Jhulana-yātrā

Śrīla Prabhupāda glorifies Jhulana-yātrā

Excerpt from Ratha-yātrā address, July 5, 1970, San Francisco, USA 

So, this Ratha-yātrā Festival is a mass movement for enlightening people to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We have got many other festivities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We have got Janmāṣṭamī, Śrī Rāma-navamī, Dola-yātrā, Jhulana-yātrā. So there are twelve months, but we have got twenty-four festivals as big as this Ratha-yātrā Festival. So if you kindly take to them, then as advised by Lord Caitanya, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ (CC Adi 17.31), you will always be in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and there will be no scope of your frustration and confusion. For this purpose especially, I came in this meeting, that you kindly accept this humble instruction that wherever you may be, in whatever position, in whatever condition, you kindly chant these sixteen names (everyone chants), Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

Excerpt from letter to Jayapataka, August 1, 1969, Los Angeles, USA

Regarding Jhulana-yātrā ceremony, during these five days the Deities' clothing should be changed everyday, and there should be nice prasādam distribution and saṅkīrtana as far as possible. If you are able to do it, a nice throne may be constructed on which the Deities can be placed. This throne may be swung gently during kīrtana. That will be very good, and surely the Deities will enjoy the function.

The Swing Festival Pastimes

Excerpt from Ānanda-vṛndāvana-campū, Śrī Kavi-karṇapūra, Chapter 22, translated by Bhanu Swami and Subhag Swami, edited by Mahanidhi Swami 

The stealing of Kṛṣṇa's flute occurred in the middle of the springtime Holi festival. On another day, Kṛṣṇa performed the swing festival (Jhulana-yātrā), which is the perfect object of meditation for those desiring a taste of devotion. On that day, the sweet pastimes of Rādha and Kṛṣṇa far surpassed the sporting of the demigods and their wives in the celestial gardens. This chapter describes Kṛṣṇa's ecstatic swing festival, which is incomprehensible to the three worlds. 

The swing festival was held in a special place in Vṛndāvana, which was bordered by a line of desire trees of equal height, with round trunks and branches whose ends intertwined, leaving a bare space in the middle. The line of trees appeared like a wall of sapphire jewels. Besides the birds inhabiting those trees, the presiding deities of the forest had placed various items in the trees including cāmaras, silk cloth, long strands of pearls, jewels, fruits and flowers. A square shaped golden stage stood in the center of the decorated trees. In the middle of the stage was a jeweled kuñja with four doors. Four haricandana trees stood as pillars in the corners of the kuñja. The intertwining of the tree's upper branches formed an overhead canopy. The swing hung on thin golden ropes tied to the branches of the haricandana trees. This arena appeared in the center. Each gopi group leader had a personal kuñja with a swing in the four directions radiating from this central arena. 

The other arenas, lined with pleasant devataru trees, radiated green all around and resonated with the singing of young cooing birds. They served as embodiments of festivity for the entire earth. One swing hung from each pair of trees, and sitting platforms for the gopīs encircled the bases of these trees. Golden chains tied securely to the branches of the trees hung down in straight lines. In the center arena four lines of swings belonging to different group leaders faced the four doors of the main kuñja. Herds of deer frolicked about joyfully in the flat, open land surrounding the kuñjas. The hearts of everyone immediately flooded with joy just by seeing these areas, which were illuminated by cintāmaṇi gems and by trees as brilliant as coral. The top branches of the trees joined to form natural, pleasing green canopies. Gazing upward forever one could not find the tops of those tall trees. 

The moonlight filtering though the canopies of the trees made small filaments of light on the forest floor that looked like piles of sesame and rice. Thinking it food, the female deer tried to lick it. The four kuñja mandapas (raised platforms) were so similar that even the devatās could distinguish them only by their placement in different directions. In those areas, the vanadevīs had stretched a canopy in preparation for the swing festival. 

The scattered moonlight appeared like pearl belts taken from the deities of the directions, broken by the steady wind, and broadcast on the earth out of respect for the land of Vṛndāvana. It appeared as if all the stars in the sky, in great bliss, left their positions to come offer respects to the land of Vṛndāvana. Pieces of rustling silk cloth from the goddess of the sky formed the rooftops of the kuñjas and hung down quivering like tongues trying to lick the dust of Vṛndāvana. The nets of pearls hanging from that cloth were swinging gently in the soft breeze and pleasantly resounding like tinkling ankle-bells.

The forest gods had decorated the canopies with strings of various kinds of fruit, and with fine scented camaras resembling white lotuses bloom from the sky, or swans flying up from the lake of moonlight. The swing arena carried the celestial scent of aromatic aguru fumes, drops of perfume squeezed from the kalpa druma trees, and piles of camphor dust, which made lines of white smoke in the sky. Impatient and anxious to begin the swing festival, the devatās and their wives, the Siddhas, Vidyādharas, Cāraṇas, and Kinnaras played their instruments as they arrived in Vṛndāvana in their innumerable celestial airplanes. 

