tatra nAnA-lIlA-pravAha-rUpatayA svArasikI gaGgeva | ekaika-lIlAtmatayA mantropAsanA-mayI tu labdha-tat-sambhava-hrada-zreNir iva jJeyA || (krishna-sandarbha 153)
"Spontaneous pastimes are like the flow of the Ganges, as there are many different pastimes that flow into one another continuously. The static pastimes are compared to a lake created by the Ganges in which one particular pastime is concentrated upon. This is generally meditated upon at the time of mantra worship, hence the name mantramayi."
The contemplation on the spontaneous pastimes refers to contemplating on the eight-fold daily pastimes (asta-kaliya-lila) of Sri Radha and Krishna in Vraja. The outline of these pastimes is mentioned in the Govinda-lilamritam of Sri Krishna Das Kaviraja:
kuJjAd goSThaM nizAnte pravizati kurute dohanAnnAzanAdyAM |
prAtaH sAyaM ca lIlAM viharati sakhibhiH saGgave cArayan gAH ||
madhyAhne cAtha naktaM vilasati vipine rAdhayAddhAparAhne |
goSThaM yAti pradoSe ramayati suhRdo yaH sa kRSNo 'vatAn naH || (1.4)
"At the end of the night, the Lord returns home from the forest; in the morning, he milks the cows and takes his meal. In the forenoon, he takes the cows to pasture and at noon meets with Srimati Radharani at Radha Kunda. In the afternoon, he returns to Nandagrama with the cows and cowherd boys, enjoying different pastimes with them through the evening. In the later evening he takes a meal and then goes off to meet with Radha in the forest. May Lord Krsna, whose daily activities are such, be kind and deliver us all."
However, inner participation in the eight-fold daily pastimes necessitates a considerable absorption in one's internally conceived siddha-form, which is suitable for direct service of Sri Radha and Krishna, as well as acquaintance with the scenery of the pastime along with its numerous characters. Therefore, the practitioners first focus their attention on static meditation. A classical depiction of such meditation is to be found in the invocation of the Caitanya Caritamrita:
divya-vRndAraNya-kalpa-drumAdhaH |
zrImad-ratnAgAra-siMhAsana-sthau ||
zrImad-rAdhA-zrIla-govinda-devau |
preSThAlIbhiH sevyamAnau smarAmi || (cc 1.1.16)
"I meditate on Sri Radha and Srila Govinda Deva, who are seated on a beautiful throne in a jewelled palace under the shade of the desire trees of Vrindavana, surrounded by many dear friends and handmaids who eagerly serve them."
Such meeting takes place in a yogapitha, "the seat of union". Sri Radha and Krishna, along with their associates, assemble thrice daily on the platform of yogapitha to bless the practicing devotee and to accept his service. The morning-time meeting takes place at Gupta-kunda near Nandisvara, the mid-day meeting takes place in Madana-sukhada-kunja at Radha Kunda, and the nocturnal meeting takes place in a jewelled temple of the Maha-yogapitha and Govinda-sthali.
The golden platform of yogapitha is shaped like an eight-petaled lotus. Sri Radha and Krishna are surrounded by Their confidantes, namely the eight sakhis (girl-friends), who are located on the outer part of the inner eight petals of the lotus, the eight manjaris (maidservants) who are located on the inner part of the inner eight petals of the lotus, and the eight additional sakhis located on the eight outer petals of the lotus. Following his guru who has assumed a form similar to the confidantes of the Divine couple, the aspirant renders various services to everyone in his own internal guru-given form of a maidservant.
Sri Narottama Das Thakura has written a captivating poem depicting the scenery of the yogapitha.
vRndAvana ramya-sthAna, divyA-cintAmaNi-dhAma |
ratana-mandira manohara ||
AvRta kAlindI-nIre, rAja-haMsa keli kare |
tAhe zobhe kanaka kamala ||
tAra madhye hema pITha, aSTa-dalete beSTita |
aSTa-dale pradhAnA nAyikA |
tAra madhye ratnAsane, basiyAchen dui jane |
zyAma-saGge sundarI rAdhikA ||
o rUpa lAvaNya-rAzi, amiya paDiche khasi |
hAsya parihAsa sambhASaNe ||
narottama-dAsa kaya, nitya-lIlA sukha-maya ||
sadAi sphuruka mora mane || (prarthana)
"What a delightful place, this Vrindavana, the abode of celestial touchstone! There is a charming jewelled temple surrounded by the Yamuna River, which is filled with playing swans and golden lotus flowers.
"In one such large golden lotus is a podium surrounded by eight large petals in which stand the chief girlfriends of Radha. In the very centre is a jewel-bedecked throne upon which the beautiful Radharani is seated in the company of the blackish and enchanting Sri Krsna.
"Their forms are like a mountain of loveliness from which nectar is tumbling like waterfalls. They laugh and exchange joking conversation. Narottama Dasa says: 'The eternal pastimes of the Lord are full of happiness; may they always be manifest in my mind!'"
