Radha-pada-darsana

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By Sri Narasingha Dev-Gosai

 

This year, on October 31st, on the Sukla-paksa Trayodasi during the month of

Karttika, devotees celebrated the day that Srimati Radharani dressed in

Subala-vesa - the dress of the cowherd boy Subala. In the dress of a cowherd

boy, the lotus feet of Radha are visible during darsana. This is called

radha-pada-darsana and only happens one day in a year. Indeed, it is a rare

occasion. Thousands of devotees packed the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara

Temple from morning to night with great expectations of glimpsing the lotus feet

of Sri Radha.

 

The pastime of Radha accepting Subala-vesa (Subala-milana) is described in the

book Sankirtanamrta, written by a recognized Vaisnava named Dina Bandhu Dasa who

followed after the time of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. Srila B.R. Sridhara

Deva Gosvami summarizes Subala-milana as follows:

 

" Sometimes Subala played proxy for Radharani. One day in the pasture ground,

Krsna suddenly felt extreme separation for Radhika.  Krsna sent for Subala, 'Oh

my Radha - please go and fetch Her, I can't live without Her.  Suddenly I have

so much earnestness for Her union that I can't stand. Somehow you must manage.'

 

Subala replied, 'But how is it possible to take Her in the jungle in broad

daylight?'

 

'Anyhow,' Krsna said, 'You must manage.'

 

Subala came and proposed to the sakhis of Radharani that, 'Such is the

condition, Krsna can't stand; He can't tolerate the separation of Radharani.  He

is so eager, He is going mad.'

 

'You have to manage somehow.'

 

'How is it possible?'

 

A meeting was to be arranged nearby in the jungle.  This is known as

Subala-milana. They discussed amongst themselves. Subala was a boy, fair looking

and the brother of Radharani. His figure, face and color resembled something

like Radharani. So Subala was sent to Radharani's house and he took the dress of

Radharani. The other party, anti-party [Jatila] approached, 'Subala, why have

you come here?'

 

Subala replied, " One calf is missing and its mother is roaring, so I have come

to find out if the calf has come here. " In this way Subala managed to escape

detection.  Then Subala interchanged the dress of Radharani and Radharani was

converted into Subala. Subala took the dress of Radharani and remained there in

the room.  One calf was also given to Radharani on Her breast. Taking the small

calf [in her arms], She was given a hint where Krsna was waiting at the edge of

the jungle.

 

She approached in the garb of Subala.  Krsna was mad and beside Himself.  He

could not detect that Radharani had come.  'Oh, Subala, you have come back? You

could not bring Her?' Radharani began cutting jokes, 'No, it is not very easy to

get Radharani in the daytime.'

 

Then Krsna could not tolerate, 'What to do, I can't tolerate My life any

longer!'

 

Radharani said, 'If you say, I will bring Candravalli.'

 

'No, no,' said Krsna, 'Curd cannot satisfy the thirst of milk.  It is not

possible.'

 

'Oh, you could not manage.' And being disappointed Krsna fainted. Then

Radharani embraced Krsna.

 

'My Lord, you can't recognize Your maidservant. You failed to recognize me? You

have such little liking for me in you that you could not recognize Me?' Then

Krsna was again pacified and regained consciousness. "

 

In Vrndavana, to commemorate this pastime, on the Sukla-paksa Trayodasi, all

the major temples dress Radharani as Subala. Due to Her wearing a cowherd boy's

dhoti, Radharani's feet are visible at that time (radha-pada-darsana). During

all other times of the year the feet of Srimati Radharani are not visible to the

devotees. One can thus imagine what intensity arises in the devotees when the

day of radha-pada-darsana arrives - very, very intense indeed.

 

It is worthy to note that when radha-pada-darsana is given, it happens in an

indirect way and not directly. In the dress of Radha the pada-darsana is never

given, but in the dress of Subala it happens indirectly. Such is the way of

those things that are most sacred in Gaudiya Vaisnavism.

 

The understanding of Subala-milana is possibly deeper than most of us are

prepared to recognize. Krsna can only be approached thru Radharani, and

Radharani is also not to be approached directly. Only by approaching Her

representative can one approach that plane of divinity. Also, we must consider

that even in the matter of the darsana of Sri Murti, the darsana of Radha's

lotus feet is available only indirectly and only once a year - a rare occasion.

When such a darsana of the Deity is considered so rare, then what can be said of

the darsana of Radharani directly? If such a connection with the Deity is rare,

then how much higher and rarer is the direct darsana of Sri Radha?

 

Yet, ever so often, we find that the concept of radha-dasyam (becoming Radha's

servant) is dealt with rather casually, when in fact one should hold the desire

of such exalted service above one's head with the greatest reverence. Reverence

for that highest plane of spiritual attainment is in great demand and thus one

should treat such with the greatest respect, abandoning familiarity. Familiarity

in that arena for the neophyte will lead not to success but to ruin. The

aspiration for the service of Sri Radha and the darsana of Her lotus feet is

always to be kept above our heads as our greatest aspiration and the ultimate

goal of life. We should not think that it is such an easy attainment, nor should

we make it the topic of public lectures and pamphlets in the name of attracting

many followers or disciples.

 

Failure to heed such warnings, as given by our previous acaryas, lead not to

the darsana of Srimati Radharani but to the inspiration to live in a fool's

paradise - fools rush in where angels fear to tread!

 

Those that approach the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani thru the prescribed

method of worshipping Lord Gauranga in sankirtana are indeed engaged in the

proper approach - not those who think they can approach Her by the direct method

or by performing various gopi and manjari meditations. As Prabodhananda

Sarasvati assures us:

 

yatha yatha gaura-padaravinde

vindeta bhaktim krta-punya-rasih

tatha tathotsarpati hrdy-akasmad

radha-padambhoja-sudhambhu-rasih

 

" One who is extremely fortunate may get the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As

much as one can devote his full attention to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, to

that extent he will be able to taste the nectarine service of the lotus feet of

Srimati Radharani in Vrndavana. The more one engages in the service of Sri

Caitanya, the more one finds oneself in Vrndavana, tasting the nectar of the

service of Sri Radha. " (Caitanya-candramrta 88)

 

Purporting this verse Srila Sridhara Deva Gosvami spoke as follows:

 

" Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has also said, 'Stick to the rulings of the class

you are fit for, then you will see automatically.' Strictly stick to gaura-lila,

Mahaprabhu, and you will automatically find within your heart that

radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi is flowing. Don't attempt directly to have it. It will

come automatically, spontaneously. Not intellectually you shall approach that,

for that will give you a bad prejudice. Not only that, but it will be harmful

prejudice and you will have to expend more energy to do away with that layer of

misunderstanding. So our Srila Prabhupada [bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura]

did not allow these things. Do your duty in your plane, according to what you

deserve, and that will come naturally. That is his instruction all through, not

only temporarily, but all through. Don't do like that, for then you will get

Maya instead of Yogamaya. "

 

He knows it fully well, She knows it fully well - when you are to be taken into

the confidential area, and that cannot be acquired by any other thing but His

sweet will-the flow of Her sweet will, or His sweet will. Try to have the

natural thing, not any thing of imitation or any reflection. Reflection and

shadow - these two kinds of misconception may come there. Reflection is more

dangerous.

 

Those who are actually wise will consider the above instructions of

Prabodhananda Sarasvati, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and

Sridhara Deva Gosvami not as an admonishment, but as a blessing - an indirect

benediction. Gaura Haribol!

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