In a jubilant mood the gentle goddesses from different forests, carrying various festival ingredients in their hands, assembled in Vṛndāvana. With friendship, kindness, and all good qualities they finished decorating the swing arena and built an impressive entrance with the best garlands. From all directions, flocks of joyful birds came fluttering to broadcast the sweetness of the swing festival. They perched peacefully on the twigs and branches of the trees around the arena. Eager to see the wonderful swing festival, the birds sang the glories of Kṛṣṇa while their own hearts swung in delight. Forgetting all troubles and impelled by curiosity, varieties of deer gathered in the kuñjas. They stood as motionless as figures in a painting; appearing as if they had not been attracted to the forest by the sound of Kṛṣṇa's flute, had not abandoned their household duties, and not opposed their elders, the doe-eyed gopīs, like touchstones for pleasurable pastimes, suddenly manifested out of nowhere, as if coming directly from the desire trees. Colored with kuṅkuma, their loins glistened ready for dancing. They wore fluffy petticoats, covered by fine silk dresses extending to their ankles. Glittering bodices beautified their breasts. Their effulgent bodies were adorned with festive colored sashes and tinkling waist-bells. 

The soft rounded shoulders of the gopīs rivaled the flower bow of Cupid. The gopīs had tucked flower arrows in their girdles and held flower bombs in their hands. In the arena of the artful amusing swing pastimes, the blissful gopīs appeared like the incarnation of Rati (the goddess overseeing festive love battles). Some gopīs had flower pollen sachets hidden in their golden waist-belts. Those bags of pollen seemed like the accumulated wealth of their skill in lovemaking, collected over a long period of time, for purchasing the jewel of Kṛṣṇa's mind. 

Some gopīs held thousands of flasks filled with fragrant aguru, musk, camphor, and sandalwood ointments. These thin, delicate flasks would break open with a breath. Others carried ingeniously designed syringes filled with flower essences, kuṅkuma water, sandal water, and musk water. The gopīs looked like well-armed soldiers ready for the battle of love. 

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of Rādhika - Śyāma to start the festival, each of the gopīs, the jewels among women who are more beautiful that the soldiers of cupid, thought that she would swing first. The gopīs entered the four areas around the main arena while discussing this among themselves. Out of excitement they made a din with their loud laughing that resembled the sweet cooing of the cuckoos. 

Kṛṣṇa entered the swing arena with His left arm resting on Rādha's shoulder holding His flute. In His right hand Kṛṣṇa twirled a lotus flower while His bangles chimed happily. A pleasing peacock feather topped His reddish turban that tilted attractively to one side. Kṛṣṇa's elegant earrings and ear lotuses swung in the breeze created by the bees circling His head. Fine cloth kissed His limbs, lit by the jewels of His crown and bracelets. Kṛṣṇa shone attractively with His pearl necklaces tinged red from the rays of His kaustubha jewel. Light delicate footsteps accented His graceful yet playful gait. Jeweled anklets and bells adorned His lotus feet. 

Kṛṣṇa, His splendid lips shining, appeared somewhat drowsy from chewing betel nut. Yet His effulgence easily defeated the combined radiance of all the jewels adorning the ladies in heaven. Kṛṣṇa's effulgence took the shape of a jeweled mace to announce His entrance into the bower of jeweled trees. As Kṛṣṇa and His servants ascended the dais surrounding the swing, the birds screeched, "Victory! Victory!" 

The trees and creepers felt such rapture that their limbs erupted with tiny bumps and honey streamed down like a torrent of tears. When the peacocks stared at Rādha and Kṛṣṇa they thought they were seeing dark rain clouds flashing lightning. Though knowing Rādha and Kṛṣṇa from before, due to their unprecedented love, the peacocks madly cried out, "Keo? Keo?" (Who are these two persons?) 

Different celestial denizens joined Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs to celebrate their jhulana lila. In attendance there were charming Cāraṇas, male and female Kimpuruṣas, and the wives of the Siddhas beating expertly on madala and paṇava drums with their delicate hands. The spotless heavenly damsels from svarga and the apsarās directed by Urvaśī, held camaras as radiant as waves in the Mandākinī river. They showered fragrant flowers from the nandana-kānana gardens, which glittered like stars as they fell through the sky. In this atmosphere, Kṛṣṇa mounted the attractive, comfortable seat of the swing. Kṛṣṇa looked like a regal crest jewel sitting on the cotton seat. The cloth covering the seat was whiter than the foam that appeared during the churning of the milk ocean. Shining pillows also adorned the beautiful seat. Seeing that amazingly wonderful swing purified the vision and empowered the eyes to see other objects in a fresher way. While the devatas played sweet music, Mukunda and Rādha marveled at the intricate workmanship of the jeweled lamps illuminating the swing. 

