Gopis of Braj
In the spiritual realm, the Gopis of Braj enjoy a position higher than that of the creator Brahma, the protector Vishnu and the destroyer Shankar. Brahma, Vishnu, Shankar, together referred to as Tridev are Swansh of Shri Krishna Himself and are the all powerful Governors of this Brahmand. Yet, such is the glory of the Gopis that Creator Lord Brahma was unable to even attain their footdust, despite performing severe penance for 60,000 years.
There are 5 main characteristics of the Gopis:
There are 5 main characteristics of the Gopis:
- They possess intimate knowledge of the divinity of Shri Krishna yet, they do not reveal it.
- They adore Shri Krishna as Their beloved.
- They have surrendered everything including their own self unto Him.
- They have completely rejected the notion of self-happiness.
- Every thought and action of theirs is solely aimed towards the happiness of Shri Krishn.
Shri Krishna says to the Gopis –
न पारयेऽहं निरवद्यसंयुजां स्वसाधुकृत्यं विबुधायुषापि व: ।
na pāraye ’haṁ niravadya-saṁyujāṁ sva-sādhu-kṛtyaṁ vibudhāyuṣāpi vaḥ
या माभजन् दुर्जरगेह श्रृंखला: संवृश्च्य तद् व: प्रतियातु साधुना ॥
yā mābhajan durjara-geha-śṛṅkhalāḥ saṁvṛścya tad vaḥ pratiyātu sādhunā ॥
na pāraye ’haṁ niravadya-saṁyujāṁ sva-sādhu-kṛtyaṁ vibudhāyuṣāpi vaḥ
या माभजन् दुर्जरगेह श्रृंखला: संवृश्च्य तद् व: प्रतियातु साधुना ॥
yā mābhajan durjara-geha-śṛṅkhalāḥ saṁvṛścya tad vaḥ pratiyātu sādhunā ॥
“O Gopis! You have abandoned all social and spiritual norms in my exclusive service. I am so indebted to you that even if I were to strive for 1000 celestial years to absolve myself from your debt, I’d be unable to do so”.
1 day of the Devtas (Celestial Gods e.g. Indra, Kuber) is equal to 6 months of time on planet earth and the night is as long. So, 1 full Celestial day is equal to one year’s time on planet Earth.
The gopis of Braj are endowed with the same beauty and virtues as Nitya Priya gopis - Shri Radha and Chandravali. The Ujjval Neelmani depicts:
हरैः साधारणगुणैरुपेतास्तस्य वल्लभाः ।
haraiḥ sādhāraṇaguṇairupetāstasya vallabhāḥ ।
पृथुप्रेम्णा सुमाधुर्य सम्पदाञ्चाग्रिमाश्रयाः ॥
pṛthupremṇā sumādhurya sampadāñcāgrimāśrayāḥ ॥
haraiḥ sādhāraṇaguṇairupetāstasya vallabhāḥ ।
पृथुप्रेम्णा सुमाधुर्य सम्पदाञ्चाग्रिमाश्रयाः ॥
pṛthupremṇā sumādhurya sampadāñcāgrimāśrayāḥ ॥
“The gopis are endowed with the same attributes, beauty and skills as Shri Krishna Himself. They are the epitome of sweetness and expertise”.
राधाचन्द्रावलीमुख्याः प्रोक्ता नित्यप्रिया ब्रजे ।
rādhācandrāvalīmukhyāḥ proktā nityapriyā braje ।
कृष्णवन्नित्यसौंदर्यवैदग्ध्यादिगुणाश्रयाः ॥
kṛṣṇavannityasauṃdaryavaidagdhyādiguṇāśrayāḥ ॥
rādhācandrāvalīmukhyāḥ proktā nityapriyā braje ।
कृष्णवन्नित्यसौंदर्यवैदग्ध्यादिगुणाश्रयाः ॥
kṛṣṇavannityasauṃdaryavaidagdhyādiguṇāśrayāḥ ॥
“When Shri Krishna Himself manifests on this earth, as premavatar (descension with the sole aim of distributing divine love to deserving souls), the eternal gopis also take birth as the sakhis of Nitya Priya gopis. The parents of these eternal gopis are also divine personalities. Shri Radha and Chandravali are the foremost Nitya Priya gopis. The Nitya Priya gopis are the leaders of thousands of maidens of Braj who in turn are leaders of their own groups of millions of maidens of Braj”. But -
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तयोरुभयोर्मध्ये राधिका सर्वथाधिका ।
tayorubhayormadhye rādhikā sarvathādhikā । महाभावस्वरूपेयं गुणैरतिवरियसी ॥ mahābhāvasvarūpeyaṃ guṇairativariyasī ॥ “In comparing Shri Radha and Chandravali, Shri Radha stands on the higher platform since She is the essence of Hladini Shakti and the personified form of Madan Mahabhav. She is also the Supreme reservoir of incomparable beauty, attributes and expertise."
