Sri Vilāpa Kusumāñjali of Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī - Volume One
Title: Sri Vilāpa Kusumāñjali of Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī - Volume One
Author: Sivarama Swami
Publisher: Lal Publishing
Publication Date: 2022
Language: English
Format: Hardback, Gilt Edges
Pages: 640
Volume One opens the doorway into Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī’s Śrī Vilāpa-kusumāñjali. In his introduction, Śivarāma Swami guides readers on how to approach such texts—assessing qualification, cultivating the right mood, and understanding why eagerness must be supported by steady practice and guidance.
The meditations begin by grounding the reader in sambandha—recognising one’s spiritual masters, guides, and worshipable Lords—before gradually unfolding into the inner landscape of longing. Through prayers of separation, cries for mercy, fleeting glimpses of hope, and the grace of holy places, Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī reveals the essence of a maidservant’s devotion: a heart that cannot live without Rādhā’s service.
This first volume therefore serves as both a guide and a prayerbook, drawing readers into Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī’s mood of devotion—an opportunity to be touched by the intensity of his yearning and to carry that spirit into one’s own practice.
śrī-rādhikā-prasādārthaṁ
vilāpa-kusumāñjaliḥ
nirmito yena tasmai śrī-
dāsa-gosvāmine namaḥ
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī, who, in his unwavering desire to please Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, disclosed the contents of his heart by composing this plaintive flower-offering of prayers, Śrī Vilāpa-kusumāñjali."
Śrī Vilāpa-kusumāñjali, a precious gem in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava literature, was composed by Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. Vilāpa-kusumāñjali, meaning "a handful of flower-like offerings of piteous cries," represents Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami's heartfelt expressions of longing for eternal service to Śrī Rādhā. It is considered as the ultimate fulfillment of Lord Caitanya's instruction to write books for future generations of devotees, guiding them towards the attainment of Vraja-bhakti and ultimately, service to the lotus feet of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
Śrīla Śivarāma Swami has undertaken the writing of the commentary on the 104 verses of this esteemed work. This first Volume is a commentary on the first 17 verses, offering profound insights drawn from meticulous research and personal realization. Additionally, an intriguing Introduction sheds light on the prerequisites for delving into such subject matter, along with a distinctive biography of Srila Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī.
Presented exquisitely with high-quality, four-color paper, gilt edges, and original artwork, this book represents a fusion of literary and visual artistry—a distinctive and beautiful creation inviting readers on a magnificent journey with Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī and Rati-mañjarī into the intimate and cherished world of service to the lotus feet of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
