Spiritual Identities
During Gouranga Lila
Varista Gopis
Spiritual Identities
During Gouranga Lila
Varista Gopis
Lalita = Svarupa Damodara Goswami On the northern petal of Ananga-sukhada Kunja, there is a beautiful kunja covered with various kinds of flowers and trees. This place is known as Lalitanandada Kunja and is the color of lightning. The lovely Lalita Sakhi always lives here. She has a beautiful bright yellow (gorocana) complexion and wears a dress the color of peacock feathers. She is adorned with celestial ornaments and personifies the type of bhava known as khandita. She and Sri Krsna are very, very dear to each other and her seva is to bring camphor and tambula to Him. Her age is 14 years, 8 months and 27 days. In the opinion of the panditas, her father’s name is Visokaka, her mother’s Sarada, and her husband’s Bhairava Gopa. Her home is in Yavata and her nature is vama-prakhara. In gaura-lila, she has assumed the form of Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.
Visakha = Sri Ramananda Raya On the northeast petal of Ananga Sukhada Kunja lies Ananda Kunja, which is cloudlike in color, and is the residence of Sri Visakha. She is very dear to Sri Krsna and has the bhava known as svadhina-bhartrka. Her seva is dressing and decorating. Her dress resembles the stars in the evening sky, and her complexion is cream-colored with a tinge of red (gaurangi). Her age is 14 years, 2 months and 15 days. Her father’s name is Pavana, her mother’s Daksina and her husband’s Bahuka. She is adhika-madhya, and her home is in Yavata. She appears in gaura-lila as Sri Ramananda Raya.
Campakalata (Campakamallika) = Sri Sivananda On the southern petal of Madana-sukhada Kunja lies Kamalata Kunja, the home of Sri Krsna’s beloved Sri Campakalata. This extremely blissful kunja is the color of molten gold. Campakalata, who loves Krsna very much, personifies the stage of a nayika known as vasaka-sajja. Her complexion is the color of a yellow campaka flower and her dress the color of a cataka bird (swallow). Her nature is vama-madhya, and her seva is to offer jewelled necklaces and to fan with a camara. Her age is 14 years, 2 months and 13 1/2 days. Her mother’s name is Vatika, her father’s Arama, and her husband’s Canda. In gaura-lila she appears as Sri Sivananda
Citra = Sri Govindananda Citra-devi can read between the lines of books and letters written in many different languages, perceiving the hidden intentions of the author. She is a skilled gourmet and can understand the testes of various foods made with honey, milk, and other ingredients simply by glancing at them.
She is expert in playing music on pots filled with varying degrees of water. She is learned in the literature describing astronomy and astrology, and she is well versed in the theoretical and practical activities of protecting domestic animals.
She is especially expert at gardenting and she can nicely make various kinds of nectarean beverages.
There are also eight other gopi maidservants, headed by Rasalika-devi, who are expert at making various kinds of nectarean beverages.
There are other gopis who mostly collect transcendental herbs and medicinal creepers from the forest and do not collect flowers or anything else. Citra-devi is the leader of these gopis.
On the eastern petal of Madana Sukhada Kunja lies the multicolored Padma Kinjalka Kunja, where Sri Citra resides. She and Sri Krsna are very affectionate toward each other, and she is very devoted to her seva of bringing cloves and garlands. She possesses the abhisarika-nayika-bhava, has a beautiful saffron complexion, wears a dress that resembles crystal, and has many wonderful qualities. Her age is 14 years, 7 months and 14 days. Her father’s name is Catura, her mother’s Carccika, and her husband’s Pitharaka. She is an adhika-mrdvinayika, and her home is in Yavata. In gaura-lila she appears as Sri Govindananda.
Tungavidya =Sri Vakresvara Pandita Tungavidya is the fifth of the varistha gopis. Her complexion is the color of kunkuma and the fragrance of her body is like sandalwood mixed with camphor. She is fifteen days younger than Srimati Radharani.
Tungavidya is hot-tempered and expert at dissimulation. She wears white garments. Her parents are Puskara and Medha-devi and her husband is Balisa.
Tungavidya is one of the leaders of the gopis. She is learned in the eighteen branches of knowledge.
She has full faith in Krsna. She is very expert at arranging the meeting of the divine couple. She is learned in rasa-sastra (transcendental mellows), niti-sastra (morality), dancing, drama, literature and all other arts and sciences.
On the western petal of Madana-sukhada Kunja lies the extremely beautiful crimson-colored Tungavidyanandada Kunja, where Sri Tungavidya Sakhi always resides. She loves Sri Krsna very much and, filled with eagerness for that prema, she exhibits the bhava known as vipralabdhatva. Her complexion is radiant like saffron mixed with camphor and sandalwood paste, and her dress is pandu-mandana (pale yellow). Her mood is daksina-prakhara. Her mother’s name is Medha, her father’s Puskara, and her husband’s Balisa. She is very devoted to her seva of dancing and singing, etc. Her home is in Yavata, and her age is 14 years, 2 months and 22 days. In gaura-lila she appears as Sri Vakresvara Pandita.
