Shri Ramesh Bābājī Mahārāja has on many occasions said how "These girls are the purest devotees of Rādhārāṇī. Nightly at Rasa Kunja(the present building of evening dance) one can view for ones self how this is true.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nightly, after the ārādhana, the small gopis engage in a session of the final Nritya seva, under the bhajan direction of Śrī Ramesh Bābājī Mahārāja.
The older kumārīs guide the ‘little ones’ in how to enact the various lilas, stepping here, then there, facial expressions, hand on hip, circling about. From piercing sidelong glances, to a raised finger in chastisement, pulling on the ears, a submissive kneel in supplication, standing on a gopi’s back, the churning of butter, and breaking of a pot, these pure devotees of Rādhārani are puppets in the Hands of the most Sacred Power.
The goal is a team effort in rasa, four groups with two girls each simultaneously performing according to each of their individual bhāvas. Generally, the more expert will dance in front of Bābājī Mahārāja, while those in training frolic in the rear with an eye on the leaders for the next move. Sometimes there is a pause, as they hear, digest, and move in coordination to the pastime.
The highlight is when the entire troupe comes together for the ‘mor lila’(peacock), which requires a precision team-work display, of fanned dresses, hand mudras, bent necks, crooked side long glances and smiles, kneeling in rapture with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in the center.
Occasionally, one of the new recruit expansions will walk in front the visual orchestra, blocking the view by inspection or by just holding the peacock dress in front, entirely blocking out the ‘Divine Couple’ in the rear, a complimentary intrusion of innocence and purity.
Such pastimes are a reminder of how each of us are on some stage of seva, and we too are being watched, used, moved, and kindly being allowed to dance in the Hands of Another.
- gudda's blog
- 333 reads
-
Share
