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 Lila: Earrings to Spin Shyamsundara

In a vivid vision Tulasi-manjari places hoop-earrings above Srimati’s ears. The kinkaris are very proud of the sweet form of their Ishvari, and they say: “O Radhe! Although it is just an insignificant ornament, these disc earrings will still cause Krishna to spin around after I them put on You! That is my intention! I want to agitate Krishna and make Him spin around like this, searching and searching for You until He meets You!”

Krishna is very dear to the manjaris when He becomes anxious to meet their Sri Radhika. The heart of the kinkari is filled with pride when she sees the sweet form of Radha. How many hundreds of experiences of Krishna Tulasi-manjari gives to Swamini in this way!

The manjari prays to Radharani, “Although I am not qualified to serve You, Radha are so merciful that You have accepted this maidservant!”

Manjari Lila: Radhika’s Musk Dot

Holding a cup with fragrant musk in her left hand and a brush in her right, Tulasi-manjari stands before Swamini. She holds it close to Swamini’s nose so that Radha will remember Krishna’s bodily fragrance. While Radha’s eyes, that extend to Her ears, move around restlessly, Radha asks Tulasi:

“Where is this fragrance coming from? I understand that My Priyatama is coming!

O sakhi! The fragrance of Krishna’s body defeats the smell a blue lotus flower anointed with musk and it maddens the world! It enters women’s noses and always remains sitting there, holding them and taking them to Krishna. It steals the bodies and minds of women and then they become like madwomen.”

Srimati Radha is agitated by smelling the musk and thus shows many sweet emotions through the expressions of Her face and eyes. Understanding that Radha is feeling separation from Krishna, Tulasi-manjari says: “You know what this chin of Yours is? It is the temple of Mukunda’s bliss! This musk drop looks like a baby bee drinking honey from a golden lotus flower!”

Tulasi-manjari prattles on, “Krishna is black so He will become jealous of this drop. The owner of this temple will come and wipe off that drop by kissing Your chin! And that’s exactly what I want!”

In this way, the expert manjari serves Sri Radha by lovingly making so many luscious jokes while putting the musk-drop on Swamini’s chin. This drop makes the natural beauty of Sri Radha’s face even more brilliant! Tulasi-manjari brings strong emotions into Swamini’s heart that is suffering separation. How many memories of different pastimes Tulasi awaken in Swamini’s heart. Blessed is her expertise in service!

Being fully surrendered to Radhika, the maidservants know exactly what is on Swamini’s maha-bhava filled mind, and they serve Radha accordingly. By Swamini’s grace the manjaris know exactly what Radha needs!

Manjari Tattva: Unlimited Mercy

Those who want to make their bhajan a success must depend on the words of the great teachers of manjari bhava sadhana like Sri Rupa Goswamipada and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami (Tulasi-manjari). Each syllable of these compassionate rasika acaryas crystallizes one-pointed loyalty to Sri Radha’s lotus feet.

Sri Krishna bestows his mercy after due consideration, but Swamini Radha is endlessly merciful personality because Radha bestows Her mercy without any consideration! Radharani’s compassion will certainly descend when She hears a devotee anxiously praying: “O Radhe! My heart is blinded by illusion! Please purify me and give me shelter at Your sweet lotus feet.”

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

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: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as s Manjari

How glorious are the kinkaris, who are dedicated to the service of the full madana -mahabhava personified, Srimati Radhika! Krishna became Gaura to taste the prema that Radhika feels for Him. And after Mahaprabhu experienced that, Sri Chaitanya also wanted to taste the nectar of the kinkari’s service.

While Mahaprabhu relished the mood of Radha’s manjaris, sometimes Gauranga’s hands, legs and head would all enter within His body, just like the withdrawn limbs of a tortoise, kurma-chaitanya (Chaitanya Charitamrta 2.2.13). Or sometimes Mahaprabhu’s limbs would loosen and stretch out.

Chaitanya Charitamrta (Antya 14.105-110) describes Mahaprabhu’s mad words after He came out of His kurmakrti (turtle-form). Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said:

“Today I went to Govardhana Hill to see if Krishna was tending His cows there. Climbing on Govardhana Hill, Krishna played His flute, surrounded by the cows. Hearing the flute song, Srimati Radha came there. O sakhi, I cannot describe Her form and mood! Krishna took Radha by the hand and entered a cave with Her, while the sakhis told Me to pick some flowers.”

Here it is clear that Mahaprabhu, in the pinnacle of His ecstatic absorption, is relishing the mood of Radha’s manjaris. For the service of Radha-Madhava the sakhis have asked the kinkaris to pick flowers and Mahaprabhu is amongst them.

