Citra

 

Citra-devi

Citra is the fourth of the varistha gopis. Her beautiful saffron complexion resembles the color of kunkuma, and her garments are the color of crystal. She is 26 days younger than Srimati Radharani, being 14 years, 7 months and 14 days of age. Her father is Catura, the paternal uncle of Suryamitra. Her mother is Carcika-devi and her husband is Pithara. She is an adhika-mrdvi nayika (näyékä = leader; heroine) (adhika = greater; mådvé = sweet and soft. Thus, “who speak very sweetly.” An example of adhika-mådvé: Çré Citrä said to Radha, her priya-sakhé, “O Sakhé!

You’ll be pleased to know that I don’t even cast a slight glance at Kåñìa. There’s no need to be jealous of me. But O Caìòi! When He approaches me to increase His lélä, with His dolphin-shaped earrings dancing, what am I supposed to do?”). Citra is also abhisärikä-näyikä-bhäva {~ i.e. “making a journey” to meet her beloved, or visa versa. This is found in the example quoted above.} and her home is in Yavata. In gaura-lila she appears as Sri Govindananda.

She and Sri Krsna are very affectionate toward each other, and she is very devoted to her seva of bringing cloves and garlands. She is especially expert in the lover’s quarrel between Radha and Krsna (the third of the six definitions of the word abhisarana {meeting}). When Lord Madhava is full of bliss, she becomes satisfied.

Citra-devi can read between the lines of books and letters written in many different languages, perceiving the hidden intentions of the author. She is a skilled gourmet and can understand the tastes of various foods made with honey, milk, and other ingredients simply by glancing at them. She can nicely make various kinds of nectarean beverages. (There are also eight other gopi maidservants, headed by Rasalika-devi, who are expert at making various nectarean beverages.)

Citra-devi is expert in playing music on pots filled with varying degrees of water. She is learned in the literature describing astronomy and astrology, and she is well versed in the theoretical and practical activities of protecting domestic animals. She is especially expert at gardening. There are other gopis who mostly collect transcendental herbs and medicinal creepers from the forest and do not collect flowers or anything else. Citra-devi is the leader of these gopis. The chief gopis in Sri Citra’s yutha are

1. Rasalika, 
2. Tilakini, 
3. Saurasen, 
4. Sugandhika, 
5. Vamani, 
6. Vamanayana, 
7. Nagari and 
8. Nagavallika.

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