Bhakti Ratnakara
Chapter 4 :"Because of
separation from Caitanya, she never slept at night. If at all she slept,
she would lie on the hard ground.
Her golden complexion had grown pale like the new moon. While chanting the names of Hari, she would set aside a grain of rice for each mantra. Later in the day, only those grains would be soaked and offered to the Lord. The offering was very small, and yet she would eat only a portion of it. "
Her golden complexion had grown pale like the new moon. While chanting the names of Hari, she would set aside a grain of rice for each mantra. Later in the day, only those grains would be soaked and offered to the Lord. The offering was very small, and yet she would eat only a portion of it. "
Vishnupriya
devi Thakurani lived her life in the slow burning agony of separation from Sri
Gouranga after His departure. Nor would anyone ever hear her voice. Constantly shedding tears .....
My heart walls in
a labyrinth of lamentation
where time is marked
by the fall
of a grain of rice
into a bowl,
then soaked in tears
that swell and drop
endlessly
from inner silent corners,
where nothing else exists
but Your name
flowing in a stream,
there the chanting, the divine love
any instant of You -
abides,
keeps me alive,
yet oblivious to life.
and You come in dreams (1)
bathed in autumn moonlight
Your words my only delight;
neither the sun
nor the moon
giver of rest,
will ever rise
in this continuous sunset
of your absence,
and in this numbness
of my being
I lie on the bare ground
of my barren life;
time was meaningful before,
because of You,
when You ate, You slept or bathed,
what a piercing of the heart
this passing of the hours,
no one has ever lived
without even
the slightest hope
of Your return!
where time is marked
by the fall
of a grain of rice
into a bowl,
then soaked in tears
that swell and drop
endlessly
from inner silent corners,
where nothing else exists
but Your name
flowing in a stream,
there the chanting, the divine love
any instant of You -
abides,
keeps me alive,
yet oblivious to life.
and You come in dreams (1)
bathed in autumn moonlight
Your words my only delight;
neither the sun
nor the moon
giver of rest,
will ever rise
in this continuous sunset
of your absence,
and in this numbness
of my being
I lie on the bare ground
of my barren life;
time was meaningful before,
because of You,
when You ate, You slept or bathed,
what a piercing of the heart
this passing of the hours,
no one has ever lived
without even
the slightest hope
of Your return!
(1) The dream by Sri Vishnupriya-devi BR Ch. 4 "Just then Sri Vishnupriya-devi was telling her favorite
maidservant that she had had a dream, which she would describe. Her Lord, who was the attractor of the entire
creation, had appeared before her in an enchanting pose. [...]
In his affectionate way, Caitanya made Visnupriya sit down, and he spoke
to her in a soft sweet voice : ' A brahmana boy named Srinivasa has suffered
indescribably. Today he will come to see
you. Knowing him to be a dear devotee,
you should bestow your mercy on him.' Caitanya continued to delight her with his
pleasing words and then suddenly disappeared, and she awoke in distress."