Another example of Mahaprabhu’s manjari bhava is the time He almost drowned in the ocean due to divine rapture (Chaitanya Charitamrta 3. 80-105). All His joints became disconnected out of ecstasy, and Mahaprabhu told His devotees in half-external consciousness:

“Seeing the Yamuna-river I went to Vrndavana, where I saw Vrajendranandan playing in the water with Sri Radhika and the gopis, having great fun. I stayed on the shore with the other sakhis, while one sakhi showed this pastime to the others.”

Here Mahaprabhu explains that He did not play an active role in Krishna’s pastimes, but that He was relishing a service-position like that of a manjari witnessing these sweet pastimes. Besides tasting and experiencing manjari bhava, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught it to the devotees through Sri Rupa Goswamipada and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.

Manjari Tattva: Manjaris’ Responsibility

To taste the sweetness of the love in Vraja, one must give up the attitude of awe and reverence towards Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Vraja is the kingdom of sweetness and the upasana (method of worship and meditation) of Vraja rasa is a sweet upasana. The love of Vraja is as pure as molten gold, and there’s not even a whiff of personal happiness in the hearts of Krishna’s Vrajavasi devotees.

Srimati Radharani sings (Chaitanya Charitamrta 3.20.58):

“Krishna is My life and soul. Krishna is the treasure of My life. Indeed, Krishna is the very life of My life. I therefore keep Krishna always on My heart and I make Krishna happy with My service. I always meditate on this.”

And Radha’s maidservants always meditate on the pleasure of Yugala Kishora. Radha and Krishna have given Themselves to Each other and left all responsibilities for the arrangements of Their loving affairs to the sakhis and the manjaris. The playful Sri Yugala have taken shelter of them. Sometimes Radha and Krishna become helpless and find no other means to meet without taking shelter of the manjaris.

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

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: Reflect Radha’s Feelings

Manjari bhava means to have your mind completely reflect the picture of Srimati’s moods and feelings (bhava –citra). This is not easy because Srimati Radhika is the embodiment of the full madanakhya -maha-bhava. Besides that, Radharani is completely mad with attraction to Sri Krishna’s form, qualities and pastimes. However, with the association and blessings of like-minded more advanced saints these feelings and flavors will gradually be experienced in a purified heart.

Manjari Tattva: Meditation on Siddha Deha

Sri Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami, in his “Saranga Rangada” tika on verse 2 of Krishna Karnamrita, says, “On the path of raganuga bhakti, even before one attains bhava (anutpanna -rati), one should meditate on one’s mentally conceived (manasi –parikalpya) siddha deha, and serve Sri Krishna in that body (bhagavat –sevadhikam –kriyate). When bhava appears that siddha deha will be directly seen (jata –ratinam –svayam –tad –deha –sphurteh).

The sadhaka should try to see and feel one’s real and eternal spiritual self as having a special form and feelings like the nitya siddha manjaris Sri Rupa and Sri Rati. The stronger and clearer one’s meditation on the siddha deha becomes, the faster the raganuga sadhaka will advance to the stage of bhava.

A time will come when one will forget the sadhaka deha due to intense absorption in one’s beautiful, playful siddha deha.

Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami lost all appetite for sense gratification because he was always absorbed in remembering Sri Radha’s lotus feet with feelings of separation from Radha. The sweetness of Srimati Radharani’s gorgeous form, matchless qualities, and blissful pastimes completely stole his mind and made it totally fully absorbed in Radha.

Our mahajanas say, “When you think in the way that the great devotees do like Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami and Sri Rupa Goswamipada, then you will forget everything else. The external and the internal world will then take one single form, and in the mood of the great saints you will be able to relish rasa.”

Manjari Lila: Radha’s Reward

One day in Varsana, Visakha-sakhi was teaching Tulasi-manjari how to sing love songs. Swamini suddenly passed by and said, “O how sweet! Won’t you let Me hear it?”

Tulasi then sang so expertly and sweetly that the subject of the song took shape before Swamini. To reward Tulasi, Radhika gave her one of Her necklaces. Blessed is this fortunate manjari!

Manjari Lila: Radha’s Resolutions

Sri Krishna is Radhika’s Hari because with His own sweetness He takes away (harana) all Radha’s shyness, opposition and other obstacles to Their meeting. And Krishna is catura shiromani, the crownjewel of clever pranksters. By cleverly attracting Sri Radhika with the sweetness of His form, qualities, pastimes and flute-playing Krishna makes Radha forget everything!

One day, Sri Radha is angry with Krishna and makes three resolutions. Radha’s first resolution is: “I will not look at Krishna anymore!” But Krishna speaks in such a sweet way and stands before Radha as if He begs Her: “Look at Me just once!”