Indulekha = Vasu Ramananda Indulekha is the sixth of the varistha gopis. She has a tan complexion and wears garments the color of a pomegranate flower. She is three days younger than Srimati Radharani.
Her parents are Sagara and Vela-devi and her husband is Durbala. She is contrary and hot-tempered by nature.
Noble Indulekha is learned in the science and mantras of the Naga-sastra, which describes various methods of charming snakes. She is also learned in the Samudraka-sastra, which describes the science of palmistry.
She is expert at stringing various kinds of wonderful necklaces, decorating the teeth with red substances, gemology and weaving various kinds of cloth.
In her hand she carries the auspicious messages of the divine couple. In this way she creates the good fortune of Radha and Krsna by creating Their mutual love and attraction.
The group of gopis headed by Tungabhadra-devi are the friends and neighours of Indulekha. Among these gopis is a group, headed by Palindhika-devi, which acts as messengers for the divine couple.
Indulekha-devi is fully aware of the confidential secrets of the divine couple. Some of her friends are engaged in providing ornaments for the divine couple, others provide exquisite garments and others guard the divine couple's treasury.
Indulekha-devi is thus the leader of all the gopis engaged in these services in the various parts of Vrndavana.
On the southeastern petal of Madana-sukhada Kunja lies the golden-colored Purnendu Kunja, where Sri Indulekha lives. She has a lemon-yellow complexion and wears a dress that is radiant like a pomegranate flower. She has a deep love for Sri Krsna and possesses the prosita-bhartrka-bhava. She often serves Krsna by bringing Him nectar-like delicious meals. Her age is 14 years, 2 months and 10 1/2 days. She is vama-prakhara and her principal seva is fanning with a camara. Her home is in Yavata, her father’s name is Sagara, her mother’s Vela and her husband’s Durbala. In gaura-lila she appears as Vasu Ramananda.
Rangadevi = Sri Govindananda Gosh Rangadevi is the seventh of the varistha gopis. Her complexion is the color of a lotus filament and her garments are the color of a red rose. She is seven days younger than Srimati Radharani.
Her personal qualities are much like those of Campakalata. Her parents are Karuna-devi and Rangasara.
Ranga-devi is always like a great ocean of coquettish words and gestures. She is very fond of joking with her friend Srimati Radharani in the presence of Lord Krishna.
Among the six activities of diplomacy she is especially expert in the fourth: patiently waiting for the enemy to make the next move. She is an expert logician and because of previous austerities she has attained a mantra by which she can attract Lord Krsna.
Kalakanti-devi is the leader of the eight most important friends of Ranga-devi. These friends are all expert in the use of perfumes and cosmetics.
Ranga-devi's friends are expert at burning aromatic incense, carrying coal during the winter and fanning the divine couple in the summer.
Ranga-devi's friends are able to control the lions, deer and other wild animals in the forest. Ranga-devi is the leader of all these gopis.
On the southwest petal of Madana-sukhada Kunja lies the dark blue, cloudlike Sukhada Kunja, where Sri Krsna’s beloved Sri Rangadevi always resides. Her complexion is the color of a lotus stamen, and her dress is red like a jaba flower. She possesses the utkanthita-bhava, and in every way she is very attached to Sri Krsna. Her seva is offering candana, and her nature is vama-madhya. Her home is in Yavata, and her age is 14 years, 2 months and 4 1/2 days. Her mother’s name is Karuna, her father’s Rangasagara and her husband’s Vakreksana. In Kali-yuga she appears in gaura-lila as Govindananda Ghosa.
The chief gopis in Sri Rangadevi’s yutha are Kalakanthi, Sasikala, Kamala, Prema Manjari, Madhavi, Madhura, Kamalata and Kandarpa-sundari
Sudevi = Vasudeva Gosha Sudevi is the eighth of the varistha gopis. She is sweet and charming by nature. She is the sister of Rangadevi. Her husband is Vakreksana, the younger brother of Bhairava. Her marriage with Vakreksana was arranged by his younger brother. Her form and other qualities are so similar to those of her sister Rangadevi that they are often mistaken for one another.
Sudevi always remains at the side of her dear friend Srimati Radharani. Sudevi arranges Radharani's hair, decorates Her eyes with mascara and massages Her body.
She is expert in training male and female parrots and she is also expert in the pastimes of roosters. She is an expert sailor and she is fully aware of the auspicious and inauspicious omens described in the Sakuna-sastra.
She is expert at massaging the body with scented oils, she knows how to start fires and keep them burning and she knows which flowers blossom with the rising of the moon.
Kaveri-devi and the other friends of Sudevi are expert at constructing leaf-spitoons, playing music on bells and decorating couches in various ways.
Sudevi's friends are also entrusted with the decoration of the divine couple's sitting place. Sudevi's friends act as clever spies, disguising themselves in various ways and moving among Radharani's rivals (Candravali and her friends) to discover their secrets. Sudevi's friends are the deities of Vrndavana forest and they are charged with the protection of the forest birds and bees. Sudevi is the leader of these gopis.
