Prayers to Sri Sri Radha-Krishna

tato vrindavanam dhayet

paramananda-vardhanam

sarvartu-kusumopetam

patatri-gana-naditam

 

bhramad-bhramara-jhankara

mukhari-krita-din-mukham

kalindi-jala-kallola-

sangi-martua-sevitam

 

nana-pushpa-latalbaddha-

vriksha-sandaish cha manditam

kamalotpala-kahlara-

dhuli-dhusaritantaram

 

tan-madhye ratna-bhumim cha

suryayuta-sama-prabham

tatra kalpatarudyanam

niyatam prema-varshinam

 

manikya-shikharalambi

tan-madhye mani-mandapam

nana-ratna-ganaish chitram

sarvartu-suvirajitam

 

nana-ratna-lasac-chitra-

vitanair upashobhitam

ratna-torana-gopura-

manikyacchadananvitam

 

koti-surya-samabhasam

vimuktam shat-tarangakaih

 

tan-madhye ratna-khachitam

svarna-simhasanam mahat

kamalotpala-kahlara-

dhuli-dhusaritantaram

 

"Vrindavana-dhama is a place of ever-increasing joy. Flowers and fruits of all seasons grow there, and that transcendental land is full of the sweet sound of various birds. All directions resound with the humming of bumblebees, and it is served with cool breezes and the waters of the Jamuna. Vrindavana is decorated with wish-fulfilling trees wound with creepers and beautiful flowers. Its divine beauty is ornamented with the pollen of red, blue and white lotuses. The ground is made of jewels whose dazzling glory is equal to a myriad of suns rising in the sky at one time. On that ground is a garden of desire trees, which always shower divine love. In that garden is a jeweled temple whose pinnacle is made of rubies. It is decorated with various jewels, so it remains brilliantly effulgent through all seasons of the year. The temple is beautified with bright-colored canopies, glittering with various gems, and endowed with ruby-decorated coverings and jeweled gateways and arches. Its splendor is equal to millions of suns, and it is eternally free from the six waves of material miseries. In that temple there is a great golden throne inlaid with many jewels. In this way one should meditate on the divine realm of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vrindavana-dhama." (Gautamiya Tantra 4)


divyad-vrindaranya-kalpa-drumadhah-

shrimad-ratnagara-simhasana-sthau

shri-shri-radha-shrila-govinda-devau

preshthalibhih sevyamanau smarami

 

"I mediate on Shri Shri Radha and Govinda, who sit on an effulgent throne underneath a desire tree in a temple of jewels in Vrindavana. They are being served by Their most confidential associates, the gopis." (Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 1.16)


sat-pundarika-nayanam

meghabham vaidyutambaram

dvi-bhujam jnana-mulradhyam

vana-malinam ishvaram

 

divyalankaranopetam

sakhibhih pariveshtitam

chid-ananda-ghanam krishnam

radhalingita-vigraham

 

shri krishnam shri-ghana-shyamam

purnananda-kalevaram

dvi-bhujam sarva-devesham

radhalingita-vigraham

 

"I meditate on the Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, who possesses beautiful lotus eyes, whose color is that of a new cloud, whose clothes are like lightning, who possesses two arms and a beautiful forest garland, and whose hand is indicating divine knowledge by exhibiting the jnana-mudra. That Krishna is decorated with glittering ornaments and is surrounded by all the cowherd friends of Shrimati Radharani. While being embraced by Shrimati Radharani Herself, His form is intensified consciousness and bliss. Shri Krishna, who is intensely bluish-black, in His two-armed form, is the Lord of all the demigods, and His body is full of transcendental bliss."


samsara-sagaran natha

putra-mitra-grihanganat

goptarau me yuvam eva

prapanna-bhaya-bhanjanau

 

"O Radha-Krishna, You are my protectors from the ocean of material existence which is characterized by sons, friends, household and land. Therefore You are known as the destroyers of the fear of those who are surrendered unto You."

 

yo 'ham mamasti yat-kinchid

iha loka paratra cha

tat sarvam bhavato 'dyaiva

charaneshu samarpitam

 

"O Your Lordships, myself and whatever little bit is mine in this world and in the next, all that I now offer unto Your lotus feet."

 

aham apy aparadhanam

alayas tyakta sadhanaha

agatis cha tato nathau

bhavantau me para gatih

 

"O Your Lordships, I am certainly the abode of many offenses, and am completely devoid of the practice of devotional service; neither do I have any resort or shelter. Therefore, I am taking You as my ultimate goal."

