278
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
fest and very happy and expanded and unlimited, are limited for understanding to the damsels of Vraja only, or to their followers.” As no one can understand the expansion of spiritual energy of the Supreme Lord without the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord, similarly, no one can understand the transcendental sex life between Radha and Krishna without following in the footsteps of the damsels of Vraja. There are different names for the associates of Radharani: they are called  Shaktis , or personal associates, and also the  Manjarys , the near assistants.
It is very difficult to express their dealings with Krishna, as they have no desire to mix with or to enjoy Krishna Personally. But they are always ready to help Radharani be with Krishna. Their affection for Krishna and Radharani is so pure that they are simply satisfied when Radha and Krishna are together, and they simply enjoy the transcendental pleasure of seeing Radha and Krishna combined, united. The actual form of Radharani is just like a creeper embracing the tree of Krishna. The damsels of Vraja, the associates of Radharani, are just like the leaves and flowers of the creeper. And when the creeper embraces the tree, automatically the leaves and flowers also take the opportunity to embrace the tree, along with the creeper.
This is confirmed in the  Govinda Lilamrita  as follows: Radharani is expressed as the expansion of the pleasure potency of Krishna. As She is compared with the creeper, Her associates, the damsels of Vraja, are just like the flowers and leaves of that creeper. When Radharani and Krishna enjoy Themselves, the damsels of Vraja enjoy the pleasure more than Radharani Herself. Although the associates of Radharani do not expect any personal attention from Krishna, still Radharani is so pleased with Her associates that She arranges a meeting of Krishna and the damsels of Vraja, individually. By many transcendental maneuvers, Radharani tries to combine or unite the associates with Krishna. Radharani takes more pleasure in these meetings than in Her own affairs. And, when Krishna sees that both Radharani and Her associates are pleased by His association, He becomes more satisfied. Such association and reciprocation of love has nothing to do with material lust, but because it resembles such unification between man and woman, or the similarity to the combination of man and woman is there, therefore sometimes it is called, in transcendental language,  transcendental lust .
In  Goutamiyatantra  this combination of Radharani and Her relationships with Krishna is explained as follows: “Lust means that one is attached to one’s personal sense gratification. But, so far as the associates of Radharani and Radharani Herself are concerned, They had no desire for Their personal sense gra-