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RASIC SIROMANI SRI SRI HARIDASJI MAHARAJ
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The Vedic manthra reads as 'Raso Vaisaha '(He is Rasa). The ultimate destiny of Jeeva is 'Rasa '. The Divine play of Radhakrishna i.e. Raas Leela was born out of Rasa and Raas Leela is the pinnacle of Divine Philosophy or Vedanta.
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The Master (Swamini) of Raas Sri RADHAJI's eight faces represent Her eight maid companions (Sakhis). If Radhaji is an ocean, Her eight companions are like eight great rivers and all the rivers tend to flow towards ocean. The Sakhis have no other destination than Radhaji.
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The ocean of Rasa -Sri Radha manifested Herself in two transcendental forms for the sake of Divine Play. These two forms are reverently addressed by Vedic Rishis as Radha and Krishna.
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'Yah Krishna saapi Radha Yah Radha Krishnaeva saha'- Narada Pancharatra.
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That Transcendental Form (Swaroop) who is known as Krishna is indeed Radha. That who is Radha is indeed Krishna. Their transcendental nature is one and the same.
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The goal of worship of Brindavan is RASA (Rasopasana). For the devotee of Vraj the goal is not Govinda but RASA. Revealing the philosophy of Rasa for the well-being of the world is the religion of Rasik Devotees (or devotees of Rasa). Their life, their sustenance and their very raison d'être is Sri Radha and their goal of life is to participate in Her eternal play (Nitya Ras). The life stories and instructions of such great devotees who are dearest to Sri Radha appear in this Volume.
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Sri Haridasji was one of the greatest Rasic Saints of Vrindavan and was an incarnation of Lalitha Sakhi who is most prominent among Eight Sakhis of Radhaji. Once when he was a child his parent took him to a Shiva temple to perform abhisheka (service with milk, water, honey etc.) When the boy about perform the divine service every one heard a voice. It said " this boy should not carry on abhisheka. He is the Sadguru of Mahadeva (Shiva)". In the transcendental Vrindavan at the behest of Radhaji, Lalitaji once graced Shivaji with the sacred six lettered manthra of Radhaji at a time when He was performing great penance to behold and participate in the Vraj RAAS. Here on the earth the Divine Voice stopped the boy from performing the Service as he is the manifestation of Lalitha Sakhi.
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Haridasji used to immerse in meditation in Nidhivan (a garden within Vrindavan). His disciples amazed to see him offering namaskar to a particular place in the garden every day. When asked about the significance of the place he said, " the repository of the spiritual wealth of the universes manifested here" A few days hence the dual idol (yugal murthi) was dug out and installed in a temple. Since installation for three days every one heard the sound of breathing continuously from the idol. Thousands of people blessed with the darsan of the Dual Idol. He is worshipped as Ban ke Bihari (One who roams in the gardens). By this very name the Supreme Lord who is resplendent at the altar of Universes declares that He is beyond any name. By the influence of Ban ke Bihari hundreds of western families settled in Vrindavan to lead a life of Divine Service and worship. History tells us that Emperor Akbar has visited Brindavan as a fakir to have the darshan of Haridasji who is the main reason behind the appearance of Bihariji. The court musician of Akbar (Tansen) had become Haridasji's disciple and served him. The Indian Government released a postal stamp in the honour of this saint of lyric and music of Rasa.
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Here in the upcoming pages we present readers a translation of an essay of Dr. Bhagavan Sahascheri who is a disciple in the path of Haridasji. In this essay the author acquaints us about the Divine philosophy of worship of Radhaji blessed by Swami Haridasji Rasiksiromani Sri Sri Haridas Maharaj's Radha Tatva Chintan (Divine philosophy of Sri Radha)
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The Holy Name Sri Radha creates streams of Divine nectar within the ears. More than the name She is Bhav (highest divine feeling). She is transcendental, eternal and primal. The Bhav cannot be attached to a logical mind that generates thoughts and intentions. It can be understood only in the state of inwardness because it belongs to the eternal joy emanating from Divine Play of Supreme Divine Personality in the worship of RASA (It is called Rasopasana). The Bhav is obviously super natural and it is beyond the reach of speech and mind. It emanates joy and ecstasy every moment and is resplendent with enchanting luminescence. That Rasa or ecstasy or light can be visualized only with Divine Eyes. Even its outlines cannot be perceived with the help of speech. Only that transcendental sight immersed in' Radha Bhav' can portray its quintessence. Obviously that portrayal is not a result of imagination. Attaining the inner sight of Radha Bhav is not at all easy. Only the Grace of Radhaji can take us to the realms of Her Divine Presence.
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None otherthan Sri Krishna is be spelled while chanting the name Radha. He cannot live a moment without Radhaji. The very intention for comprehensive understanding of Mahabhava Swaroopini Sri Radhaji is indeed a hallmark of stupidity and ignorance.
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By nature (sahaja swaroop) She is neither a mere daughter of Raja Vrishabhanu nor a loving gopi of Krishna. Sri Krishna too is not a mere son of Nanda Babu. Sri Krishna is the primal Brahman(Paratpara Brahma) Sri Radha is primordial power. She sustains and controls the RAAS. She is the supreme controller of Brindavan and the originator of universes. She is the embodiment of Supreme Divinity and She is the life of Rasa of Rasic devotees.
