Jahnava Devi's Appearance day, May 1, N°2

[Guest guest]

Continuing the recall.

 

"While in Vrndavan, Sri Isvari established deep friendships with the famous

Goswamis living there, namely Lokanatha, Bhugarbha, Gopala Bhatta, Sri Jiva,

Dasa Raghunatha, and Bhatta Raghunatha. Ma Jahnava circumambulated the

twelve forests of Vraja-mandala, and served the principal Deities and

devotees in Vrndavana. She would regularly take darsana of the local temples

of Govindaji, Gopinatha, Madan-mohana, Radha Vinoda, Radha Ramana and Radha

Damodara. she also offered varieties of clothing and ornaments for the

pleasure of the Lord.

 

No one has the ability to describe the devotional attitudes she expressed,

considering herself to be lowly and insignificant. Sometimes, Ma Jahnava

would cook delicious preparations and feed the Deities mentioned above.

Then, she would personally distribute the prasada to all the Vaisnavas.

Jahnava Devi had intense devotion for Gopinatha. Upon returning to Bengal

she had a Deity of Radha made and sent to Vrndavana to serve Lord Gopinatha.

By her shining example, Ma Jahnava showed how to perform deity worship and

devote one's life to devotional service. Most acaryas agree that Jahnava

Devi was an incarnation of Ananga-manjari.

 

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Jahnava Isvari, the most beloved

of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Jahnava Devi bestows the priceless jewel of

ecstatic loving devotional service, and she wards off the three-fold

material miseries." ( Sri Narahari Cakravarti Thakura's Bhakti-ratnakara)

 

If you desire to read more on Sri Nitai's wife you can relish p 111 of

Mahanidhi Swami's ecstatic book: Appreciating Navadvipa Dhama.

 

To be continued.

 

Your servant,

Krsna-kirtana dasi.