On one hand, the scriptures such as the Vedas have declared Him as the Truth, Knowledge and Bliss, On the other hand the same scriptures have described Him as ‘the One full of ras, prem and leelâ’. They say that He is attribute-less, formless Brahman; in the same breath they state that He has a form, wonderful characteristics, and is a treasure-mine of everything that is good. Also, the shâstras glorify Him as the One Who has no shape, no color and is the non-doer (or inactive); but on the other hand, they praise Him as ‘the One Who is golden-complexioned, most effulgent, beautifully dark and lotus-eyed.’ In summary, we see that He is full of contradictions. Nonetheless, all contradictions are resolved in Him by His Own original potency Yogmâyâ who can make the impossible possible.

We have said that Venu-geet describes the purva-râg of Sri Gopinâth and His dear Braja-gopis. Now, what do we mean by purva-râg? Ujjwal-Neelmani has defined purva-râg as –

“Before actually meeting, Sri Râdhârâni and Sri Mâdhav express their passion by looking at each other and hearing about each other. This is supremely enjoyable, and the wise call it ‘purva-râg’ (early râg).”

The gopis had never met Gopinâth before the Mahârâs; this is why they were so full of eagerness. When they hear about each other and see each others’ beauty, then they express certain feelings, and we call this ‘purva-râg’. They hear about one another from messengers, fortune-tellers, singers and sakhis. Hearing is of various types – such as – hearing the name, qualities, flute etc.

Srimati has not yet seen Shyâm; She has only heard the name ‘Shyâm’. As soon as She heard the name ‘Shyâm’, the two syllables ‘Shyâ’ and ’ma’ entered the innermost compartment of Her heart through Her ears. The name ‘Shyâm’ is so full of honey that it gave Her no time to think, but immediately dragged Her soul and forced it to surrender at the lotus feet of Rasamay Shyâmsundar. Who is He? Where does He live? What is His identity? How is His nature? What does He look like? She had no answer to these questions. The name was so sweet that She had no opportunity to even think of these questions. Her blind anurâg wanted only to drag Her to the woods, but how could She go? Is She not from a decent family? But then, She could not remain still either. So, She simply sat at home and chanted the two syllables of ‘Shyâm’. Tears flowed continuously from Her eyes. Her dear sakhi asked Her: what was wrong? Srimati pulled her loving hand and placed it on Her lap. Then, She said –

“Shoi^[1], who on earth uttered the name ‘Shyâm’? It has entered the depths of my heart through my ears and agitated it. I don’t know how much honey this name ‘Shyâm’ contains that my lips refuse to let it go. Darling, as I chant this name, my body is becoming paralyzed – how can I forget Him? The name itself, O my dear, has such a powerful impact on me – What will happen if I touch Him? If I see Him with my eyes, O beloved, how will I retain my virtue? I keep thinking I will forget Him, but dear me! Really it is impossible! Poet Dwija Chandi das says – He shows off His youth to destroy the honor of decent maidens.”

The gopis hear about Sri Krishna’s beauty, excellences and pastimes from the messengers and sakhis too. Above all is His all-hypnotizing flute-song! It is devastating; it excites the maximum madness in Srimati’s heart during the purva-râg. When Srimati heard the flute for the very first time, the power-crazy flute had such an impact on Her that She did not even realize what that sound was. She asked sakhi Lalitâ –

“What was that sound that suddenly rushed out from the Kadamba-forest and entered my ears? Its sweetness has stirred my soul so much that I want to sacrifice Amritam at its altar.

My dear sakhi! I tell you definitely that it has stolen all my self-control – it has brought me down to such a piteous state!

When Lalitâ heard this, she replied, it is nothing else but the mesmerizing flute. Why do you let it weave its magic on You? Please control your heart.”

Lalitâ is instructing Srimati Râdhârâni not to let the sorcerer flute break Her self-control, but alas! The flute has such an extraordinary power to induce madness that it has already permeated Srimati’s heart and made Her crazy. It is now working like a huge powerful mantra, annihilating Her virtue and making Her surrender at the feet of the Flute-player. Does the sakhi know this? Srimati is saying –

(Râi said) – “Who is playing the flute as if He is dissolving poison into Amritam? It is cold like water, no still more cold – like ice – and it is making my whole body shiver. Is it a weapon that it is cutting my heart into pieces like a sharp knife and piercing through its depth? Is it hot fire, since it is burning my intellect – I cannot think what is right or wrong?

Saying this much, my precious Râi became so anxious that She lost all patience. She called Her sakhi and said – Oh! My friend, you told me a bag of lies! This simply cannot be a flute! A flute cannot behave like this! It is some great lover who is reciting a powerful mantra that is destroying all my virtue.”

Darshan too is of various kinds – seeing in the dream, in a picture, and actual seeing.

It was the rainy season. The sky was dark with clouds. The clouds were rumbling. You could hear the music of the drizzle. The frog was calling in passion, the peacocks were shouting ‘ke-kaa’, and the cuckoos sang. Faraway, insects hummed. Srimati was lying on Her bed. Meanwhile, She dreamt of Shyâm and immediately She was spellbound. She surrendered her life, youth, creed and virtue – everything – at His lotus feet. Now, all She had was Her life and that too was about to leave Her. She is telling Her intimate sakhi about the hypnotizing effect the flute had on Her in the dream –

O my dearest sakhi, you are my most confidential friend, please hear my deepest secret. I saw Him in a dream and He had a dark-complexion; now, I belong to no one but Him.

It was raining heavily that night and the clouds were thundering loudly while the rain was falling with a sweet musical sound. I was contentedly lying on my bed wearing a loose dress when I was overcome with sleep. The peacocks were shouting at the top of their voices and the frogs were calling in passion, while the cuckoo sang enthusiastically. The cricket droned and the gallinule^[2] called deeply.

Then I had a dream. After that, He was trapped into my eyes, has pierced my heart, and His words have remained permanently in my ears. He has agitated my heart so much so that shame on my family-honor. He is an ocean of beauty and excellence. His face is as radiant as the moon and a garland of Mâlati flowers swing on His bosom. He sat at my feet and mischievously touched them. He said – ‘I am up for sale, please buy me.’

Oh! How He moves His eyebrows! And every part of His body beautifies the ornament it wears. Just the corner of His eyes is enough to mesmerize the Love-God. He laughs as He speaks and with that He snatches your life from you. He knows so many tricks to fool you.

He passionately embraced me in such a manner that I could not speak a word and our lips touched. My body became numb and I lost all shyness, fear, and virtue. This is making poet Gyân dâs think.”

(to be contd…..)