Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi
The soul crosses the Viraja effortlessly; with its own pure resolve, every former hope has departed.
It touches the hand of a stainless superhuman guide and enters the great auspicious ocean of happiness.
Its radiant body, free from the three guṇas, dwells beyond Viraja in divine magnificence and bliss.
Forever luminous, pure, and beautiful, it would make innumerable Indras ashamed merely to behold it.
It becomes a vessel for the lovely radiance of Siyavar’s form and is itself covered by that canopy of beauty.
Near the gateway are steps of jewels; the disembodied soul climbs them, love swelling within the heart.
Its eyes behold the enchanting Couple, fair and dark, immersed in wondrous colour.
Bow and arrow shine in their lotus hands, and fresh ornaments array them from nails to crown.
Earrings, crowns, and lunar pendants shine, their splendour captivating the mind.
Each limb possesses lovely beauty, pleasing the heart and beyond every comparison.
Innumerable female companions and excellent maidservants flash with brilliance in all directions.
Holding many articles of service in their hands, they behold lover and beloved with arms around one another.
Seeing Siyavallabha’s beauty in this way, the eyes remain fixed without blinking.
Filled with immense affection, Siyavar praises that soul’s love in every way.
“My heart bore an exceedingly great desire: when would I behold my beloved attendant?
Your coming here has produced a wonder and given me entirely new joy and delight.
Greatly blessed is the loving one who reaches my presence after abandoning every trace of deceit.”
In this way the youthful Couple, treasuries of beauty, speak stainless words that fulfil everything.
One should forever obtain rasa within the temple of joy and describe one’s service according to one’s own taste.
Assuming innumerable forms, perform service and drink ever-new happiness as appropriate.
Beholding and rejoicing in the sweet, enchanting, excellent deeds and artistic play of the Couple,
remain in a single rasa, abandoning innumerable poisons.
Sri Jānaki-sneha-hulāsa-śataka
By Sri Yugalananyasharan
In this work Mahatma Sri Yugalananyasharan describes Sri Jānaki’s greatness, the power of her Name, and her mystery as surpassing even Sri Rama. He is more deeply attached and devoted to Jānaki than to Rama. On the basis of his own experience, he expresses his devotional disposition elegantly in beautiful, simple, and graceful dohās.
He says that the whole universe repeats Rama’s Name, but Rama himself repeats Sri Jānaki’s Name and meditates upon her form. The central focus of his contemplation, reflection, and profound meditation is Queen Sri Jānaki.