The Rasa Dance

Radha and Krishna are seen here dancing in the center at the onset of the Rasa dance with the Ashta-Sakhis (8 principle gopis [cowherding girls]). In... more

by Vishnu Das

Title

The Rasa Dance

Artist

Vishnu Das

Medium

Painting - Canvas Paintings And Mixed Media

Description

Radha and Krishna are seen here dancing in the center at the onset of the Rasa dance with the Ashta-Sakhis (8 principle gopis [cowherding girls]). In the center He dances with his most beloved consort Srimati Radharani.
From Vedic literature it appears that when a theatrical actor dances among many dancing girls, the group-dance is called a Rasa dance.
When Krishna saw the full moon night of the autumn Sarat season, He decorated Himself with various seasonal flowers, especially the mallika flowers, which are very fragrant. He remembered the gopis' (the village cowherd girls) prayers to goddess Katyayani, wherein they prayed for Krishna to be their husband.

He thought that the full moon night of the Sarat season was just suitable for a nice dance. So their desire to have Krishna as their husband would then be fulfilled.
When Krishna, the supreme enjoyer, desired to enjoy the company of the gopis on that full moon night of the autumn season, exactly at that very moment, the Moon, the lord of the stars, appeared in the sky, displaying its most beautiful features. The full moon night of the Sarat season is the most beautiful night in the year.

The appearance of the moon increased Krishna's desire to dance with the gopis. The forests were filled with fragrant flowers. The atmosphere was cooling and festive. When Lord Krishna began to blow His flute, the gopis all over Vrndavana became enchanted. Their attraction to the vibration of the flute increased a thousand times due to the rising full moon, the red horizon, the calm and cool atmosphere, and the blossoming flowers.
Each gopi thought that Krishna was dancing with her alone. Above that wonderful dance flew many airplanes carrying the denizens of the heavenly planets, who were very anxious to see the wonderful dance of Krishna with the gopis.

The Gandharvas and the Kinnaras (celestial musicians and dancers) began to sing, and, accompanied by their respective wives, all the Gandharvas began to shower flowers on the dancers.

Uploaded

April 13th, 2022