29 / The Rasa Dance: Introduction

In the Srimad-Bhdagavatam it is stated the rasa dance took place on the
full moon night of the sarat season. From the statement of previous
chapters, it appears that the festival of Govardhana Puja was performed
just after the dark moon night of the month of Karttika, and thereafter
the ceremony of Bhratrdvitiya was performed; then the wrath of Indra was
exhibited in the shape of torrents of rain and hailstorm, and Lord Krsna
held up Govardhana Hill for seven days, up until the ninth day of the
moon. Thereafter, on the tenth day, the inhabitants of Vrndavana were
talking amongst themselves about the wonderful activities of Krsna, and
the next day, Ekadasi was observed by Nanda Maharaja. On the next day,
Dvadasi, Nanda Maharaja went to take a bath in the Ganges and was
arrested by the men of Varuna; then he was released by Lord Krsna. Then
Nanda Maharaja, along with the cowherd men, was shown the spiritual sky.

In this way, the full moon night of Sarat season came to an end. The full
moon night of Agvina is called §arad-piirnima. It appears from the state-
ment of Srimad-Bhagavatam that Krsna had to wait another year for such
a moon before enjoying the rasa dance with the gopis. At the age of seven
years, He lifted Govardhana Hill. Therefore, the rasa dance took place
during His eighth year.

From Vedic literature it appears that when a theatrical actor dances
among many dancing girls, the group-dance is called a rasa dance. When
Krsna saw the full moon night of the Sarat season, He decorated Himself
with various seasonal flowers, especially the mallika flowers, which are very
fragrant. He remembered the gopis’ prayers to goddess Katyayani, wherein
they prayed for Krsna to be their husband. He thought that the full night
of the Sarat season was just suitable for a nice dance. So their desire to
have Krsna as their husband would then be fulfilled.

The words used in this connection in the Srimad-Bhdgavatam are

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