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Çré
Çré Rädhäñöamé Çréla
Bhakti Pramoda Puré Gosvämé Mahäräja [NOTE: This page uses Balarama font (available here) for better transliteration of Sanskrit into English]
The
Potency of This Day mädhava-tithi,
bhakti-janané Çaraëägaté
(Çuddha-Bhakata) Days
that are dear to Mädhava, such as Ekädaçé and Janamäñöamé, are the mother
of bhakti
for
they cause bhakti
to
appear in one’s heart. Çré Rädhä is the most beloved of
Çré Mädhava
and Her appearance day is the crest jewel of all days that are dear to
Him, such
as Ekädaçé. The Padma
Puräëa
states
that when Devaåñi Närada desired to hear the glories
of Çré Rädhäñöamé from Çré Brahmä, his father, Brahmä replied that no one but
Çré Hari Himself
can suitably glorify the appearance day of His beloved. Although Ekädaçé is
so dear
to Çré Hari, a person gains one hundred times more spiritual merit that leads to
bhakti by
observing just one Rädhäñöamé vrata
than
he does by observing a thousand Ekädaçé vratas: ekädaçyäù
sahasreëa yat phalaà labhate
naraù rädhä
janamäñöamé puëyaà
tasmäcchatguëädhikam RAYS
OF THE HARMONIST 42 Translated
into English for the first time The
Time of Çré Rädhä’s Birth Fearing
the possibility of danger in Gokula Mahävana, the birthplace of Nanda-nandana
Çré Kåñëa, Çré Nanda Mahäräja relocated his residence to Nandéçvara Hill. His
dearmost friend, Çré Våñabhänu Mahäräja, who also expected many disturbances in
Rävala, established his residence atop Çré Varñäëä Hill, which lies south of
Nandéçvara Hill. It was in Rävala, in the abode of Çré Våñabhänu Mahäräja and
his queen Kértidä, that Çré Rädhikä – the internal potency of Çré Kåñëa and the
embodiment of His pleasure-giving potency – manifested the pastime of Her
appearance. This occurred at Çré
Rädhä is, in fact, Çré Kåñëa’s intrinsic potency. Since the energy and the
energetic are eternally nondifferent by constitution (çakti-çaktimator
abheda),
She appears whenever Kåñëa appears. To enable them to enact Their pastimes on
Earth, Yogamäyä arranged for Çré Rädhikä to appear one year after Çré
Kåñëa. tata
ärabhya nandasya vrajaù
sarva-samåddhimän harer
niväsätma-guëai
ramäkréòam
abhün
nåpa Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(10.5.18) In
this verse Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé addresses Çré Parékñit Mahäräja as follows: “O
King, since Nanda vraja, the Çréla
Jéva Gosvämipäda writes in Çré
Gopäla-campü (Pürva
15.19–20): satyaà
bahusuta-ratnäkaratäà sa präpa
gopa-dugdhäbdhiù k
intvamåta-dyuti-rädhä lak ñmé-jananädgät
pürttim The
ocean of milk, in the form of a gopa
named
Çré Våñabhänu,
had many sons as precious as gems. Despite
this, he attained perfection solely due to the appearance
of Lakñmé in the form of Çré Rädhä, who is endowed
with ambrosial radiance. sä
khalu çré-kåñëa-janama-varñänantaravar ñe
sarva-sukhasatre rädhä nämni nakñatre
jäteti rädhäbhidhéyate. That
very girl manifested the pastime of Her birth one year
after the appearance of Çré Kåñëa, during the most auspicious
constellation named anurädhä.
Thus She was
named Rädhä. RAYS
OF THE HARMONIST • 43 Çré
Rädhä’s Appearance: First History When
Çré Varuëadeva, the god of the ocean, saw the invaluable jewel that is Çré Kåñëa
in his own palace, he spoke with jubilation: adya
me nibhåto deho dyaivärtho’dhigataù
prabho tvat-päda-bhäjo
bhagavann aväpuù päram
adhvanaù Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(10.28.5) “O
Lord, today my life has become successful and I have
attained the topmost wealth. Although I am the master
of all the oceans, which are reservoirs of gems,
I have never attained such a treasure as this. The
servants of Your lotus feet have attained liberation
(adhvaùna
saàsärasya päramaväpuù).