Seeing the sweetness of Krishna’s form the sakhis tell each other: “Aha! How sweetly Shyam stands here in His threefold bending form! The life of that lady-love who does not see this sweetness is wasted!” Hearing these words of Her friends, Srimati becomes eager to see Krishna and looks at Krishna once. Thus Radha’s first resolution is broken!

Radha’s second resolution is: “I won’t speak with Krishna!” Hearing how nicely Krishna is speaking to the sakhis, however, Swamini can’t stay silent anymore and tells Krishna: “Go to that gopi that You love, why are You standing here, speaking such clever words?” Thus Radha’s second vow is gone!

Radha’s third vow is: “I won’t touch Krishna!” Krishna gradually brings His foot forward and touches the tips of Srimati toes. This makes Radha unsteady, so She angrily takes Krishna by the hand and pushes Him out of the kunja.

Srimati thinks: “Just see, now I’ve also touched Krishna! If I could not keep any vow, then how can I keep Krishna away?” So Radhika holds Shyam by the neck and brings Him back into the kunja. Thus Hari steals Swamini’s heart in so many ways.

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

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: Experience in Smaran

Upasana means to hold on to a certain subject of meditation with such one-pointedness that no other subject matter can enter. In Bhakti-rasamrita Sindhu, Sri Rupa Goswamipada cites the following example from Puranas to prove the power of smarana. A brahmin from Pratishthanapura burned his finger after touching an offering of hot sweet rice (kheer) which he had just cooked in his meditation.

In Srimad Bhagavatam (7.1.28), Narada Muni gives the example of the absorption of the grassworm: “The grassworm, who gets trapped in a hole by a hostile bee, becomes a bee also by always thinking of that bee out of fear and enmity.”

If one can go through such a change of body just by meditation, then certainly one can attain a manjari svarupa through intense transcendental meditation. Smarana means: mental association. When a devotee is fully absorbed in Radha-Krishna asta-kaliya lila smarana it is as if one directly serves the Lila Yugala. By simply continuing to meditate on these things the revelations will come.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirms this saying;

bhavite -bhavite –Krishna -sphuraye antare
Krishna -krpaya -ajna -paya -rasa -sindhu -pare

“Through constant meditation Krishna will appear in the heart, and by Krishna’s grace even an ignorant soul will cross over the ocean of rasa.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.19.236)

Manjari Lila: Reminding Radha of Shyam

One day while bathing Srimati Radharani, Tulasi-manjari reminds Swamini of the sweet history of a painting of Shyamsundar that hangs in Her home.
“O Swamini! I remember you once wrote a letter to Krishna, saying: ‘You are living in My house as a picture and wherever I flee, there You are standing to stop Me with stretched-out arms!’

In this way Tulasi-manjari helps Swamini relish the sweetness of Her previous pastimes and simultaneously brushes Radha’s pretty teeth. Blessed is this maidservant who has nothing in this world except her connection with Sri Radha!

Radha’s kinkaris know exactly how to serve according to time, place and circumstances, bringing all these relishable memories to Bhavamayi’s heart and making Radha swim in waves of rasa!

This is the internal beauty of Radha-dasya that by identifying with the Guru-given siddha svarupa one serves Swaminiji’s ujjvala murti. The raganuga sadhaka identifying with Tulasi-manjari (Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami) should feel as if Swamini is taking one by the hand.

The practicing devotee should learn Radha’s various services like tooth brushing by meditating on how the eternally perfect maidservants like Sri Rupa Manjari and Tulasi perform them. These nitya-siddha manjaris are the gurus of the Yugala-seva, who have descended from the Vraja-nikunja along with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to take the neophyte devotees out of this material world, and into Vraja’s nikunjas by teaching them manjari bhava sadhana.

The devotee who is fixed in smarana should be completely free from external consciousness and should identify himself only with his siddha svarupa. The form, sound, touch, taste, and fragrance of Svamini Radha is the only means of survival for such a devotee. A raganuga sadhaka has closed eyes for the material world, and all other thoughts but Radhika’s seva have become insignificant.

When the sadhaka is immersed in remembrance of Sri Radha (smarana- nishtha) it feels as if one is directly serving Radha floating in an ocean of sweet bliss. But when that remembrance recedes and worldly thoughts return, one feels that one has fallen into a desert. Hope for experiences in smarana keeps the sadhaka alive. The hope for attainment takes a seat in the heart of the smarana –anga –sadhaka.

Manjari Lila: Reminding Radha of Rasika Mohan

Madhuri loves Madhava, and the manjaris love Madhuri. One day in Yavata, while Tulasi-manjari is brushing Radha’s beautiful black tresses, she serves Swamini by awakening the remembrance of one of Her sweet sports with Krishna.

