Love Supreme

By: Mahanidhi Swami

Once Uddhava sat with Vidura discussing the spectacular pastimes of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. At that time, Uddhava remembered Vraja and the Himalayan Mountain of love he witnessed upon meeting the cowherd damsels, especially Mahabhava Svarupini Sri Radhika.

In a voice choked with gratitude and amazement, Uddhava said, “The Vraja gopis relished so many flavors of divine rapture in their pastimes with Priyatama Shyama. Together they exchanged seductive glances, laughed at mutual jokes, passionately embraced in love, and danced their nights away in rasa euphoria on the banks of the Kalindi.

“When Nikunja-bihari would leave the gopis, their longing, moistened eyes of gloom would follow their dearest. Upon returning to their homes, the gopis would just sit down; their intelligence stunned—unable to finish their household duties.” (SB 3.2.14)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada comments: “The Vraja-gopis’ pure loving attraction for Gopinatha is greater than anyone in the universe including Brahma, Siva and Indra. Sri Krishna does not respect the devatas as much as He honors and respects His dearest damsels in Vrajabhumi.

“When Sri Krishna leaves the sakhis at the conclusion of their playful pastimes, the minds of the gopis run after Syama along the pathways of their riveted eyes, trickling with tears. For some time, the Vraja-gopis just stand still, unable to move because of paralysis due to divine ecstasy.

“Upon returning to their homes, the gopis stop all activities such as cleaning, smearing cow dung, churning yogurt and serving food to their husbands and in-laws. After sometime, the Vraja-gopis recover and start functioning again. Yet even in the midst of doing activities, if they happen to see Shyama suddenly, they would freeze in their tracks—motionless, and not complete their chores.

“The love of the Vraja-gopis, known as nirmala vishuddha, vraja madhurya-prema, astonishes the whole universe including Kåñëa Himself. And what to speak of this prema’s effect on the Vraja-gopis themselves?

The bewilderment these gopis regularly experience arises from the profusion of their pure prema for their Priyatama, Rasika Murari.”

Vraja-gopis love supreme ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!