 

tavasmi radhika-natha

karmana manasa gira

krishna-kante tavaivasmi

yuvam eva gatir mama

 

sharanam vam prapanno 'smi

karuna-nikarakarau

prasadam kuru dasyam bho

mayi dushte 'paradhini

 

"O Lord of Shrimati Radharani, I am Yours; my actions, mind and words. O lover of Shri Krishna, Shrimate Radharani, I belong to You alone. You both are my only shelter. O Radha and Krishna, ocean of mercy, I am taking shelter of You. Please be pleased upon me and make me Your servant, although I am such a fallen offender."

 

mat-samo nasti papatma

naparadhi cha kashcana

parihare 'pi lajja me

kim bruve purushottama

 

yuvatinam yatha yuni

yunam cha yuvatuu yatha

mano 'bhiramate tadvan

mano me ramatam tvayi

 

"O Purushottama, there is no sinful person or offender who is equal to me. How can I describe my shame? Just as the minds of young ladies take pleasure in a young man, and the minds of young men take pleasure in a young woman, kindly let my mind take pleasure in You alone."


bhumau skhakita-padanam

bhumir evavalambanam

tvayi jataparadhanam

tvam eva sharanam prabho

 

"Just as the ground is the only support for those whose feet have slipped, so also You alone are the only shelter, even for those who have committed offense to You."


govinda-vallabhe radhe

prarthaye tvam aham sada

tvadiyam iti janatu

govindo mam tvaya saha

 

"O Shrimati Radharani, the dearest of Lord Govinda, this is always my request to You--please let Lord Govinda, along with Yourself, consider me to be one of Your assistants."


radhe vrindavanadhishe

karunamrita-vahini

kripaya nija-padabja-

dasyam mahyam pradiyatam

 

"O Shrimati Radharani, O Queen of Vrindavana, You are a river flowing with the nectar of mercy. Please be kind upon me, and give me a little service at Your lotus feet."

 

Two Peerless Mantras From the Sri Sanatkumara-samhita

In the Sri Sanatkumara-samhita, from the ancient Skanda Purana, we find a conversation between the great sage Sri Narada and Lord Sadashiva, the master of the demigods. Starting at text number 26 to text 30, Narada Muni asks Lord Sadashiva, "O master please tell what method the people of Kali-yuga may adopt to easily attain the transcendental abode of Lord Hari [Krishna]. O Lord, what mantra will carry the people from this world of birth and death? So everyone may benefit, please tell it to me. O Lord, of all mantras what mantra needs no purashcharana, no nyasa, no yoga, no samskara, and no other thing? A single utterance of the Lord's holy name gives the highest result. O master of the demigods, if I am competent to hear it, please kindly tell me the Lord's holy name."

In texts 31-35 , Lord Sadashiva gives his answer: Lord Sadashiva said: "O fortunate one, your question is excellent. O you who wish for the welfare of all, I will tell you the secret chintamani [wish-fulfilling] jewel of all mantras. I will tell you the secret of secrets, the most confidential of all confidential things. I will tell you what I have not told either the goddess or your elder brothers. I will tell you two peerless Krishna mantras that are the crest-jewels of all mantras. One mantra is:

"'Gopijana-vallabha-charanau sharanam prapadye.' (I take shelter of the feet of He who is the gopi's beloved) This mantra has three compound words, five individual words and sixteen syllables.

"The second mantra is: 'Namo gopijana-vallabhabhyam.' (Obeisances to the divine couple, who are dear to the gopis) This mantra has two words and ten syllables.

In texts 36-41, Lord Sadashiva continues: "One who either with faith or without faith once chants this five-word mantra resides among Lord Krishna's gopi-beloveds. Of this there is no doubt. In chanting these mantras there is no need of purshcharana, nyasa, ari-shuddhi, mitra-shuddhi, or other kinds of purification. In chanting these mantras there is no restriction of time or place. All, from the lowest outcaste to the greatest sage, are eligible to chant this mantra. Women, shudras, and all others are eligible. The paralyzed, mute, blind, and lame are eligible. The Andhras, Hunas, Kiratas, Pulindas, Pukkashas, Abhiras, Yavanas, Kankas, Khashas, and all others born from sinful wombs are also eligible. They who are overcome with pride and ego, who are intent on committing sins, who are killers of cows and brahmanas, and who are the greatest of sinners, are also eligible. They who have neither knowledge nor renunciation, they who have never studied the shruti-shastra and other scriptures, and all others, whoever they may be, are also eligible to chant these mantras."

