Radharani’s Manjaris: Tattva & Lilas 012

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

This series of posts will present facts (tattva) regarding the identity, moods (gopi-bhava), intimacy and sevas of Srimati Radharani’s beautiful and talented handmaidens known as manjaris, kinkaris, or dasis.

Also we will present many astonishing and wonderful lilas to highlight the manjaris most personal and confidential sevas to Srimati Radhika and Her dearest Priyatama Shyamasundara.

The information here is based on the commentaries of Advaitavamsa Acharya 108 Sri Ananda Gopala Goswami and 108 Sri Ananta Dasa Babaji Maharaja taken from “Vilapa Kusumanjali” and “Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi” translated by Sri Advaita Dasji.

Manjari Tattva:  Mentally Meeting Sri Krishna

Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami personally relished the sweet rasa of manasi-seva and taught it in his books like Vilapa Kusumanjali. Mental service is the very life-force of the externally rendered devotional service. Srimati Radharani accepts all service rendered within the mind by a raganuga sadhaka.

Regarding Sri Krishna’s acceptance of manasi-seva, Sri Rupa Goswamipada says (Bhakti-rasa-amrita 1.2.182)

manasen -opacarena
paricarya -harim -sada
pare -van -manasa -gamyam
tam -sakshat -pratipedire

“One who always serves Bhagavan Sri Hari with items produced in the mind, will directly meet Sri Hari, who is otherwise not perceivable with material words or mind.”

Manjari Lila: Bihari the Barber Girl

The service of Sri Radha is so attractive that Sri Hari sometimes dresses like a barber-girl, dhari -napitani –vesh, to enter mother Jatila’s house. Holding a mirror and nail polish in His hand, Krishna goes to the place where Radha is sitting.

Then that humorous, amorous “barber girl” sits down, opens her golden box and fills a clean jug with scented water. She makes Radhika’s nails as beautiful as the moon with Her wonderful nail polish.

Then she rubs Radha’s feet with footlac while constantly seeing whether it looks good. Holding Kishori’s feet to her chest, the barber girl writes her name on Radha’s footsoles in a wonderful way.

The barber-girl says: “O fortunate girl! Look at Your feet and consider if my work is good or bad.”

Looking carefully, Suvadani Radha says, “Ohe! What name have you written there? Introduce yourself to Me!”

“O fortunate girl! My name is Shyamaa and I live in Your town.”

However, the barber girl accidentally wrote her name Shyamaa as Shyam which means Krishna.

Radha says, “Why did you write THAT name?”

The barber girls apologizes saying, “I am sorry, I cannot spell so well.”

Seeing through Krishna’s hoax, Radhika Rai says, “Rogue! It’s YOU (Krishna).”

The service of Premamayi Radha is the greatest wealth of Rasika Raja Sri Krishna. The manjaris witnessing Krishna’s spoof feel very proud of their Swamini Radha, whose seva is most desirable even for atmaramata –svayam Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

Radharani’s manjaris ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!