I am
also Your servant and am praying for the same benediction.” The
Padma
Puräëa
describes
how Çré Rädhä appeared at Çré Våñabhänu Mahäräja’s yajïa-sthala,
the place where he performed sacrificial rites: iti
ñrutväpi sä rädhä påthvéà
tataù bhädre
mäsi site pakñe añöamé saàjïike
tithau våñabhänoryajïabhümau jätä sä rädhikä
divä yajïärthaà
çodhitäyäà ca dåñöä sä
divyarüpiëé räjänandamanä
bhütvä täà präpya
nijamandiram dattavän
mahiñéà nétvä sä ca täà
paryapälayat Padma
Puräëa (Brahma-khaëòa
7.40-42) At
fortnight,
in the month of Bhädra, the celestially beautiful
Çré Rädhikä appeared from the land that Våñabhänu
Mahäräja was excavating for the purpose of
yajïa.
With a delighted heart, Çré Våñabhänu Mahäräja
took Her to his residence and presented Her to
his noble queen, Çré Kértidä-devé, who proceeded to raise
Her. Çré
Rädhä’s Appearance: Second History Another
history describes that early one morning, in yet another place in Vraja, Çré
Våñabhänu Mahäräja was taking bath in the Yamunä. Floating close by was this
spotlessly beautiful girl lying on a radiant and fully blossomed lotus. With
great happiness, he at once took Her in his arms and brought Her home to his
queen Kértidä-devé. In great bliss, Kértidä-devé embraced Her and began to care
for Her with unbounded affection. But when the king and queen noticed that Her
eyes did not open, their hearts were deeply afflicted, and they prayed at the
lotus feet of the Supreme Lord that He would bless Her with the power of
sight. Meanwhile,
at their palace in Rävala, Çré Nanda Mahäräja’s queen, Yaçodä-devé, arrived from
Gokula, holding Çré Kåñëa in her arms. The royal couple of Rävala greeted her
with much honour. Çré Yaçodä-devé gazed with unblinking eyes at the newborn baby
girl lying in the lap of Çré Kértidä-devé. At that time, an astonishing incident
took place. As soon as Yaçodänandana Çré Kåñëa came face to face with that baby
girl, She opened Her eyes. Her first sight was the moon-like face of Her beloved
Çré Kåñëa, and She simply gazed upon Him. Kåñëa too became overwhelmed upon
gazing with intense feeling at the moon-like face of His most beloved. Their
divine meeting took place through the meeting of Their eyes. The happiness of
Våñabhänu Mahäräja and his queen knew no bounds, and they celebrated the
occasion with
great pomp and grandeur. Çréla
Rüpa Gosvämipäda has given a similar narration in his book Çré
Lalita-mädhava. Intense
Longing for Çré Rädhä’s Service Çréla
Rüpa Gosvämé, Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé, Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé and other
gosvämés
have
lovingly sung the glories of Çré Rädhäräëé. How Çré Prabodhänanda Sarasvatipäda
has relished Her glories in such an unprecedented and astonishing manner in his
Çré
Rädhä-rasa-sudhä-nidhi
!
The way Çré Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has composed Svaniyamäñöaka
and
other prayers gloriously demonstrates his intense longing to
attain çré
rädhädäsya,
service
to Çré Rädhä. This
same mood is also found in the writings of the most worshipable Çré Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda – that is, in his Anubhäñya
commentary on Çré
Caitanya-caritämåta;
in his Anuvåtti
on
Çré Rüpa Gosvämé’s Çré
Upadeçämåta;
in his poetic translation of the ten states of divyonmäda
that Çré Rüpa Gosvämé described in Çré
Ujjvalanélamaëi,
Çré
Bhramara-gétä
and
Çré
Mahiñé-gétä;
in the maìgaläcaraëa,
or auspicious invocation, of his Prärthanärasa-vivåti
commentary
on Çréla Narottama Öhäkura Mahäçaya’s Prärthanä;
and in the maìgaläcaraëa
of
his Gauòéya-bhäsya
commentary
on Çré
Caitanya-bhägavata.
These wonderful expressions of yearning for rädhä-däsya
serve
as a continuous, powerful inspiration for us. That
day when my most revered spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda, first met his
spiritual master, oà
viñëupäda
Çré
Çrémad Gaura-kiçora Prabhu, he saw him walking towards Çré
Svänanda-sukhada-kuïja, dressed as an avadhüta
and
singing one particular song over and over. With his own hand Çréla Prabhupäda
wrote down that song and kept it with him, regarding it as the dearmost treasure
of his bhajana. Çréla
Gaura-kiçora Mahäräja’s Heartfelt Prayer As
servants of Çréla Prabhupäda’s servants, our sole objective is to seek out that
secret treasure. The Six Gosvämés have demonstrated the ideal of weeping in
profound anxiety as they wandered throughout Vraja, crying out “hä
rädhe! hä rädhe!”
