Krishna and Radha rest on a swing decorated with forest flowers. The Gopis are by their side, lovingly serving their beloved Radharani and Shyam - the dark hued Krishna. This is a song of sweet love, almost as if it is coaxing the divine couple that it's time to relax and rest. As a child I would hear Swami Abhedananda Bharathi sing this song with so much devotion. To this day it continues to move me through its sweetness and simplicity. Although I do not know the composer, this song is much beloved of the people of Vrindavan.
Song 14 - PRIYA RADHE PRIYA SHYAM
THE STORY OF RASA LILA AS TOLD THROUGH MUSIC
I have woven together the beloved songs from my childhood with shlokas from Srimad Bhagavatham to tell this sacred love story. The harmonious blend of ancient Sanskrit invocations, sacred hymns and ethereal melodies will uplift and inspire. The Srimad Bhagavatham states that Krishna was just starting his 9th year when the Rasa Lila took place. The young girls of Vrindavan were of the same age. This is a story of the longing of the soul to merge into Divine Spirit. The narration below is how my heart feels, my 'bhava' and my personal relationship with these sacred songs. Please forgive any errors.
THE GOPIS PRAYER, AGANITHA TARA
In the Vaishnav tradition, it is said that the village girls "Gopis" approached Sri Radha - who is the most beloved of Krishna - to ask how they could attain Krishna. Radha tells the Gopis that they should undertake a month long fast to worship Divine Mother Durga and so the young girls commence their prayers on Radha's advice. Their innocent wish is to attain Lord Krishna as their husband. The Gopis gather at the banks of the river Yamuna at dawn where they fashion an idol of Divine Mother out of clay and worship Her with flowers and offerings. This beautiful song in Rag Bhairav and the accompanying invocation from Srimad Bhagavatham sets the scene of the Gopis' sincere prayers at dawn. Aganitha Tara is an ancient Tamil composition by Sage Agastya that is over 4,000 years old. It describes Divine Mother's celestial dance of creation.
VANAMALI VASUDEVA
After their prayers the Gopis bathe in the river and being young children, they innocently decide to swim naked. Krishna appears and steals their clothes from the river bank. An adorable verbal tussle follows where the Gopis demand their clothes back but the naughty Krishna insists that they pay obeisance and apologise for their indiscretion first. Krishna then promises them that owing to their devout prayers, their souls will never again be touched by lust and that their prayer to attain Him as their husband would be soon fulfilled. This song that I chose to celebrate the great joy of the Gopis upon Krishna's promise is a much loved song among Krishna devotees in South India.
BHAJMANA RADHE GOVINDA HARI
The Gopis return to their homes in the village with thoughts of Krishna in their hearts. Every waking moment, in the midst of their daily chores, they meditate upon their beloved - the dark hued Krishna. This sweet song is one that my mother would sing when we children. She learned this song when she was just fifteen years old. As children, me and my siblings were captivated by my mother singing this and my dad even had an old recording of her which, sadly, we no longer have. I have never heard anyone but mum sing this. In bringing this song to the world this sweet composition can be preserved. We do not know who composed this song.
KRISHNA GOPAL
A whole year passes by and Krishna has yet to grant their wish. This song describes the longing of the Gopis as it intensifies. This too is a song I learned from my mother, and I have not heard this sung by anyone else. Although the song mentions Meera, we believe it was composed by someone else whose identity we do not know.
VENUGANA RASIKA (KRISHNA'S CALL), MADHURA MADHURA
On a beautiful full moon night, in the Autumn month of Sharad, Krishna decides now is the time to grant the Gopis' wish. He takes upon himself the power of Yoga Maya to manifest the Rasa Lila. Krishna starts to play his flute, a celestial raga that only the Gopis can hear. The Gopis who are busy tending to their families are inextricably drawn to the sound of Krishna's flute. They leave everything behind to run towards Krishna in the forest. The ethereal song "Venugana Rasika" is a beautiful compositio by my Guru Sri Sri Krishna Premi Maharaj (affectionately referred to as Sri Sri Anna) and the tune I am singing it to is the one my late father composed. In fact our guru Anna loved my father's rendition so much that he would smile so sweetly whenever my father would sing it! Such a beautiful memory even today.
'Madhura Madhura', a wonderfully emotive song that I learned from my mother, describes the sweetness of Krishna's flute and through its ethereal melody transports us to Vrindavan to witness this moving point in the story. As you listen to this song try to imagine the young Gopis running to the forest in the moonlight. At the end I have included a verse from my dear Guru Sri Sri Anna's 'Vamshidhar Ashtakam' - which so beautifully describes the divine moment the Gopis stop in their tracks, transfixed upon seeing Krishna in the forest.
