Daily Worship

As the first rays of morning light spread across the sky, Shri Radharaman (Shriji) awakens. Soon, eager devotees swarm into the temple, to quench their thirst for the nectar of his beauty at the auspicious time of Mangla Aarti. Shriji’s attendant Goswami waves the lamp in graceful rings, binding the divine Youth with the protection of his love, and dispelling any negative energy that might bring him harm.

“O Shri Radharaman! You and Shri Bhatt Gopal are bliss personified. Everything that is eternal is becoming visibly auspicious with your darshan during this blessed time of Mangla Aarti, which is beyond compare. A night filled with romantic pastimes has come to an end. Shri Vrindavan Dham is auspicious too and her trees and vines are enticing the heart. The cooling, fragrant breeze is blowing very gently and the bliss has already spread across all the kunjs and forests. Shri Gunmanjariji sings an auspicious song to praise Shri Priya-Lalju's virtues and as she absorbs their darshan, she experiences supreme bliss!”

Then the curtain falls. After the eternal Youth brushes his teeth, he is bathed and dressed with greatest care by his Goswamis. Finally the curtain parts, revealing the glory of Shriji’s handsome form, amidst the spreading aromatic smoke of the Dhoop Aarti.

"The scent of the smoke from fragrant incense made of a mixture of sandalwood, agarwood, vetiver and camphor fills Shri Radharaman with so much joy! The burning fumes look like new clouds forming in his nikunj. The trail of the golden light from the wick of the aarti dazzles like lightning striking between those clouds. The echoes from the ringing bell sound like the bliss of roaring rainclouds. Gunmanjari says, 'The peacocks are making auspicious sounds, and seeing this, Shriji is overjoyed.'"

Now Shriji is ready to go and graze the cows, but not before his mother and the gopis serve him privately with a rich breakfast.

Once fed and fully dressed, he sets out with his cows and cowherd friends. Finding any opportunity, Shriji slips away to meet his Beloved, Shri Priyaju, and her friends (sakhis) under the shade of the forest trees, flowers and creepers. The sakhis decorate this moment by performing Shringar Aarti, an auspicious ritual to keep the Sweethearts safe throughout the day.

“The madhurya bliss from seeing Shri Priya-Lalju together again brings Gunmanjari so much joy and she performs Shringar Aarti. Her emotions have taken the form of the aarti plate, where the ghee is her affection and the lamp is lit by the fire of their amorous love. She offers her smile as camphor and her tears of joy for water. The rest of the sakhis are playing a variety of instruments: flute, veena, saarangi, mrdang and sitar, making the atmosphere ever so blissful! The humming bees and the tinkling of anklebells bring life to the sweet music.”

The curtain is drawn. Shriji rejoins his friends and walks and wanders through the forest. Later, he meets up again with his Soul Mate, Shri Priyaju, and when he feels tired and hungry, she serves him delicious, rich dishes prepared with greatest care by her sakhis. The royal plate is filled with the flavours of their love. After enjoying Their midday meal, both Radha and her Raman find themselves in a relaxed mood. The Lovers are greeted with Rajbhog Aarti. Soon after, Shri Radharamanji with his Sweetheart retire to rest in a nearby grove.

“The sun is about to set and Shri Radharaman will awake soon. Knowing this, a blissful sakhi takes the veena and starts to play Raag Dhanaashri very softly, adding vocal melody. The parrot and mynah bird join in with their singing. In the eternal service, Shri Gunmanjari plays the mrdang so sweetly, and hearing her soft beats, Shri Priya-Lalju awake.”

The evening sandarshan starts with the Dhoop Aarti again, filling the entire atmosphere with aroma, and then fruits, refreshments and snacks are offered to Shri Radharamanji.

The sun is now sinking: Krishn, his big brother Balram and their cowherd friends return home, along with the cows. Thereupon Mother Yashoda welcomes her children by performing Sandhya Aarti.

“Our life’s treasures are Shri Radharamanju and Shri Bhatt Gopal. All glories to them! O Shriji, you look so graceful with your peacock crown and a garland of five flowers around your neck. Your earrings are like makars and the beautiful bindi on your brow is sparkling. The waves of curly hair that sway against your cheeks and your big lotus-shaped eyes make your face all the more enchanting. This beauty of yours is captivating the gopīs of Braj! The waistbelt of tinkling bells and the anklebells that you wear are making the sweetest sound.

You play a beautiful melody with your lotus lips upon the flute as you walk through the lush pathways of Vrindavan, just like a graceful swan. And your beloved Shri Gopal Bhatt Goswamiji is always beside you. I offer my life to this blissful form (bali jaaun).

Shri Gopinath Das Goswami says, “Shriji, you take care of all your devotees by giving them your protective shelter. This divine form of yours is so charming! Shri Radharaman Lal, you are the crown jewel of the rasiks and so dear to Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's eternal family. O merciful one, you attract Shri Roop, Shri Sanatan, Shri Gopal Bhatt and the rest of the six Goswamis to you. Those who have touched the dust of your lotus feet upon their heads are showered with the blessings of your sacred love.“

The boys return by the end of the day, covered with dust spread by the cows. After bathing, they dress in comfortable evening attire, and hungrily demand their dinner. “My dear boy please be patient,” answers Mother Yashoda as she brings the evening meal. This is the Aulai Sandarshan. Au-Lai literally means “I am about to bring”.

“O sakhi, today Shri Radharaman Lal is looking especially unique. He is only wearing his taniya, and the darshan of his limbs in this dress is simply amazing. His body is covered with fragrant oil and he is wearing a turban, which tilts to one side. Gunmanjariji says, “Shriji's eyes are like arrows that have pierced my heart."

When Shriji has relished his meal, he falls in with his friends, chatting and enjoying the melodious music being played for him. Eventually, he feels sleepy, so before he retires, Lalita brings warm milk and Roop Manjari brings fragrant betel leaf.

“Lalita brings nectarean milk in a cup made of gold. Shriji is becoming impatient to drink it but Lalita offers the milk to Shri Priyaju first because she is dearer to her. Then she offers it to Shriji. Noticing Lalita's cheekiness, Radharaman laughs as he drinks the milk and in between his sips, he has sweet conversations with Priyaju. When the treasure of these blessed darshans is captured in the heart, nothing else can compare! All the devotees offer their lives (balihaari) to this divine image of Shriji and Priyaju.”

“Roop Manjari brings delicious paan and gives it to Gunmanjari. The fragrant paan is filled with catechu (kathha), slaked lime (chuna) coconut (giri), cardamom (elaichi), areca nut (supaari), and powdered pearl (mukta). The ingredients are flavoured with essence of screwpine flower (kewra), and the leaf is rolled into a triangular wrap and pinned together with a clove (laung). As Gunmanjariji lovingly feeds Shri Priya-Lalju the paan, she secretly gives a generous serving to Priyaju, because she is dearest to her heart.”

When the time comes for sleep, the last aarti of the day is offered, called Shyan Aarti. In perfect silence the devotees worship Shriji with their eyes, while his attendant Goswami delicately waves the lamp. The bamboo flute plays, and the gong quietly sounds the most gentle lullaby.

“Shriji's eyes are becoming ever so drowsy and realising this, Shri Priyaju takes his hand and leads him to their room. The sakhis come together to witness this darshan, which fills them with complete bliss. As Gunmanjariji is blessed with the delightful vision of Shriji's heavy eyes, she offers her life and everything that she has to him again and again.”

The doors now closed, all the devotees and servants of Shri Radha Raman ji silently depart, their hearts filled with the eternal beauty of their Beloveds’ combined form, Shri Radharamanji.