Lalita (gopi)
Lalita is the name of one of the eight principal gopis within traditional Gaudiya Vaishnava worship of Radha and Krishna.
Among The Gopikas
Within Vaishnava theology and Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, Lalita is amongst the eight principle Gopis, known as 'Sakhis' or friends of Srimati Radharani, Lord Krishna's highest loving consort. Her mother is Saradi and her father is Vishoka. Her husband is Bhairava, a friend of Govardhana Malla and the husband of Chandravali.
She tends to side with Srimati Radharani during disputes between Lord Krishna and Radharani. She is renowned for her "mana", or pure loving anger. Among the Gopis, Lalita and Vishaka are considered to be the foremost.
About Lalita
Of the eight Varistha Gopis, Astasakhis, Lalita is the foremost. She is a very dear friend of the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krishna. Lalita is 14 years, 8 months and 27 days older than Srimate Radharani. She is the oldest of Krishna's gopi friends. Lalita resides in Yavat and is famous for being Radha's constant companion. She is the personification of Khandita Bhava and the leader of the parama-prema sakis. Her kunja, the color of lightning, is the largest and is situated on the North side of Vrindavan. The personified seasons take personal care of the kunja eternally. Shaped like an 8 petal lotus, it expands and contracts when needed. Lalitadevi instructs and directs all the sakis and is an expert in the tactics of union and separation in the matter of prema. (Madhurya Dhama- A guide to Govardhana by Padmalocana das) Lalitadevi is well known for her contradictory and hot tempered nature (vama-prakhara). Her complexion is the color of gorocana (bright yellow pigment prepared from the urine of a cow) and her garments are the brilliant colors of the peacock tail feathers and bright colors
Her mother is Saradi-devi and her father is Visoka. Her husband is Bhairava, who is a close friend of Govardhana-gopa (husband of Candravali). Rupa manjari (Rupa Goswami) is the assistant and follower of Lalita-sakhi; thus all who consider themselves as Rupanuga bhaktas (followers of Rupa Goswami) are ultimately the servants of Lalita Devi and thus through the media of the parampara should always be longing to engage in the service of her lotus feet. When the day comes at which we are given the opportunity to serve her, she will engage us in the intimate loving service of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna according to our heart's desire. (Radha-Krishna-ganoddesa-dipika)
Impact Upon The Celestial Love of Radha-Krishna
Special Talents: (1) The leader of all the sakhis of Srimati Radharani (2) Very magnanimous like her father (3) The instigator of most pastimes (4) Always displays contrariness to Krsna's suggestions (5) Frequently becomes angry and speaks outrageously insolent retorts to increase the intensity of the loving affairs between Radha & Krsna. (6) Brilliant in composing and understanding riddles (7) Unparalleled in fashioning things with flowers including awnings, dancing arenas, umbrellas, couches, bowers (8) Expert in performing magic tricks and juggling.
Worships and Shrines Related To Lalita
SRI LALITA KUNDA
We can offer our obeisances to Sri Lalita Kunda with the following mantra:
namo pataka-vighna-aghnau lalita-mohanau subhau snapaye-ham vimoksaya kundau nira-manoharau (Skanda Purana)
I offer my obeisances to Sri Lalita Kunda which is most beautiful with sparkling water, which grants liberation to the bather, which is most auspicious manifestation of Lalita Devi's love for Sri Krishna and which destroys all the obstacles on the path of pure devotional service.
Lalitadevi had along with Mohan (Krsna), called 68 tirthas (holy places) to come & reside in her kunda and afford everyone the benefit of becoming free from the six types of hatya (murder): bhrna-hatya (abortion), krimi-hatya (killing of worms & insects), go-hatya (cow slaughter), brahma-hatya (killing of brahmans), svana-hatya, atma-hatya (suicide).
Of course this pastime was in preparation for the appearance of Radha Kunda, which took place when Krsna killed Aristasura (a demon in the shape of a bull). After Krsna killed Arista, He took a dip in Lalita Kunda to free Himself of the sin of gohatya. The internal reason being that He wished to get the association of Srimati Radharani and enjoy the pastime of creating Their kundas (Radha Kunda & Shyama Kunda). And to attain Radharani's association, He has to first please and get help of Lalitadevi, who is the most dear friend and guardian of Srimati Radharani. What to speak of an ordinary living entity, even Lord Krsna has to approach Lalitadevi first and by her blessings He could have His desire fulfilled.
When Krsna met Radharani that night, She told Him that due to His having killed a bull, he would have to go and bathe in all the holy places first to become purified. Krsna informed Her that He had bathed in Lalita's kunda, which purified one of the sins of six kinds of murder due to the presence of the major tirthas. Radharani's sakhis challenged Him that they did not see, feel or hear those tirthas enter Lalita's kunda so how could they possibly accept. Then Krsna, in front of all of them called all the holy places in person and had them introduce themselves before entering into His kunda, so that later the gopi girls could not challenge Him. When Lalita saw all that fun, she took some of the waters of Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda and poured them into her own kunda, after which the water of Shyama-kunda burst through the embankment to mingle with the water of Lalita-kunda in divine union.
Unfortunately the canal, which connects Lalita-kunda with Shyama-kunda & Radha-kunda, has recently been blocked off for some foolish material reason.
In the same way Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda are non-different to Radha Krsna, so Lalita's kunda is her liquid form. Lalita-kunda is all merciful and by coming in contact with her water, bowing down to offer prayers and remembering her, own will very quickly attain the mercy of Radha-kunda and be able to get an eternal residence close to her.
Srimati Lalita-devi's Appearance Day Ki Jai!
Death
Sri Lalita Devi, being a Goddess of Fortune who resides in Vrndavana, aka Lord Krishna's Supreme Abode in the spiritual realm, is eternal just as He is, along with all the other gopis and residents of Vrndavana.
See also
References
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola