The Exalted Gopis

[Tamohara d co-tp. Editor Bh.S]

The Exalted Gopis

Kalavati

Kalavati's complexion is the color of yellow sandalwood and she wears garments the color of a parrot. Her husband is Kapota, the youngest brother of Vahika, and her parents are Sindhumati-devi and Kalankura-gopa, the maternal uncle of Arkamitra.

Subhangada

Subhangada is the younger sister of Visakha. She is of very fair complexion and is married to Patatri, the younger brother of Pithara.

Hiranyangi

Hiranyangi is very dear to Srimati Radharani and Srimati Radharani is very dear to her. Hiranyangi is dressed in beautiful garments that appear like a great multitude of unparalleled blossoming flowers. Her complexion is the color of gold and she appears to be a temple or palace in which all beauty is conserved. She was born from the womb of Harini-devi. Here is the story of her conception:

Her father, Mahavasu-gopa, is pious and famous for being devoted to performing Vedic sacrifices. He is decorated with wonderful good qualities and he is the close friend of Arkamitra. Mahavasu-gopa desired to beget a powerful and heroic son and a beautiful daughter. To attain this end, the self-controlled Mahavasu engaged Bhaguri Muni in performing a Vedic sacrifice. Certain nectarean foodstuffs appeared from that sacrifice and the delighted Mahavasu gave them to his wife, Sucandra-devi. As Sucandra-devi was hastily eating the sacred foodstuff on her front porch, she spilled some of it. At that time the doe named Suranga, who was the mother of the doe named Rangini, was wandering in Vrajabhumi. Seeing Sucandra-devi spill some of the foodstuff, the doe Suranga quickly came forward and ate some of it. As a result of eating this sacred foodstuff, both the gopi Sucandra and the doe Suranga became pregnant. Sucandra-devi gave birth to a son whom the gopas called Stokakrsna, and the deer gave birth to the girl Hiranyangi in the village of Vraja.

Ratnalekha

Maharaj Vrsabhanu's maternal cousin Payonidhi had a son but no daughter. His wife Mitra-devi desired to have a daughter also and to achieve this end, she faithfully worshiped the sun-god, Vivasvan. By Vivasvan's mercy she gave birth to a daughter who was named Ratnalekha.

Ratnalekha's complexion is the red color of the mineral manahsila and her garments appear like a beautiful swarm of bumblebees. She is very dear to Srimati Radharani. Her mother engages both she and her friend Radharani in the devoted attentive worship of the sun-god. When Ratnalekha sees Lord Madhava, her eyes begin to roll in ferocious anger and she severly rebukes Him.

Sikhavati

Sikhavati's complexion is the color of a karnikara flower. She is the younger sister of Kundalatika, her father is Dhanyadhanya, and her mother is Susikha-devi. She is like sweetness and charm personified. Her garments are the spotted color of an old francoline partridge. She is married to Garjara-gopa, who is also known as Garuda-gopa.

Kandarpa manjari

Kandarpa-manjari's father is Puspakara and her mother is Kuruvinda-devi. Kandarpa-manjari's father did not give her in marriage to anyone, for he considered in his heart that Lord Hari is the only suitable husband for his daughter. Kandarpa-manjari's complexion is the color of a kinkirata bird and her garments are decorated with many different colors.

Phullakalika

Phullakalika's father is Srimalla and her mother is Kamalini. Phullakalika's complexion is dark like a blue lotus flower and her garments are like a rainbow. Her forehead is naturally marked with yellow tilaka lines. Her husband, Vidura has a loud voice and is able to call the buffaloes from a great distance.

Ananga manjari

Ananga-manjari is exquistely beautiful and therefore it is very appropriate that she is named after Ananga (cupid). Her complexion is the color of a springtime ketaki flower and her garments are the color of a blue lotus. Her proud husband Durmada is also her sister's brother-in-law. She is especially dear to Lalita and Visakha.

[Tamohara d co-tp. Editor Bh.S]

Today, Saturday Is Lalita Sasti : Appearance Day of Lalita Sakhi

Lalita Sakhi is one of the principal eight sakhis of Srimati Radharani in Vrindavan. Her name means “playful and charming”. Srimati Radharani is also called " Lalita”. She is a very dear friend of Radha & Krsna. Lalita-sakhi and her assistants incarnate from time to time in the material realm to propogate the topmost mood of serving Radha-Krsna, namely to become a maid-servant of Srimati Radharani.

Rupa manjari (Rupa Goswami) is the assistant and follower of Lalita-sakhi; thus all who consider themselves as Rupanuga bhaktas (followers of Rupa Goswami) are ultimately the servants of lalita-devi and thus through the media of the parampara should always be longing to engage in the service of her lotus feet. When that day comes that we are able to please her, she will engage us in the intimate loving service of Sri Sri radha-Krsna according to our heart's desire.

Lalita-sakhi incarnated as Svarupa Damodara in the pastimes of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu and acted as his personal secretary. "Sri Svarupa Damodara was the personification of ecstatic love, fully cognizant of the highest transcendental mellows in relationship with Lord Krsna. He directly represented Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu as His second expansion. In fact, no one could approach or present anything to Gauranga Mahaprabhu without his sanction. If someone wrote a book or composed verses and songs and wanted to recite them before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara would first examine them and then correctly present them. Only then would Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu agree to listen."

Information on Lalita Devi :

Mother's Name: Saradi
Father's Name: Visoka
Husband's Name: Bhairava

Complexion: Like gorochana, a type of yellow pigment
Cloth: Sikhi-piccha, like peacock feathers
Grove: Her kunja to the North of Radha-kunda, named Lalitanandada, is colored tadid ie. like lightning, with many ruby-studded features.

Service: Her special seva is serving tambula, betel-nuts.
Age: In the Nikunja-lila, her eternal age is 14 years, 8 months, 27 days; she is the eldest sakhi.

Mood: Her bhava is khandita, or a jealous heroine who chastises her beloved. This pure mood is never manifest in relation to herself, however but only when there is a delay in the meeting of the Divine Couple.

Temperament: Vama-prakhara, contrary and hot-tempered to enhance the pastimes of Radha & Krsna.

Favourite Instrument: Vina

Favourite Tune: Raga bhairava-kalingada

Maidservant: Her chief assistant is Sri Rupa-manjari.

Girlfriends: Her 8 closest sakhis are Ratna-prabha, Rati-kala, Subhadra, Bhadra-rekhika, Sumukhi, Dhanishtha, Kala-hamsi, Kalapini.

Characteristics of Lalita Devi :

(1) The leader of all the sakhis of Srimati Radharani

(2) Very magnanimous like her father

(3) The instigator of most pastimes

(4) Always displays contrariness to Krsna's suggestions

(5) Frequently becomes angry and speaks outrageously insolent retorts to increase the intensity of the loving affairs between Radha & Krsna.

(6) Brilliant in composing and understanding riddles

(7) Unparalleled in fashioning things with flowers including awnings, dancing arenas, umbrellas, couches, bowers

(8) Expert in performing magic tricks and juggling.

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