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The relationship between the Jivatma and God is eternal. Even if Krishna wants to end this relationship, He cannot do so. Krishna sits in the hearts of all Jivatmas. The Jivatma has forgotten this Sambandha (relationship) due to Mahāmāya. To free oneself from the snares of Maya, one must remember this relationship. The more this Sambandha reawakens in the heart of a Jivatma, the more he becomes free from Maya.
So, Krishna is Sambandha Tatva. Bhakti is Avidheya Tatva which is the medium to attain Krishna. Radharani, the personification of Prema, is Prayojan Tatva which is the ultimate goal of our Bhakti.
It is the nature of Krishna to extremely love His devotees. Among all the forms of God, Krishna is the most Premamaya (full of love). The moment a devotee starts loving Him a little, He starts following his footsteps (to care, protect and love him). Also, He is Adoshadarshi, meaning, He never sees anyone’s faults. Attracted by such qualities of Krishna, Radharani became madly immersed in His love and spends Her days engrossed in Krishna Chintan. The personification of Ānanda and Hladini Shakti, Radharani, calls out “Ha Krishna! Ha Krishna!” restlessly in Her extreme Prema for Krishna. She is ‘Krishna gata Prana’, meaning, Krishna is Her life and soul. On meeting Krishna, She becomes immersed in the ocean of bliss. Such is the personification of Krishna’s Shakti, Radharani.
And, Manjari is like a spark of Radharani. This Manjari Swarupa is extraordinary. There is no higher form of devotee associate who relishes the Rasa of Yugal Kishore’s pastimes, according to the writers of scriptures of Rasa. [All Rasas are completely blissful but there is a distinct quality of astonishing taste called Chamatkriti which can be relished in Dāsya, Sakhya, Vātsalya and Madhura moods of love in increasing order. Even in Madhura Bhāva, the Chamatkriti increases from Sādharan Rati to Bhāvollasa Rati (Manjari Bhāva). Hence,] The Chamatkriti of Manjari Bhāva is the highest among all Rasas.
“Srimatir sama sabe dehabheda matra,
eka prana ekaatma sabe Radhatantra.”
(Murali Vilas, spoken by Sri Jahnava Thakurani)
Meaning: They are all identical with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; they merely possess different bodies-one life, one soul, they all are expansions of Rādhārāni.
The Manjaris are expansions of Radharani. To know the mood of Radharani sitting inside the Kunja, one need not go into the Kunja and see Radharani. The emotion that engulfs Radharani at a moment induces the same emotion in Manjari but it is a hundred times more intense in Manjaris than Radharani. If Radharani smiles a little, beholding that smile, the Manjaris become immersed in Ānanda a hundred times more than that of Radharani! They start dancing due to Ānanda! On seeing Radharani happy, the Manjaris become immeresed in waves of Ānanda!
One day, Krishna approached a Kunja where Radharani was sitting. Even Krishna cannot enter the Kunja without the permission of Manjaris! One of the Manjaris is always placed at the gate of the Kunja on guard so that no one can simply enter the Kunja. When Krishna saw the Manjari, He immediately understood the mood in which Radharani was currently in. When Radharani is Mānini (the female lover who is in an angry mood when Krishna commits an offense to her), the same mood gets induced in the Manjari a hundred fold and makes her Mānini too! The Manjari becomes extremely angry on Krishna. ‘Krishna has saddened our Swamini, Sri Radharani?’ thinking so, she looks angrily at Krishna with the end of her thin, lotus petal shaped eyes that almost reach her ears and hands placed on her waist. The eyes of the Manjaris are indescribably beautiful. Such eyes cannot be found in the fourteen abodes and even in divine abodes like Vaikuntha Dham. The sweetness of their eyes is such that if a ray of the glance of a Manjari befalls on an ordinary person, he will lose consciousness of his body and his identity!
