{"id":10911,"date":"2025-08-16T02:37:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T21:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/?p=10911"},"modified":"2025-08-15T23:20:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T17:50:29","slug":"janmastami-lila","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/janmastami-lila\/","title":{"rendered":"Janmastami Lila"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On the first day of the dark lunar quarter of the month of Bh\u0101dra an orchestra (playing different drums as well as wind-instruments like \u015a\u0101n\u0101i) sits down in Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja\u2019s house and starts playing auspicious music. From that day on until the sixth day (\u1e63a\u1e63\u1e6dh\u012b<\/em>) arrangements are being made to beautify the palace of Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and the whole village of Nand\u012b\u015bvara. A wonderful canopy adorned with jewelled strings is hung over the courtyard, each door and gate is flanked by banana-trees and jugs filled with mangoes and flags are flapping here and there. The houses of all the citizens and all the marketplaces are also beautified like this. The royal roads and all the other pathways are sprinkled with fragrant water. Visitors cannot understand in which home the great festival is going on.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the evening of the sixth lunar day \u015ar\u012b Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja sends his invitations\u00a0 \u2013 to the men through \u015ar\u012b Subhadra (the cousin of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and the husband of Kundalat\u0101) and to the women through Dhani\u1e63\u1e6dh\u0101 (the daughter of one of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s wet-nurses). \u015ar\u012b Subhadraj\u012b first goes to V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nupura, or Vars\u0101n\u0101, and tells Mah\u0101r\u0101ja V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu: \u201cThe day after tomorrow is K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s birthday, and on this occasion \u015ar\u012b Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja has invited you, saying: \u201cThis abode is yours, enjoy it as if it\u2019s yours, I don\u2019t know anything (in terms of \u2018yours\u2019 and \u2018mine\u2019)! Please come tomorrow morning to Nand\u012b\u015bvara and make this invitation a success!\u201d In the same way Dh\u0101tr\u012b-kany\u0101 Dhani\u1e63\u1e6dh\u0101 extends Mother Ya\u015bod\u0101\u2019s invitation to Mother K\u012brtid\u0101. The same kind of invitation is announced in Y\u0101va\u1e6da (the abode of Abhimanyu, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101\u2019s husband) and to all other friends and relatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

(On saptam\u012b, a\u1e63\u1e6dam\u012b<\/em> and navam\u012b<\/em>, that is, on Janm\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dam\u012b and the preceding and following days, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a does not go out to herd the cows and \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 dwells in Nandagr\u0101ma).<\/span><\/p>\n

NAVADV\u012aPA : BH\u0100V\u0100VE\u015aA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Navadv\u012bpa, on the seventh day of the dark lunar quarter of the month of Bh\u0101dra, Mah\u0101prabhu performs His usual morning-duties and then sits down to listen to the \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavata-discourse with His devotees. Knowing Mah\u0101prabhu\u2019s mind Gad\u0101dhara Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita, the Bh\u0101gavata-lecturer, describes how \u015ar\u012b V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and his relatives come from Vars\u0101na to Nand\u012b\u015bvara to celebrate \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s birthday festival. Upon hearing this Mah\u0101prabhu and His devotees all become absorbed in the mood of Vraja.<\/span><\/p>\n

VRAJA DH\u0100MA : SAPTAM\u012a L\u012aL\u0100<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On the seventh day of the dark lunar quarter everyone in V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nupura finishes their morning duties, bathes, dresses, ornaments and takes a light breakfast before departing to Nand\u012b\u015bvara, taking garments and ornaments along as presents for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s birthday. \u015ar\u012b V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and his brothers mount elephants and leave Vars\u0101n\u0101, accompanied by musicians and soldiers. \u015ar\u012b K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101 and her sisters-in-law, wet-nurses and other relatives also depart in topmost bliss, sitting in covered palanquins, carried by four bearers each. \u015ar\u012bd\u0101ma-candra, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101\u2019s brother, mounts his own horse and departs for Nand\u012b\u015bvara with his soldiers and musicians, followed by \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 and Her sakh\u012bs<\/em> in palanquins and Candr\u0101val\u012b and the y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs<\/em> (gop\u012b<\/em>-groupleaders) in different vehicles. As V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and his brothers gradually approach Nand\u012b\u015bvara town Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and his brothers hear their music and come forward to greet them. The guests dismount their elephants and greet Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and his brothers by embracing them, addressing them and offering obeisances to them. Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja keeps the soldiers outside and takes the guests inside, giving each of them a proper place to stay. In the same way \u015ar\u012b Ya\u015bomat\u012b M\u0101t\u0101 and her sisters-in-law greet \u015ar\u012b K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101, and the sakh\u012bs<\/em> and y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs<\/em> with the proper respect and affection, take them inside the palace and show them their respective guest rooms. Then everyone takes rest in their own abode while the servants and maidservants are engaged in their services.<\/span><\/p>\n

