Introduction:
Sri Sankalpa Kalpadruma literally meaning “the desire tree of sweet aspirations” is yet another classic by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, one of the most revered acharyas. It describes author’s yearning to become Srimati Radhika’s maidservant and serve Her in the eight fold pastimes (asta-kaliya prema-lila) that is eternally existing in Vrindavana. It’s one of the rare gems which give access to a pure devotee’s heart revealing his innermost aspirations
Softcover
Language: English
Language: English
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Sample Chapter:
Sankalpa Kalpadruma
During the time of Surya Puja, Kåñëa will appear in the disguise of a brahmana. Seeing Him, Jatila will say, “Hey Brahmin! Will You please engage my daughter in-law in Surya Puja?” Saying this, Jatila will make You fall at the feet of the “so called brahmana” to offer respects. She will hand You over to Kåñëa’s charge. I will forever worship this moment seeing the mild smile on Your face as a result of this favorable turn of events.
Fearing the ill words of Your family members and respectable elders, You will quickly return home after Surya Puja. While going home in the company of Jatila, You will be very anxious to catch a last glimpse of Kåñëa. Knowing Your mind, I will purposefully lag behind so that You will have a chance to look at Your beloved. On the pretext of calling me, You will look backward and say, “Come sakhi! Hurry up!” This motion will help You to drink the nectar from Kåñëa’s sweet face for a few more moments.
By the time You arrive home in the late afternoon You will be burning in the fire of separation from Kåñëa. I will lay You down on a cooling bed of fresh flowers to relieve You of this painful condition. But within a few minutes the bed will become to hot due to the intense heat of Your body. Then I will anoint Your body with cooling camphor and sandalwood paste, and lay You down on an even more cooling bed made from the wet stems of lotus flowers.
Aparahna Lila 3:36 – 6:00 p.m.
Hey Radhe! You will find relief when Candanakala-sakhi arrives from Kåñëa’s house with the news of Yasoda’s request for You to prepare sweets for Kåñëa’s evening meal. I will clean Your stove with fresh cow dung, supply a clean frying pan and help keep the fire going as You cook. I will also help You prepare laddus, karpura keli and other sweets by supplying ghee, water, camphor, molasses, bananas, black pepper, ground coconut, wheat flour and other ingredients.
Joking with You, I will say, “Hey Radhe! When I tried to relieve the painful heat of Your separation from Kåñëa by applying cooling candana and camphor You became even hotter. But see how the fire of separation has been extinguished by the cooking fire You are using to make His sweets!”
A short time later I will make You drink the nectar of the sweet news of Kåñëa’s return from the gostha (cow pastures). I will say “Hey Radhe! Hearing the mooing of the cows and seeing the sky darkened from the dust raised by their hooves indicates that Kåñëa’s cows are approaching.” You will immediately drop Your work and come with me to the edge of the forest to see Kåñëa as He passes by on His way to Nandagrama with His cows and cowherd boys.
To extinguish Your fire of separation I will bring You and Your sakhis to the side of the path on which Kåñëa is passing. When Kåñëa comes He will momentarily hide Himself in a kunja. I will make You angry with me by pulling You into the same flower kunja. Thus I will remove the intense pain of Your separation from Your beloved Syama.
I will invite the bees of Kåñëa’s eyes to drink the honey from the blossoming lotus flower of Your beautiful face. And I will make Your cakori eyes drink the nectar from the glowing moon of Kåñëa’s beautiful face. In this way I will submerge You in the ocean of Kåñëa’s sweetness and thus bring You back to life.
Sayana Lila 6:00 – 8:24 p.m.
I will show the gopis how You both are paralyzed by the captivating sight of each other. By the order of Lalita I will bring You home. A few sakhis and I will then take the laddus, amrta keli, karpura keli and other sweets that You made to Kåñëa’s home.
Upon arriving in Nanda Bhavan, I will offer respects to mother Yasoda. When she asks about Your welfare, I will inform her that You are well. Seeing the laddus and other sweets that You made for Kåñëa, Yasoda will repeatedly praise Your good qualities in front of all the sakhis. Hearing this will flood my heart with joy.
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