Garga Bhagavatham : Vrindavan Khanda - Chapter 19

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Description if Raasa-Kreeda

 

King Bahulashwa says:- Sage of Devas! After giving darshan to Sri Radhika and after testing her love, what new leela did Sri Krishna display by using his Leela shakti? 

Sri Narada says:- Oh King! In the the month of Vaishakha, also known as the Madhava month, in Vrindavan which was filled with the blooming Madhavi creepers, Madhav Sri Krishna himself started the Raas. On the 5th day of Krishna paksha of Vaishakha month, at the time of moonrise, the attractive Shyam Sundar performed Raas Leela with Raaseshwari Sri Radhika in a blooming garden on the banks of the Yamuna. The land of Vraja which came to the Earth from Golok became decorated with gold and Padmaraga gemstones. Vrindavan, which assumed its divine form and became filled with wish-fulfilling trees and Madhavi creepers, was looking so stunning that it was making the Nandanvan gardens in heaven look ordinary. River Yamuna became filled with colorful lotuses and elegant swans. The gemstone studded staircases and golden pavilions along her banks dazzled exceedingly more than ever before. Giriraj Govardhan looked majestic like the king of elephants. Just as bees swarm around the liquid flowing from the temples of an elephant, similarly bees could be seen buzzing along the beautiful waterfalls flowing down from the crevices of the majestic Govardhan mountain. The gemstone studded peaks were dazzling all the directions. The sweet sounds of the birds perched on the creepers in Govardhan were making the atmosphere very pleasant. The thickets blooming with flowers in all directions in Govardhan were appearing divine. Pathways leading to the thickets, with pavilions on either side, rows of tall pillars, and beautiful courtyards were enhancing the beauty of the place. Flags fluttering from the temples in the thickets, golden pots in the temple courtyards, and beautiful red and white petalled flowers were adding to the attractiveness. The elegance of Vasanta Ritu (spring season) was present in all of them. Cuckoo birds and Sarasa birds were singing with melodious voices. Pigeons and peacocks were chirping around here and there. All the thickets were looking very attractive due to the buzzing of the bees, which seemed to be singing the glories of Radha Krishna. The cool breeze was spreading the fragrance of the lotuses that had bloomed in the Yamuna river. 

At that time many Gopi maidens gathered for the service of Sri Krishna. Some of them were residents of Golok and some were experts in the art of making beds. Some were experts in the art of beautification and some were gate-keepers in Golok. Some Gopis were the bearers of the name -"paarshad", some were bearers of royal-parasols and hand-fans, and some were adept in the service of guarding Sri Vrindavan. Some were residents of Govardhan, some were garden-keepers and some were residents of the Nikunja gardens. Some were expert dancers and some were expert instrument-players. The beauty and charm of their faces were putting the beauty of the moonlight to shame. They were in the prime of their youth. Twelve yoothas (groups) of such Gopis approached Sri Krishna. Similarly, river Yamuna herself personified as a maiden arrived there with her yootha. They were dressed in blue garments and were decked in gem-studded ornaments. They were dark-complexioned and youthful. The beauty of their eyes was trivializing the beauty of fully blossomed lotuses. Similarly, river Ganga, the daughter of sage Jahnu also arrived with her yootha. They were fair-complexioned. They were dressed in white garments and adorned exquisite pearl necklaces. Similarly, Goddess Rama, herself also arrived with her yootha. They were dressed in red garments, were fair as the moon, donned enchanting smiles, and were decked with ornaments studded with Padmaraga gems. 

    Similarly, Madhumadhavi, who introduces herself as Krishna-patni (Consort of Krishna) arrived. She had her group of Sakhis with her. Their complexion was pink like newly bloomed lotuses, adorned beautiful garments and wore flower garlands. In the same way, river Viraja also arrived with her group of Sakhis. They were wearing green garments. Lalita, Vishakha, and Lakshmi also arrived with their respective yootha of sakhis. Similarly, the yoothas of Ashta-sakhis (eight sakhis), shodasha-sakhis (16 sakhis) and yoothas of 32 sakhis also arrived. Oh King! Lord Shyam Sundar looked immensely attractive in the stage of Raas along with all the youthful sakhis. 

Just as the moon shines while surrounded by groups of stars, so was Sri Krishnachandra shining in Vrindavan, being surrounded by the beauties. He was wearing the fine pitaambar (yellow-garment). In the form of a dancer, He was attracting the minds of everyone. In His hand was the betaki-stick. He was playing the flute and increasing the love those Gopi-beauties. Adorned by a peacock-crown on His head, vanamala and flower garland on His chest, and with earrings dangling from His ears, He was looking exceedingly charming. Just as Rati and her husband Manmatha complement each other's presence, similarly Sri Radha and Radhavallabh Sri Krishna were enhancing each other's beauty in the Raas-Mandala. Amidst the melodious songs of the damsels, Sri Krishna arrived with Sri Radha on the banks of the Yamuna. Sri Krishna sat for some time on the banks of the Yamuna, along with the lovely sakhis. He was admiring the beauty of the gardens of Vrindavan and talking sweetly. 

He was walking with Sri Radha and was roaming in the elegant gardens while laughing and talking sweetly. In one of the gardens, He let go of His beloved's hands and suddenly hid Himself. Without any delay, Sri Radha found Him hiding behind a tree. Then Sri Radha began to run from Him and with her anklets jingling with every step, she hid from Madhav. As soon as Madhav managed to find her and came near her, she immediately ran and hid elsewhere. She was slightly running ahead of Sri Krishna among the trees. At that time, Sri Radha along with Sri Hari was looking radiant like a golden creeper wound around the black Tamala tree, and like a lightning near a dark cloud and like a gold mine in the middle of Neelachala mountains. In the Raas mandal of Vrindavan, Sri Radha, who mesmerizes the entire universe with her beauty and Sri Krishna, who bewilders even Manmatha with His beauty were charming like Rathi and her husband Kamadeva. Sri Krishna multiplied Himself and began to perform the Raas dance with every maiden who was present in the stage of Raas. Along with Him, the Gopi beauties also began to sing and dance elegantly. The Gopi maidens dancing with the multiple Krishnachandras looked like heavenly maidens dancing with multiple Indras. Thereafter Madhusudan Sri Krishna began playing the beautiful sakhis in the waters of the river Yamuna just as the king of Yakshas, Kubera sports in the waters along with the beautiful Yaksha women. With the colorful flowers from the hair of the Gopis strewn all over the waters, River Yamuna looked like a gorgeous blue silk fabric imprinted with colorful flowers. Accompanied by Mrindangas and cymbals, those Gopi maidens sang the praises of Madhusudan. Their wishes were fulfilled. Sri Hari freed them from all their miseries. Their flower garlands were coming undone and they were immersed in immense bliss. When the graceful maidens were splashing the water with their hands, drops of water formed small fountains everywhere in the Yamuna and the Lord of Vrindavan Sri Hari, was looking like the elephant Gajendra playing the waters with his group of female elephants. The wives of Vidhyadhars, Devatas and Gandharvas began to shower heavenly flowers from the skies along with their husbands all over the Raas arena. They were all intoxicated by the beauty of the Raas which they witnessed and the waist belts around their garments became undone. 

 

 

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