Then in texts 42-48 Lord Sadashiva explains who is not eligible and who should not be told these sacred mantras or the purpose of them: "Anyone who has devotion to Lord Krishna, the master of all masters, is eligible to chant these mantras, but they who have no devotion, even they may be the greatest of sages, are not eligible. They who have performed many yajnas, given charity, visited all holy places, been devoted to speaking the truth, accepted the renounced order, traveled to the farther shore of the Vedas and Vedangas, devotedly served the brahmanas, taken birth in good families, and performed austerities and vows, but are not devoted to Lord Krishna, are not eligible to chant these mantras. Therefore these mantras should not be spoken to one who is not devoted to Lord Hari, nor to one who is ungrateful, proud, or faithless, nor to an atheist or a blasphemer. One should not speak these mantras to one who does not wish to hear them, nor to one who has not stayed for one year in the speaker's ashrama. One should carefully give these mantras to one who is free from hypocrisy, greed, lust, anger, and other vices, and who is sincerely devoted to Lord Krishna. The sage of this mantra is Lord Sadashiva. The meter is Gayatri. The Deity is Lord Krishna, the beloved of the gopis. The purpose is to attain service to dear Lord Hari."

In text 53 Lord Sadashiva says: "By once chanting this mantra one attains success. Of this there is no doubt. Still, for the purpose of chanting japa one should chant this mantra ten times daily."

In texts 54-77 of the Sri Sanatkumara-samhita, Lord Sadashiva describes the most nectarean meditation of the mantras, after which he continues with many additional topics in regard to the pastimes of Radha and Krishna and the importance of the land of Vrindavana:

"O best of brahmanas, now I will tell you the meditation of this mantra. I meditate on two-armed Lord Krishna, who is dark like a monsoon cloud, dressed in yellow garments, garlanded with forest flowers... crowned with a peacock feather, and garlanded with lotus whorls, whose face is splendid like ten million moons, whose eyes move restlessly... whose forehead is marked with tilaka of sandal paste and musk... who is splendid with earrings like two rising suns, whose perspiration-anointed cheeks are like two glistening mirrors... who with raised eyebrows playfully glances at His beloved's face, the tip of whose graceful raised nose is decorated with a glistening pearl... whose bimba-fruit lips are splendid in the moonlight of His teeth, whose hands are splendid with bracelets, armlets, and jewel rings... who holds a flute in His left lotus hand, whose waist is splendid with a graceful belt, whose feet are splendid with graceful anklets... whose eyes are restless with the nectar of amorous pastimes, who jokes with His beloved, making Her laugh again and again... and who stays with Her on a jewel throne under a kalpa-vriksha tree in Vrindavana forest. In this way one should meditate on Lord Krishna and His beloved."

"On the Lord's left side one should meditate on Sri Radha, who is dressed in blue garments, who is splendid like molten gold... who with the edge of Her garment covers Her graceful lotus smile, whose restless chakori-bird eyes dance on Her beloved's face... who with Her forefinger and thumb places betel nuts and crushed betel leaves in Her beloved's lotus mouth... whose full, raised breasts are decorated with a glistening pearl-necklace, whose waist is slender, whose broad hips are decorated with tinkling ornaments... who is decorated with jewel earrings, finger rings, toe rings, bracelets, armlets, and tinkling golden anklets... whose limbs are graceful with the best of beauty, who is always in the prime of youth, and who is always plunged in the nectar of bliss. O king of brahmanas, Her friends, whose age and qualities are like Hers, devotedly serve Her with chamaras, fans, and other articles."

"Please hear, O Narada, and I will tell you the meaning of these mantras. The material world is manifested by the Lord's maya potency and other external potencies. The spiritual world is manifested by the Lord's chit potency and other internal and everlasting spiritual potencies. The protector of these potencies is said to be the gopi Sri Radha, who is Lord Krishna's beloved. The transcendental goddess Sri Radha is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She is the pleasure potency of Lord Krishna. The wise say that She is the pleasure potency of Lord Krishna. Durga and the other goddesses in the world of the three modes are a million-millionth part of one of Her expansions. She is directly Goddess Maha-Lakshmi and Lord Krishna is Lord Narayana. O best of sages, there is not the slightest difference between Them. O best of sages, what more can I say? Nothing can exist without them. This universe made of spirit and matter together is Their potency. She is Durga and Lord Hari is Shiva. Lord Krishna is Indra and She is Shachi. She is Savitri and Lord Hari is Brahma. She is Dhumorna and Lord Hari is Yama. O Narada, please know that everything is Their potency. Even if I had many hundreds of years, I could not describe all Their glories."

[These prayers are available at www.stephen-knapp.com]

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