Seeing the slant look of the Manjari and her angry demeanor, Krishna understood that Radharani is Mānini. Krishna tried to pacify the Manjari and requested to see Radharani with folded hands. But Manjari did not agree because Radharani was angry and didn’t want to see Krishna. “No, Shyamasundar! You cannot enter the Kunja!” she says firmly to Krishna. The Lord of the infinite universes and Vaikuntha Dhams, whose lotus feet’s dust is desired by Rishis, Munis and Yogis engaged in severe penances through innumerable lifetimes; the most auspicious and the most beautiful one in the fourteen abodes and the personification of Sacchidānanda Tatva, Sri Krishna folds His hands before a Manjari and humbly requests her to let Him meet Radharani. But the Manjari does not agree! Krishna offers her His necklace of great pearls and tries to pacify her in many other ways.
The Manjari is extremely expert in her greatest service of Yugal Kishore, which is to bring Krishna to meet Radharani in any way possible. This is the only aim of a Manjari because as long as Radharani is separated from Krishna, She remains immersed in the pain of separation. Nothing can make Her happy at that time. Krishna is Her heart’s essence, Her life and soul and every cell of Her body is for Krishna. She is the personification of Krishna Prema. She does not know anything other than Krishna. She constantly yearns to meet Krishna.
The Manjari also wants to make Krishna beseated beside Radharani in Kunja and let Them meet because, at that time, the ocean of Hladini Shakti swells with Ānanda. Seeing that, the Manjari starts dancing in ecstasy in the Kunja! She hugs the vines and creepers of the Kunja who are also Sakhis and gets immersed in waves of Ānanda! This is the highest desirable goal of the Manjari. She never wants any pleasure for herself. The Ānanda of Radharani on meeting Krishna gets induced in the Manjari a hundred fold and immerses her in the ocean of Ānanda. This happens naturally. The Manjari does not desire Ānanda but the Ānanda of Radharani naturally induces a hundred fold Ānanda in her!
But they cannot simply let Krishna meet Radharani when She is Mānini. Suppose Krishna promised to come at a certain time to a certain Kunja but didn’t come at the promised time. Radharani became Mānini. Tears rolled down Her cheeks and drenched Her bosom in grief. The Manjari saw Her immersed in such a pain of separation and wondered what she could do to alleviate it. She must bring Krishna in any way possible. Therefore, she went out of the Kunja and started searching for Krishna in the forest. Suddenly, she saw Krishna coming towards the Kunja. She held Krishna’s hand and brought Him to the gate of Kunja. “Wait here. I will talk to Radharani,” she said, sternly. Then she went inside the Kunja where Radharani was sitting. “No, Manjari, don’t let Shyamasunder inside the Kunja! He broke His promise to come. I am so saddened! I have nothing to do with Shyamasunder anymore! I don’t want to see Him at all! Tell Him to leave the Kunja,” said Radharani in extreme Māna.
This Māna Lila is a unique way to relish the Chamatkriti of Sringāra Rasa Prema. When Radharani is Mānini, Krishna comes and tries to pacify Her in various ways. Through various sweet words and actions, He tries to make Radharani happy. The Chamatkriti of Prema relished by Radharani at that time is indescribable and beyond the perception of material senses and the three modes of nature. Only Radharani knows what She relishes at such a time! There are many moods of Radharani described (only as an indication) in Rasa scriptures like Kuttumita Bhāva and Udgāra that She relishes in love for Her beloved Krishna.
[There are many different pastimes of Māna. The pastimes of Yugal Kishore are infinite and no one can describe all of them. Here is a pastime of Māna…] Radharani was extremely Mānini and Krishna somehow managed to pacify the Manjari and entered the Kunja. Radharani looked away from Krishna and closed Her eyes so that She would not see Krishna’s face. Krishna went near Her and bent His torso forward so that the fragrance of His body could reach Her nostrils. Although Her eyes were closed, as soon as the fragrance of Krishna’s body reached Her nostrils, Her nose became Krishnamaya! She lost control over Her nose and lost Her composure as She was immersed in that fragrance. Krishna’s fragrance is extraordinary and extremely divine. It is not possible to find such a fragrance in this world. If a minute part of that fragrance reaches the nostrils of a Jivatma, he will be immediately liberated from Maya; his Jada-Chetan Granthi will dissolve and he will go to the divine abode of Goloka on attaining Prema!
