Umrao

Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami

From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:

This village is situated some four or five miles east of Chatravana. When the sakhīs heard Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s proclamation, they complained to Lalitā about Him. Bhakti-ratnākara describes what ensued:

Citrā Sakhī held an umbrella over Rādhikā’s head, and Viśākhā fanned Her with a cāmara. Lalitā sat on Rādhikā’s left as Her minister of state. One sakhī offered Her betel-nuts, and the remaining sakhīs acted as subjects. Sitting on Her throne, Rādhikā ordered the sakhīs:

Receiving the order of their Umrāva, thousands and thousands of sakhīs with flower-sticks in their hands left for battle. When Arjuna, Lavaṅga, Bhṛṅga, Kokila, Subala and Madhumaṅgala saw them approaching, they fled in all directions. One clever sakhī, however, caught Madhumaṅgala, bound him with a flower garland, and brought him to the lotus feet of the Umrāva. Some gopīs slapped Madhumaṅgala’s cheeks a few times and said, “What audacity you have to try to unlawfully seize the authority of this kingdom from our Umrāva? We will punish you right now.” Madhumaṅgala bowed his head low like a defeated general. “That is only befitting,” he said. “We concede defeat, but please hand down such a punishment that my stomach will be filled.” Mahārānī Rādhikā started to laugh and said, “This is just some gluttonous brāhmaṇa. Release him.” The sakhīs filled his stomach with laḍḍūs and let him go.

Madhumaṅgala returned to Chatra-pati Mahārāja Kṛṣṇa and, pretending to cry, gave Him a detailed report of his humiliating detention. Hearing this, Kṛṣṇa together with Madhumaṅgala and the sakhās invaded Umrāo. When Śrīmatī Rādhikā saw Her prāṇa-vallabha Śrī Kṛṣṇa, She became quite embarrassed and quickly tried to take off Her royal dress, but the sakhīs, laughing, would not let Her do so. Madhumaṅgala seated Chatra-pati Śrī Kṛṣṇa on Umrāva Rādhikā’s right side. They both made a treaty in which Kṛṣṇa accepted Rādhikā’s sovereignty. Madhumaṅgala folded his hands before Śrīmatī Rādhikā and said, “The kingdom of Kṛṣṇa’s body is now under Your rule. You can take whatever You desire from Him.” Participating in this pastime filled the sakhīs and sakhās with bliss.

This village is named Umrāo after this umrāva-līlā, and is also known as Rādhā-sthalī, or Rādhā’s place. Pūrṇamāsī later enthroned Rādhikā here as Vrajeśvarī, the Queen of Vraja. There is also a Kiśorī-kuṇḍa here, where Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī performed bhajana. The worshipful deities of Lokanātha Gosvāmī, Śrī Rādhā- Vinoda, who appeared from this kuṇḍa, are now worshipped in Jaipura.

Rajashekhara Dasa

From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:

It was here at Umraya on Magh-purnima that Shrimati Radharani was crowned the Queen of Vrindavana by Purnamasi Devi. In the Bhakti-ratnakara it is said, “Ordered by Lord Brahma who spoke from the sky, Purnamasi Devi crowned Radharani as the Queen of Vrindavana by jubilantly sprinkling the waters of the Manasi-ganga and other sacred rivers upon Her head.” The word, ‘umraya’ or ‘raya’ as well as ‘umaraha’, means a ‘queen’, ‘a princess’, or someone possessing ‘great riches’. Because Radharani’s crowning ceremony as the Queen of Vrindavana occurred here, that is how this village achieved its name of Umraya.

Umraya is the village where Lokanatha Goswami performed his bhajana and also the place where he discovered the Deity Radha-Vinoda hidden in the nearby Kishori-kunda. This kunda was very dear to Radharani, who is also known by the name of Kishori. Lokanatha Goswami was so renounced that he did not bother to build a kutira but simply lived under a tree. Whenever it rained he would put the Deity in the hollow of the tree and at other times he would keep the Deity in a bag hung around his neck. This Deity was later worshiped at the Gokulananda Mandira in Vrindavana, but due to an imminent attack by Aurangzeb on Vrindavana, the Deity was moved to Jaipura along with the other Deities of the Gaudiya Goswamis, where it is still being worshiped even today.

The Bhakti-ratnakara says, “This beautiful Kishori-kunda is very dear to Kishori, the daughter of Vrishabhanu. Seeing this wonderful place, Lokanatha Goswami felt great pleasure within and resided here. There is no end to speaking of his renunciation. Shri Radha-Vinoda bestowed Their mercy on him here. Whenever he got fruits, roots, sak, or rice, Lokanatha Goswami would offer it to Shri Radha-Vinoda with great devotion. During the rainy and winter seasons Lokanatha stayed under this tree with only an old quilt and very old outer cloth. During the rains, Lokanatha would keep his Lord within the hollow of a tree and he would remain outside getting wet. At other times, he would happily keep Radha-Vinoda in an old bag hanging on his chest. Remembering the pastimes of Shri Gauracandra, he would become overwhelmed and cry at this place. After describing these topics Raghava became impatient and swam in his own tears. Shrinivasa and Narottama fell to ground and rolled in the dust. They sighed deeply and swam in their tears of ecstatic love. After some time Raghava Pandita regained his composure and, taking Shrinivasa and Narottama along, they continued on their way.”