Full Moon of the Sharat Season
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by Madhavendra Puri dasa (Paris, France)
"From Vedic literature it appears that when a theatrical actor dances among dancing girls, the group-dance is called a Rasa dance. When Krishna saw the full moon night of the Sharat season, He decorated Himself with various seasonal flowers, specially the mallika flowers, which are very fragrant. He remembered the gopis' prayers to goddess Katyayani, wherein they prayed for Krishna to be their husband. He thought that the full night of the Sharat season was just suitable for a nice dance. So their desire to have Krishna as their husband would then be fulfilled."
(Krishna Book, Chapter 29)
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(A note from the artist: "November 2nd is Shri Krishna Rasayatra. A full moon night. This particular full moon has a particular significance for me. In 1972, I happened to be in Vrindavana during that particular period. Shrila Prabhupada was there and, many devotees from around the world being there, we had been put up in the half abandoned palace of a Maharaja situated at Keshi Ghat. We shared the place with bats. On the night of this full moon of the Sharat season, I found myself, unable to sleep, on the upper part of the palace's rooftop overlooking the Jamuna river. The spectacle left a very deep and lasting impression on me. I am sending you a drawing I included in the Saraswati book. It corresponds, I think, to the occasion. --Madhavendra Puri dasa, October 25, 2009)
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