she kept doing so. The dark god came up with a stratagem. Now whatever work she did was spoiled. She noted the lilas but wrongly, made dresses which were lost, knitted a shawl for Anandi-Vallabh Thakurji but it was bungled.

There is no touchstone to assay the dispute of two lovers. Bobo figured out that Thakurji was arranging for her to take rest. She continued with her activities because it is a unique trait of love.

A time slot was fixed. No work would be done apart from ten in the morning till six in the evening. She would not do anything these days and while away her time.Is it possible to have such a superb example of mutual love?

This term of maun, the vow of silence, which began with the signal of Priya-Priyatam came to an end. Reaching the heights of elation, Bobo remained delightedly engrossed in herself.

A Brahmin

Within the context of scriptural norms, Bobo had a particular reverence for brahmins. At one instance she says, “ I wish that the supremely auspicious brahmin community cast their favourable glance on me. And assuringly place me in the shelter of Krishna's lotus feet.There is not a moment sans the handsome god, His spirited antics and joyous reminiscence in every facet of my life.

“ I long from the core of my heart that not only mine but your moments are immersed in the Supreme Lover and His terrifying rush of love. We wait expectantly until the paramour Krishna comes and gives us respite, and we are steeped in the joyous closeness of Shri Radha-Krishna along with the sakhi,.” she said.

Dark-hued Shyam & Shyama, His Beloved

The path of love is strange with devotees ardently longing for the love of Shyama-Shyam every second. Those who abandon the lure of worldly attraction, their yearning assumes an idealistic form and becomes worthy of emulation. Bobo repeatedly experienced the joy of Krishna's presence followed by the emptiness of His absence.She along with other devotees crossed a threshold of awareness that dark god existed intensely in their hearts when they sang His praise and dwelt in their longing for him.

 

The decked majesty of the rainy season abounding with rumbling clouds, whistling of the pied crest cuckoo and peacocks dancing in ecstasy attracts everyone.

“The scene of gathered clouds has drawn me since childhood.Suffused in this dark splendour-playing hide and seek, Krishna the object of love tugs the heart.. Braj cowherdesses step out of their homes on some pretext and tread on the forest path," she used to say.

At times Krishna, the colour of the condensed sky, accosts these spirited maidens leading to a romantic dalliance.The bucolic groves warmly welcome them and Krishna along with His beloveds accepts their hospitality.”

Krishna Sported with These Cowherdesses in Youth

Krishna is the repository of madhurya but surprisingly inflames the heart. This teasing elusive and insistent paramour does not give more grief to anyone than these enraptured village girls with whom He sported in His youth. Those who are distanced experience the emptiness of His absence and those who experience the joy of His presence are always yearning for more.But amazingly this delicious anguish abounds with the shooting pain of venom-and the coolness of a nectarine trance.

Krishna relieves our pain but to incite it further. The terrifying rush of His love transgressing conventional norms...is freed from all constraints. The Braj cowherdesses are supremely learned in this art-may they distribute some particle of their love for the blue-hued god and enrich us.

Crazed by this ardent longing when Bobo was engrossed in the charming refuge of Priya-Priyatam, she never turned to look back.

  Krishna Resides in the Birds & Creepers of Vrindavan

Her emotions surged with the start of spring and she was thrilled. “This month of Phalgun (February to March) is very joyous and makes rasikas love-lorn. Nature stretches out and lazily looks around. When Krishna smiles at her he makes a firm connection between the joys and abundance of spring and the in-dwelling Vishnu.A Vishnu who resides not only in the minds and hearts of the gopis but also in the sap that animates the birds and the bees, the trees and creepers of Vrindavan.

It is the coming together of prakriti, the power of earth and purusha, the power of heaven, our lovable svamini Shri Radha as well as her sakhis and Supreme Lover Krishna. Loving devotees are living through countless legends of the playful dalliance of Radha-Krishna even today. Idyllic and sensuous Vrindavan provides a perfect setting for the sweet love of Krishna. It is here that blossoms bloom affectionately, birds sing passionately, the pristine sky purifies the place and Braj milkmaids set the stage for new dalliances.

The Lotus Feet of Shri-Radha-Krishna 

The teasing paramour along with Kishori Radhika towards whom He is irresistibly drawn, roams in Vrindavan. The redness of their soles has been gathered by new shoots. Secretly robbing their body fragrance, the breeze struts around affectedly. Little knowing that Radha-Krishna had seen her do so and thus smiled at her.”

Nature here is not rooted but instrumental in unfolding the lilas.

