81-85 Decorating Rādhā II

81-85 Decorating Rādhā II

Decorations for Rādhā’s ears

Verse 81
Rangadevi fastens a gold taranka (earring) to each of Rādhā’s ears.
It is shaped like a palm leaf joined by a lotus bud.
In front is small flower design made of blue sapphire. Hence the taranka looks like a bumble bee resting above a golden lotus.

Rasa-tarangini Tika:
Rangadevi is the sixth of Rādhā’s Ashta-sakhi group, and the twin sister of Sudevi. Like Rādhā, Rangadevi is a vāmā-madhyā nāyikā, possessing mid-range jealousy, her age is 14 years, 2 months and 4½ days. Rangadevi’s dress is the color of a red jaba flower, and her bodily hue is like a lotus pod.

She is noted for chandan seva. Rangadevi’s mother and father are Karuna and Ranga-sagar, her husband’s name is Raktekshan. In Gaura lila, she appears as Sri Govind Ghosh.

Verse 82
On the upper portion of Rādhā’s ears, Chitra Devi places golden chakra-shalaka. There are diamonds, rubies and sapphires in the middle attached to a row of pearls. At the bottom is a huge pearl hanging from a golden stud. Thus these two chakra-shalakas glitter-even more than the sun!

Decoration for Rādhā’s chin

Verse 83
Using a jeweled pencil, Vishakha places a black dot of kasturi on Rādhā’s chin that resembles a black bee resting on a svarna-padma.

Rasa-tarangini Tika:

In Kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāmṛta, Lalita performs this seva. Seeing this black dot, someone could guess: “Although the moon (Rādhā’s face) destroyed the darkness, it mercifully allows the small offspring of darkness to remain.”
Lalita then gests with Rādhā: “Although I’ve drawn this black bindu which rises like a full moon from an ocean of madhurya, Krishna will consider its black color his own impression and smear it on his own body during Kandarpa keli with you!”

Decoration for Rādhā’s nose

Verse 84
Rādhā’s eyes are long and tapered, and her nose curves like the beak of a parrot. The elegant pearl that hangs from beneath her nose (attached with golden thread) defeats the beauty of the labani fruit.

Rasa-tarangini Tika:
In Krishna-bhavanamrita, Lalitla says that this pearl resembles a bael fruit. Yet it’s also an arrow that Kamadeva releases from the sharp tip of Rādhā’s nose to destroy Sri Mukunda’s patience!
Lalita jokingly addresses this enchanting pearl:
“Oh hey nose ornament! You’re the sweet nectar bait that will allure the two restless fish of Shyamasundar’s eyes!”

But overhearing, Vishakha answers,
“Hey Lalita! Our Krishna is like a whale swimming in an ocean of maha-prema-so as he can swallow our patience, fear and intelligence, he would easily swallow up this attractive hook (nose pearl) too! Therefore, oh Lalita, be careful of what you say-for nothing can subdue the strength of Krishna’s eyes!”

Feeling embarrassed, Radhika’s eyebrows scorn, as she answers,
“Hey Lalita! O hey Vishakha! Why don’t you become like fish hooks to capture Krishna and enjoy him in your own befitting way!”

 

Decorating Rādhā’s eyes

Verse 85
As Radhika’s eyes resemble thirsty chakora birds who drink Krishna’s nectar-moon face, Vishakha decides to decorate their borders with black anjana-the color of Krishna’s body.

Rasa-tarangini Tika:
In Krishna-bhavanamrita, Sri Lalitaji performs this seva. And when Rādhā blinks, the captivating beauty of her eyes are ravishing; even the most erudite scholar would fail to justly describe their charm!

Lalita next jests with Rādhā by addressing her eyes: “Oh hey nayana yugala !* Are you saying: ‘We’re the most beautiful part of the body, why have you smeared black kajjal around our borders instead of decorating us with jewel!’ I shall now tell you the answer: Because you are fond of looking upon ‘Krishna-varna’ (Krishna`s color), we’ve offered you this dark shading according to your own ruci.