“Their Lotus Feet are my Life and Soul”

Srila Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

“O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.”

Today, as I read the final chapter of Sri Siksastakam by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja Gurudeva, reading the commentary of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and Gurudeva, I was struck by this beautiful prayer by Srila Bhaktivinode:

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura

“Sri Nanda-nandana, who plays the flute and steals the hearts of the entire universe, is graciously seated on a jewelled throne with Srîmatî Vrshabhånu-nandinî, at the seat of Their transcendental pastimes, surrounded by the eight principal sakhîs in a kadamba forest of transcendental Vrndåvana.

“The lotus feet of this eternally youthful Divine Couple are my life and soul. I have offered myself at Their lotus feet. I am Their maidservant (pålyadåsî) engaged in the service of Their lotus feet.Sometimes They take hold of my hands, and with sweet voices, They request tåmbüla and then eat it. Sometimes with great wonder, They take a garland from me and wear it. While at other times, They disappear from me on some pretext. O sakhî, happiness is found wherever They are found. I am a maidservant of Their lotus feet. Bliss obtained in Their company and torture endured in Their separation are all the same to me.

“In life and in death – at all times – Sri Sri Rådhå-Krsna are my very life. Bhaktivinoda knows no one else but Them. Falling at the lotus feet of Their dearmost sakhîs, I beg for one thing alone: that they accept me into the personal group of Srîmatî Rådhikå and engage me always in the service of the lotus feet of the Divine Couple.”

Sri Siksastakam Song 8-B, from Chapter 8 of Sri Siksastakam

Sri Sri Radha-Krishna with maidservants

I know that I said my next post would be a month out, and would reveal the 3 confidential reasons that Lord Krsna took the mood and complexion of His beloved Radha and appeared as Lord Gauranga/Sacinanda/Caitanya, but….this really struck me. So I just had to share it. And here is some beautiful art, too!

Srimati Radhika & Krsna – Trying to find out who the artist is!

Keep your eyes on the lookout for the next post, which WILL have those 3 secret reasons for His appearance!

Aspiring to serve,

C.S.