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She is the quintessence of centuries-old spiritual prosperity and excellence of Bharatavarsha. She is the goal of Vedas and Shastras. The very Upanishadic pronouncement 'RASO VAISAHA' is addressed to Her. She is the Nada Brahman (Brahman as sound) of Nada Brahmavadi (who worship sound as Brahman). She is excellence inherent in a poet's art and the supernatural ecstasy that roams in the Divine verses of Jayadeva, Vidyapathi, Chandidas and Surdas. Sri Haridasji's majestic lyrical beauties converge into Nikunjeswari Sri Radha. Sri Radhaji's philosophy (tatva) is unfathomable and any magnitude of description about Her cannot reach out to its fullness. It is the Supreme Philosophy and is beyond all existing philosophies. Sri Radha Tatva is fully resplendent in the Rasic practices of Swami Haridasji. The discussion on Radha Tatva commenced nearly two thousand years ago and during its long course cast its light on many languages and many literary works of Sanskrit, Prakrit and modern languages.
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In the devotional literature of Krishna Bhakthi (Devotion of Krishna) Radhaji is shining as Hladini Shakthi. Advaitists regard Sri Radha Tatva as the Supreme State in their spiritual path. Several Spiritual Masters commented on Sri Radhaji. For Her devotees she is beyond any description or any comparison. Sri Krishna's devotees like Surdas have meditated on Radhaji and extolled Her as the worshipper and adorer of Sri Krishna. The foremost commentator on Syamasyam who are lovingly engaged in Divine Play in Vrindavan is Swami Haridasji. He is the personification of lyric and music of Sri Nikunja (abode of Sri Radhaji) His life is a vivid reflection to the Upanishadic saying 'Raso vaisaha ..labdhvanandi Bhavati'. His revelations and commentaries about Radhaji assumed new dimensions. Sri Haridasji is a steadfast and single minded devotee of Sri Radhaji. He is an incarnation of Lalitha Sakhi. His path of worship (upasana) of Radhaji is supreme among Acharyas (masters) of Vrindavan and in his worship or philosophy there is no place for mundaneness. To reveal the transcendental and unique relationship of Paratpara Sri Krishna and Rasa Raseswari Radhaji he descended to the earthly plane. He established the oneness of Priya Priyatham (Syamasyam) and his heart was replete with non-duality of Syamasyam. Eventhough Radha and Krishna have one life, one soul and one philosophy, to arouse and to flow-out Prema Bhav (feeling of Divine Love) in the hearts of devotees of Transcendental Love, they manifest as two. As soon as the intention for Play (Leela) is awakened in the heart of Radhaji, She manifests Paratpara Purusha Sri Krishna. She is the repository of ever new and ever charming Divine virtues. Without Her presence Krishna cannot live even for a moment. She is the protector of life of Krishna.
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The Supreme Lord Krishna says it is impossible to extol the Divinity of Sri Radhaji. One cannot imagine how difficult it is for the ordinary Jeeva to become a companion (Sakhi) to Sri Radhaji. Only the Grace of Sri Radhaji can lead and elevate him to such Supreme State. If Her Divine virtues of pure sattva are imbibed and realized even by a fraction Devatas (angels) can transcend to higher divine planes. Swamiji extolled the Divine light immanent in the Philosophy of Love graced by Sriji in his majestic verses of music and dance. The Master (Swamini) of Haridasji Kunjaviharini Sri Syamaji's Divine opulence and resplendence is beyond comparison, beyond definition and description.
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Sri Radhakrishna dual is natural in form and eternal in its presence. Syamasyam's gold and black light resembles lightning in a black cloud. Both are equal in age and their Divine Form is strong and effuses majestic light. This beautiful dual manifested itself to captivate the hearts of deserving Jeeva. "Oh! Mind you keep on watching this dual. Always behold them with ever watchful eyes". Thus Spiritual Masters (Acharyas) advise the mind. Radhaji's Divine qualities are the reason for the magnificent attraction emanating from Her Divine phenomenon. Sri Krishna cannot live even a moment without watching Her enchanting form and He is thoroughly enticed by Her endless magnificence.
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Sriji's form is transcendental and it is of Rasa. This form of Rasa is replete with golden luminescence. Her every moment is extremely tender, Her every word transmits Divine Ecstasy. She is versatile Divine Player. She plays eternally with Sri Krishna in myriad ways and He is nourished with Rasa by Her eternally.
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Sri Radhakrishna is of one life in two bodies. Both of them regard each other as their own. Sri Radha is repository of gracefulness. Assuming ever new forms She roams in Vrindavan. Her play is ever new and ever charming. The smile shining on Her lotus face is majestic and Sri Krishna himself is unable to describe the transcendental supremacy and charm of Radhaji. Discerning the ever newness of Radhaji He says "Sri Radha, millions of fulmoons pale away before the luminescence of your lotus face". The heart is not contented with any amount of meditation day-in day-out on Her luminescence.
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The magnificence of Radhaji is obviously incomparable. One who compares Her Lotus face to a lightning is not a truth-sayer, for Sriji's Divine Form is beyond comparison. Sri Radha is comparable only with Sri Radha. She is an ocean for Form (Roopa), traits and love. All attributes for Love, penchant for playfulness, ever new resplendent elegance and youthful ease reach their culmination in Sri Radha. She is the source of ever charming melodious musical tunes. Is She a lyric or song? Is She a musician or the instrument? A Veena (musical instrument) or the notes of Veena. No one can ever answer. She is immanent in all musical notes and tunes in their subtle nuances. She Herself is primal sound (Nada). She only consummates the Ras Leela (Supreme Divine Play) initiated by Krishna. She is the source of Divine virtues latent in the universes. She initiates, sustains and ends the creation of universes. Lord Krishna anxiously waits for Her gracious glances. He adorefully immerses in decorating Her Divine Form in many a pleasant methods and He carries on His 'play' according to Her will.
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