Radharani’s Manjaris: Tattva & Lilas 035 “Krishna Dresses Radha”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

This series of posts presents the facts (tattva) regarding the identity, moods (gopi-bhava), intimacy and sevas of Srimati Radharani’s beautiful, talented handmaidens known as manjaris, kinkaris, or dasis. Many wonderful lilas are also presented to highlight the manjaris intimate sevas to Srimati Radhika and Her beloved Krishna.

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

Tattva: What Makes Manjaris Happy?

Krishna Dasa Kaviraja describes the happiness of the gopis thus (Cc.1.4.186-190): “When the gopis go to see Krishna they don’t desire happiness, and this increases their happiness millions of times. They feel a million times more happiness than Krishna feels when He sees them. They are not looking for their own happiness, and that exactly increases their happiness.

“There is only one explanation for this paradox: The joy of the gopis lies in Krishna’s happiness. The gopis think: ‘Krishna obtains so much pleasure by seeing me!” This thought makes their bodies and faces blossom.’”

In short, when Krishna is happy Radharani is happy, and when Radha-Krishna are both happy the sakhis are happy. But when Radharani comes out the best, the kinkaris are happy!

Lila: Krishna Dresses Radha

After sporting in Radha Kunda, Swamini and Shyam, accompanied by Their maidservants, enter a sweet dressing-kunja full of blooming flowers surrounded by humming bees.

While admiring Shyam’s face, Swamini asks: “Who will dress Me today?” Shyam says: “Today I will do it, just order Me!” Swamini’s eyebrows consent indicating, “All right, You do it.” By giving Herself away Radhika offers an incomparable service to Her beloved!

Krishna seats Priyaji on a jewelled throne and decorates Radha with hand-made floral ornaments. The kinkaris pick different flowers for Krishna who imbues them with rasa through His rasika touch as He fashions floral earrings, crowns, chokers and bracelets and puts them on Swamini’s limbs. Tulasi Manjari floats in an ocean of rasa observing Nagara’s seva expertise.

With an eyeblink Swamini asks, “Tulasi! Aren’t you doing anything?” Tulasi Manjari’s eyes reply, “You found a good dresser now, so do we still have to serve You? Let us just float in oceans of bliss seeing You being served by Your Priyatama!”

Shyam stands between Radha’s thighs but His touch enlivens Her so Radha feels a little scared. Radha tries to press Her thighs together and thus breaks another the flower garland. Shyam restrings it and hangs it on Radha again. Tulasi Manjari carefully watches, so that she can learn this seva and remind Swamini of it later when she is separated from Shyama to immerse Radha in an ocean of bliss.

Shyam restrings the broken garlands and, keeping His face next to Swamini’s, looks over Her left shoulder to see if the strings are properly tied. Seeing this, Tulasi Manjari feels the ocean of her spiritual bliss expanding. Shyam becomes blissful from the touch of Radhika’s beautiful thighs.

Sensing Shyam’s joy in her own heart, Tulasi Manjari smiles slightly and calls Radha: “Varoru!” [nice thighs] Hearing this, Swamini both chastises and praises Tulasi with Her glances. Needless to say, no sakhis are present. Only Rupa, Tulasi and the other manjaris are there. Blessed is the service of Sri Radha!

The spiritual bliss of all the attending kinkaris increases unlimitedly. What more can be attained for the manjari bhava sadhakas in this world? Gopi-bhava and the intimate nitya-seva of Srimati Radharani are the great gifts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for the suffering people of Kali-Yuga.

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