Lalita Sakhi Dasi was born Sri Gopal Krishna...Later when he attained the sanga of Barha Baba in Puri the young boy known as Gopal was given the name Jayagopal by Baba who accepted him as one of his own...
One day Madhava Pasupalaka, the sringari panda of Jagannathji came to visit Baba and gave him the carana tulasi of Jagannath and His prasadi mala. At that time Jayagopal was standing behind Baba and was fanning him. Madhava Pasupalaka said, "Baba, when I see this boy and some of his companions dancing before Jagannath they appear to me like the sakhis of Braj. You will be surprised to know one day when I was offering dhupa to Jagannath, I actually saw them wearing gaghra like the sakhis of Braj! I said to myself, 'Perhaps Baba has made them put on the sakhi vesh today. Oh! How beautiful they look.' Exactly when I was lost in that thought, the mala worn by Jagannathji slipped and fell down...I thought that has some special significance. So I brought it to you, and you gave it to this boy. That day I did not reveal that to you. Today prompted by Jagannath I have specially come to tell you."
Baba said, "You are a favorite of Jagannath...you can make the impossible possible. Kindly bless him that he may realize the bhava he covets. Baba gestured Jayagopal who then went and offered his dandabat before the sringari panda who then placed his hand on Jayagopal's head and said, "May Jagannath bless you."
As if a step of the immediate fulfilment of the wish and blessings of Jagannath received through the panda...Baba performed a lila...
He asked Kunja Babu to sing a kirtan pada relating to Radhaji's standing on the flat roof of Tungamani mandir to see Krishna going to the forest...Jayagopal placed a Sri Murti of Radhika on a cauki. With every change of bhav in the kirtan, he changed the dress, position, and movement of the Murti to assist in the visualization of Their gostha-lila...
When the kirtan described Radha and Krishna in Radhakunda, he made Radhaji sit by the side of Krishna. He stood behind Them and started to fan Them.
Radhagovinda, Kishorigopal, and four or five others began dancing in front of the Murtis. Baba Mahasaya then began a kirtan describing the beauty and glories of Radhakunda. Everyone danced and sang in ecstacy, except for Jayagopal who was weeping constantly...
Tears fell incessantly from his eyes. Suddenly he fell unconscious...At this time Baba Mahasaya came dancing near him and uttered a mantra in his ear...He got up, flung one corner of his cadara over his head and went and sat in the corner of the temple sobbing and weeping...
Just then a man came holding a sari and said..."Jagannath sitting in my heart told me that one of you needs a sari, so I have brought it, who will wear it?"
Navadwip Baba made Baba Mahasaya wear the sari.
The situation aroused sakhi bhav in his mind and he began to dance like one possessed by a sakhi of Braj! Tears of love constantly streamed from his eyes and the sattvika bhavs appeared on his body. Others caught this emotional current emanating from him and they too began to dance and sing under the spell of this bhava.
After about an hour, Baba came to his own. He then gave the sari to Navadwip Baba and whispered something in his ear. Navadwip Baba then made Jayagopal wear the sari. After Jayagopal was dressed in sari, Navadwip Baba brought him near Baba Mahasaya...
Baba said..."Radharani has--out of Her infinite kindness--bestowed this sublimest and sweetest bhav upon you. Retain it carefully and be happy. Vesa alone will not do any good. You have to live according to this bhav in thought, word, and deed. In this sakhi bhav don't even once think of your own happiness. You will have to convert this bhav into your svabhav, you will have to make it completely your own, your natural disposition. The best way to do this is to constantly do the seva of Radha Krishna according to this bhav.
Navadwip Baba said, "What should we name him?"
Baba said, "What do you propose?"
Navadwip Baba said, "I wish that henceforth he be called Lalita Sakhi Dasi."
One day Madhava Pasupalaka, the sringari panda of Jagannathji came to visit Baba and gave him the carana tulasi of Jagannath and His prasadi mala. At that time Jayagopal was standing behind Baba and was fanning him. Madhava Pasupalaka said, "Baba, when I see this boy and some of his companions dancing before Jagannath they appear to me like the sakhis of Braj. You will be surprised to know one day when I was offering dhupa to Jagannath, I actually saw them wearing gaghra like the sakhis of Braj! I said to myself, 'Perhaps Baba has made them put on the sakhi vesh today. Oh! How beautiful they look.' Exactly when I was lost in that thought, the mala worn by Jagannathji slipped and fell down...I thought that has some special significance. So I brought it to you, and you gave it to this boy. That day I did not reveal that to you. Today prompted by Jagannath I have specially come to tell you."
Baba said, "You are a favorite of Jagannath...you can make the impossible possible. Kindly bless him that he may realize the bhava he covets. Baba gestured Jayagopal who then went and offered his dandabat before the sringari panda who then placed his hand on Jayagopal's head and said, "May Jagannath bless you."
As if a step of the immediate fulfilment of the wish and blessings of Jagannath received through the panda...Baba performed a lila...
He asked Kunja Babu to sing a kirtan pada relating to Radhaji's standing on the flat roof of Tungamani mandir to see Krishna going to the forest...Jayagopal placed a Sri Murti of Radhika on a cauki. With every change of bhav in the kirtan, he changed the dress, position, and movement of the Murti to assist in the visualization of Their gostha-lila...
When the kirtan described Radha and Krishna in Radhakunda, he made Radhaji sit by the side of Krishna. He stood behind Them and started to fan Them.
Radhagovinda, Kishorigopal, and four or five others began dancing in front of the Murtis. Baba Mahasaya then began a kirtan describing the beauty and glories of Radhakunda. Everyone danced and sang in ecstacy, except for Jayagopal who was weeping constantly...
Tears fell incessantly from his eyes. Suddenly he fell unconscious...At this time Baba Mahasaya came dancing near him and uttered a mantra in his ear...He got up, flung one corner of his cadara over his head and went and sat in the corner of the temple sobbing and weeping...
Just then a man came holding a sari and said..."Jagannath sitting in my heart told me that one of you needs a sari, so I have brought it, who will wear it?"
Navadwip Baba made Baba Mahasaya wear the sari.
The situation aroused sakhi bhav in his mind and he began to dance like one possessed by a sakhi of Braj! Tears of love constantly streamed from his eyes and the sattvika bhavs appeared on his body. Others caught this emotional current emanating from him and they too began to dance and sing under the spell of this bhava.After about an hour, Baba came to his own. He then gave the sari to Navadwip Baba and whispered something in his ear. Navadwip Baba then made Jayagopal wear the sari. After Jayagopal was dressed in sari, Navadwip Baba brought him near Baba Mahasaya...
Baba said..."Radharani has--out of Her infinite kindness--bestowed this sublimest and sweetest bhav upon you. Retain it carefully and be happy. Vesa alone will not do any good. You have to live according to this bhav in thought, word, and deed. In this sakhi bhav don't even once think of your own happiness. You will have to convert this bhav into your svabhav, you will have to make it completely your own, your natural disposition. The best way to do this is to constantly do the seva of Radha Krishna according to this bhav.
Navadwip Baba said, "What should we name him?"
Baba said, "What do you propose?"
Navadwip Baba said, "I wish that henceforth he be called Lalita Sakhi Dasi."
