The Gosvamis, like Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha and Sri Jiva are the great architects of Vraja-rasa. Just as from a single material – gold – many ornaments, such as necklaces, bangles and earrings can be made, showing the variety in designs that can be made from one material, similarly different pastimes are manifest in the hearts of the Gosvamis, emanating from one and the same substance – prema rasa. There is no comparison to the variety in Vraja’s erotic pastimes.
A confidential pastime of Sri-Sri Radha-Madhava is manifest before Sripada Raghunatha’s eyes. In his transcendental vision he sees Sri Radha being angry with Krishna in a kunja. Why She is angry, nobody knows, perhaps it is causeless pique. The course of love is crooked like that of a snake; and thus pique arises, with or without a cause. Sneha can become so elevated that it assumes the form of opposition and crookedness.
In this new manifestation of sweetness it is called mana. Not the form is relishable, but the substance. A piece of rock-candy that is shaped like a Nimba (bitter) fruit does not taste bitter, rather it is very sweet. In the same way mana, the culmination of sneha, is very relishable. Sri Krishna says in Caitanya Caritamrita: priya yadi mana kore koroye bhartsana; veda stuti hoite hare sei mora mana “If My beloved chastises Me in a sulky mood, that takes My mind away from the prayers of the Vedas.”
Sri Radha is manini. Sri Krishna has tried different means to soothe Her pique, but all was in vain. Sri Krishna is named Mukunda in this verse because His teeth (mukha) shine like Kunda-flowers, that are able to remove Radha’s pique. Mukunda also means ‘the bestower of liberation”. His sweet, rasika flute-playing frees Srimati from the bondage of Her girdle, Her bodice and Her braid.
But now He finds no way to please His Priyaji, so He desperately turns to Radha-kinkari Tulasi, asking her with many flattering words to help Him soothe Sri Radha’s pique. That is the extraordinary greatness of the manjaris’ bhava: The Lord of the Universe Himself humbly falls at their feet and begs them to help Him!
Srila Ananta das Babaji
Amrita-Tarangini 