Vasantotsava-the spring festival (Holi) part one

[Guest guest]

Dear Vaisnavas

Please accept my humble obaisences

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

It may be a little difficult for a western person to understand why there is

talk about spring in Vrindavana in february while here in the

nothern part of the world like North America,Europe and nothern part of asia

like Russia there is no question of spring till at least March or

more likely april.But in Vrindava the spring falls earlier generally around

mid of february.The Holi festival is celebrated in Vraja from Vasanta

pancami,that is the first day of spring (as mentioned in a privious text)

untill Gaura purnima.

The following is a summary from "Ananda Vrindavan campuh",written by Kavi

Karnapura(who is also the author of Gaura ganodesa dipika).

"During this time Nanda Maharaja gives Krsna and Balarama leave from

cowherding,so they can have a lot of fun throwing colored dyes and water at

each other,and all the other Vrajabasis.

On that Vasanta Pancami day Srimati Radhika and Her sakhis are attacked with

colored powder by the Gopas as they are on their way to Nandagrama to cook for

Krsna in the morning.(part of the daily pastimes of Sri Krsna is that Srimati

Radharani goes and cooks every morning, and assists Mother Yasoda in her

cooking for Krsna,this is more detailed explained in books like Govinda

Lilamrita).

In the haze of the colored dyes that flies around,Sri Krsna kisses

and embraces Srimati Radharani,but the angry and proud Lalita pulls Her away

from Him and brings Her safely to Nandagrama where they can peacefully do

their daily duty of cooking Krsna's breakfast.

Days later Purnamasi devi(who is Yogamaya personified) announces :

"Tomorrow is MAghi Purnima and the husband of any Gopi who worships the god of

spring(which is non other than Krsna, what a surprise) at the foot of the

Asoka tree on that day will gain a lot of wealth and many cows" !"Hearing this

,the older gopis allowed their daughters allowed their daughters in law to do

the puja.

On Purnima day Sri Radhika sits in the Madhavi mandapa(pavillion) to meet

Krsna on the pretext of doing Vasanta MAdana puja,wearing a crimson

sari.Vrindadevi tells Her that goddesses from the Kinnari planet has come to

perform beautifull singing and music for her pleasure.(the Kinnaras are

demigods very famous for their music,and in the thousand names of Srimati

Radharani it is mentioned she once incarnated by a partial expantion on the

kinnara planet,and Srimati Radharani is the perfection of all the 64 arts as

explained in the Brahma Samhita vers 37 that has a very interesting purport by

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada ).

While Srimati Radharani listened to the performance of these angelic girls,Sri

Krsna appeared on the scene,holding His flute in His left hand and a

flowerball smeared with vermilion (a kind of powder)in His right hand.He was

surrounded by His dear friends like Subala that were loudly singing .His eyes

were rolling like if intoxicated and one friend stood on each side, serving

Him golden betelleaves that He accepted with His pleasing reddish playfull

lips.(Krsna's apperent intoxication is simply due to His pure love for Srimati

Radharani).

Reddish powder flew here and there,and it fell so gently from the sky on the

transcendental body of Krsna,and lightly scenting His head,tilaka,hair

,eyelids(and of course the rest of His body), thus He looked extremely

beautifull.Even some of the transcendental vines of Vrindana, was astonished

to see Krsna in this way.

 

I will describe this pastime later in 3 more parts as it takes time

to present in a fashion that is understandabel and proper for a public

reading,but these pastimes we should know of and appriciate during this part

of the year,and they are transcendental activities that attract us to Sri

Krsna,who is all attractive.

Your humble servant

Payonidhi das

 

 

While Srimati Radharani