Malati

 

Information – Malati Lata hanging from the Banyan tree and making a beautiful fragrant sunshade

That very personality who stole my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of mālatī flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Revā under the Vetasī tree. That is my desire.
(CC Antya 1.78)

O plants of mālatī flowers, mallikā flowers, jātī and yūthikā flowers, have you seen Kṛṣṇa passing this way, touching you with His hand to give you pleasure?
(CC Antya 15.34)

“That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of mālatī flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Revā under the Vetasī tree. That is my desire.”
(CC Madhya 13.121)

The gopīs then began to address the tulasī plants: “Dear tulasī, you are much beloved by Lord Kṛṣṇa because your leaves are always at His lotus feet. Dear mālatī flower, dear mallikā flower, dear jasmine flower, all of you must have been touched by Kṛṣṇa while He was passing this way after giving us transcendental enjoyment. Have you seen Mādhava passing this way? O mango trees, O trees of jack fruit, O pear trees and āsana trees! O blackberries and bael trees and trees of kadamba flower–you are all very pious trees to be living on the bank of Yamunā. Kṛṣṇa must have passed through this way. Will you kindly let us know which way He has gone?” (Krsna book 30)

There are other trees also which decorate the hill, such as the golden lotus flower, the cinnamon tree, mālatī, kubja, mallikā and mādhavī.
(SB 4.6.16)

“She gathered Her sakhis together between the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers. She created there a beautiful place, decorated with creepers and trees and filled with male and female bumble bees. Deer and buck were happily enjoying as they wandered about, and the whole area was filled with the fragrance of jasmine, mallikā, and mālatī flowers. That transcendental abode was adorned with tulasi forests and decorated with various groves. On Radha’s order, the Ganges and Yamunā, with their pleasant water and banks, acted as a moat to protect the garden. Cupid himself, along with springtime, eternally reside there, and the birds constantly sing the auspicious name of Kṛṣṇa.
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Pramana-Khanda, Chapter 2)

Bhaktivinoda Thakur has written this song ”Godruma Dhame Bhajana”. The official Name for this song is ”Bhakti Anukula Matra Karyera Svikara Song 2″. This song is taken from the book Saranagati. Bhaktivinoda Thakura tells us the importance of the Dham Godruma which is non different from Nandagram. He talks about the significance of tilaka markings, tulasi beads as well as taking the names of Lord Krsna and Nitya nanda through Krishna Kirtan.

(1)
godruma-dhame bhajana-anukule
mathura-sri-nandisvara-samatule
 
(2)
tahi maha surabhi-kusja-kutire
baithobun hama sura-tatini-tire
 
(3)
gaura-bhakata-priya-vesa dadhana
tilaka-tulasi-mala-sobhamana
 
(4)
campaka, bakula, kadamba, tamal
ropato niramibo kusja visal
 
(5)
madhavi malati uthabun tahe
chaya-mandapa korobun tanhi mahe
 
(6)
ropobun tatra kusuma-vana-raji
juthi, jati, malli virajabo saji’
 
(7)
masce basaobun tulasi-maharani
kirtana-sajja tanhi rakhabo ani’
 
(8)
vaisnava-jana-saha gaobun nam
jaya godruma jaya gaura ki dham
 
(9)
bhakativinoda bhakti-anukul
jaya kusja, musja, sura-nadi-kul
 
 
(1)-(2) On the banks of the celestial Ganges River I will dwell in a cottage at Surabhi-kunj in Godruma-dhama. This land of Godruma is very conductive for performing devotional worship of the Supreme Lord and is nondifferent from the sacred place called Nandagram, located in the holy district of Mathura.
 
(3)-(4) I will put on the garb that is dear to the devotees of Lord Gaurasundara and wear the twelve Vaisnava tilaka markings on my body and beautiful beads of tulasi wood around my neck. Then, by planting flowering trees like Campaka, Bakula, Kadamba, and Tamala, I will make an extensive grove by my cottage.
 
(5)-(8) I will put madhavi and malati creepers on the trees and in this way make a shady bower. I will sow a variety of flowering forests and different kinds of jasmine like yuthi, jati andmalli. All these will be present there, arrayed in a charming fashion. I will install the empress tulasi on an elevated throne on the terrace, then procure all necessary paraphernalia for having kirtana, such as mrdanga drums, karatalas (hand cymbals), and gongs, and place them there.