Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

They arrive at the beautiful place in the middle of the forest,
where vast and excellent loveliness appears.
The Couple come and sit within the central bower;
then Chandrakala begins to play the vīṇā.
The companions start dancing in many different divisions
and sing of spring with graceful delight.
The companions assume the attire of King Spring,
and trays are arranged and filled with fruits and delicacies.
With their own hands they fashion ornaments of flowers
and remain absorbed in beholding the beauty.
Then Yugala-priya, recognising the delightful hour,
celebrates Holi with saffron and red powder.

Ujjvala-utkaṇṭhā-vilāsa

By Sri Yugalananyasharan “Hemalata”

This work by Sri Yugalananyasharan Maharaj is filled with radiant longing for the delightful names, forms, qualities, abode, and līlā of the Divine Couple—Sri Janakraj Kishori and Sri Dasharathraj Kishor. Written in supremely sweet and pleasing dohās, it was published by Pustak Bhandar of Laheriasarai, Darbhanga. The colophon records that the work was completed on Tuesday, the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra, Vikram Samvat 1972. The entire work is in dohās.

Subject

It begins with seventy dohās on longing for the Name, followed by ninety-four on longing for the Form, thirty-four on longing for the Qualities, thirty-seven on longing for the Abode, and finally 160 on longing for the līlā. Thus the work comprises 395 dohās in all. It is universally honoured and revered as one of the foundational and sustaining texts of Rasika worship.

Examples:

Considering the many bonds of worldly convention and Vedic prescription tasteless, I shall forget them.
Through every watch of life I shall repeat the Name, sacrificing mind and all the rest.

Within the Name, the fresh treasury of love, I shall remain absorbed like a fish.
Alas, my heart stolen by Hari, I shall abide there, faithful to my cherished vow.

Let the tongue taste the ocean of happiness contained in the Name’s supreme sweetness.
I shall regard every desire for enjoyment and liberation as no more than grass and ashes.