Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Dhyāna-mañjarī

Sri Agraswami, or Agradas

This Dhyāna-mañjarī by Agradas, guru of Nabhadas, is especially beloved by Rasika worshippers of Rama. A very old copy survives with the Makaranda-sāṃvarī commentary of Rasarangamani, disciple of Kamendramani. The commentary is virtually an independent treatise on Rasika worship. It raises questions at many points and answers them fully and at length. Its style is old and repeatedly uses the descriptive formula “of what kind?”, yet its exposition of principle is highly effective.

The complete work contains eighty songs. It opens with meditation upon Sri Ayodhya, then describes the righteous men and women who inhabit it and the youthful female attendants dwelling in the inner palace. Agradas’s description of the Sarayu is extraordinary.

On the bank of the Sarayu stands an Ashoka forest containing a wish-fulfilling tree. Upon the tree’s golden platform is a jeweled throne bearing an auspicious seat of divine lotuses. At its centre is a divine pericarp encircled by radiance. Upon it the sovereign Divine Couple, Sri Sita-Rama, shine.

Let us now enjoy this divine meditation in Agradas’s own words.

Meditation upon Sri Rama

Near the wish-fulfilling tree stands this abode, fashioned of jewels;
all its ground is gold, supremely and wondrously radiant.
At the centre of a golden platform stands a jeweled throne,
and at the throne’s heart an exquisitely auspicious lotus-seat.
At its centre a beautiful, well-formed pericarp shines;
around it blazes a wondrous radiance, comparable to fire.
Within it Rama shines, dark as a blue lotus—
an unfathomable ocean of every beauty, his body splendid as a rain-filled cloud.
Upon his head rests a divine crown set with lovely gems and pearls;
beholding its beauty, hosts of suns hide their light in shame.
Lovely earrings grace his two supremely beautiful cheeks;
seeing their radiance, the full moon and the sun are abashed.
Dark, curling, exquisite locks and lovely lotus eyes—
beside the lotus of his face they seem like young bees newly arrived.