Garga Bhagavatham : Vrindavan Khanda - Chapter 24

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 Raasa – Vihaar; Discourse by Aasuri Muni

Sri Narada says:- Thereafter, Shyamsundar Sri Krishna admiring the beauty of the banks of Yamuna along with the Gopis, reached Vrindavan to perform the charming Raas. By the boon bestowed by Sri Krishna, the creepers of Vrindavan turned into maidens and appeared as a large group of Gopis and joined the Raas. Oh, King of Mithila! The group of creeper-turned Gopis was shining with enchanting beauty. Sri Hari started strolling in Vrindavan along with all of them. The enchanting banks of the Kalindi river, which was overlaid by the shadows of the Kadamba trees, were being filled with extraordinary fragrances by the cool breeze blowing from all directions. The beauty of this place was being enhanced by Vamshi-Vat. Sri Krishna who was experiencing weariness as a result of the Raas dance rested in Vamshi-Vat along with Sri Radhika. At that time along with the Gopikas, the Devatas in heaven were offering sweet music by playing various instruments like the Veena, Mridanga, Murachanga, cymbals, etc, and showered heavenly flowers from the sky. To please the divine couple, the Gopis began to sing their glories. Some Gopis sang the raga Meghamalhar and others sang the raga Deepak. Some Gopis sang the notes of Malkauns, Bhairav, Sriraaga, and Hindol ragas very sweetly. Among them, some Gopis were extremely innocent and some were naive. Some Gopi maidens, who were full of love, fell in the category of those, more experienced in the path of divine love. All their minds were filled with Sri Krishna. Many Gopis served Sri Krishna physically. Some played with Sri Krishna will ball and others played with Him with flowers. Many Gopis, who created music with the anklets in their feet, danced with Him and drank the nectar of His lips. Many Gopis held Sri Krishna, who is impossible even for Yogis to attain, with both their hands and kept him in a close embrace. 

In this manner, the most attractive Lord of Vrindavan, the king of Yadus, Sri Hari, wearing an orange tilak (mark on the forehead) started roaming in Vrindavan along with the Gopis. Some Gopis played the Veena to accompany His flute and some played Mrindangas while singing His glories. Some of them clapped their hands rhythmically while standing in front of Him and many of them sat under the Madhavi creepers and sang along with Him while playing cymbals. They forgot all the worldly pleasures and were beginning to be enchanted in the divinity of that place. Some Gopis held the hands of Sri Krishna in their hands and went for strolls in the beautiful canopies formed by creepers and admired the beautiful scenery of Vrindavan. The garlands of some Gopis got stuck in the bushes and Sri Krishna, gently touching their chest, separated the garlands from the bushes. The nose rings of the Gopis had strings of pearls attached to them. Sri Krishna untangled them and also gently untangled the long tresses of the Gopis with His own hands and decorated them. Some Gopis partook in the remnants of the betel leaves that were chewed by Sri Krishna. Aho! What great penance they must have performed! How many Gopis gently touched Shyamsundar on His head with two fingers! Some laughingly even tugged on His hair slightly. Sri Krishna engaged in playful pastimes under the Kadamba trees with each Gopi individually and simultaneously. King of Mithila! Some Gopis dressed up themselves as males, wearing crowns and earrings, danced in front of Him, mimicking His moves. Many Gopi beauties, the glow of whose faces trivialized the glow of hundreds of moons, dressed themselves as Sri Radha, entertained Sri Radha and Her divine beloved by singing their glories. Some Gopis displaying Saatvik symptoms such as horripilation, and perspiration, absorbed in divine love and immersed in ultimate bliss, went into samadhi states like great yogis. Some saw Sri Krishna everywhere including trees, creepers, on the ground, in all directions, and also within themselves and entered in deeply silent states. In this way, the Gopi beauties took the shelter of Sri Krishna in the Raas-Mandal on this Earth and became satiated because all they could ever wish for was fulfilled by the Lord. Great-minded King! The bliss and grace that the Lord bestowed on the Gopis, is impossible to be attained by the greatest yogis, how can the Karmis (those who are engaged in performing karma) even hope for this?

Great-Minded King! Listen to an unusual incident that took place in the Raas-Mandal of the beloved of Radha, Sri Krishna! Sri Krishna had a dear devotee whose name was Aasuri muni. He used to be constantly engaged in his meditation on Sri Hari in the Naradgiri mountains. At one time, when the sage was trying to meditate on Sri Krishna, the Lord did not enter his vision. The sage tried again and again, but he was not successful. He was very disappointed by this. Then he got up and went to Badarikashram which is nestled between the Nara and Narayana mountains in order to get darshan of Sri Krishna. However, the great sage did not get darshan of Lord Nara-Narayana. Greatly surprised, the sage went to Lokalok mountains, but he did not even get the darshan of the thousand hooded Lord Ananta. Then he inquired thus with the attendants who were present. "Where has the Lord gone?". They replied that they didn't know His whereabouts. Upon hearing this reply, the sage was deeply saddened. Then he went to Shwetadvipa which is adorned by the Ksheerasagar, but even then he did not get darshan of the Lord resting on the bed of Sheshnag. The sage was further saddened by this. With his face was revealing his divine love, he asked the attendants, "Where did my Lord go?". Once again, he got the same response that did not know about the Lord's whereabouts. Upon hearing this, the sage became very restless and thought to himself, "What can I do? Where can I go? How can I find Hari?"

Thinking thus, the great sage, traveling with the speed of the mind, went to Vaikunth- Loka. However, even there he did not find Lord Narayan along with his consort Sri Lakshmi Devi. He did not even find the Lord amongst His devotees there. Then he went to Golok and he again could not find the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna even in the Nikunja gardens of Golok's Vrindavan. The sage was devasted and became very anguished by the fire of separation from his beloved Lord. He asked the Gopi attendants who were present there about the whereabouts of the Lord. They replied thus, "In the Brahmanda (universe) where Vamana avatar took place, and where the avatar of Prishnigarbha took place, the Lord Himself has descended." Upon hearing this Aasuri muni came to the Brahmanda mentioned by them. Upon not being able to behold the Lord, he went very fast to the Kailash mountain. There he saw Lord Mahadev deeply immersed in his meditation upon Sri Krishna. On that night, with a very heavy heart, the sage asked Mahadev thus.

 

Aasuri said:- Lord! I roamed here and there in this entire creation. With the desire to have Darshan of the Supreme Lord, I traveled from Vainkunta to Gololdham, but I did not receive the darshan of the Lord. Crest-jewel among the all-knowing ones, please tell me where the Lord is at this time?

 

Sri Mahadev said:- Aasuri! You are blessed! Brahman! You are a selfless devotee of Sri Krishna. I know all the tribulations undergone by you in your attempt to have the darshan of Sri Krishna. Sage Hamsamuni who lives in Ksheerasagar was in great difficulty. The Supreme Lord, who went to relieve him of his angst, has just arrived in Vrindavan and is performing Raas with the sakhis. Today, that Lord of Maya, by the power of His Maya, has created a night that is equal in length to six months. I am going there to get the darshan of the Raas festival. Hurry up and accompany me! By this, your desire will also be fulfilled.

 

 

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