In separation…
Category: Letters by Śivarāma Swami
Title: In separation…
Upload date: 2006-08-13
Śivarāma Swami
To examine the entirety of His handiwork, Hari leans back, and what He sees makes Him motionless in ecstasy. Her eyes overflowing with love for Krsna, Her lips decorated with a smile at Krsna s expertise, Srimati Radharani appears like the goddess of floral beauty, the fulfilment of Krsna s every desire. 
I will not be able to fly to Budapest tomorrow. I still have both a cold and a fever, though I feel better than yesterday. When I will return I do not know. Travelling during Janmastami or Vyasa-puja is not desirable.
It will be difficult to be away from Radhe Syama and Their devotees on Janmastami, but it also would not be easy being there in a sick condition. Many years ago I was sick and spent the festival on my back in NVD. It was torture to hear the kirtanas and not be chanting, to be close to Radhe Syama and not be able to dress Them, to know devotees were expecting I do seminars and not have the strength to give them. That was like prema-vaicittya: feeling separation during association.
It may be easier that I stay in Kazakhstan and recuperate. That is like pravasa: separation due to being at a great distance. The pains of separation I wrote about in Krsna-sangati I am now tasting in a new way: being distant at Janmastami.
This morning I did not go to the temple but chanted japa listening to the not-distant kirtana. I meditated that I was in NVD dressing Radhe Syama in a golden outfit, with golden ornaments and yellow flowers from Their garden. While absorbed thus I remembered a pastime wherein Syamasundar becomes very eager to decorate Srimati Radharani with flowers, flower ornaments, and flower garlands.
After He collects the flowers of His choice, some young gopis quickly help Krsna to make the ornaments and garlands He desires. Then, as Srimati Radharani sits on a bejewelled golden seat, Hari carefully ornaments Her with flower anklets, bracelets, and belt. Krsna is so excited that His hands shake and perspiration appears on his broad forehead. But these ecstatic symptoms intensify further when He kneels before Her to decorate Her face and hair.
Syama places upon Radha flower earrings, necklaces, garlands and a crown. In Her hair and braid He places many coloured flowers, and finally He ties a delicate bouquet at the end of Her braid.
To examine the entirety of His handiwork, Hari leans back, and what He sees makes Him motionless in ecstasy. Her eyes overflowing with love for Krsna, Her lips decorated with a smile at Krsna s expertise, Srimati Radharani appears like the goddess of floral beauty, the fulfilment of Krsna s every desire.
How can She see the result of Krsna s skill without a mirror?
The best mirror for Srimati Radharani is the ecstatic face of Her Syamasundara. That face reflects every detail of His loving expertise and every perfection of Her own loving beauty.
May the diamond-like tears in both Radha s and Syama s eyes protect you all.
2006-08-13
I will not be able to fly to Budapest tomorrow. I still have both a cold and a fever, though I feel better than yesterday. When I will return I do not know. Travelling during Janmastami or Vyasa-puja is not desirable.
It will be difficult to be away from Radhe Syama and Their devotees on Janmastami, but it also would not be easy being there in a sick condition. Many years ago I was sick and spent the festival on my back in NVD. It was torture to hear the kirtanas and not be chanting, to be close to Radhe Syama and not be able to dress Them, to know devotees were expecting I do seminars and not have the strength to give them. That was like prema-vaicittya: feeling separation during association.
It may be easier that I stay in Kazakhstan and recuperate. That is like pravasa: separation due to being at a great distance. The pains of separation I wrote about in Krsna-sangati I am now tasting in a new way: being distant at Janmastami.
This morning I did not go to the temple but chanted japa listening to the not-distant kirtana. I meditated that I was in NVD dressing Radhe Syama in a golden outfit, with golden ornaments and yellow flowers from Their garden. While absorbed thus I remembered a pastime wherein Syamasundar becomes very eager to decorate Srimati Radharani with flowers, flower ornaments, and flower garlands.
After He collects the flowers of His choice, some young gopis quickly help Krsna to make the ornaments and garlands He desires. Then, as Srimati Radharani sits on a bejewelled golden seat, Hari carefully ornaments Her with flower anklets, bracelets, and belt. Krsna is so excited that His hands shake and perspiration appears on his broad forehead. But these ecstatic symptoms intensify further when He kneels before Her to decorate Her face and hair.
Syama places upon Radha flower earrings, necklaces, garlands and a crown. In Her hair and braid He places many coloured flowers, and finally He ties a delicate bouquet at the end of Her braid.
To examine the entirety of His handiwork, Hari leans back, and what He sees makes Him motionless in ecstasy. Her eyes overflowing with love for Krsna, Her lips decorated with a smile at Krsna s expertise, Srimati Radharani appears like the goddess of floral beauty, the fulfilment of Krsna s every desire.
How can She see the result of Krsna s skill without a mirror?
The best mirror for Srimati Radharani is the ecstatic face of Her Syamasundara. That face reflects every detail of His loving expertise and every perfection of Her own loving beauty.
May the diamond-like tears in both Radha s and Syama s eyes protect you all.
2006-08-13