Radharani’s Manjaris: Tattva & Lilas 055 “Radha Krishna Worship Radha Kunda”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

These posts present the facts (tattva) regarding the identity, moods (gopi-bhava), intimacy and sevas of Srimati Radharani’s talented handmaidens known as manjaris, kinkaris, or dasis. Many wonderful lilas are given to highlight the manjaris’ intimate sevas to Srimati Radhika and Her beloved Krishna.

The information here comes from the commentaries of Advaitavamsa Acharya 108 Sri Ananda Gopala Goswami and 108 Sri Ananta Dasa Babaji Maharaja on “Vilapa Kusumanjali” and “Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi” translated by Sri Advaita Dasji.

Tattva: Living in Radha Kunda

Sri Raghunatha Das Goswami prays, “O Ishvari Radha! May I reside in Radha Kunda! Please be kind to me and don’t let me go anywhere away from Your kunda!” 

“O sakhi Rupa Manjari! Please allow me to live my whole life at Radha Kunda and may I leave my body here too! Even if there is an important duty to do elsewhere, may I not go anywhere else.”

 Awake and in dreams Sri Raghunatha Das cherishes only one desire, Radhika’s intimate service. He prays, “Ha Radhe! I’m unqualified for the seva of Your lotus feet, still I cannot stop desiring this. Who else but You, Radha, can be so merciful to a desperate soul like me. Thinking like this I remember Your dear Radha Kunda!

“O Radha! Please allow me always to live on the bank of Your lake! I will definitely receive Your mercy by taking shelter here! One day Your loving pastimes here will appear before my eyes!” Such unshakable determination is the root cause of perfection in sadhana bhajan. In transcendental greed one does not consider one’s qualification.

Tattva: Glories of Radha Kunda 

Sri Raghunatha Das Goswami also prays to Radha Kunda for mercy. Radha Kunda makes no distinction between who is qualified and who is not. It blesses everyone who performs even a little seva there with the treasure of Radha-Krishna prema.

In Radha Kunda astakam (5), Sri Raghunatha Das says, “The desire-vine of love for Krishna with the flowers of service to Ishvari Radha, mad isha dasya pushpa, instantly sprouts in the heart of anyone who performs seva to Radha Kunda.”

Seva includes bathing in Radha Kunda, offering prayers and arati, parikrama, giving gifts to and feeding the saints, brahmins, widows, kids, monkeys, dogs, birds and fish, sweeping, harinama sankirtan, and speaking hari-katha.  

In Vraja Vilasa Stava (53), Sri Raghunatha Das Goswami says, “Vrindavan, Govardhana Hill, Rasa-sthali and all other places are not equal to even a single particle of one of the atoms, amsha lavena narhati manak, of Sri Radha Kunda.” 

Tattva: Radha Krishna Worship Radha Kunda

When Radha Krishna fail in Their attempts to meet each other, They worship Radha Kunda. Through their achintya-shakti Radha Kunda and Shyam Kunda arrange Their meeting. These divine lakes of prema are dearer to Radha Govinda Yugal than anything or anyone. Sri Raghunatha Das Goswami prays, “O sweet Radha Kunda please let me see Radha’s lotus feet right now!”

And if the kunda replies, “Sripad! Be patient! You will see Radha Madhava in due course of time! Why do you want to see Them right now?”

Sri Raghunatha answers, “O beautiful kunda! Ishvari Radha is my very life! Without Radha I can’t live anymore!”

Radharani’s manjaris ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!