Rāsapaṃcādhyāyī kathā

Various discourses by Mahatmas were organized as part of the Shatabhishekam celebrations and रासपंचाध्यायी Rāsapaṃcādhyāyī by Dr. Shyam Sundar Parasharji organized from September 9th to13th, 2019 was one among them. Rāsapaṃcādhyāyī consists of the 5 chapters, the chapters 29 to 34 of the 10 th canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. These chapters primarily describe the Rāsa, the dance that Lord Kṛṣṇa had with the Gopis, and this was planned earlier. Lord Kṛṣṇa had promised the Gopis that he will invite them on a suitable evening. So when the Sharad Purnima came, Lord Kṛṣṇa played on his flute inviting all the Gopis, who rushed leaving everything that they were doing. When they all arrived, Lord Kṛṣṇa tested their resolve, so he just as though unaware of their sentiments asked them why have they come here, what are they doing there at night, they should go back and follow their dharma, to serve their spouses and family, and take care of the children, and that is what is conducive for the happiness here and in next world also. And it is not necessary that there should be physical presence of the Lord; by listening to his glories etc., also they get the same result. So when this was told, Gopis were highly disappointed, and they together sang a song called the प्रणय गीत Praṇaya Gīta, and they urged the Lord to please not to be so harsh and cruel to them, because he had invited them, and it is not right for him to send them back. Lord Kṛṣṇa was pleased with that, and then he started playing with them and dancing. At one point the Gopis’ pride arose that, ‘O, Lord Kṛṣṇa is here because of us.’ In fact they were here because of Lord Kṛṣṇa, but this is what happened, and Lord Kṛṣṇa recognizing this, disappeared. And Gopis were gripped with a deep sense of sorrow arising from the pain of separation, and they were searching for him from one forest to another. At one point they saw the footprints of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and followed, but they could not find him. And then they together sang the song called the विरह गीत Viraha Gīta or Gopi Gīta, of 19 verses. Listening to this, Lord Kṛṣṇa became pleased, he appeared before them, and then they started dancing. That dance is called Mahā Rāsa. There is an elaborate description of how Lord Kṛṣṇa pleases the Gopis by granting them what they wanted. This forms the Rāsapaṃcādhyāyī which was narrated by the learned Dr. ShyamSundar Parasharji from Sep 9-13, 2019 at Tattvatirtha Ashram, as part of the Shatabhishekam celebrations. Dr. Parasharji beautifully narrated the Rāsapaṃcādhyāyī giving many examples and detailed explanation of the Gopi’s sentiments, and filled everyone with joy and devotion.