Although Radharani was obstinate about never seeing Krishna again, Her nose went out of control and it started to desire to relish the fragrance of Krishna more and more. But Radharani didn’t say anything and continued to sit with Her eyes closed. She was Mānini and could not lose to Krishna! How could She let go of Māna so easily?
Next, Krishna brought His face near Radharani’s ear and said, “He Radhe...” His voice was so sweet that the ears of Radharani became Krishnamaya. Radharani lost control over Her ears which now started to desire to hear the sweet voice of Krishna more and more! ‘What should I do? Now the ears won’t obey Me and they want to hear Him say “Radhe” again and again!’ Radharani thought, anxiously. Both her ears and nose were out of Her control.
Then, Krishna embraced Her. The touch of Krishna immersed every cell of Radharani’s body in an ocean of Ānanda. Her body became Krishnamaya. Radharani lost control of Her body which now wanted to embrace Krishna again and again! Radharani thought, ‘What should I do now? My nose, ears and rest of the body has gone out of control and become Krishnamaya. How should I save my Māna? But the eyes are still in My control. I will not open My eyes at all!’
Now, Krishna went away from Radharani and stood in His Tribhanga Lalit stance (the sweet stance where His body is bent at three places - neck, torso and knees) with the flute in His hands. When Radharani could not hear Krishna near Her, She thought, ‘Did He leave? Let me open My eyes a little and see whether He is gone.’ She opened Her eyes only a little and looked around the Kunja. As soon as She saw a glimpse of Krishna, Her eyes too became Krishnamaya. Now all Her senses had become Krishnamaya and they were out of Her control! The ocean of Mahābhāva swelled with pleasure.
Shyamasunder was smiling sweetly. The arrow of His sweet sidelong gaze destroyed Radharani’s Māna into bits! Then He went to Radharani and sat beside Her. This is how the Māna Lila ended. Such pastimes of Māna bring a wave of Ānanda and facilitate Lila Vaichitri. Such pastimes are beyond the ambit of mundane intelligence.
Sometimes Radharani develops Tivra Māna (extreme Māna). Such Māna is not easy to pacify. Manjari sees that Radharani is extremely Mānini today. What can be done to make Yugal Kishore reconcile and meet again? She says to Radharani, “O Swamini, Shyamasunder has not committed a great fault. He is only late. You must not develop such extreme Māna due to this. He Radharani, please be pacified!” Radharani said, furiously, “Listen, Sakhi, don’t talk anymore! Stay silent!” Manjari became silent as Radharani was not persuaded by her words.
She had told Shyamasunder to sit quietly among the bushes outside the Kunja. “You sit here. Let me see what I can do,” she had said to Him. “Alright, Sakhi, I will sit here. You are the only person who can pacify Radharani and make Us meet again!” said Shyamasunder, persuasively. Manjari thought that she needed to enact a drama to pacify Radharani.
Now, Manjari went again to Radharani and said, “O Swamini, Shyamasunder was crying incessantly outside the gate of the Kunja. He was calling, ‘Ha Radhe! Ha Radhe! Ha Radhe!’ while tears drenched His body. My heart was impaled upon seeing His devastated state. How can you sit in extreme Māna while He is so miserable?” Upon hearing this, Radharani became worried and said, “Then, what happened?” “Then I said to Him, ‘O Shyamsunder, come with me. Don’t worry, I will pacify Radharani somehow.’ But He said, ‘No, no, I will not go to Radharani. Tell Her that I will jump into Yamuna and forsake My life! Since She is so Mānini that She does not want to see Me anymore, I will leave My body!’ Saying so, He went away,” said Manjari. “Oh no, Manjari! Manjari, go quickly and bring Shyamsunder back!” cried Radharani, terrified. She hugged the Manjari and said, “My dear Sakhi, now I will not be Mānini anymore! Please go quickly and bring Him back in any way possible! Please go quickly!”
Shyamasunder was sitting among the bushes outside the Kunja all the time! He was listening to all this in amusement. He can never be angry on Radharani. He does not even know how to be angry. Shyamasunder’s nature is so full of Prema that He does not become angry on His devotees (and what to say about Radharani), no matter how many mistakes and Aparadhas they commit towards Him!