Trembling out of ecstatic love, Rādhika and Her friends sat beside Kṛṣṇa, who rested His left arm on Rādhika's shoulder. When the Lord ascended the exquisite swing and displayed His sweet beauty, which defeated the fickle currents of a river of nectarean beauty, the devatās and their wives lost all composure. As the ardent desire of the devatās' hearts to get a closer view of the Divine Couple moved out of their hearts to express itself, it choked their throats. With that hope they left the middle sky and descended to the more favorable lower borders of the sky. 

When lotus-eyed Candrāvalī and other gopī group leaders beheld the especially intimate feature of Kṛṣṇa sitting upon the swing, their eyes sparkled with blissful love. The gopīs, adorned with colorful makeup and tinkling belts, mounted their respective swings and loudly sang sweet songs in the appropriate tempo. Candrāvalī and her group sat facing Murāri, Bhadra and her associates sat on His right, Śyāma and her followers on the left, and Dhanya and her assistants sat behind Murāri. 

Crowding the four outer yards, other joy-filled gopīs sang melodious songs with the finest artistic skill. Their effulgent complexions conquered a garden of golden creepers. As they softly vibrated their seven-stringed vinas, the gopīs produced pleasing ambrosial music of unequalled excellence. Holding on with one hand and swinging their bodies, the gopīs moved gaily on the swings as swarms of bees followed them. 

With their free hands the gopīs took fistfuls of powder from the bags tucked in their belts and forcefully threw it into the air while their bangles jingled along. Scattered here and there by the wind, the colored powders spread a red hue through the sky, like a screen of fresh Java flowers. The devatas, anguished by this obstruction to seeing Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, repeatedly showered flowers to remove the recurring screen of dust. It appeared the clouds dripped flower-nectar. 

As the mañjarīs gracefully pushed the swings, Vrnda and others shouted, "Jai hoi Jai ho". While blissfully absorbed in swinging, Rādha and Kṛṣṇa hurled colored powders on the gopīs. When Candrāvalī and other sakhīs returned the volley with their powders, Rādha and Kṛṣṇa revealed a unique state of fresh beauty. As the powders thrown at Kṛṣṇa blew away in the wind, the gopīs filled their reddened hands with sandalwood powder and other fragrances to bomb Kṛṣṇa again. 

Rādha's friends, who were experts in shooting pichkāris full of sweet smelling colored water, assembled around the swing of Rādha and Kṛṣṇa. Suddenly Candrāvalī and her sakhīs attacked Rādha and Kṛṣṇa with pichkaris full of color. With their jeweled-pichkāris loaded with scents and glittering like the moon, Rādhika's sakhīs counterattacked Candrāvalī and her group with a fountain spray of color. Aimed mainly at Candrāvalī, that spray of liquid scent did not even once touch the bodies of Rādha and Kṛṣṇa. Gathering their forces, Rādha's sakhīs, who were eager to win the battle, shouted, "I am winning! I am winning!" In the pandemonium, a few more gopīs picked up pichkāris and wildly squirted other gopīs. In the excitement to win, some bottles of liquid fell and broke, releasing thick streams of aguru and sandalwood scented liquid over the ground. 

When the flower bombs being forcefully thrown from all directions came too close to the son of the king of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs deflected them. If, however, any bomb happened to hit the dark blue body of Kṛṣṇa, Rādhika happily wiped it off with Her soft hand moistened from perspiration. Feeling disturbed, Kṛṣṇa lost His composure upon seeing the condition of the gopīs. He was afflicted with pride and apprehension. 

To increase the pleasure of the doe-eyed gopīs who gazed at Him with shy, downcast eyes like cakorīs agitated by the moon, Kṛṣṇa abandoned all rules of formal conduct and followed the whims of Cupid. Witty, humorous, and controlled by His consorts, the brother of Balarama, rolling His eyes in desire, challenged the groups of gopīs facing Him on all sides, eager to play Holi with Him 

Skillful at sport, Hari smashed the gopīs in the southern direction with a deluge of colors. While moving on their swings and firing red powder at Kṛṣṇa, the beautiful gopīs appeared as victory flags of cleverness. Then Kṛṣṇa subdued the playful, blissful girls on the northern side. Next, He defeated the gopīs and their associates in the western direction, who kept swinging the whole time while strongly desiring pastimes of enjoyment. Their eyes and bodies defeated the beauty of lakes full of lotus flowers. Then He conquered the elegant, excited women on the eastern side, who were particularly attractive being seated on swings directly opposite Him. While swinging and throwing ruby-red powder with His lotus hands, Kṛṣṇa shared a seat with Rādhika, who possesses the limit of all excellent qualities. 

After winning the battle of Holi, Kṛṣṇa, smiling brilliantly, desired to please the different groups of swinging gopīs. Starting in the eastern direction, He faced each group and dexterously moved His swing in two different directions. When Kṛṣṇa swung east or west, He moved the swing directly towards the gopīs in those directions. When He swung to the north or south, those gopīs sat next to Him. In the joy of such counter swinging, Kṛṣṇa's necklaces, forest garland, and shining earrings all joined in the festival.