After this \u015ar\u012b V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 and all the sakh\u012bs<\/em> and y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs<\/em> take a small snack. Then, on the order of Mother Ya\u015bomat\u012b, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 and Hersakh\u012bs<\/em> engage in cooking different sweets, rice and vegetables, that are offered to Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja\u2019s N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a-deity by Madhuma\u1e45gala. After this offering is done \u0101rati<\/em> is performed for the deity. Servants are dancing, singing and playing musical instruments and everyone present is very blissfully witnessing this. After \u0101rati<\/em> everyone offers prostrated obeisances unto the deity and on the order of Mother Ya\u015bod\u0101 Madhuma\u1e45gala puts the deity to rest and calls everyone for pras\u0101da<\/em>. On the large yard \u015ar\u012b Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja sits down to eat on the eastern side with his brothers Abhinanda and Up\u0101nanda, V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and his four brothers, \u015ar\u012bd\u0101ma, Balar\u0101ma, Subhadra and Gobha\u1e6d\u1e6da on his right and Sunanda and Nandana, his other two brothers, \u015ar\u012b\u00a0 K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, Subala, Ujjvala, Kokila and others on his left. \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s maternal uncles sit facing Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and Abhimanyu and other cowherders sit facing Mah\u0101r\u0101ja V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu. On the southern side all the local br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> are sitting and all around the inhabitants of Nand\u012b\u015bvara are seated. \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 and Her sakh\u012bs <\/em>serve the side of Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and \u015ay\u0101mal\u0101, Candr\u0101val\u012b and other y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs<\/em> are serving \u015ar\u012b V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja\u2019s side. They diligently serve sweetmeats, rice and vegetables. Everyone present eats with great pleasure, absorbed in joking and laughter, and after eating they wash their mouths, chew betelleaves and retire to their individual bedrooms, where their servants render them all the services that are suitable for the time of the day. \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 washes Her hands and feet and becomes immersed in transcendental bliss by beholding K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s beauty through the window as He lays down to rest. After that Ya\u015bomat\u012b M\u0101t\u0101 calls \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 and the y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs <\/em>and makes them sit down on the courtyard. \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 and Her sakh\u012bs<\/em> sit in one line, Candr\u0101val\u012b, \u015ay\u0101mal\u0101 and others sit in another line and Ya\u015bomat\u012b M\u0101t\u0101, K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101 and other elderly gop\u012bs<\/em> sit in yet another line while Mother Rohi\u1e47\u012b, Tu\u1e45g\u012b M\u0101t\u0101 and Kundalat\u0101 are serving. After blissfully eating and washing their mouths all the ladies go to their individual bedrooms and take rest, being served by their maidservants, who fan them and serve them betelleaves. After this the (local) maidservants anhhhhhd the ma\u00f1jar\u012bs<\/em> (\u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101\u2019s maidservants) also eat in order. After eating the ambrosial food remnants of all the gop\u012bs<\/em> the s\u0101dhaka d\u0101s\u012b<\/em> cleans the eating place and the plates and then goes to \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 to massage Her lotus feet and render similar services.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 gets up from bed, meets K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a for the usual Yogap\u012b\u1e6dha Milana in Gupta Ku\u1e47\u1e0da and returns to Nand\u012b\u015bvara Pura again. After taking some rest She prepares some sweets, is dressed and ornamented by Her maidservants and then goes on abhis\u0101ra <\/em>on the pretext of offering s\u016brya p\u016bj\u0101.<\/em> After then playing Her usual pastimes with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a at R\u0101dh\u0101ku\u1e47\u1e0da She returns to Nand\u012b\u015bvara in the afternoon. The other pastimes of the day are also as usual (nityavat<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n

