Krishna deceives Jatila
After Svamini has been fully dressed and ornamented She goes to Krishna’s abode Nandisvara to cook for Krishna, but first She will offer oblations to the Sungod, Her father’s worshipable deity, on a platform made of sun-stones.
She does not desire any material benefit from the Sungod, but She simply prays for Syamasundara’s welfare and for a meeting with Him without obstacles.
Later in the afternoon, at about 3 pm, She offers a full formal worship (puja) to the Sungod.
That is described in Govinda Lilamrita (Chapter 18):
Sri Radhika comes to the town of Suryakunda (about 12 km north of Radhakunda) with Her girlfriends, while Krishna has come dressed like a priest (brahmana), named Visva Sarma Brahmacari to perform the ceremony.
His body, draped in saffron robes, shines with the resultant effulgence of celibacy!
Mother Jatila is there, so Krishna says:
“I’m a brahmacari (celibate student)! I don’t touch women! Touch this Kusa-grass while accepting Me as Your priest!”
jagan mangala krt gotram sucivit pravaram sucim
bhavantam visva sarmanam purohitataya vrne
“I accept Visva-sarma, whose dynasty (gotra) performs welfare work (mangala krt) for the world (jagat) and who is most pure (sucivit pravaram sucih), as my priest!”
(Govinda Lilamrita 18,68)
The naughty pun of this verse is:
“I accept Krishna, who bestows welfare (mangala) on the world (jagat) by the recitation of His holy name (gotra), who is the best (pravara) of knowers of erotic flavours (suci rasa), as My priest!”
Svamini understands all these secret jokes made by Krishna in front of Her mother-in-law.
How beautiful is Her face! Therefore She is named Sumukhi in this verse.
After She accepts Visvasarma as Her ritual priest She must recite another mantra :
sri bhasvate’tanu tamah samhantrety anuragine
purah sate’smai mitraya padmini-bandhave namah
“I offer My obeisances to the effulgent (bhasvan) Sungod (padmini bandhu is the sun, the friend of the lotus flowers) Mitra, who destroys the darkness (atanu-tama) and who has a red splendour (anuragi) at dawn and dusk.”
(Govinda Lilamrita 18,69)
Second meaning: “I have been given to Mitra (My beloved Krishna), who is endowed with the splendour of Sri (the goddess of fortune as a golden stripe on His chest), who destroys the affliction caused by Cupid (atanu), who is very passionate (anuragi), and who is the friend of the Padminis (padmini bandhu), the lotuslike gopis!”
While Sri Radhika recites these mantras the brahmacari Krishna offers flowers, padya (footwater) and arghya (handwater) to the deity of the Sungod.
Svamini is very eager to offer the oblations, being faced by Jatila!
How sweetly She stands there, surrounded by Her dearest girlfriends!
That’s why She is named Mugdhangi, the Girl with the enchanting limbs.
The rasika manjaris have prepared an altar made of sunstones with the different paraphernalia for this formal worship.
Mugdhangi offers oblations to awaken desires.
Everyone’s minds and hearts float away in innumerable directions on the stream of the relish of wonderfully variegated transcendental flavours.
Old Jatila, satisfied with the procedure of the ritual, offers eatables and Radhika’s jewelled ring to the brahmacari as a reward.
How much fun all the gopis have inwardly!
Our brahmacari, who claims to be a disciple of Garga Muni, accepts nor the food, nor the ring. He is learned in astrology and marine scriptures, and He tells old Jatila:
‘I am purchased only by the love of the people of Vraja!”
Knowing that Visva Sarma is also a great astrologer, Jatila says:
“I would be blessed if You could read the hand of my daughter-in-law so that you could tell me about Her future success and failure!”
Seeing Radha’s handpalm Visva Sarma becomes overwhelmed by ecstasy and, concealing His astonishment, says:
“How amazing! When I see all these sacred signs in Her hand I am convinced that this girl is the goddess of fortune Herself! Wherever She stays all opulence and auspiciousness can be found!”
Each limb of Radharani is filled with waves of maha bhava.
How much Her heart is throbbing! Svamini thinks:
“This boy must be Syamasundara, otherwise why would I feel so ecstatic? My desires would be fulfilled if I could unite with this brahmacari!”
Tulasi, being in a sense non-different from Svamini, feels these desires also awakening in her heart and thinks:
“It would be great if I could unite my Svamini with this brahmacari, but Her mother-in-law is around, so there’s just no way! O Radhe! I’m so unqualified, alas! I could not serve You according to Your heart’s wishes!”
Post view 335 times
Leave a Reply