Rasapurnima, celebrated on the full moon night of Kartika, is more than a mere festival—it is an allegory of cosmic harmony, a confluence of spirituality, philosophy, and the celebration of love and nature. At its heart lies the Rasamandala, a metaphysical expression of monism, where the magnanimous dance of Prakriti raises the male and female components into the elevation and exaltation of unity.
Origins of the Rasa Tradition
The roots of the Rasa tradition can be traced to ancient Indian scriptures, particularly the Harivamsa and Vishnu Purana. These texts vividly describe the Hallisaka dance performed by Krishna and Balarama with the Gopis. The Hallisaka, characterized by its joyous and communal spirit, transforms into the Rasanritya when enriched by melodious songs and synchronized movements.
Krishna, the cosmic Purusha, stands as the pivot of this divine circle, not as a solitary figure but as one deeply entwined with Prakriti—the Gopis, symbols of Nature’s diverse forms. In these early texts, Krishna is not alone in his musical offerings; Balarama and accompanying instruments add layers of harmony. However, Radha, the epitome of supreme nature (Paramprakriti), finds her elaboration in later Vaishnava literature, most notably in the Bhagavata Purana and Brahmavaivarta Purana.
The Evolution of Rasa
The concept of Rasa reaches its poetic zenith in Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda. Here, Krishna’s dependence on Radha, his vulnerability amidst the overwhelming forces of Nature, and his ultimate surrender to her grace capture the essence of love and devotion. Jayadeva portrays Krishna as the seed and Radha as the fertile soil of creation, inseparable like fire and its burning, or milk and its softness.
Radha, as the Paramahladini Shakti, embodies the ultimate power of Nature. She is not merely Krishna’s consort but the primal force that animates him. In the Rasamandala, Krishna’s complete surrender to Radha reflects the union of Purusha with Prakriti, transcending duality to achieve cosmic unity.
Tantric Dimensions of Rasa
The philosophical depth of Rasa finds a profound echo in Tantra, where the interplay of masculine and feminine energies forms the cornerstone of creation. The Rasamandala, with Krishna at its center surrounded by the Gopis, mirrors the Tantric mandala with the goddess at the core, encircled by her Shaktis.
Historical artifacts, like the pottery of Chandraketugarh, and depictions in South Indian poetry, such as Ramakrishna’s Mahishasuramardini Stotra, further affirm the universality of this cosmic dance. The goddess, as the central figure, dances with her attendant Yoginis, creating a divine resonance that transcends cultural boundaries.
Rasa in Shaivism and Beyond
Interestingly, this celebration of union is not confined to Vaishnavism. Shaivism too cherishes the sacred interplay of Shiva and Shakti. The dances of Shiva and Uma, as mentioned in the Puranas, echo the Rasamandala’s ethos. In dramatist Rajashekhara’s Karpoormanjari and Vasubandhu’s Vasavadatta, Shiva offers his radiance at Uma’s feet, signifying the ultimate surrender of the masculine to the feminine.
However, the Nath Panthi Shaivayogis, influenced by ascetic ideals, veered away from this holistic embrace of nature, leading to the predominance of separation over unity in their philosophy. This divergence highlights the unique place of Vaishnavism in celebrating the joyous union of nature and spirit.
Rasapurnima: A Festival of Nature and Love
Rasapurnima, therefore, is a celebration of nature’s supremacy and the soul’s surrender to its rhythm. Krishna, as Rasaraj, epitomizes the soul’s journey into the ocean of love and unity. The 24 cosmic principles of Tantra, represented as Ashtasakhi and Chaushatti Gopinis, form the grand tapestry of this festival.
In the Rasamandala, we witness a universal truth—the man who surrenders to the love of nature, who becomes one with its rhythm, achieves transcendence. As the moon bathes the world in its soft glow on Rasapurnima, the celestial dance reminds us of our place in this eternal harmony.
This Rasapurnima, let us not merely observe the festival but immerse ourselves in the cosmic dance, embracing the unity of spirit and nature, celebrating the ultimate victory of Prakriti, and rediscovering the joy of surrender in the circle of life.
