(From Śyāmānanda Prakāśa – Chapter 1)
The Secret of the Nikunja
In the heart of Vṛndāvana, hidden among the flowering vines and wish-fulfilling trees, lies a sacred grove—Kanaka Kuñja—where Śrī Śyāmānanda performed his daily service. With devotion deeper than the Yamunā and gentler than the breeze at Dhīra-samīra, he would rise before sunrise, offer praṇāma, and begin to clean the kuñja with tender care.
What Śyāmānanda did not know was that this grove was no ordinary patch of land—it was a divine stage for the eternal rāsa-līlā, where Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa perform Their confidential pastimes, visible only to the eyes anointed with bhakti.
The Rāsa-līlā and the Dropping of the Anklet
One night, under the full moon, Śrī Rādhā and Her sakhīs joyfully danced in a circle around Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The melodies of Their laughter and the rhythm of Their anklets merged with the flute’s sweet notes. As Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī spun in divine ecstasy, an ankle bell—a golden nūpura—slipped from Her delicate lotus foot and fell unnoticed onto the kunja floor.
Though outwardly forgotten, this was no accident. Rādhārāṇī, the ocean of compassion, orchestrated this divine arrangement for the sake of Her future maidservant.
The Discovery
The next morning, Śyāmānanda entered the kuñja to perform his usual service. While cleaning near the kalpa-vṛkṣa tree, his eyes caught an otherworldly glow emanating from the earth. As he brushed aside some leaves, he beheld the radiant golden anklet, effulgent like the rising sun, casting brilliance far beyond that of any earthly jewel.
The moment he touched it, he was overwhelmed with divine ecstasy—his throat choked, limbs trembled, hairs stood on end. He placed the nūpura upon his head in reverence and collapsed to the ground, unconscious in a wave of spiritual bliss.
Śyāmānanda’s Mad Search
When he awoke, tears streamed down his face as he clutched the anklet to his heart. He began calling out to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, running through the kunja like a soul mad with love, crying:
“O Śrī Rādhā! O Śyāmasundara! When will You reveal Yourselves to this unworthy servant?”
Unable to find Them, he tied the golden anklet around his neck like a priceless garland and resumed his service—his heart ablaze with longing, his eyes searching every petal for signs of the Divine Couple.
The Test from Lalitā
Back in Yāvaṭa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī noticed Her missing ornament and instructed Her confidante, Lalitā-devī, to retrieve it. Lalitā took the form of an old lady and approached the kuñja.
She found Śyāmānanda and asked, “Have you seen a golden ankle bell, lost by my daughter-in-law while fetching water from the Yamunā?”
Śyāmānanda bowed and respectfully replied, “Yes, I found one—but it cannot be ordinary. The moment I touched it, my soul drowned in love for Kṛṣṇa. No mundane ornament can cause such transformation. Surely it belongs to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Herself.”
He boldly declared, “I will only return this anklet if I see Her village and the people confirm it is Hers. Otherwise, I shall keep it close to my heart until I can place it at Her lotus feet.”
Lalitā Reveals Herself
Hearing this, Lalitā could no longer hide her identity. She smiled, “You are wise. This is indeed Rādhārāṇī’s anklet. I am Her intimate servant, Lalitā. Ask me for any boon.”
Śyāmānanda folded his hands and replied, “I only ask to become the servant of Śrī Rādhā’s servants. Let me remain in Her service, eternally.”
Pleased, Lalitā led him to a secluded place and said, “You are not ready to see me in my full form, but because of your sincerity, I shall reveal it. Close your eyes.”
When Śyāmānanda opened his eyes, he beheld the divine form of Lalitā-sakhī—resplendent, effulgent, and graceful beyond imagination. Overwhelmed, he fainted again, this time from the sheer beauty of divine darśana.
The Tilak of Rādhā’s Feet
Lalitā, seeing his surrender, took the golden anklet and touched it to his forehead. Miraculously, the tilak of two vertical lines with a central dot—the symbol of Rādhārāṇī’s foot—appeared on his brow. It was not painted—it manifested.
Then she declared:
“From today, you are no longer Duhkhi Kṛṣṇadāsa. You are Śyāmānanda—one who has attained the eternal bliss of serving Śyāmā, our beloved Rādhā.”
She gave him a confidential mantra and instructed him, “When you chant this, Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa will appear before you. But tell no one of this encounter except Śrī Jīva. This is not for the ears of the unqualified.”
Śyāmānanda wept like a child, bathing her feet in tears. Lalitā embraced him like a mother and vanished into the forest.
Reflections and Lessons
- Rādhā’s Mercy Descends by Her Will: The loss of Her anklet was no accident. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī created a divine opportunity for Śyāmānanda to enter Her eternal service.
- Spiritual Recognition Comes through Inner Realization: Śyāmānanda did not give in to external pressure. His realization of the anklet’s divinity came from genuine spiritual sensitivity, not mundane logic.
- Guru Appears in Many Forms: Lalitā-devī, though disguised as an old woman, became the gateway to Śyāmānanda’s transformation. We must be humble before all, for the divine may appear in unexpected forms.
- Tilak Is Not Decoration but Declaration: The tilak of Rādhārāṇī’s foot on Śyāmānanda’s forehead marked his spiritual rebirth. It was not external—it was bestowed through līlā.
- True Renaming is Reawakening: The name “Śyāmānanda” was not a poetic honor—it was a spiritual revelation, a new identity. He became a part of the eternal world of Vṛndāvana through that name.