In performing bhajana,
our sole asset is our pure and sincere crying out to attain the transcendental
mercy of the embodiment of mercy, Çré Rädhäräëé. There is no other means to
attain this treasure than by the causeless mercy of Çré Gurudeva. That
devotional song that Çréla Bäbäjé Mahäräja would sing goes like
this: kothäya
go premamayi rädhe rädhe rädhe
rädhe go, jaya rädhe rädhe
(1) Where
is She who is the embodiment of prema?
All glories
to Çré Rädhä. dekhä
diye präëa räkha, rädhe rädhe tomära
käìgäla tomäya òäke, rädhe rädhe
(2) O
Rädhä, please give me Your darçana
and
save my life.
This wretched beggar for your mercy calls out to You,
“Rädhe! Rädhe!” rädhe
våndävana-viläsini, rädhe rädhe rädhe
känu-mana-mohini, rädhe rädhe
(3) O
Rädhä, You enjoy pleasure pastimes in the forest of Våndävana,
wherein You enchant the mind of Kåñëa. rädhe
añöa-sakhéra çiromaëi, rädhe rädhe rädhe
våñabhänu-nandini, rädhe rädhe
(4) O
Rädhä, You are the crest-jewel among Your eight principal
sakhés.
O Rädhä, daughter of Våñabhänu Bäbä. (gosäi)
niyama kare sadäi òäke, rädhe rädhe The
Six Gosvämés were always calling out, “Rädhe! Rädhe!” (gosäi)
eka-bära òäke keçé-ghäöe, äbära
òäke vaàçé-vaöe, rädhe rädhe
(5) ...
sometimes at Keçé-ghäöa, sometimes at Vaàçé-vaöa –
“Rädhe! Rädhe!” (gosäi)
eka-bära òäke nidhu-vane, äbära
òäke kuïja-vane, rädhe rädhe ...
sometimes in Nidhuvana, sometimes in Sevä-kuïja –
“Rädhe! Rädhe!” (gosäi) eka-bära òäke
rädhä-kuëòe, äbära
òäke çyäma-kuëòe, rädhe rädhe
(6) ...
sometimes at Rädhä-kuëòa, sometimes at Çyämakuëòa –
“Rädhe! Rädhe!” (gosäi)
eka-bära òäke kusuma-vane, äbära
òäke govardhane, rädhe rädhe ...
sometimes at Kusuma-sarovara, sometimes at Giriräja-Govardhana
– “Rädhe! Rädhe!” (gosäi)
eka-bära òäke täla-vane, äbära
òäke tamäla-vane, rädhe rädhe
(7) ...
sometimes at Tälavana, and sometimes at Tamälavana
– “Rädhe! Rädhe!” (gosäi)
malina vasana diye gäya, vrajera
dhüläya gaòägaòi jaya, rädhe rädhe The
Six Gosvämés’ simple clothing appears dirty because
they are always rolling in the dust of Vraja crying
out, “Rädhe! Rädhe!” (gosäi)
mukhe rädhä rädhä bale, bhäse
nayanera jale, rädhe rädhe
(8) Calling
out “Rädhe! Rädhe”, their eyes burst with floods
of tears. (gosäi)
våndävane kuli kuli kende beòäya rädhä
bali’, rädhe rädhe They
wander throughout the lanes of Våndävana crying
out, “Rädhe! Rädhe!” (gosäi)
chäpänna daëòa rätri-dine jäne
nä rädhä-govinda vine, rädhe rädhe
(9) know
nothing but Rädhä-Govinda throughout the
day and night. Rädhe! Rädhe! tära
para cäri daëòa çuti’ thäke svapne
rädhä-govinda dekhe, rädhe rädhe
(10) They
take rest for only four daëòas
(1
hr. 36 min.). Even
at that time they receive darçana
of
Çré Rädhä- Govinda
in their dreams. Rädhe! Rädhe! Only
when I sincerely offer my life and soul to attain this extremely valuable
treasure, feeling true anxiety and deep yearning for it, shall I understand that
Çré Gurudeva has accepted me with an open heart. Oh, when will such good fortune
arise! The number days I have left in this life will soon be
exhausted! Çrématé Rädhikä’s Transcendental
Name Çréla
Rüpa Gosvämipäda tells the following story in the prelude to his narration of
the one hundred and eight names of Çré Rädhä: Once Çré Rädhäräëé entered into a
sulky mood towards Çré Kåñëa and, despite His hundreds of pleadings, refused to
forgive Him. When Çré Kåñëa left that place with a greatly afflicted heart, Çré
Rädhäräëé soon gave up Her sulky mood. Her heart now churning from Her
absorption in Çré Kåñëa’s qualities, She became extremely aggrieved and
repented, “Alas! Speaking harshly to Him, I have rejected that Kåñëa who is the
ocean of all virtues. Will He ever come to Me again?” Seeing
Her repenting like this, Her girlfriend Tungavidyä, famous for her wisdom,
addressed Her: “O beautiful Rädhä, abandon Your respect for Kåñëa and listen
attentively to my words. Do not worry, thinking, ‘With harsh words I have
rejected that Kåñëa who is the ocean of all virtues. Will He ever return to Me?’