On the northwest petal of Madanananda Kunja lies the beautiful emerald-colored Vasanta-sukhada Kunja, the residence of Sri Sudevi. She is very loving toward Sri Hari, has a complexion the color of a lotus stamen, and wears a dress the color of a red jaba flower. She possesses the bhava known as kalahantarita and her seva is to bring water. She is vama-prakhara. Her age is 14 years, 2 months and 4 days. Her home is in Yavata, her mother is Karuna, her father Rangasagara, and she is married to the younger brother of Vakreksana (Rangadevi’s husband). In gaura-lila she appeared as Sri Vasudeva Ghosa.
Asta - Manjaris
Rupa manjari = Rupa Goswami In the northern part of Sri Lalita Sakhi’s kunja lies Rupollasa Kunja, where the very beautiful and graceful Sri Rupa Manjari resides. She is the foremost among the gopis known as priya-narma-sakhis. Her complexion is the color of gorocana (a bright yellow pigment secreted from a cow’s kidney), and she delights in wearing a dress the color of peacock feathers. Her age is 13 years 6 months. The panditas call her Rangana-malika. In age, she is one day younger than Lavanga Manjari. In gaura-lila she appears as Srila Rupa Gosvami.
Rati manjari = Raghunatha das Goswami In the southern part of Sri Indulekha’s kuñja lies Ratyambuja Kuñja, where the beautiful Sri Rati Manjari always resides. Her dress is covered with stars, her complexion is like lightning, and she is daksina-mrdvi in nature. The panditas also call her Tulasi. Her age is 13 years 2 months. In Kali-yuga, in gaura-lila, she is known as Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.
Lavanga manjari = Sanatan Goswami In the eastern part of Sri Tungavidya’s kunja lies Lavanga-sukhada Kunja, which is very enchanting to all the beautiful-eyed gopis. In that kunja, Sri Lavanga Manjari always blissfully resides. In age, she is one day older than Sri Rupa Manjari, and she is very famous for her pleasant nature. Her complexion is like lightning, and she wears a dress marked with stars. She gives much happiness to Sri Krsna, and her nature is always daksina-mrdvi. Her age is 13 years 6 months and 1 day. In Kali-yuga, in gaura-lila, she is known as Sri Sanatana Gosvami.
Rasa manjari = Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami In the western part of Sri Citra's kunja lies Rasananda Kunja, where the beautiful Rasa Manjari always resides. She is famous as being in all respects the life of Sri Rupa Manjari. Her dress is like the feathers of a swan, and her complexion is like a fully blossomed campaka flower. She is rich in qualities much like those of Sri Lavanga Manjari. Because she has taken shelter of Sri Rupa Manjari, she has become very dear to her. She serves as a messenger between Radha and Krsna, and she is very clever in arranging Their meeting. Her age is 13 years, and in gaura-lila, she is known as Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami.
Guna manjari = Gopala Bhatta Goswami
In the northeastern part of Sri Campakalata’s kunja lies the beautiful Gunanandaprada Kunja, where Sri Guna Manjari always resides. Her complexion is bright like lightning, and she wears a fine silk dress the color of a red jaba flower. She is famous for her strong desire to make Rupa Manjari happy. She is three days younger than Sri Tulasi (Rati Manjari) and is the delight of Sri Krsna. She is described as being daksina-prakhara in nature. Her age is 13 years, 1 month and 27 days. In gaura-lila she is known as Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.
Manjulali manjari = Lokanatha Goswami In the northern part of Sri Sudevi’s kunja lies the beautiful Lilanandaprada Kunja, where the charming Sri Manjulali Manjari always resides. She is full of pleasant qualities and is very dear to Sri Rupa Manjari. Her dress is red like a jaba flower, and her complexion is like molten gold. She is also known as Sri Lila Manjari. Her nature is vama-madhya, and her age is 13 years, 6 months and 7 days. In gaura-lila she is known as Sri Lokanatha Gosvami.
Vilasa manjari = Srila Jiva Goswami In the southeast part of Sri Visakha’s kunja lies the very beautiful Vilasanandada Kunja, where Sri Vilasa Manjari always remains as one of Sri Rupa Manjari’s sakhis. She has a bodily color like that of a golden ketaki flower, and her dress is the color of a bumblebee. Her nature is vama-mrdvi, and she is 4 days younger than Sri Rasa Manjari, making her age 12 years, 11 months and 26 days. In gaura-lila she is known as Sri Jiva Gosvami.
Kausturi manjari = Srila Krsna das Kaviraj In the southwest corner of Sri Rangadevi’s kunja lies one more kunja, which is known as Kausturyanandada Kunja, the residence of Sri Kausturi Manjari. She wears a dress that resembles crystal, and her complexion is like pure gold. Her age is 13 years, and her nature is vama-mrdvi. In Kali-yuga, in gauranga-lila, she is known as Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.
Referenced from the Sri Gour Ganodesha Dipika by Sriman Kavi Karnapura