KRISHNA'S TEASING, TUMHARE KARAN
Krishna greets the Gopis in the forest and enquires why they have come. He teasingly then tells them to return to their families, for their duty to family should take utmost priority. The Gopis' sweet yet accusatory reply to Krishna is described through the chapter 'Pranaya Geetam' in the Bhagavatham. I have sung just a few lines here. 'The moment we heard your flute, all our attachments were decimated, we are no longer tied to this world or its duties. We only belong to you. If you forsake us, surely you are not the Supreme Lord that the Universe reveres!'
'Tumhare karan', a sweet song by Saint Meera, to me encapsulates the Gopikas's response as described in the Srimad Bhagavatham. I am overjoyed to include this song to describe the Gopis' emotions at this point in our love story.
GOVINDA GIRIDHARI
Krishna, charmed by the sweet response of the Gopis, relents to their heart melting response. The girls are overjoyed, chanting His divine name 'Govinda! Govinda!'. I heard my beloved Guru sing this song in 1992 at a kirtan at our home and instantly fell in love with this sweet chant. This beautiful song was composed by Dachu mama, the son of Saint Arana. Sri Arana was an ardent Krishna devotee who lived in Chennai in the early 1900s. Dachu mama was himself a great devotee of Lord Krishna and Sri Radha who composed so many beautiful songs. I am so honoured to include this song on Rasa.
KRISHNA DISAPPEARS, DAYA KARO
With Krishna in their midst, the girls start to feel a sense of spiritual pride that the Supreme Lord is their lover and nobody else has this good fortune. With the rise of the spiritual ego, Krishna instantly disappears. I have sung the first few verses of 'Gopika Geetam' from Srimad Bhagavatham, which describes in exquisite detail the myriad emotions and despair felt by the Gopis when Krishna leaves. They are overcome with remorse, pain and longing amidst feelings of enlightenment, gratitude and hope.
This sweet song "Daya Karo", taught to me by my beloved late father when I was just a little girl, encapsulates the essence of the Gopika Geet. With its enchanting melody that is as once melancholy yet uplifting and its moving lyrics, we will feel one with the Gopis in this moment.
KRISHNA REAPPEARS, RADHA PYARI
The Gopis are so heartbroken that they are at the point of death, unable to bear Krishna's absence a moment longer. Krishna comes back! He appears in a blaze of light, with his smiling countenance - the divine enchantor! The girls spring back up to their feet and rejoice.
"Radha Pyari", this powerful and moving song shares this moment of joy and sheer relief. Krishna, our beloved, is back!
The divine dance begins! Thousands of Gopis dance along with Radha and Krishna. This beautiful song, by Dachu mama of Saint Arana's sangha, builds the most beautiful depiction of the Rasa Lila. Krishna is playing his flute which appears to sing Radha's name. The Gopis chant Krishna's name incessantly as the fever rises.
RADHA NACHE
Radha and Krishna are dancing and amongst them, the sweet Gopis who have come to the banks of the River Yamuna. This sweet song describes this celestial scene. It describes the resounding sound of their anklets which seem to chant in praise of Krishna as he plays his divine flute. This song was composed by Saint Arana's daughter Srimati Susheela..
NATAVARALAL
The Rasa dance continues with joy. Krishna takes myriad forms using his powers so that each Gopi gets her own Krishna to embrace and dance with. The song describes the myriad dark hued Krishnas and the radiant Gopis like a exquisite mandala of emeralds and 'Sphatika' gems (white crystals). It is said that the Gods all gathered in the skies to witness this divine Lila! This unimaginably beautiful song, composed by Dachu mama of Sri Arana sangha, describes the scene of the Rasa dance in moving detail. The poetry and melody is sublime.
JALADHARA SAMA NEELA
Under the full moon on the fragrant Autumn night, this song describes the unimaginable beauty of the dark hued Krishna and the radiant Radha. Yet another composition by Dachu mama of Arana's sangha, this song is overflowing with bhava! As little children living in India we would circumambulate the small temple on our street during the Hindu festivals, singing this beautiful song.
GLORY TO BELOVED RADHA, PRIYA RADHE
The invocation here has the first 2 verses of my Guru Sri Sri Krishna Premi Maharaj's composition - Radhika Ashtakam. The 3rd shloka is one that I heard our beloved Swamiji Abhedananda Bharati sing and I do not know who the composer is.
The song 'Priya Radhe', according to the 'bhava' in my heart, describes this scene. Radha and Krishna sit on a swing decorated with forest flowers. The Gopis are by their side, lovingly serving their beloved Krisha and Radharani, coaxing the divine couple to rest as the dance has concluded. As a child I would Swami Abhedananda sing this song with so much devotion. To this day it continues to move me with its sweetness and simplicity. Although I do not know the composer of this ancient song, it is a much beloved chant of the people of Vrindavan.
Song 14 - MANDHA MANDHA
At the end of the night, after the dance concludes, Krishna, Radha and the Gopis enter into the river Yamuna to cool off. They frolick in the river with great joy. This song describes this heavenly scene - the love that abounds on the banks of the softly flowing Yamuna river. Composed by Dachu Mama of Sri Arana's sangha.