Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

—with excellence from the standpoint of literature and spiritual practice alike. The work contains 408 songs. At its end is a padāvalī devoted to the Divine Couple’s eightfold daily service, in which the essence of this worship is presented very briefly and concisely. The work is supremely revered among this path’s practitioners and is also exceptional as literature; it therefore deserves a fuller introduction through examples.

The work was printed in 1914 at Munshi Naval Kishore’s press. At its conclusion the author herself wrote:

On the auspicious bright-fortnight date in Agahan, a joyful Saturday,
Knowing it to be the birthday of the Son of the Wind, my heart found the time favourable.
The book Siyavara Keli-padāvalī was then brought to completion.
In Sri Awadhpuri, Gyanali offered herself in devotion.

At the end Gyanali Sahchari Ji also introduced her humble petition in these guileless words:

The sweetness of their forms, the narration of their virtues, and the charming Names of the Couple;
The story of their abodes, Awadh and Mithila—these are my life’s repose.
Therefore I reflected upon something of them and, however I could, tried to make the mind understand;
I sang the glory of Ladili and Lal as pleasingly as my own understanding allowed.

I know no prosody or poetic art, neither metrical feet nor their calculations.
The fruit of this service rests in Sita’s grace—this alone is my supreme and certain trust.
O Lady Sita, beloved as life! O dear and lovely young Kishori!
Raghubar and Siyavar are treasures of form and virtue; you alone are my refuge.

O Ladili, treasure of my life!
O friend of the royal youth!
O lady who enchants my mind,
Grant me love for your two feet.

O accomplished lover and accomplished Lady,
Abode of beauty and treasury of virtues!
O protector of those who seek refuge,
Regard me as your own maidservant.

O moon-faced one, nectar of beauty,
Whose lips utter gentle words—