(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 22.143)
Meaning: If a devotee accidentally becomes involved in a sinful activity, Kṛishna purifies him. He does not have to undergo the regulative form of atonement.
Here, Krishna is talking about His devotees. [‘Ajñāne’ means due to ignorance. Although the devotees of Krishna have heard through Sādhus that they should not engage in sinful activities, since Maya continues to attack them until they are fully surrendered to Krishna, sometimes they accidentally slip and commit sinful activities. But as soon as they realize what they have done, they surrender themselves to Krishna again. That is why, Krishna does not make them atone for their mistakes.]
“Aham tvām sarva-pāpebhyo mokshayishyāmi mā śhuchah.”
(Bhagavat Geeta 18.66)
Meaning: I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.
Krishna pardons the sins of His devotees. Krishna has such a loving nature.
“Alright, Radharani. If I am successful in bringing back Shyamasunder, do not be Mānini anymore. Promise me, you will let go of Māna,” said Manjari. “No, no, Sakhi, I promise you, I will not be Mānini anymore!” said Radharani and persuaded her to go quickly to find Shyamasunder. Manjari went out of the Kunja and said to Krishna, “Do not worry, now Radharani will be pacified easily. But you must go and plead for forgiveness from Radharani.” Manjari always maintains the honour of Radharani. She cannot let her Swamini lose or be considered inferior to Krishna.
She leaves Shyamasunder outside and goes to Radharani again. “Alright, Radharani, Shyamasunder is about to come. I have brought Him from the verge of jumping into Yamuna with great difficulty! Now, do as I say,” she said to Radharani. “Alright, Sakhi, I will do as you say!” said Radharani. “Sit here. Face away from the gate of the Kunja. Pull the drape over your face and veil it. Now, remain sitting like this and don’t talk to Shyamasunder until I say so,” said Manjari. Radharani agreed. She is so submissive to Manjari! The personification of Swarupa Shakti, epitome of Hladini Shakti and the Presiding Goddess of the infinite universes, Radharani, surrenders Herself to Manjari and does as she says! Such is the glory of Manjari Swarupa! That is why, the Upasana of Manjari Bhāva is the most glorious Upasana path of all. This Manjari Bhāva is beyond the ambit of material senses and the three modes of nature. It is Achintya!
So, Manjari told Radharani to talk to Shyamasunder only when she tells Her to. Then, she went out of the Kunja and said, “Alright, Shyamasunder, let us go inside. But, remember, you must go and ask for forgiveness, holding Radharani’s lotus feet. You must promise that you will never repeat such a mistake. Then, I will pacify Radharani.” “Alright, Sakhi, I will do exactly as you say!” replied Shyamasunder.
They went inside. Radharani was sitting exactly as Manjari had told her to. She was facing away from Krishna, who went and held Her lotus feet in His lotus hands. “O Radharani! O Swamini! Please be pacified. I will never repeat such a mistake again!” He said, pleading humbly. “O Swamini, O Radharani, please look at Shyamasunder,” said Manjari. So, Radharani looked at Shyamasunder because Manjari had told Her to do so! Her Māna had already vanished. But Manjari maintained Her honour by letting Shyamasunder ask for forgiveness before They could reconcile.
Such is the role of Manjari in the pastimes of Yugal Kishore. Lies are tools of increasing Rasa. They speak thousands of lies every day! Although Krishna is the ultimate Truth, - “Satyam param dhimahi”, meaning, ‘I contemplate the ultimate Truth, Krishna’ - but in the Vraja Lila, lies are tools of Rasa.
“Amritam chaiva mrityuśh cha sad asach chāham arjuna.”
(Bhagavat Geeta 9.19)
Meaning: I am immortality as well as death personified, O Arjun. I am the truth as well as the fake.
One should not find faults with speaking lies in the Vraja pastimes. These are Ānanda Lila! Without the aid of such lies, the pastimes of Krishna would not be so sweet. Lies are tools to facilitate Lila Vaichitri. Therefore, the pastimes of Mādhurya Rasa are beyond mundane intelligence.
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