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 qualities of both a vama[1] nayika and prakhara[2] nayika[3]. Lalita’s bodily complexion resembles bright yellow gorocana and her attire has the colour of a peacock’s tail.
Sri Lalita’s mother’s name is Saradi and her father’s is Visoka.
Her husband, whose name is Bhairava, is a friend of Govardhana Gopa.
2. Visakha
The second of the varistha sakhis is Visakha.
She is like Radharani in her conduct, good qualities and determination in serving Krishna.
Visakha was born at exactly the same moment as Radharani.
Visakha’s attire resembles the sky embedded by stars, it is blue with white embroideries of flowers and leaves. Her complexion resembles lightning.
Her father, whose name is Pavana, is Mukhara’s sister’s son. Visakha’s mother is Dakshina, a daughter of Jatila’s sister.
Visakha’s husband is Vahika Gopa.
3. Campakalata
The third of the varistha sakhis is Campakalata.
Her bodily lustre resembles that of a blooming campaka flower[4]. She is one day younger than Sri Radhika. Her clothes are like the colour of the blue casha[5].
Campakalata’s father is Arama and her mother is Vatika.
Her husband’s name is Candaksa. She is almost like Visakha by her qualities.
4. Citra
Of the varistha sakhis Citra[6] is the fourth one.
Her complexion is golden like saffron and her attire resembles the colour of crystal. She is twenty-six days younger than Sri Radhika. She always rejoices in the happiness of Sri Krishna.
The name of Citra’s father is Catura, who is the paternal uncle of Suryamitra (Vrisabhanu Maharaja). Citra’s mother is named Carcika and her husband is Pithara.
5. Tungavidya
Tungavidya is the fifth of the varistha sakhis.
She is five days older than Sri Radhika. Her body emanates a fragrance of candra-candana[7], and her complexion resembles kunkuma[8].
Tungavidya’s clothes are light yellow. She is decorated by the qualities of dakshina[9] nayika and prakhara nayika.
Her mother’s name is Medha, her father’s is Pushkara and her husband’s is Balisa.
6. Indulekha
Indulekha is the sixth of the varistha sakhis. Her complexion is bright yellow.
Her attire is like the colour of the flowers of the pomegranate tree[10]. She is three days younger than Srimati Radharani.
Indulekha’s mother is Bela and her father is Sagara.
The qualities of a vama nayika and prakhara nayika decorate Indulekha. Her husband’s name is Durvala.
7. Rangadevi
The seventh of the varistha sakhis is Rangadevi.
Her complexion resembles the colour of lotus-pollen, and her clothes have the colour of the somewhat reddish java flower[11]. She is seven days younger than Sri Radha and her qualities resemble those of Campakalata’s.
Sri Rangadevi’s father is Rangasara and her mother is Karuna.
Her husband, whose name is Vakrekshana, is the younger brother of Bhairava.
8. Sudevi
Sudevi is the eight of the varistha sakhis.
She is the twin sister of Rangadevi and is of a mridu[12] nature. She resembles her sister by beauty, good qualities, nature and so forth, and is therefore sometimes mistaken to be Rangadevi.
Sudevi is married to the younger brother of Vakrekshana, the husband of Rangadevi.
[1] Vama is a gopi who is busily engaged in arousing jealous anger, or mana. She is angry when mana becomes weakened. The nayaka (hero) cannot control her and she uses harsh words.
[2] Prakhara is a gopi who uses bold words. She brings forth her sorrow and anger in any topic whatsoever.
[3] The word nayika means the protagonist or heroine of a story
[4] Magnolia
[5] A jay bird
[6] Also called Sucitra
[7] Sandalwood mixed with camphor
[8] Yellow and red mixed together
[9] Daksina is a nayika who is unable to tolerate jealous anger, or mana. In their conversations she holds the same opinion as her beloved. She is controlled by her beloved’s appeasing words.
[10] Bright red
[11] Hibiscus
[12] A nayika (heroine) speaking in a sweet and gentle voice is a mridu.
This is a section of the book “Sri Sri Radha Krishna Ganoddesa Dipika”.
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