In the painting Krsna’s peacock feather is missing and so also his adornments. His hair is curled and his dhoti tied hastily around. Yamunaji is also not bedecked in finery. This moment shown in the painting is preceded by the story of love, yearning and passion between Krsna and Yamuna.
She arises, a luminous Goddess
Mesmerised by the Divine Flute
Lotus stems plucked from the depths
To entwine Her Lover
She offers her offering –
Her entire Self
Embalmed in His radiance
The Two are One and the One are Two
Their exquisite effulgence
Majestic, mystical, magical
Their passion and love infinite
Unbounded……United!
The preceding episode leading to this culminating moment captured in the painting –
‘Awakening from deep sleep
An unknown flutter arose in His heart
He scrambled out of bed
The peacock feather stuck to His pillow…..forgotten,
A passion surged through His Being
Parting the curtains He saw the moon and the stars above
Determining it to be just before the midnight hour…
Scrambling to the door, His flute tucked in His gold-orange mul dhoti
He dashed out through the gate
Nimbly working His way through the sleepy village streets
And then reaching the outskirts, running swiftly amongst the trees, brushing the foliage aside.
He reached the River bank, standing still, hiding behind a bush.
Somewhere a heavy-eyed bird muttered
A water-creature plopped up and down
He waited, His pulse racing, His heart aflutter.
A passion unknown arising within His Being
And then,
She emerged from the dark, deep green water
Rising like a luminous sphinx, the River Goddess Yamuna!
Full-breasted, Her saree, ruby-red clinging onto Her sensuous form
Her hands clasping the choicest lotuses plucked from mid-stream
She felt Him close by, She could sense Him, smell His Divine presence
She stood still! Unsure of what was to come
A tingling erupted in every pore, a tremble waved through Her Being
Her eyes closed, Her breath held, She awaited!
He smiled, heaved a sigh, His heart abounding, pulsating with love, anticipation and joy
He then emerging from behind the bush –
Seated Himself on the highest rock, taking the Almighty’s seat
Gently pulling out His flute, put it to His lips, His movements, the epitome of grace!
Soulful, joyous, sensuous, rapturous….beyond imagination
The music of the flute wafted through the air….ripping it in a crescendo
Tearing it and then loving it, caressing it in tender embrace….
The sound; deep, penetrating seemed to come from nowhere yet enveloped the entire space
Yamuna, She stood transfixed, mesmerized, in sublime exquisite bliss
Oh what a sensation – unimagined! The enigma of Love unparalleled!
In this Divine moment, She savoured the experience of the
‘Rasanubhava of Love’ at the midnight hour!