Previously, a sakhé
named
Kandarpasundaré was eager to establish a relationship with You in sakhya-bhäva,
the mood of friendship. Çré Paurëamäsé-devé advised her to chant Your one
hundred and eight names to fulfil her desire. Çré Våndä-devé, the goddess of
Våndävana, who is wellacquainted with the ways of Çré Paurëamäsé-devé, has
written down those names in sindüra
(vermilion),
and at this very moment is offering them to the Lord of Your life, Çré Kåñëa.
Aggrieved by the pain of separation from You, Kåñëa is experiencing some relief
by chanting these hundred and eight names.” It
is said that Çré Rädhä’s names, being all-attractive and the embodiment of an
extremely powerful mantra,
should be written in sindüra.
With this introduction Çréla Rüpa Gosvämipäda narrates the unprecedented and
exceptionally grave moods of the one hundred and eight names of Çré Rädhä, the
Goddess of Çré Våndävana, in Çré
Premendu-sudhäsatra.
He has composed other hymns that are also extremely pleasing. Similarly, Çréla
Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé has written the hundred and eight names of Çré Rädhä and
other prayers in his Stavävalé. In
fact, Çré Kåñëa, captivated by Çré Rädhä’s love, ceaselessly chants Her name.
Therefore the name of Çré Rädhä is like a deeply esoteric mantra.
Without the exclusive shelter of Çré Rädhä, there is no question of receiving
the mercy of Çré Kåñëa. Humility
and Service: Not Pride and Erudition Our
most worshipable Çréla Prabhupäda has said, “Çré Kåñëa is adhokñaja
çaktimän,
the possessor of all potency who exists beyond the range of the material mind,
intelligence and senses. Çré Rädhä is adhokñajä
çaktimatä,
Çré Kåñëa’s spiritual potency who similarly lies beyond our material reach. The
philosophy of the tarka-panthäs,
who believe in the process of gross dialectic to acquire knowledge, is
‘anayä
méyate iti
mäyä
–
through intellectual effort, one attains understanding of mäyä.’
The supremely excellent philosophy of the çrauta-panthäs,
however, who follow the process of hearing in disciplic succession as a means to
acquire knowledge, is ‘anayä
rädhitaù iti
rädhä
–
through the process of worship, one attains Çré Rädhä.’ For them, the sole state
of perfection is to engage in pleasing and satisfying Çré Kåñëa with their
entire body, including all their limbs and senses.” The
tarka-panthäs
can
display their pride, but they cannot touch even the doorstep of the realm of
bhakti.
