Krishna Nectar Lilas 98 Krishna Steals Saris part two

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The gopis set the excellent puja items on the sandy white banks of the Yamuna, which glistened like camphor powder. They chose a clean, quiet place for puja. It was a secluded location undisturbed by the wind, and free from the contamination of Yamuna foam and the footprints of birds and animals. Desiring to make a murti of goddess Katyayani out of sand, the highly qualified gopis spoke in sweet voices resembling the soft cooing of cuckoos.

One gopi said, “0 my friends! We have never observed the Katyayani vrata. Before initiating this auspicious act, we should remove the evil elements from the atmosphere. Are we going to conduct the worship individually or all together? Let us decide in such a way that we do not end up with a disaster. With faith and intelligence we should take decision.”

Another sakhi said, “We should do the puja all together in a group. To perform puja separately is not good. Worshiping together will be more beneficial.”

The experts in puja chanted sweet verses praising Krishna’s attributes while offering handfuls of fragrant flowers to a murti of Katyayani molded from sand. Seeing the elegant murti, the gopis felt that Bhagavati Katyayani herself had appeared in that murti. The gopis thought, “How fortunate we are to perceive goddess Bhagavati, even though we have not yet installed the deity.” Feeling that they had satisfied Devi Katyayani, the gopis felt elated. This strengthened their determination to execute the vow. To properly please Katyayani, the gopis did manasipuja of the murti before commencing the worship. While concealing the confidential desires within their hearts and controlling their minds, the gopis silently fetched water from the Yamuna.

 The gopis kept Krishna locked inside their hearts like a precious treasure. After washing their hands and doing acamana they sat down on kusa asanas. Fixing their minds in the mode of goodness, the gopis silently worshiped Katyayani. To invoke Katyayani’s presence in the murti, the expert pujaris respectfully uttered the mantra:

iha gaccha gaccha devi, sannidhanam ihacarah,

Krsnasya sannidhanam naha, prapayasva namo namah.

“Come Devi, please enter this murti. Please help us come close to Krishna. We pay obeisances to you again and again.”

After invoking Katyayani-devi in this way, the young gopis carefully placed an asana before her. With great bliss they humbly requested the glorious Katyayani, “Welcome Devi! We offer our heartfelt respects to you. Please accept this splendid asana. 0 Devi! May your visit be auspicious. We secretly request you to be merciful to us and bring Krishna before us.”

While bathing Katyayani’s feet in water mixed with the appropriate ingredients the gopis said, “0 completely pure Durga! Please accept this worship of your feet. May our breasts be cooled by this foot water, which reminds us of Krishna’s perspiration. Please help us meet our beloved Krishna.”

Following the foot wash, the Vraja kumaris offered priceless arghya (auspicious hand wash) made of selected items gathered according to sastric rules. “0 Devi! You are worshipable by all the demigods. We offer this arghya in hopes that you will soon award us the association of Krishna who is our maha-arghya.”

After arghya the gopis presented acamana (mouthwash). “0 Devi! We offer this pleasant acamana to you in hopes that we will be able to taste Krishna.” Then they offered madhuparka (a pleasant drink composed of honey, ghee, and yogurt) saying, “0 Devi! We offer you this sweet madhuparka with the desire to taste Krishna’s honey sweet lips.”

Absorbed in samadhi and overcome withprema-rasa, those young, pure-hearted girls with thin waists offered acamana again while saying, “We offer you this acamana with the desire to repeatedly drink the nectar from Krishna’s lotus mouth.”

They brought aromatic oil in a jeweled container for massaging the body. Even without any wind it automatically dispersed its rich fragrance through the air. It was an attractive deep red oil just suitable for massage. The gopis said, “0 Devi! Please accept this oil for massaging your body. Please attach our bodies, which are saturated with prema, to each of Krishna’s limbs.”

To remove the oil they used a soft scented powder, which seemed like a spray from a fountain of concentrated bliss. While doing this the gopis said, “We offer this fragrant powder to you. Please remove our sorrow by giving us the association of Krishna.” They respectfully offered bathing water scented with the finest camphor and kept in a golden vessel. “We offer you this finely scented bath water. Please arrange for us to bathe in the nectar of Krishna’s association.”

Excerpt Ananda Vrindavan Campu, Kavi Karnapura

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!