Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

—this one is extraordinary. Beneath the wish-fulfilling tree stands a lovely jeweled pavilion and temple with a doorway in each of the four directions. At its centre is a jeweled platform, upon the platform a throne, and upon the throne an eight-petalled jeweled lotus. At the lotus’s centre is the pericarp. Within that pericarp comes first the syllable ma, the lunar seed; then a, the solar seed; and above them ra, the seed of fire. Sri Sita-Rama dwell within that circle of fire.

The Divine Couple sit upon the pericarp, served by eight companions. To the south is the fly-whisk, to the west the parasol, and to the north the fan. Bharata and the other brothers, together with the remaining attendants, serve while bearing betel, flower garlands, and other offerings.

Lakshmana stands in the northeast, Shyamala in the east, Hansi in the southeast, and Sugama in the south. Vamshadhvaja stands in the southwest, Chitrarekha in the west, Tejorupa in the northwest, and Indiravali in the north.

Having described their positions in service, the text identifies the locations of their bowers. Lakshmana’s supremely lovely bower, furnished with every implement of service, lies in the north. Shyamala’s is east of Lalita Pond; Hansi’s lies south of the pond; and Sugama’s flower-adorned bower is in the west. Vamshadhvaja occupies the northwest, Chitrarekha the northeast, Tejorupa the southeast, and Indiravali the southwest. Thus the names, positions, and bowers of the companions are given.

Just as these eight bowers surround Lalita Pond, the eight bowers of Rama’s male friends surround Madhavi Pond. Sulochana’s is in the north, Subhadra’s in the northeast, Suchandra’s in the east, and Jayasena’s in the southeast. Balishtha, here called Varishtha, occupies the south; Shubhashila, here called Jayashila, the southwest; Anangajit, also called Anangamani, the west; and Rasaketu the northwest. The eight friends thus remain in their respective bowers.

One should contemplate the Daughter of the king of Videha seated upon a flower bed resembling a fully opened lotus, heavy with fragrance and honey, its petals no different from rows of newly opened, unwithered lotuses upon a lake:

Upon a flower bed like a blossoming lotus, rich with the fragrance of nectar, there sits Jānaki—adorned with many ornaments, endowed with every beauty, embracing Hari, complete in every limb, Rama’s beloved.