#NAVADV\u012aPA: BHOJANA \u015aAYAN\u0100DI<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Mah\u0101prabhu takes His meal and takes rest)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Navadv\u012bpa Mah\u0101prabhu is absorbed in the bhog\u0101rati-k\u012brtana<\/em> of the householddeity Lord N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a with His devotees. Then, when Mother \u015aac\u012b calls Him, He ends the k\u012brtana<\/em> and eats and rests as usual. The rest of His pastimes are also as usual.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus ends the Saptam\u012b l\u012bl\u0101<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

NAVADV\u012aPA: BH\u0100V\u0100VE\u015aA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Navadv\u012bpa, on the morning of the eighth day of the dark lunar fortnight of the month of Bh\u0101dra, Mah\u0101prabhu takes His usual morning bath, sees the \u0101rat\u012b<\/em>-ceremony for Lord N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a and then sits down with His devotees to listen to a \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavata-lecture given by \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gosv\u0101m\u012b. As Gad\u0101dhara describes the l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s Janm\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dam\u012b-abhi\u1e63eka<\/em> Mah\u0101prabhu and His devotees all become absorbed in Vraja-bh\u0101va<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

VRAJA-DH\u0100MA: ABHI\u1e62EKA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Nand\u012b\u015bvara, on the a\u1e63\u1e6dam\u012b<\/em>-day, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 is bathed, dressed and ornamented by Her maidservants as usual. Then Kundalat\u0101 comes and says: \u201cO R\u0101dhe! Come and behold \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s abhi\u1e63eka-<\/em>ceremony!\u201d Hearing this, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 takes Her sakh\u012bs <\/em>and ma\u00f1jar\u012bs<\/em> along and comes to the place of the abhi\u1e63eka<\/em>. The young and old villagers, men and women and all others who are called also arrive at the spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is also bathed as usual, after which His servants dress Him with a white garment, place a pearl in His nose, hang a golden necklace around His neck, place armlets on His arms, bangles on His wrists, a belt with small bells around His waist and golden anklebells on His feet. Then K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a goes to the bathing platform and sits down on a golden chair studded with jewels. Musicians play different instruments, br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> chant Vedic hymns, women chant \u2018Jaya Jaya!\u2019 and bards and panegyrists recite different praises. \u015ar\u012b Bh\u0101gur\u012b \u1e5a\u1e63i recites the abhi\u1e63eka-mantras<\/em> and the servant boys perform the abhi\u1e63eka.<\/em> First of all they bathe K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a with Mahau\u1e63adhi (herbal) water and then gradually with pa\u00f1cagavya<\/em> (five kinds of dairy-products) pa\u00f1c\u0101m\u1e5bta<\/em> (five kinds of nectar), a hundred jugs of water, then with a thousand streams of water and finally with \u015ba\u1e45khodaka<\/em> (water from a conchshell). Then they dry Him off and dress Him in His P\u012bt\u0101mbara, after which K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a sits down on a jewelled seat on His \u015b\u1e5b\u1e45g\u0101ra ved\u012b <\/em>(altar for ornamentation), where He is ornamented by His servants.<\/span><\/p>\n

NAVADV\u012aPA: ABHI\u1e62EKA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Navadv\u012bpa Mah\u0101prabhu sits down on the bathing platform, immersed in transcendental bliss. The servant-boys bring the paraphernalia for the abhi\u1e63eka<\/em> and \u015ar\u012b Advaita Prabhu performs the abhi\u1e63eka<\/em> according to the prescribed rules. Then the servants dry Mah\u0101prabhu off and dress Him in His P\u012btav\u0101sa. Then Mah\u0101prabhu takes His seat on a jewelled throne in His \u015b\u1e5b\u1e45g\u0101ra-ma\u1e47\u1e0dapa<\/em> (pavilion for ornamentation), where the servants arrange His hair, put His tilaka<\/em> on, adorn Him with sandalwood-pulp, garlands and jewelled ornaments and place a mirror before Him. Then Svar\u016bpa D\u0101modara performs the \u0101rati<\/em> of Mah\u0101prabhu. After this, Svar\u016bpa D\u0101modara Gosv\u0101m\u012b gradually sings k\u012brtana<\/em>-songs about \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s dressing, ornamentation and breakfast. All the devotees who hear it then become absorbed in Vraja-bh\u0101va<\/em> and relish the mellows of these pastimes.<\/span><\/p>\n

