Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

The work’s approximately 185 kavitts treat such subjects as exclusive devotion to Sri Rama, Sri Rama’s sweetness, a further account of the Name’s power, a description of Sri Rama from toenails to crown, and the glory of Sri Sita Ji’s qualities. Its language is exceptionally clean, simple, and polished. From the standpoints of doctrine and spiritual practice, the work is of great importance.

For example:

Like greedy bees, the eyes of beloved Sita behold the blooming dark lotuses of Rama’s eyes.
Sri Raghunandan’s face is the moon, before which Sita’s lovely cakora-bird eyes lose themselves.
He knows Janaki, knows Janaki, knows Janaki—the beloved’s lover, in whom all her life-breaths are gathered.
Thus that connoisseur of rasa dwells upon the couch of Rasrangmani’s heart, unequalled by any other.

Description of Meditation upon Sri Rama

I gazed upon the feet and examined the nails; longing, I climbed toward the twin shanks, thighs, and knees.
I bathed in the navel, came to the chest and embraced it, grasped the mighty arms, and sang the neck’s virtues.
Desiring the chin, says Rasrangmani, I bowed beneath it; beholding the face, I became utterly helpless.
When my mind looked into Ramachandra Ji’s eyes, it went and became caught in the chains of his curls.

Touching the lotus feet, I was purified by their pollen; approaching the light of the nails, I became fastened within the anklets.
I beheld the thighs, the girdled waist and yellow cloth, bowed to the three folds, and plunged into the nectar-lake of the navel.
Climbing from belly to chest and arms, says Rasrangmani, I embraced them, then settled upon the ornamented neck and lovely chin.
Raghunandan’s moon-like face was fixed within my mind; when I wished to move onward, I became ensnared in his gentle smile.

Description of Meditation upon Sri Sita Ji

Her noble face is infused with the essence of beauty drawn from millions of moons.
Areca, śrīphala, champak, bandhuka, and jasmine blossoms form the springtime garden of her limbs.
Her eyes defeat lotus and wagtail alike; even Rati’s beauty is only a particle of her radiance.
Dearer than wealth and equal to Rama’s very life, Sita Ji is Rasrangmani’s sovereign Lady.

Description of Sri Sita Ji’s Power

She is steeped in compassion and raises up the devotees’ souls;
She destroys the sorrow of worldly existence and is praised by the many Vedas.
Her face is moon-like, radiant, and an abode of beauty;
Rasrang says she is noble-natured and reveals love to the understanding.

She smiles gently, graceful and replete with lovely dignity;
She makes her beloved’s heart rejoice and is saturated with the rasa of Rama.