Srimati Lalita Devi
Svarupa Damodara is Lalita Devi in Krsna-lila. He gives permission there to join the service of Radharani. He is canvassing to look after the interests of Radharani. Such intense attention to the service of Radharani is never found anywhere else. Lalita Devi sometimes even chastises Krsna boldly. She takes risks by reproaching Krsna, “You do not know the dignity of my Mistress.”
Sometimes Radharani feels ashamed within Her mind. She thinks, “What does He say about Me?” Lalita Devi replies, “This shame is very bad. You just sit quietly. You do not know Your own interest. I know what is Your interest, Your position. I cannot tolerate that Your dignity should be minimized in any way, ever.” That is the spirit of Lalita Devi, of Svarupa Damodara.
Svarupa Damodara is the constant companion of Mahaprabhu in Puri. He is a scholar of the highest class and also a very good singer. Without consideration of his elevated social position, he will perform the simplest service. Svarupa Damodara is there always, everywhere with Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu was lost, the devotees inquired after Him the whole night and Svarupa Damodara was there with a lantern, moving along the seashore, looking for Him.
Lalita’s Position
Rupa Gosvami composed one stanza in praise of Lalita Devi, “O! Lalita Devi, how is she, the first attendant of Radharani?” Lalita Devi is a little aggressive in nature, pushing and meddling in the affairs which are connected with Sri Radha and Krsna. She interferes with anything and everything in connection with Radha and Krsna, thinking that the affairs connecting Them are her responsibility. She is very aggressive in nature and also intolerant. But Rupa Gosvami has justified her character. He writes, “What is the high standard of her love and sacrifice for Radha and Krsna? Lalita Devi says that if even a drop of sweat is found on the foot of either Radharani or Krsna, radha mukunda-pada, if she finds even a drop of sweat on the foot of any one of Them, she will come as if with millions of bodies. With such eagerness she will jump to remove that drop of sweat. Lalita Devi feels such affection for the Divine Couple.”
At the source of her aggression and interference in the affairs of Radha and Krsna we find a great and deep affection. This justifies all her activities as the leader accepted by the associates of Radha-Krsna. She always veers towards that Couple with such a standard. She can’t tolerate a drop of sweat on the foot of the Divine Damsel. On that level she works, as if with millions of bodies she wants to correct it, to remove that drop of sweat. She can’t tolerate any trouble, not the least trouble. She is very aggressive and talkative, and goes forward to do anything and everything as if she is mad with leadership. But at the source is her great concern for Them; this justification is there.
Sometimes she chastises Radharani Herself, “You do not know how to behave with Krsna. I will teach You what to do. Don’t make Yourself available to Krsna so cheaply. You must be careful of Your own dignity.” Lalita takes the position as caretaker of Radharani, always first to look after the cause of Radharani, to espouse the cause of Radharani. And she is always thinking herself responsible for all the affairs concerning Them.
Sometimes she goes to chastise Krsna also, “You don’t know the dignified position, what dignified love my friend has towards You. You undermine that. I cannot allow it.” From our mundane plane of experience it is not an understandable thing. We are creatures of the plane of lust. Although similar, the difference between the two is great. One is the perverted reflection of the other, the opposite. One is prema, the highest sacrifice, and the other is this lust, gross sense pleasure. It is like the North Pole and the South Pole, the distance is like that; just the opposite.
We are mad with this lust, but such madness is only perverted. In the original position it is a noble thing. It is self-forgetfulness, sacrifice, reckless sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Prime Cause, the Autocrat whose extent cannot be calculated. It is noble. Such intensity can never by calculated, it cannot come into our calculation here in this plane. Renunciation, liberation, salvation, these are only the negative aspect of lust. But the positive life, the life of sacrifice, the acme is found only there.
Guardian of the Lila
Lalita Devi’s thinks herself the guardian of Radharani. “I am Her guardian, I cannot allow anyone to minimize this great divine love and sacrifice of Radharani.” Lalita Devi stands as guarantor, even to Krsna, what to speak of other ordinary persons. To Krsna this is most valuable and rare; such is Radharani’s sacrifice in love, the highest intensity and utmost dignity.
It is unthinkable, unknown and unknowable. We may only conjecture as to this ideal. But if we think that we have obtained that position, if we think that we are the masters of that ideal, then it is finished; we have obtained something else. It is such an inconceivable thing, it is adhoksaja. It can never be caught by any force of our mind, or intelligence; avan manasa gocara. Its existence transcends our mental speculation and logical considerations. But still it exists. And Lalita Devi is of that special temperament; she has a unique importance in the lila of Krsna, as the guardian of the lila.
There are other friends of Radharani. Some are neutral towards Krsna and Radharani, some are a little partial towards Krsna, but Lalita Devi is cent-percent partial towards Radharani’s cause. This is Lalita Devi. Her birthday, the day of her appearance, is just before that of Radharani.
Srila Sri Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhar Dev Goswami