#VRAJA-DH\u0100MA: \u015aR\u012a K\u1e5a\u1e62\u1e46A\u2019S ORNAMENTATION AND THE NANDOTSAVA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Nand\u0101laya K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a sits on His \u015b\u1e5b\u1e45g\u0101ra ma\u1e47\u1e0dapa, <\/em>where His servants decorate His hair and place a golden, jewel-studded crown with peacock-feathers on His head. They make gorocana tilaka<\/em> on His forehead and leaf pictures on His cheeks, hang a pearl in His nose, Makara-earrings on His ears, a jewelled necklace around His neck, A\u1e45gada-ornaments on His arms, bangles on His wrists, a sash of small bells around His waist and jewelled anklebells on His feet. Bh\u0101gur\u012b \u1e5a\u1e63i worships K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a seven times with Durv\u0101-sprouts in his hand and all the br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> offer blessings. \u015ar\u012b V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and others bless K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and offer Him golden trays with clothes and ornaments, \u015ar\u012b K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101 and other elderly ladies with motherly love offer their gifts and bless K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, and \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 offers K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a a golden tray with garments and ornaments and hangs a jewelled necklace around His neck. In the same way Candr\u0101val\u012b and the other y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs<\/em> offer different presents. Then K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a donates a milk cow-with-calf, with gold-plated horns and silver hooves, bedecked with golden cloth and decorated with different ornaments, to Bh\u0101gur\u012b \u1e5a\u1e63i. \u015ar\u012b Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja also gives thousands and thousands of cows in charity to the br\u0101hma\u1e47as.<\/em> Then K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a descends from the altar and offers His obeisances to Paur\u1e47am\u0101s\u012b-dev\u012b and the other br\u0101hma\u1e47as.<\/em> Then He bows down to His mother and father and to \u015ar\u012b V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101, as well as to all His other superiors, that are like His father and mother. Then \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is called by mother Ya\u015bod\u0101 to come to the dining room with His friends to take a snack. \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 and Her girlfriends and y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs<\/em> also all take a snack, after which mother Ya\u015bod\u0101 engages them in cooking. Meanwhile hundreds of br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> are engaged elsewhere in cooking large amounts of food.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ya\u015bomat\u012b comes to inspect all the preparations and then orders Madhuma\u1e45gala to offer them to the household-deity, so Madhuma\u1e45gala comes and offers a little bit of each preparation to Lord N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a. After the bhoga <\/em>he performs \u0101rat\u012b<\/em> and then puts the deity to rest. Then on different courtyards the Dadhik\u0101d\u0101\u2013<\/em>game[1]<\/a> commences. On the outer yard \u015ar\u012b Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja plays with Mah\u0101r\u0101ja V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu, his brothers and all the other elderly cowherders and on another yard Balar\u0101ma and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and other cowherdboys become mad with playing Dadhik\u0101d\u0101.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the inner quarters of the house Vraje\u015bvar\u012b M\u0101t\u0101, K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101 and their sisters-in-law are playing, and on another inner yard \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101, Candr\u0101val\u012b and other y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs<\/em> are maddened by the Dadhik\u0101d\u0101-game, which is accompanied by dancing, singing and the playing of musical instruments. Mukhar\u0101 and other elderly gop\u012bs<\/em> are dancing in the middle, wielding sticks. Everyone throws yoghurt, milk, gh\u012b<\/em>, buttermilk, butter, oil, turmeric, liquid sandalwood, vermilion, water and ke\u015bara <\/em>(pollen tubes) at each other. Out of excitement everyone forgets who is superior and who is junior; everyone tries to pelt everyone else with yoghurt and milk. The thrown yoghurt and milk streams through the drains like a virtual river, and when the pollen-tubes and the butter form balls in the drains and thus cause them to clog, small lakes of milk and yoghurt are being formed on the yards. Later, when these stoppages are removed, the released milk and yoghurt streams away as fast as rivers. When the demigods in the sky see this festival of bliss they shower flowers and some of them assume human forms and dance amongst the cowherders. Other demigods assume the form of birds and eat up the stoppages of butter. The singers, players and the male and female dancers dance in ecstasy and the bards and panegyrists consider themselves blessed by singing the glories of Gokula and \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/span><\/p>\n

