Visakha

Visakha is the second most important of these eight varistha-gopis. Her attributes, activities and resolve are all muck like those of her friend Lalita. Visakha was born at the exact same moment as her dear friend Srimati Radharani appeared in this world. Visakha's garments are decorated with stars and her complexion is like lightning. Her father is Pavana, the son of the sister of Mukhara-gopi and her mother is Daksina-devi, the daughter of the sister of Jatila. Her husband is Vahika-gopa.

Visakha-devi, the intimate friend of the divine couple, although she is more exalted than these younger gopis (the gopi messengers lead by Vrnda devi), also takes up the work of carrying messages between Radha and Krsna and she is the most intelligent and expert of all the gopi messengers. Loquacious Visakha is expert at joking with Lord Govinda and she is the perfect counsellor of the divine couple. She is expert at all aspects of amorous diplomacy and she knows all the arts of how to conciliate an angered lover, how to bribe him and how to quarrel with him. (SSRKGD)

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.

In Sri Visakha’s yutha the chief sakhis are Malati, Madhavi, Candrarekha, Subhanana, Kunjari, Harini, Surabhi and Capala. (SGGSP)