Chapter Seven: Literature of the Rasika Tradition

The following chapter offers an auspicious meditation in the lotus of the heart upon the embraced form of Sita-Rama:

Rama resembles a rain cloud, enveloped by lightning. Sita approaches, radiant like heated gold. With one arm they lovingly embrace one another; with the fingertips of his right hand he touches the loosened curl near the tip of her breast. Drawing her body onto his lap, he repeatedly jokes and delights her, wholly intent upon chewing betel. Thus shines the radiant pair of woman and man, Sita and Rama, bestowers of every treasure.

The text then explains at length the glory of the six-syllable mantra and the ritual diagram, armour, and related practices, followed by the rite of worship with sixteen offerings. A noteworthy feature is that wherever Rama is meditated upon, he is described in the embraced form, held by Sita.

6. Śrī Vālmīki Saṃhitā

The Vālmīki Saṃhitā survives in a folio-format edition printed by Adarsh Printing Press, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in Vikrama year 1978. Ramanandi Vaishnavas regard it with the highest reverence. It contains approximately five chapters and appears comparatively recent.

At the beginning, Brihaspati explains before all the sages the ninefold devotion beginning with hearing and singing. He then describes the glory of the Rama mantra and gives its guru-lineage, agreeing with the lineage already cited.¹ This is followed by the marks and duties of renunciant Vaishnavas, initiation, wearing the kaṇṭhī, and other Vaishnava practices.

One especially noteworthy point concerns subdivisions of the upright sectarian mark. Rama tells Hanuman that devotees attached to him do not wear the central śrī, while Sita’s devotees place the auspicious dot of śrī in the middle—