Chapter Two: The Nature and Scope of Madhura-rasa
But a question arises: how can a male practitioner regard himself as a mature woman? How can a man establish this self-conception? The answer is that it is only because of his nature under māyā that a man regards himself as male in this world. In their pure conscious nature, every living being other than Krishna is female. In the constitution of pure consciousness there are in fact no marks of male and female; therefore anyone may acquire the qualification to become a woman of Vraja. Those who long for madhura-rasa must indeed become women of Vraja. As practice proceeds in accordance with that longing, perfection arises.
Adornment
The diagram classifies Krishna's adornment (prasādhana) under clothing, toilette, and ornaments.
- Clothing (vasana)
- a pair of garments (yuga), a four-piece ensemble (catuṣka), and a full-length garment (bhūmiṣṭha);
- the four-piece ensemble comprises the bodice (kañcuka), turban (uṣṇīṣa), waist-band (tuḍa-bandha), and undergarment (āntarīyaka).
- Toilette (ākalpa)
- hair arrangements: cūḍā, kabarī, jūṭa, and braid (veṇī);
- unguents: pale, yellow, and variegated;
- garlands: vaijayantī, jewel-garland, and forest-garland;
- painted designs: white, yellow, and red;
- a special mark or tilaka, betel, and a play-lotus.
- Ornaments
- crown, earrings, necklace, four-stranded neck ornament, bracelet, finger-ring, camphor, and anklets.