radhikayai:

India, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra
Krishna, The Divine Flutist, circa 1775

One of the most evocative uses of music in the Indian cultural tradition is when Krishna plays his flute to call his female devotees to dally with him in spiritual bliss. In this context, Krishna’s flute playing is used as a metaphor for the attraction of the human soul to divinity. Its sound disrupts all social strictures and allows the worshipper to aspire freely towards enlightenment and religious rapture. The magic and mystery of Krishna’s flute is perhaps most eloquently described by the fifteenth-century Bengali poet, Chandidas.

How can I describe his relentless flute, which pulls virtuous women from their homes and drags them by their hair to Shyam [Krishna] as thirst and hunger pull the doe to the snare? Chaste ladies forget their lords, wise men forget their wisdom, and clinging vines shake loose from their trees, hearing that music. Then how shall a simple dairymaid withstand its call?

ati-catulataram tam kananantar milantam 
vraja-nrpati-kumaram viksya sanka-kulaksi 
madhura-mrdu-vacobhih samstuta netra-bhangya 
snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu

When will Sri Radhika, who, accidentally meeting restless Krsna in the outskirts of the forest, stared at Him with suspicious eyes as He cast amorous glances at Her and flattered Her with many sweet and gentle words, bathe me in Her service?

sarasija-vara-garbhakharva-kantih samudyat- 
tarunima-ghanasaraslista-kaisora-sidhuh 
dara-vikasita-hasya-syandi-bimbadharagra 
snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu

When will Sri Radhika, who is as splendid as a great lotus whorl, who is new nectar mixed with the camphor of youth, and whose bimba fruit lips blossom with a gentle smile, bathe me in Her service?

I’ll be mean as a hornet for You, my Love, or sweet as honey on Your tongue. Anything You ask; anything to please You, dear, wicked boy, and rogue of my heart.

sphurad-aruna-dukula-dyotitodyan-nitamba- 
sthalam abhi vara-kanci-lasyam ullasayanti 
kuca-kalasa-vilasa-sphita-mukta-sara-srih 
snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu

When will Sri Radhika, who makes the sash of bells dance on Her hips splendid with red silk, and whose necklace of large pearls plays on the waterpots of Her breasts, bathe me in Her service?

 rasa valita-mrgaksi-mauli-manikya-laksmih
pramudita-muravairi-prema-vapi-marali 
vraja-vara-vrsabhanoh punya-girvana-valli 
snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu

When will Sri Radhika, who is a splendid ruby in the crown of all nectarean doe-eyed girls, a swan swimming in the lake of love for jubilant Lord Krsna, and a celestial vine sprouted from Vraja’s exalted King Vrsabhanu, bathe me in Her service?

In the maddening ecstasy of separation, the gopis imitate Krishna’s pastimes…

At my Harinama initiation… I am looking away from the fire sacrifice, and taking darshan of the sweet, merciful gaze Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Golokananda.

Krishna expands Himself, to simultaneously dance with all the gopis during their secret moonlit rendezvous, the intimate rasa-lila…

Lalita Sakhi! Dear friend to Srimate Radharani, and occasional (loving) opponent to Sri Krishna!