Discussions on the doctrines of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Please place practical questions under the Miscellaneous forum and set this aside for the more theoretical side of it.
Manjaris and Sri Krishna - Their interaction?
Srijiva - Tue, 15 Feb 2005 23:42:35 +0530
Do manjaris only have the desire to serve Radha? or do they have any desires to interact with Krsna directly?
Madhava - Tue, 15 Feb 2005 23:56:42 +0530
QUOTE(Srijiva @ Feb 15 2005, 07:12 PM)
Do manjaris only have the desire to serve Radha? or do they have any desires to interact with Krsna directly?
Have an affair with? Never!
Interact? Yes, certainly. Their mood is described as sakhI-snehAdhika, which means that their affection for their friend (Sri Radha) predominates the relationship. It does not mean they have no sneha for Krishna. However, that sneha is ever-subservient to their relationship and dedication to Radha.
Srijiva - Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:04:44 +0530
QUOTE(Madhava @ Feb 15 2005, 11:26 AM)
QUOTE(Srijiva @ Feb 15 2005, 07:12 PM)
Do manjaris only have the desire to serve Radha? or do they have any desires to interact with Krsna directly?
Have an affair with? Never!
Interact? Yes, certainly. Their mood is described as sakhI-snehAdhika, which means that their affection for their friend (Sri Radha) predominates the relationship. It does not mean they have no sneha for Krishna. However, that sneha is ever-subservient to their relationship and dedication to Radha.
is it that they are too young to have
an affair with Him? (or have those kinds of fancies?)
Rasaraja dasa - Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:17:23 +0530
QUOTE(Srijiva @ Feb 15 2005, 10:34 AM)
QUOTE(Madhava @ Feb 15 2005, 11:26 AM)
QUOTE(Srijiva @ Feb 15 2005, 07:12 PM)
Do manjaris only have the desire to serve Radha? or do they have any desires to interact with Krsna directly?
Have an affair with? Never!
Interact? Yes, certainly. Their mood is described as sakhI-snehAdhika, which means that their affection for their friend (Sri Radha) predominates the relationship. It does not mean they have no sneha for Krishna. However, that sneha is ever-subservient to their relationship and dedication to Radha.
is it that they are too young to have
an affair with Him? (or have those kinds of fancies?)
Radhe Radhe!
No, it is a matter that they do not want anything besides the service of their Svamini. It is a matter of bhava not age.
Rasaraja dasa
Madhava - Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:22:29 +0530
QUOTE(Srijiva @ Feb 15 2005, 07:34 PM)
is it that they are too young to have an affair with Him? (or have those kinds of fancies?)
No, that's not the issue at all. They are virtually of the same age, only slightly younger. Rupa Manjari is 13 years and six months, Radha is 14 years and two months. It is their bhava-nistha, their firm resolve for Radha, that keeps them afar from such fancies. In their world, Krishna is the beloved of their very dear Radha, and the union of these two is the pinnacle of their joy, a joy much greater than that of directly meeting with them.
They are certainly qualified in terms of their attributes for any kind of relationship with Krishna. Regardless, they say all in one voice:
sakhyAyate mama namo'stu namo'stu nityaM dAsyAyate mama raso'stu raso'stu satyam! "Forever and ever my obeisances are given to the position of being your friend; however let my relish be in your servitude, let that be the elixir of my life, truly!"
Srijiva - Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:43:42 +0530
Thank you Madhava and Rasaraja for your continuing answers to my questions. I am trying to keep them to point.
So for clarifications sake, Sri Rupa manjari then is foremost of these maidservents of Srimati Radharani? and if so, is She second only to Lalita-sakhi? (who, correct me, is Radha's personal attendant?) and then is it that others fall in line, such as the manjaris of Raghunatha, Sanatana, Sri Jiva, Raghunatha Bhatta, & Gopala Bhatta Goswamis?
Madhava - Wed, 16 Feb 2005 09:47:34 +0530
She is second to none.
Yes, the Goswamis are also manjaris, all following Rupa-manjari.
However Rupa-manjari and Lalita-sakhi are in different categories. You cannot compare apples and oranges. For us, Rupa-manjari is the most important companion of Radha-Krishna, she is the very embodiment of the kind of perfection we aspire for.