Radhanath Swami Glorifies Lalita Sakhi

Lalita-Sakhi

If you have any prayers to Lalita Sakhi please leave them in the commenting section below. We will offer those prayers on your behalf.

“The most confidential associate of Srimati Radharani is Lalita Sakhi. All the Gopis, all the categories of Gopis in the whole spiritual world are under the direction of Lalita Sakhi.”- Radhanath Swami

She is the constant companion of SrimatiRadharani. RupaGoswami explains that her complexion is yellowish gold color that is like hundreds of millions of full moons in the autumn, radiating simultaneously. You have seen the full autumn moon when it’s just rising – it’s golden yellow color. That brilliance multiplied by million is the complexion of Lalita Sakhi. Her beauty, her charm, is unlimited and she wears clothes which are the color of the feathers of a peacock. Why does she wear peacock colored clothes? Because the peacock feather reminds SrimatiRadharani of Krishna; it gives her happiness.

Radhanath Swami explains the mood of Lalita Sakhi

Lalita SakhiLord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Mukunda Sarkar in Puri, “Are you the father of Raghunandan or is Raghunandan your father?” Now does this question make sense? Mukunda Sarkar said, “Raghunandan is my father, because he has inspired me in Krishna consciousness.” Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was so happy by that answer. “Yes, one who inspires us in Krishna consciousness, he is our father, he is our Guru”. So this is Mukunda, such a humble position he is taking. He is eager to be inspired by others, his own little son. He is considering him to be superior to him.

“So this is the mood of the Gopis: always to take a humble position, never to want credit, never to want anything for oneself but to give credit to others.”- Radhanath Swami.

So see everyone better than ourselves. That is the mood of the Gopis. So Lalita Sakhi, she wears clothes that are the color of peacock feathers so that Srimati Radharani will remember with pleasure Shyamsunder, her eternal beloved. And her service is to be the protector and guardian of Srimati Radharani. In fact Srimati Radharani considers Lalita Sakhi to be her Shiksha Guru. Lalita will instruct Radharani – Srimati Radharani may feel very remorse that Krishna has done something, and she feels very humbled by that – “He   does not understand the power of your love. He is minimizing you. You should sit straight with your dignity…. why are you running out so fast? …. You just eat. Oh! You are going out to meet Krishna, but you haven’t tied your sari properly.” This is Lalita Sakhi.

And SrimatiRadharani, if she makes some mistake, she shakes in fear of the chastisement of Lalita Sakhi. And Lalita Gopi, she is so much totally faithful to Srimati Radharani that she will even chastise Krishna. She will even stand guard and not allow Krishna entrance in to Radharani’s garden. And she will tell Krishna, “You do not understand the nature and depth of my mistress’ love for you. Why are you taking it so cheaply?” But we should understand. RupaGoswami explains, “In her service – sometimes chastisement, sometimes teaching, sometimes even becoming angry upon Krishna – is all with the deepest affection.”

What is the nature of Lalita Gopi’s love? When she sees even a tiny drop of perspiration on lotus feet of either Radha or Gopinath, it is as if she assumes one million bodies to eagerly jump up and remove that spot of perspiration. That is her unconditional love.

Radhanath Swami talks of Lalitadevi’s position in the pastimes of Radha and Krishna

Lalita SakhiIt is explained by our Acharyas that no one can enter into the entrance of Radha and Krsna’s pastimes without the permission and blessings of Lalita Gopi.

“And anyone who goes to Vrindavan and has that aspiration, that desire to be the servant of the servant of the servant of Srimati Radharani, Lalita Gopi will bring that personality into the circles of Radha and Krishna’s leela, bless that devotee and fulfill the desires of that devotee.”- Radhanath Swami

So therefore in the line of Six Goswamis, we pray to Lalita Sakhi for that pure love of being the servant of the servant of the servant of Sri SriRadha Gopinath.

Radhanath Swami explains the mood of the followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Lalita Sakhi3The direct assistant of Lalita Sakhi is Rupa Manjari, who appears in this world as Rupa Goswami. Under Lalita Sakhi’s direction, Rupa Manjari is the leader of all Manjaris, very young Gopis about 12 or 13 years old or less, who are almost all immersed in assisting.

“The nature of Manjaris is that they never ever, ever want to be with Krishna directly. Their eternal service is simply to be the servant of the servant of the servant of SrimatiRadharani to Krishna. Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami explains in Sri Chaitanya Caritamrita that Srimati Radharani is like the creeper, which is embracing Krishna, and the Manjaris and Gopis are like the flowers on that creeper. They do not touch Krishna directly; they have no desire, no aspiration to do so. However, when SrimatiRadharani embraces Krishna, the substance of the pleasure of the creeper nourishes each flower.” – Radhanath Swami.

To want to approach Krishna directly is not the mood of followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, but to be the servant of the servant of the servant. Gopi bhatur pada kamalayor dasadasadasadasanudas: to be the servant of the servant of the servant. This is Vrindavan, and the six goswamis are the most confidential assistants of Lalita Sakhi in the spiritual world. Rupa Goswami is RupaManjari, Santana Goswami is Labhanga Manjari, Raghunath Bhatta Goswami is Ras Manjari, Raghunath Das Goswami is Rati Manjari, Gopal Bhatta is Guna Manjari, Jiva Goswami is Vilas Manjari, LokanathGoswami is Manjulali Manjari, Bhugarbha Goswami is Prema Manjari, Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami is Kasturi Manjari. All of the most intimate associates of the spiritual world under the direction of Lalita Sakhi have descended into this world. Why have they descended into this world? To give the ultimate gift of loving Radha and Krsna to us.

Lalitadevi’s expansion  Swaroop Damodar Goswami

Lalita Sakhi

“No one can approach the conjugal pastimes of Radha and Krishna without the blessing and permission of Lalita Sakhi, who is the constant companion of Srimati Radharani. And in the same way, Swaroop Damodar Goswami was the constant companion of Lord Chaitanya as he was experiencing the highest ecstasies of the Rasas of Sri Radha.” – Radhanath Swami

Yes. Mahaprabhu came to give that love to the world through harinaam sankirtan, through the proper process of bhakti or devotional service. Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya has come to give us entrance into the Madhurya Dham, the sweet land of Vrindavan; he has taught us with utmost integrity.

But who was the person who was really the guardian, the guardian of the true unadulterated principles of Lord Sri Chaitanya’s principles? Swaroop Damodar Goswami,  Lalita Gopi.

Related Posts: