Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

The Bāla-kāṇḍa describes the births of Sita, Urmila, Shrutakirti, and Mandavi, together with the gods’ doctrinal exposition of their nature as primordial Power and Mother of the Universe. It contains a magnificent and enchanting description of the eternal form of the Divine Couple and contemplation of the true, essential forms of Sri Rama and Sita.

It also contemplates the secret eternal form of the divine abode Ayodhya and of Kanak Bhavan within it, and recounts Narada’s prophecies to Janaka concerning the princesses.

A handwritten copy of the Sītāyana survives at Rahasya Pramodavana, Sri Janaki Ghat, Ayodhya. It contains seven kāṇḍas: Bāla-kāṇḍa, Madhura-kāṇḍa, Jayamāla-kāṇḍa, Rasamāla-kāṇḍa, Sukhamāla-kāṇḍa, Rasāla-kāṇḍa, and Candrikā-kāṇḍa. These contain respectively 41, 39, 120, 55, 30, 28, and 4 leaves, for a total of 317 leaves or 634 pages. The Sītāyana is regarded as a principal source-text of rasika worship and enjoys exceptional authority within this discipline.

In the Madhura-māla-kāṇḍa, Premkali Ji gives the following self-introduction:

With the devotional conception received from Guru Priyasharan and with my own inner disposition,
I have described the heroine of the Divine Couple so that the desired feeling may be attained.

Nehkali is my acharya, and Prem Lali my spiritual form.
She is the daughter of Yugal Sunayana, a wondrous embodiment of the Couple.

Standing at the threshold of youth, sweet-faced and supremely enchanting in every limb,
Fair in complexion, she lives forever beside Sita within her bower.

The Couple’s sweet devotional conception and the conventions of amorous rasa—
As I describe them all, my joy and love increase immensely.

In the second “Sweetness” I shall recount the occasion of Sita’s birth
And the many-coloured deeds for which she assumed the form of a child.

On that same day the delicate Urmila and the others were also born.
Reflecting upon their lovely deeds, I shall describe them all.

A stainless lotus-throne possesses circles of sixty-four, eight, and sixteen petals.
Sixty-four, eight, and sixteen mañjarīs shine around it in every direction, filled with bliss.

At its centre sits free-spirited Sita, wondrously radiant in ever-new beauty.
Dark hair fills her head, finely woven with subtle gems and pearls.
Her broad forehead and excellent curving brows steal the beauty of Love’s own bow.

Bharati dances and sings in countless forms, holding a golden, jewel-filled platter and performing ārati.
The Vedas cannot find her limit and remain saying “not this, not this.”
Praising the king’s good fortune, they become inwardly filled with joy.