Hence, Brahm Gautamiya tantra says - राधा कृष्णमयी प्रोक्ता राधिका परदेवता ।
rādhā kṛṣṇamayī proktā rādhikā paradevatā । सर्व लक्ष्मीमयी सर्वकान्ति सम्मोहिनी परा ॥ sarva lakṣmīmayī sarvakānti sammohinī parā ॥ |
Shri Krishna with Chandravali
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“Shri Radha is the personification of Shri Krishna. Infinite Goddess Lakshmis emanate from Shri Radha. The combined beauty of all Goddess Lakshmis can be compared to a drop of Shri Radha Rani’s beauty”.
All powers of Shri Krishna have a personified form. Hladini Shakti is the presiding power over all other powers. The essence of Hladini Shakti is Madan Mahabhav and its personified form is Shri Radha. The Tantra Samhita asserts,
ह्लादिनी या महाशक्तिः सर्वशक्तिवरीयसी ।
hlādinī yā mahāśaktiḥ sarvaśaktivarīyasī ।
तत्सारभूतरूपेयमिति तन्त्र प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
tatsārabhūtarūpeyamiti tantra pratiṣṭhitā ॥
hlādinī yā mahāśaktiḥ sarvaśaktivarīyasī ।
तत्सारभूतरूपेयमिति तन्त्र प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
tatsārabhūtarūpeyamiti tantra pratiṣṭhitā ॥
“Hladini is the greatest power of Supreme Brahm Shri Krishna, the gist of Hladini is Madan Mahabhav. Shri Radha is the personified form of Madan Mahabhav”.
There are 8 most intimate eternal friends of Shri Radha. They are collectively referred to as Asht Maha Sakhi and are eternal associates of Shri Radha Krishna. They too are Swansh and are the governors of the power of Yogmaya.
They are the head of groups of millions of maidens of Braj (Yootheshwari), and due to Their insatiable desire for the constant association of Shri Radha Rani they serve Her. Their love for Shri Radha is exceptional and they willingly choose to be Her companions. The very life of these gopis is to serve the Divine Couple. Under the supervision of these Ashta Maha Sakhi, all gopis in their troupe get an opportunity to serve Yugal Sarkar.
These Ashta Maha Sakhi are so focused on the happiness of the Divine couple that They can also feel the desires of the Divine Couple. That’s why it’s said they dwell in the mind of the Divine Couple. The ideology of the love of Shri Radha is incomprehensible. The closest we can get to understanding it is by watching the actions of these gopis. Therefore, they are also called the body of Shri Radha (कायव्यूह स्वरूपा).
Under the leadership of these Ashta Maha Sakhi are millions of gopis who serve the Couple in many different ways. Although they don't have meetings to discuss and decide every detail, nevertheless there is perfect synchronization and harmony in everything they do. For example, Their clothes are prepared by one group of gopis and their jewelry by another, yet everything matches perfectly. All songs, musical instruments and dances are in perfect harmony with no practice.
There are 8 most intimate eternal friends of Shri Radha. They are collectively referred to as Asht Maha Sakhi and are eternal associates of Shri Radha Krishna. They too are Swansh and are the governors of the power of Yogmaya.
They are the head of groups of millions of maidens of Braj (Yootheshwari), and due to Their insatiable desire for the constant association of Shri Radha Rani they serve Her. Their love for Shri Radha is exceptional and they willingly choose to be Her companions. The very life of these gopis is to serve the Divine Couple. Under the supervision of these Ashta Maha Sakhi, all gopis in their troupe get an opportunity to serve Yugal Sarkar.
These Ashta Maha Sakhi are so focused on the happiness of the Divine couple that They can also feel the desires of the Divine Couple. That’s why it’s said they dwell in the mind of the Divine Couple. The ideology of the love of Shri Radha is incomprehensible. The closest we can get to understanding it is by watching the actions of these gopis. Therefore, they are also called the body of Shri Radha (कायव्यूह स्वरूपा).
Under the leadership of these Ashta Maha Sakhi are millions of gopis who serve the Couple in many different ways. Although they don't have meetings to discuss and decide every detail, nevertheless there is perfect synchronization and harmony in everything they do. For example, Their clothes are prepared by one group of gopis and their jewelry by another, yet everything matches perfectly. All songs, musical instruments and dances are in perfect harmony with no practice.
In conclusion
Right from the stage of Sadhana Bhakti, we need to take a cue from the selfless love of gopis and aim to love Shri Krishna as our beloved and Shri Radha as our swamini. We should love Radha Krishna - The Divine Couple selflessly; letting not even a trace of self happiness harbor in our hearts. Initially, it may not be possible to fully implement this sentiment, yet the intent must be right. It’s because God accepts our intention over our actions. Eventually, as the mind gets purified, by the grace of Hari-Guru our love for God will become selfless. One fortunate day, when all our material afflictions are cleansed, by the grace of a Rasik Saint like Shri Maharaj Ji we too can reach the highest stature of bhakti and become a gopi and serve the divine couple under the guidance of these Ashta Maha Sakhis.
