Post by niscala on Sept 25, 2014 5:45:10 GMT -5
Often we hear the term "manjari bhava" though it has no basis is sastra that I know of. It is generally interpretted to mean asama-sneha, having more love for Radha as exemplified in wonderful ways by the nitya sakhis and prana sakhis described in Ujjvala Nilamani- they do not desire personal relationships with Krsna. (The reason is their bhavollasa rati, experiencing conjugal union through Radha's experiences- but that is common to both asama-sneha and sama-sneha sakhis- so the difference is actually attributed to their greater love for Radha).
It is on the basis of this interpretation of "majaru bhava" (which doesn't exist in the sastra), that the opinion has arisen that since almost all of our acaryas have "manjari" after their name in Krsna lila, then they must be in this mood of asama-sneha- and therefore, to follow them, none of us should desire to have personal relationship with Krsna and to that end follow in the footsteps of the priya sakhis and parama-prestha sakhis.
Leaving aside that unfounded conclusion that one has to have the same bhava as the swaupa form of one's gurus, I am wondering what is the sastric basis for the belief that manjaris are nitya sakhis or prana sakhis, with more asama-sneha- more prema for Radha?
Ujjvala Nilamani describes the nitya sakhis and prana sakhis as having this kind of asama-sneha. Overall, he denotes only 5 kinds of sakhis, with no references to manjaris as a group.
1. Those with asama-sneha, loving Krsna more- known as "sakhis"
2. Those with asama-sneha, loving Radha more- known as "nitya sakhis"
3. Those more advanced in the above asama-sneha- known as "prana sakhis"
4. Those with sama-sneha, loving Radha and Krsna equally- known as "priya sakhis" and
5. Those more advanced in this kind of affection, known as "parama-prestha=-sakhis"
Why I am doubting that "manjaris" are synonymous with "nitya-sakhis" or "prana sakhis" (possessing asama sneha, with more prema for Radha) is that In Radha-Krsna-Gannodesa-Dipika, part Two, verse 176, Prema Manjari is listed among the "priya-sakhis" who, as we know, are defined as having equal love for Radha and Krsna, and who do not shun conjugal union with Him.
Furthermore, in verse 178, the list of nitya sakhis is given and only one has "manjari" after her name. In verse 191, the list of Radha's maidservants is given, with only -devi after their name. In verse 196 the "very young" maidservants are listed, and not one with the manjari term used.
But the most compelling evidence is in verse 176- Prema manjari is a "priya sakhi". So is there any evidence in the sastra that equates manjaris with nitya sakhis and prana sakhis, with more love for Radha- not evidence that some manjaris are in this category, but that they all are?
