Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī is an eternally liberated maidservant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, so he is the greatest authority, the ācārya of the (Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava) sampradāya (tradition) and by following in his footsteps one will surely attain this service. He gave the perfect example to the practising devotees with his sādhana-maya jīvana, his life, that was full of devotional practice. “I want to think of myself as a follower of the Gosvāmīs like Rūpa and Raghunātha dāsa.

What can I do to accomplish that?” Hearing and chanting of the mahā vāṇī (great words) of Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī will awaken that identification as follower of Rūpa and Raghunātha. His very powerful words are even greater than the words of the Ṛṣis of yore, for these words are filled with the līlā-rasa of the most confidential Vraja nikuñjas to which even the great sages did not have access. The kiṅkarīs know even better how to attain Rādhārāṇī’s foot-service than Rādhārāṇī Herself!

The six Gosvāmīs are all eternally perfect maidservants from the groves of Vraja, therefore it is required to follow in their footsteps. Śrī Raghunātha’s love can be understood through this Vilāpa. For this reason we are discussing Vilāpa Kusumāñjali. Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī prays: “Hā devi! Please give me the excellent service
of Your lotus feet!”

This service is so excellent because it is completely free from shame and reverence, and it is very luscious. Such service cannot be found anywhere, but now it is given as a special token of mercy ofŚrī Gaurasundara. Raghunātha dāsa is a nitya siddha kiṅkarī and the guru of the (Gauḍīya) sampradāya. The beautiful and sweet service of Śrī Rādhā is also most dear to us. Of all kinds of servanthood the servitude ofŚrī Rādhā is the greatest. Although you are a sakhī, you are also a maidservant, adolescent in form and attributes, and qualified for the most intimate services. There is no other kind of servitude that can soothe the hearts of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas. The mañjarīs are actually taking part in the madhura rasa, but still it is servitude, for their service is within the scope of the madhura rasa— rūpa raghunātha pade hoibe ākuti; kobe hām bujhabo sei yugala prīti? “When, will I, by following in the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa and Śrīla Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī, understand the love of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa?” (Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura)

Rūpa and Raghunātha dāsa’s bodies are made from tip to toe of yugala ujjvala rasa, splendid consciousness of the Divine Couple. How eager their hearts were! How can one become absorbed in this splendid consciousness without being full of this yugala ujjvala rasa?

Meditation on the Kāma gāyatrī-mantra is very helpful for entering into this mood. vṛndāvane aprākṛta navīna madana; kāma bīja kāma gāyatrī yāhāra upāsana (C.C. Madhya 8) “The transcendental youthful Cupid of Vṛndāvana (Kṛṣṇa) is meditated upon and attained by the Kāma gāyatrī-mantra which has the Kāma-bīja (seed of transcendental desire) joined to it.”

He who makes the devotees forget the material world and who maddens them with His transcendental form, qualities and pastimes, is the transcendental youthful Cupid, and on Him we meditate (dhīmahi). gāyantaṁ trāyate yasmād iti gāyatrī: “That which liberates by being sung is a gāyatrī.” The worship with the Kāma-gāyatrī-mantra is meant to save us from material existence and to make our bodies, minds and life-airs fit for relishing the flavours of Rādhā-Govinda’s transcendental pastimes.

Srila Ananta das Babaji

Srila Ananda Gopal Goswami