After completing the Dadhik\u0101d\u0101-game in this way everyone proceeds to P\u0101vana Sarovara and begins to play in the water of this lake. In the northern Gh\u0101\u1e6da (bathing place) are Vraja R\u0101ja Nanda, Mah\u0101r\u0101ja V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu and others, in the eastern Gh\u0101\u1e6da Balar\u0101ma, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and Their cowherd boyfriends, in the southern Gh\u0101\u1e6da Vraje\u015bvar\u012b Ya\u015bod\u0101, K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101 and others and in the western Gh\u0101\u1e6da \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101, Candr\u0101val\u012b and others are playing in the water, splashing each other. When they climb back on the shore their servants and maidservants wipe off their bodies, massage them with oil and give them another bath. After this they dry them off and dress them in dry, fresh clothes. When everyone returns to the palace Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja presents each person, according to his social status, with clothes and ornaments and Vraje\u015bvar\u012b does the same with the lady-guests. Everyone is then dressed and decorated with these gifts by their own servants or maidservants. After this, Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja first seats the br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> on the courtyard and feeds them the most exquisite sweets and fried things. After the br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> have eaten Mother Ya\u015bod\u0101 has the brahmac\u0101r\u012bs <\/em>call everyone for the feast.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NAVADV\u012aPA: LORD N\u0100R\u0100YA\u1e46A\u2019S BHOGA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Mah\u0101prabhu sits on the \u015b\u1e5b\u1e45g\u0101ra ma\u1e47\u1e0dapa<\/em> with His associates, absorbed in the Vraja-bh\u0101va, <\/em>while in the inner courtyard Lak\u1e63m\u012bpriy\u0101, Vi\u1e63\u1e47upriy\u0101 and others are preparing different kinds of sweets, fried things and vegetables for the offering to Lord N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a. Then, on the order of Mother \u015aac\u012b \u012a\u015b\u0101na D\u0101sa comes and says: \u201cO Mah\u0101prabho! The offering for Lord N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a is ready! Mother is calling You to do the offering!\u201d Hearing this, Mah\u0101prabhu roars and returns (from Vraja-bh\u0101va<\/em>) to external consciousness. The devotees also return to external consciousness and Svar\u016bpa D\u0101modara ends his descriptive k\u012brtana<\/em>. Then, on Mah\u0101prabhu\u2019s order, Gad\u0101dhara Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita offers the bhoga <\/em>to Lord N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a. Mah\u0101prabhu and His devotees sit down in the N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a-temple and become absorbed in singing about R\u0101dh\u0101 and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and Their friends eating in Nand\u012b\u015bvara in Vraja.<\/span><\/p>\n

VRAJADH\u0100MA: FEASTING AND RESTING<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Vraje\u015bvar\u012b M\u0101t\u0101 orders the brahmac\u0101r\u012bs<\/em> to call everyone for the feast and Vraje\u015bvara Nanda sits down with V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu R\u0101j\u0101 and his sons, friends and fellow-villagers on the large courtyard and blissfully starts feasting, just like the previous day. After eating they all wash their mouths and chew betelleaves before retiring to their individual rooms to lie down and digest the feast. Everyone is then served by their own servant or maidservant as is required at that time of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile Vraje\u015bvar\u012b M\u0101t\u0101 serves K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 and all the other gop\u012bs<\/em> a feast on the inner yard of the palace, just like the previous day. The ladies also wash their mouths, chew betelleaves and retire to their individual rooms to lie down and digest the food.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vrajar\u0101ja then offers the br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> clothes, ornaments and monetary donations and honours them before they leave. After this he offers clothes, ornaments and monetary donations to the bards, panegyrists, dancers and singers and serves them a great feast, and then he also feeds and honours the beggars and destitutes before they leave. Then he goes to his own room and takes rest. \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and Their sakh\u012bs<\/em> then perform Their daily midday pastimes just as on the previous day or on any other day.<\/span><\/p>\n

NAVADV\u012aPA : LORD N\u0100R\u0100YA\u1e46A\u2019S \u0100RATRIKA <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Navadv\u012bpa Mah\u0101prabhu and His devotees end their song about the feast in Vraja-l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>. Gad\u0101dhara Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita takes the enjoyed offering from the altar, washes the mouth of the deity and performs \u0101ratrika<\/em>. Mah\u0101prabhu and His devotees then offer prostrated obeisances to the deity and go to the veranda of Mah\u0101prabhu\u2019s bedroom and sit down there. Then, after the usual meeting in the Yogap\u012b\u1e6dha they wander through the forests and go to \u015ar\u012b Advaita Prabhu\u2019s house in the afternoon, where they have been invited. There they have dar\u015bana<\/em> of the \u0101rati<\/em> of Prabhu S\u012bt\u0101n\u0101tha\u2019s deity \u015ar\u012b Madana Gop\u0101la and perform k\u012brtana<\/em>. After enjoying fruits and milk-products they all take rest in the house of \u015ar\u012b Advaita Prabhu. After this they perform their usual nocturnal pastimes such as abhis\u0101ra <\/em>(love-journey) and return to \u015ar\u012b Advaita Prabhu\u2019s house again at night\u2019s end to take rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

End of a\u1e63\u1e6dam\u012b\u00a0 l\u012bl\u0101<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

NAVAM\u012a L\u012aL\u0100<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

NAVADV\u012aPA : FEAST IN ADVAITA PRABHU\u2019S HOUSE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning Mah\u0101prabhu wakes up in \u015ar\u012b Advaita Prabhu\u2019s house, performs His morning-duties, bathes, is dressed and ornamented and takes a snack before going to hear a discourse on \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavata and becoming absorbed in Vraja-bh\u0101va<\/em>. After hearing the Bh\u0101gavata-lecture the Lord views the \u0101rati<\/em> of \u015ar\u012bman Madana Gop\u0101la and performs k\u012brtana<\/em> in front of the deities. After the deity is put to rest the Lord performs the Nandotsava K\u012brtana and plays the Dadhik\u0101d\u0101-game with His devotees. Then He performs His famous Nagara-bhramana (wandering through the town of Navadv\u012bpa), dances, sings and plays Dadhik\u0101d\u0101 in the house of each devotee before returning to the house of \u015ar\u012b Advaita Prabhu. Then all the devotees go to the Ga\u1e45g\u0101 for a holy dip and watersports and again return to the house of Advaita Prabhu, who presents Mah\u0101prabhu, Nit\u0101i C\u0101\u1e45d and all the other devotees with gifts of clothes and ornaments. After taking pras\u0101da<\/em> all the devotees take a little rest and then they have the usual Yogap\u012b\u1e6dha-meeting and wander through the forests of Nad\u012bya. In the afternoon Mah\u0101prabhu returns to His own home. After this all of Mah\u0101prabhu\u2019s pastimes are as usual. In the evening Svar\u016bpa D\u0101modara, knowing Mah\u0101prabhu\u2019s mind, describes R\u0101dh\u0101 and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s evening-pastimes in Vraja. Hearing this all the devotees become absorbed in Vraja-bh\u0101va<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

VRAJA DH\u0100MA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning in Nand\u012b\u015bvara \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 and Her sakh\u012bs<\/em> wake up as usual, perform their morningduties, bathe and are ornamented and dressed before they go to enjoy the remnants of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s breakfast-snack. Then Vraje\u015bvar\u012b orders them to cook. Madhuma\u1e45gala offers these preparations to the deity of Lord N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a and then puts the deity to rest. Then, as on the previous day, everyone eats, takes rest and has the Yogap\u012b\u1e6dha meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the evening, after \u015ar\u012b Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, \u015ar\u012b V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a had their snacks \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 and Her sakh\u012bs<\/em> take their snacks. Then V\u1e5b\u1e63abh\u0101nu Mah\u0101r\u0101ja begs permission from Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja to leave and return home. Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja then respectfully says goodbye to them while offering them clothes and ornaments once more.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the same way \u015ar\u012b Vraje\u015bvar\u012b M\u0101t\u0101 also says goodbye to \u015ar\u012b K\u012brtid\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101 and the other lady-guests by offering them garments and ornaments.\u00a0\u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 and Her sakh\u012bs<\/em> and y\u016bthe\u015bvar\u012bs<\/em>offer their obeisances to Vraje\u015bvar\u012b M\u0101t\u0101 and she blesses them while embracing them, kissing them and smelling their heads. Thereafter all the guests mount their own vehicles and return to their individual homes, being followed by Mother Ya\u015bod\u0101 and Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja for a while.<\/span><\/p>\n

After \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101 and Her sakh\u012bs<\/em> return home they watch from their moontowers how K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a milks His cows in the evening. After that the l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> is nityavat<\/em>, as usual.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> A festivity also mentioned in \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavata, Canto 10, Chapter 5, in which the Vrajav\u0101s\u012bs throw all kinds of dairy products at each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  On the first day of the dark lunar quarter of the month of Bh\u0101dra an orchestra (playing different drums as well as wind-instruments like \u015a\u0101n\u0101i) sits down in Nanda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja\u2019s house and starts playing auspicious … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":42032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,156],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","category-db"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-20 13:54:12","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10911"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10911\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}