Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

Smiling, Raghubar took a folded betel leaf and placed it in the lotus of Sita’s mouth.
Sita took one in her lotus hand and placed it within her beloved’s mouth.

Beholding the Couple’s beauty, the companions sacrifice themselves again and again.
They make offerings in many ways, including necklaces of great pearls.

Jhūlana-vihāra-saṅgrahāvalī

Sri Kripanivas Ji

This collection of swing songs by rasika worshippers—including Sri Rasik Nivas Ji, Sri Rasik Ali Ji, Sri Ramsakhe Ji, Sri Rasabhasini Ji, Sri Rasik Viharini Ji, Sri Yugalpriya Ji, and Sri Sarayu Sakhi Ji—was printed at the Diamond Jubilee Press in Kanpur and published in 1898 CE by Seth Chhotelal Lakshmichand of Bombay.

Its compiler was Sri Lachhimandas Bhandari of Tikamgarh. He writes that he prepared the collection “at the command of the supreme worshipper, sovereign of connoisseurs, crown jewel of saints, Sri 108 Sri Gomatidas Ji.”

The collection is extremely useful from several perspectives, for it makes possible in one place a comparative study—both linguistic and emotional—of devotional songs by many rasika worshippers upon a single subject. At some places one feels that convention is merely being maintained, but most of the songs prove fully capable of magnificently expressing feelings born from the heart. It appears that these devotees directly witnessed the divine līlās of Sita-Rama’s recreation and, overwhelmed with bliss, composed the songs while immersed in the honeyed state of rasa produced by ecstatic love.

Examples:

Sawan has come, delighting the heart—let the beloved place his arms around my neck.
Having obtained the rainy season, dear one, increase love and happiness still further this morning.
Kripanivas says: drink the nectar of the lips of Sri Rama, sovereign of connoisseurs.

The lovely Teej festival has come to Janakpur.
The companions have decorated and arranged the swing, fashioning a seat that captivates Love himself.
Monsoon clouds pour down streams of rasa, softly and steadily raining.
Crimson garments cling beautifully to their bodies; every comparison has been left behind.
On every side groups of accomplished women appear, and colour upon colour spreads its beauty.
It is as though shoots of beauty have sprung from the earth and stretched canopies overhead.
Filled with ardour, they swing the Pair and sing auspicious songs, establishing Rāga Malhār.
Three kinds of wind blow, and the harmonious humming of bees is delightful.
Many kinds of adornment increase; friends in varied dress lend their assistance.
Whoever pleases Janaka’s cherished daughter is personally summoned and given a reward by her own hand.