By instructing his own mind in Çré
Manaù-çikñä,
Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé humbly teaches us to renounce all pride and
quickly develop sublime and incessant rati
for
Çré Gurudeva; for Çré Vraja; for the residents of Vraja; for the Vaiñëavas; for
the brähmaëas,
who are like the demigods of this Earth; for our dékñä-mantras;
for the holy names of the Lord; and for the topmost shelter of the lotus feet of
Çré Rädhä-Govinda, the eternally youthful couple of Vraja. As long as the false
pride that stems from one’s wealth, scholarship, beauty and birth in a high
class family remains in one’s heart, it is impossible to practice devotional
service even slightly. Moreover,
a person’s pride in his bhajana,
devotion,
renunciation, etc., also becomes a fatal hindrance on the path of devotion. We
should always consciously remember the tåëädapi
çunécena
verse
spoken by Çréman Mahäprabhu and, taking exclusive shelter of the lotus feet of
Çréla Gurudeva, constantly pray for the mercy of Çré Rädhäräëé. It is in this
manner that we should seek the mercy of Çré Kåñëa, the beloved of Çré
Rädhä. binä
rädhä prasädena hari-bhaktiù
sudurlabhä Without
the mercy of Çré Rädhä, hari-bhakti
is extremely
difficult to attain. .” rädhä-bhajane
yadi mati nähi bhelä kåñëa-bhajana
taba akäraëa gelä Gétävalé
(Çré
Rädhäñöaka,
Song 8) If
the desire to serve Çré Rädhikä does not appear in my
heart, then my worship of Kåñëa is simply useless. The
Most Worshipable Object In
the book called Krama-dépikä,
Çré Kåñëa says to the
Moon-god: mama
näma-çatenaiva rädhä-näma
sad-uttamam yaù
smaret tu sadä rädhäà na jäne tasya kià
phalam The
name of Çré Rädhä is superior to hundreds of My names.
Even I cannot calculate the result achieved by constantly
remembering Her name. Just
as Çré Kåñëa, aggrieved by separation from His beloved, always chants the name
“Rädhä”, Çré Rädhä too, stricken with grief when apart from Her beloved,
constantly utters the name “Kåñëa”. Therefore, the only meaningful name to be
chanted by the jéva
is
the rädhä-kåñëa
yugala näma
[the
Hare Kåñëa mantra].
In “Räya Rämänanda Saàväda” it is said: sampattira
madhye jévera kon sampatti gaëi?’ ‘rädhä-kåñëe
prema yäìra, sei baòa dhané’ Çré
Caitanya-caritämåta
(Madhya-lélä
8.247) Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu inquired, “Of the many capitalists
who possess great riches, who is the topmost?” Räya
Rämänanda replied, “He who is richest in love
for Çré Rädhä and Çré Kåñëa is the greatest capitalist.” ‘gäna-madhye
kona gäna – jévera nija dharma?’ ‘rädhä-kåñëera
prema-keli’ – yei gétera marma Çré
Caitanya-caritämåta
(Madhya-lélä
8.250) Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked, “Among all lyrics, which
lyrics describe the living entity’s actual business?” Rämänanda
replied, “Those lyrics that speak about
the loving affairs of Çré Rädhä and Çré Kåñëa are superior
to all others.” ‘dhyeya-madhye jévera kartavya kon
dhyäna?’ ‘rädhä-kåñëa-padämbuja-dhyäna
– pradhäna’ Çré
Caitanya-caritämåta
(Madhya-lélä
8.253) Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked, “Of the many types
of meditation, which is necessary for all living entities?” Räya
Rämänanda replied, “The chief duty of every living
being is to meditate upon the lotus feet of Çré Rädhä
and Çré Kåñëa.” ‘ sarva
tyaji’ jévera kartavya kähäì väsa?’ ‘vraja-bhümi
våndävana yähäì lélä-räsa’ Çré
Caitanya-caritämåta (Madhya-lélä
8.254) Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked, “Where should the
living entity reside, giving up all other places?” Räya
Rämänanda replied, “He should reside in the holy
place known as Våndävana or Vrajabhümi, where
Çré Kåñëa performed His räsa-lélä.” ‘çravaëa-madhye
jévera kon çreñöha çravaëa?’ ‘rädhä-kåñëa-prema-keli
karëa-rasäyana’ Çré
Caitanya-caritämåta (Madhya-lélä
8.255) Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu further inquired, “Out of all
topics people listen to, which is best for all living beings?” Räya
Rämänanda replied, “Hearing about the loving
affairs between Çré Rädhä and Çré Kåñëa is most satisfying
to the ear.” ‘upäsyera
madhye kon upäsya pradhäna?’ ‘çreñöha
upäsya – yugala ‘rädhä-kåñëa’ näma’ Çré
Caitanya-caritämåta
(Madhya-lélä
8.256) Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked, “Among all worship-able
objects, which is the chief?” Räya
Rämänanda, “The highest worshipable object is
the holy name of Çré Rädhä and Çré Kåñëa.” Translated
from Çré
Caitanya-väëé,
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