The Sweet Fruit of Radha-Kunda Bhajana

At the end of his Gitamala songbook, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes the spiritual possibilities that abound for one who resides at sacred Radha-kunda. Significantly, the Thakura perceived and practically experienced that his own home in Sri Navadvipa-dhama was nondifferent from Lalita-devi's Svananda-sukhada-kunja situated on the banks of Radha-kunda in Sri Vrindavan-dhama.

Just what are some of the spiritual possibilities that come to greet one who resides on the banks of Radha-kunda? Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura first paints the scene with his words:

The banks of Radha-kunda are covered with spiritual gems. Nearby, there are hundreds of groves. They are decorated with many coral-like transcendental trees and creepers, burdened with juicy fruit. (Verse 1).

With the next verse, however, we learn how a Radha-kunda-vasi is meant to act. The Thakura writes:

There is a beautiful cottage situated within a most enchanting grove that is known as Svananda-sukhada-kunja. When will I sit there and sing the holy name of Krsna with a desire to attain Krsna's service? (Verse 2).

With these words, suddenly we envision Kamala Manjari—twelve-and-a-half-years-old eternally and with a complexion of lightning and a dress resembling the star-studded sky—sitting on the banks of Radha-kunda in her beautifully adorned cottage and engaging in kirtan while harboring the desire for service. We know these details about Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura's eternal identity as Kamala Manjari, because he most mercifully reveals this information just three songs later, in this same section in Gitamala (Song 8).

Next, Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes the incredible result of this special bhajana perfomed at Radha-kunda (which, significantly, he was meditating upon and writing about from Sri Navadvipa-dhama). He writes:

At that time, the sound of the flute will enter the ears of this maidservant. By the sound of Krsna's flute, I will become intoxicated with ecstasy and forget everything. (Verse 3).

Such is the power of sincere bhajana performed at Radha-kunda by none other than Kamala Manjari/Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. This bhajana was so attractive that it granted "ears" to the sound of Krsna's flute.

And what did this flute song sound like to Kamala Manjari? The bhajana concludes:

Krsna's flute will call out the name of our queen, Sri Radha. On hearing that sound, this maidservant will become stunned. Alas! How will she survive?

This verse reveals the very heart of Manjari-bhava. Kamala Manjari does not hear her own name in the flute song of Krsna; she hears the name of Srimati Radharani. And the potent reminder of her queen in the form of Srimati Radharani's name is enough to leave her stunned.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada also writes about the potency and effect of bhajana performed at Radha-kunda in his commentary on Srila Rupa Goswamipada's Sri Upadesamrta (Nectar of Instruction). However, he emphasizes the rarity of attaining such a position:

Rādhā-kuṇḍa is very rarely attained, even by great personalities fully engaged in devotional service, not to speak of ordinary devotees who are only engaged in the practice of vaidhī bhakti.

He goes on to mention why one would wish to reside at Radha-kunda:

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura writes in this connection that Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa is the most select place for those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends (sakhīs) and confidential serving maids (mañjarīs) of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Living entities who are eager to return home to the transcendental kingdom of God, Goloka Vṛndāvana, by means of attaining their spiritual bodies (siddha-deha) should live at Rādhā-kuṇḍa, take shelter of the confidential serving maids of Śrī Rādhā and under their direction engage constantly in Her service. This is the most exalted method for those engaged in devotional service under the protection of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Notably, Srila Prabhupada mentions Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu—and Mahaprabhu's protection. A practitioner on the path of bhakti can only hope to attain Radha-kunda via the mercy of Sri Caitanya. Srila Prabhupada then continues:

If, by great fortune, one gets an opportunity to come to Rādhā-kuṇḍa and bathe even once, he can develop his transcendental love for Kṛṣṇa, exactly as the gopīs did. It is also recommended that one should live on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa and should be absorbed in the loving service of the Lord. One should bathe there regularly and give up all material conceptions, taking shelter of Śrī Rādhā and Her assistant gopīs. If one is thus constantly engaged during his lifetime, after giving up the body he will return back to Godhead to serve Śrī Rādhā in the same way as he contemplated during his life on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

The last line in the excerpt above touches on the importance of having firm faith—faith that after giving up one's body one will return back to Godhead to serve Śrī Rādhā in the same way as one contemplated during one's life on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Certainly, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura maintained such firm conviction, which he evidences especially at the end of Gitamala, wherein he writes:

My desire is to attain the service of the divine young couple, under the guidance of gopis like Sri Rupa-manjari. I firmly believe that I will attain the service that is according to my desire. (Gitamala, Hankering for Perfection, Song 8, Verse 3).

It is extremely rare to attain the fortune of residing at Radha-kunda, but both Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who is literally penning this bhajana about Radha-kunda from Sri Navadvipa-dhama and Srila Prabhupada, who references Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when writing about Radha-kunda in Nectar of Instruction, point to the key if such residence is sought: taking shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.