Chapter Eight: Literature of the Rasika Tradition in Hindi

—while embodying the seven notes: niṣāda, ṛṣabha, gāndhāra, ṣaḍja, madhyama, dhaivata, and pañcama. The joy-giving Satī named Khañjanākṣī, whose restless eyes resemble a wagtail’s movement, holds a khañjarī that is like a cluster of rasa. Gānakalā, the companion versed in the art of song, carries a sweet-toned mṛdaṅga. Sāraṅgalocanī joyfully plays the sāraṅgī. The companion Sukhadāminī bestows the happiness of touch. All these companions, adorned with circles of bliss, understand rāga, bhāva, and every rasa and remain absorbed in serving Sri Raghunandan’s Rādhikā.¹

The foremost companions, adorned with the divisions of a twelve-petalled lotus, dwell in an extraordinarily varied temple purified by great jewels. There is a mind-enchanting wish-fulfilling jewel whose brilliance defeats that of ten million moons, suns, and fires. Within it shines a sacred, stainless throne established through mantras, fashioned from hundreds of types of gold, exquisitely soft, and attained only through the guru’s teaching by those capable of crossing beyond. It is enveloped in Oṃ, every seed syllable, and every mantra, as though set all around with clusters of gems.

Sri Raghunandan shines in the centre of that throne. Beside him sits his beloved, whose eyes resemble lotus petals, whose long arms reach to her knees, whose face is serene, and whose ornaments gleam like refined gold. She is the very life of dear Raghunandan. The Couple, each skilled in understanding the other’s intentions, embrace. With words of laughter they bathe one another’s hearts. Salutations to Rāseśvara Sri Raghava, free from every defect and bestower of the bliss of secret delight and of all happiness.

Prabhayā Rāmacandrasya Sītāyāś ca prabhāvataḥ
Sadā prakāśate; ity artha-sthūlaṃ parama-pāvanam.
Yad dhyātvā nimiṣārdhena rasikā yānti tat-padam.

By Ramachandra’s radiance and through Sita’s power, it shines forever. This tangible representation of that meaning is supremely purifying. Meditating upon it for even half the blink of an eye, rasikas attain that abode.

Bhāvanā Aṣṭayāma

Or, Sri Sita-Rama Mānasī Pūjā

By Sri Sitaramsharan Ramarasrangmani

Sri Sitaramsharan Ramarasrangmani of Ayodhya composed this work for the happiness of Sri Sita-Rama’s rasika devotees. In Vikrama Saṃvat 1961, Sri Durga Prasad, a friend of Sri Sitaramsharan Bhagwan Prasad, had it printed at Chandraprabha Press in Kashi and made it available to devotees of Sita-Rama. In prose, it gives a magnificent and captivating description of mental service extending from the auspicious morning ārati through the Couple’s repose.

Meditation

Wise, compassionate Rama sits with Sita in the centre of a jewelled throne.
He bears beautiful auspicious marks and a lovely crimson radiance whose splendour equals ten million moons.
Bharata and his younger brothers wave fly-whisks in due order at his right and left.
Hanuman, beloved son of the Wind, renders service: Rasarangmani says, meditate upon him thus within the heart.