Once Bobo chanced to go to a discourse of Shri Sharnanandji Maharaj.Sushila Bahenji, Vijay and others were accompanying her. Humbly respecting elders and covering her head with her dhoti, Bobo sat down on one side. Maharaji had his own distinctive style and his sermons were very full of substance.

Listening to him, Bobo got carried away.Teary-eyed it seemed her body was there but mentally she was participating in the dalliance of Radha-Krishna. When she lifted her eyes during the discourse

Bobo Saw the Handsome Krishna

she saw the handsome god in front with hair flying in the wind and a spirited smile playing on his lips. The patka or sash draped around His well built shoulders and the sparkling kaustabh mani (name of the jewel worn by Krishna) adorned His chest.Revered Bobo stood to the right of Krishna.Her body sitting in the discourse watched its subtle form taking part in the nitya lila of the Supreme Lover.

Dark-hued Krishna With Sakhi Bobo

She wore an almond-coloured silken saree and matching kanchuki (blouse). Decked in a white coloured necklace of pearls with bigger ones in the centre tapering down at the sides. Meanwhile the dark god rested her head on His chest. Placing His lotus hand on her necklace, He teasingly counted the pearls. 

 “What are you doing?” Slightly embarrassed she asked,

” I am chanting the mala (vaishnava rosary)," mischievously He answered

“ Which mantra?” Bobo's lips parted slightly and she asked,

“The Madan Mantra!”, spontaneously he replied.

 Both of them smiled and relished the moment.

Returning home Bobo revealed this incident on the insistence of Sushila Bahenji. What was her state steeped in Krishna's love can't be expressed in writing?

Every season with its exuberant rasa, warmly welcomes Priya-Priyatam. Trees and creepers offer their youth on seeing Radha-Krishna united and joyous in love. Shyam delightedly accepts even a small offering of His devotees and invading them with His secret love blesses them. Devotees abounding with His imponderable love,nurture the heart strings of sadhakas heading towards the dark god, and present them before the Yugal Radha-Krishna.This sequence continues constantly.

Shri Raghunath Das Goswami

 Moreover Bobo entrusted her entire being to the daily routine of Shyama-Shyam. Stating and doing is certainly rare. Combining both these facets, her life was an ideal. She never opposed luminaries who upheld an affluent lifestyle and firmly believed that a loving persona based on sacrifice and renunciation was most excellent. All these ideals were innate in her and therefore she was more impressed by the perspectives of Shri Roopji, Sanatanji and Raghunath Das Goswami.

Bobo was charmed by overcast clouds the day before,  the sweetness of spring made her ecstatic yesterday but the closeness of Shri Yamunaji rendered her helpless today.

Shri Radha-Krishna At the Yamuna, Krishna's Sakhi

“The gnarled branches of mango and kadamba trees are reflected in its blue waters. Engaged in water sports the impassioned Shri Radha-Krishna are dallying as they fill our hearts with inspiration and delight. The Yugal are churning the Yamuna's waters because She is the dark god's beloved sakhi. Wet with these gushing waves, the delicate clothes of the sacred couple are clinging to their blue-hued and fair complexioned bodies.

Shyly Priyaji with eyes wide open relishes the handsome form of the Supreme Lover but half closes Her eyes soon after. And the supreme Rasika looks lovingly into Her eyes but is impatient as He adulates Her irresistible beauty. Radha can not resist the sudden thrusts of Krishna's secret and sudden love and we can figure out their love play from the duo's bodies,minds and souls fused and focused in a single expression of love.”

Sakhis look on and smile. These Braj cowherdesses yearn for union with their teasing, elusive and insistent paramour. Treading on this path Bobo moved in a delicious anguish to Krishna's side and relished His frolics.

Gopis Express Their Love for Krishna

The gopis are equally tender in expressing and experiencing their love for Krishna and whether it is in the pleasures of belonging or the pathos of longing, participating in the innocent lilas of Krishna or being charmed by His flute, it seems the very first time for them. Repeated episodes of union and separation do not let their romantic dalliance get old.

The basic nature of longing tugs at our heart in such a manner that even on relishing the joy of Krishna's presence there is a yearning to savour the entire episode again. Such was Bobo's belief and constantly absorbed in the heights of elation and ecstasy she resided in Vrindavan.

How can the Supreme Lover be composed on hearing the first entreaty.Krishna is still finding the cure as the ardent but often faithless lover of the love struck soul through water sports, amorous frolics in the rain and terrifying rush of love.