The Story of the Gopis that in the Holi Festival Displayed Three Transcendental Virtues
In the Garga Samhita, Sri Narada Muni explains to Sri Bahulashva, the story of some other gopis.
Born in Vraja, the Upanandas were: Vitihotra, Agnibhuk, Samba, Shrikara, Gopati, Shruta, Vrajesha, Pavana, and Shanta. They were all wealthy, handsome, learned, noble, virtuous, charitable, and the fathers of many children.
Following the orders of the demigods, these girls, endowed with three virtues, some from the celestial planets, and some not from the celestial planets, took birth in the homes of the Upanandas. Having performed many pious deeds, these gopis were born on the earth and became the friends of Shri Radha.
Noticing that Krishna was ready to celebrate the great Holi festival, these gopis approached Shri Radha, who was then filled with jealous anger, and spoke to Her.
The gopis said: “O moon-face, banana-tree thigh, sweet as honey Queen Radha, please hear these pleasing words. Shri Krishna, the ornament of Vraja, has come to Your forest to celebrate the Holi festival. His eyes rolling in the intoxication of glorious youth, His black locks resting on His cheeks and shoulders covered with a yellow shawl, He walks here, the anklets tinkling on His reddish feet.”
“Wearing glittering armlets, yellow garments, a crown like the rising sun, and shark earrings that eclipse lightning, He is splendid and glorious as a monsoon cloud and a rainbow. Eager to enjoy a rasa-dance with You, His body anointed with red kumkuma, and a sprinkler in His hand, He fixes His gaze on as You stay nearby in this courtyard-garden.”
“Give up Your jealous anger, and celebrate the glorious Holi festival. Go at once and get water mixed with red dye, sandal paste, and flower-pollen. Stand up! Go at once! O noble-hearted one, with Your friends go to where He is! An opportunity like this will not come again. Wash Your hand in the stream of the Holi festival.”
Then angry Radha put aside Her jealous anger, stood up, and, accompanied by Her friends, went to celebrate the Holi festival.
The girls of Vraja carried sprinklers filled with water mixed with sandal, aguru, musk, yellow turmeric, and red Kumkum. With red hands and yellow garments, and with songs and laughter, they sang about the glories of Holi.
Throwing fistfuls of red powder, they reddened the sky, the earth, and all the directions.
There were millions and millions of reddish fists. Millions and millions of times they threw fragrant red powder.
As lightning flashes surround a cloud in the month of Shravana (July-August), so the Vraja-gopis surrounded Krishna and held Him tightly with both hands.
With fistfuls of red powder, they anointed His face. With sprinklers of Kumkum-water they drenched Him.
Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead expanded into as many forms as there were Vraja-gopis. As a cloud touched by lightning in the rain, so Krishna was splendidly manifest with Radha in the Holi festival.
Taking a new upper garment, and His eyes now anointed by Radha’s hand, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, left the gopis and went to King Nanda’s palace as the demigods showered flowers.