Tulasi says: “At the end of Your pastimes in the kunja, Shyam is making Your braid with His own hands, and You are putting on Krishna’s crown. Or sometimes, out of deep love, You may reverse roles. So then Shyam puts His crown on You, and You tie Bihari’s beautiful locks in a veni.

“O Swamini! When can I, Your poor unqualified maidservant, also once serve You as expertly and lovingly as Shyam does? Be merciful and please give me that service! That is my desire!”

While listening to Tulasi-manjari’s harikatha, Radharani becomes overwhelmed and thinks that it is Shyam making Her braid instead of Tulasi. Radhika keeps Her eyes half closed while relishing that thought and feeling.

Raganuga sadhakas should try to remember these sweet pastimes every day. If one continually remembers one’s siddha deha, maya will have no chance to contaminate the devotee’s mind. All of maya’s disturbances are caused by bodily consciousness.

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

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: Introduction Necessary

At every stage of bhakti bhajan from the beginning to perfection, a disciple is dependent on Sri Guru’s mercy, guidance and love. Radha-Krishna’s lila-bhumi of Vrndavana is an eternal realm filled with varieties of loving relationships. Every activity is personal, intimate and performed simply to please Sri Hari.

In his Prarthana Giti, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura describes how a sadhaka of raganuga bhajan who attains perfection as Radharani’s maidservant, sadhana siddha kinkari, is first introduced to Radha-Krishna by Sri Rupa Manjari:

“When will my Guru-sakhi submit me to Sri Rupa Manjari’s lotus feet? When will that blessed moment come when Sri Rupa Manjari will look at me and order me: ‘O Nava-dasi! Come here! Quickly get the paraphernalia of your service!’

“My heart will fill with joy when she orders me like this, and I will do my service with a pure heart. I will fill a golden pitcher with scented water and quickly come before Radha Govinda.

“I will shyly stand behind Sri Rupa as Radha and Krishna repeatedly glance at me affectionately. Smilingly, They will say, ‘O Rupa! Where did you get this new maidservant?’

Hearing Their inquiry, Sri Rupa Manjari will reply, ‘Krpa-rati manjari has given me this maidservant to bring to You! Knowing her to be very humble I kept her here to serve You.’

“After telling this to Radha-Madhava, Sri Rupa Manjari will engage Nava-dasi in Radha-Madhava’s eternal seva.”

Manjari Tattva: Service not Friendship

Swamini Radha stands before Tulasi-manjari (Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami) and wants to offer her a friendly relationship like Radha’s other sakhis such as Lalita-sakhi and Visakha-sakhi.

Radhika says, “O Tulasi! Please accept My friendship! You can become equal to Lalita and the others and serve both Me and Shyamsundara!”

Tulasi replies, “O Devi! I don’t want anything else but the excellent service of Your lotus feet! I offer my obeisances to Your friendship! Let it stay on my head, but I only want to serve You!”

Why does Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami say the manjaris’ seva is vara-dasyam which means excellent? It is excellent because it most intimate and devoid of any hesitation, awe and reverence. A manjari is Radharani’s sakhi and dasi at the same time.

Nothing is done for personal happiness, everything is done for the pleasure of Navina Yugala! Although the manjaris are in the category of sakhis, they are dasis or kinkaris because of their complete dedication to Radharani’s service. The sakhis have a superior position in the social hierarchy and pastimes with Krishna.

But the fortune of service intimacy is greater for the manjaris! They know Sri Radhika’s innermost desires, and therefore they can perform their service without hesitation like no one else in the world.     

Radha’s dasis are called manjaris, which means flower bud, because the manjaris enhance the beauty of the flowers known as the gopis. But the flower buds are never separately enjoyable to the blackbee, Madhusudana. The special privileged position of being a manjari of Srimati Radhika is the unique mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Manjari bhava upasana ki jai!

Manjari Lila: Fixing the Sanket Kunja

A sanket kunja means a prearranged meeting place for Rasika Yugal Radha Shyam. Once, when Krishna takes His supper in Nandishvara, a kinkari fans Him. Without being seen by others Shyam keeps His left hand on that kinkari’s foot, as a means of asking her: “Will I meet My Dearest Radha or not?”

That maidservant then places one toe on Shyam’s hand to indicate that a meeting will be possible. Then the kinkari touches a particular finger of Krishna’s to indicate the specific sanket kunja where Shyam can meet His beloved Radhika. This code was previously agreed upon. The assembly of elders is absorbed in speaking with each other and thus does not notice this exchange.

This is vara dasya, the most excellent service of Radha’s manjaris!

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