The Author’s Submission

—Dr. Atreya’s affection in granting me the benefit of his sacred company will remain an enduring memory throughout my life. My dear friends Dr. Rajbali Pandey and Dr. Ramavadh Dwivedi were both my classmates, and I have always received the affection and cooperation of them both.

I shall never forget the affection and goodwill shown by the Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad in publishing this book. The entire credit for its appearing so quickly and so beautifully belongs to the Parishad. Gita Press of Gorakhpur supplied the printed illustration in a very short time; this was an act of grace and personal kindness toward me.

After completing the work I have felt the joy of bathing in the Ganga. I am deeply happy that the book has been purified by passing under the gaze of the revered “Bhaiji,” Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddar, editor of Kalyan, and that my supreme Gurudeva, the sage-like Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Sri Gopinath Kaviraj Ji, has accepted its dedication. I regard it as my highest good fortune that so much of my time was spent relishing the Lord’s līlās, in the sacred company of saints, and in studying their works filled with experience. I beg this alms from the saints and great souls: may my love for the Lord’s feet increase forever.

This is the first attempt in Hindi to treat the worship and literature of the Rasika Sampradāya. Many errors have surely remained through my lack of knowledge. I humbly request saints and great souls, learned critics, and literary friends graciously to point out my mistakes so that I may correct them in the next edition.

Hariḥ Oṃ Tat Sat. Śrī Kṛṣṇārpaṇam astu.
May it be offered to Sri Krishna.

Secretariat, Patna
Janaki Navami, Vikrama Saṃvat 2014

Bhuwaneshwar Nath Mishra “Madhav”