Cooking With Yamuna

Cooking with Yamuna

The following song: Sri Surabhi Kunjer Bhoga Arotik, is a song about Krsna and His devotees sharing food. Even though it was not sung by Yamuna, but by Lilavati Devi, the lyrics really remind me of Yamuna's cooking. Yamuna Devi is one of the greatest (vegetarian) chefs of all time.

Song Name: Bhaja Bhakata Vatsala

Official Name: Sri Surabhi Kunjer Bhoga Arotik (Arati Kirtan Song 4)

Author: Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Book Name: Gitavali

Language: Bengali

(1)
bhaja bhakata-vatsala śrī-gaurahari
śrÄ«-gaurahari sohi gosĢ£tĢ£ha-bihārÄ«
nanda-jaśomatī-citta-hari
(bhaja govinda govinda gopāla)

Just worship Sri Gaurahari, who is always affectionate toward His devotees. He is the same Supreme Godhead, Krsna, who sported in the cowherd pastures of Vraja and stole the hearts of Nanda and Yasoda. Just worship Govinda, Govinda, Gopala!

(2)
belā ho'lo dāmodara āisa ekhano
bhoga-mandire bosi' koraho bhojana

Mother Yasoda calls to Krsna, "My dear Damodara, it is very late. Please come right now, sit down in the dining hall, and take Your lunch."

 (3)
nandera nideśe baise giri-bara-dhārī
baladeva-saha sakhā baise sāri sāri

On the direction of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna, the holder of Govardhana Hill, sits down, and then all the cowherd boys, along with Krsna's elder brother, Sri Baladeva, sit down in rows to take their lunch.

(4)
śuktā-śākādi bhāji nālitā kusĢ£mānĢ£dĢ£a
dāli dālnā dugdha-tumbÄ« dadhi mocā-khanĢ£dĢ£a

They are then served a feast of sukta and various kinds of green leafy vegetables, then nice fried things, and a salad made of the green leaves of the jute plant. They are also served pumpkin, baskets of fruit, small square cakes made of lentils and cooked down milk, then thick yogurt, squash cooked in milk, and vegetable preparations made from the tower of the banana tree.
(5)
mudga-borā māsĢ£a-borā rotĢ£ikā ghrĢ£tānna
śasĢ£kulÄ« pisĢ£tĢ£aka khÄ«r puli pāyasānna

Then they receive fried squares of mung dahl patties, and urad dahl patties, capatis, and rice with ghee. Next, sweets made with milk, sugar and sesamum, rice flour cakes; thick cooked-down milk; cakes floating in milk; and sweet rice.

(6)
karpÅ«ra amrĢ£ta-keli rambhā khÄ«ra-sāra
amrĢ£ta rasālā, amla dwādaśa prakāra

There is also sweet rice that tastes just like nectar due to its being mixed with camphor. There are bananas, and cheese which is nectarean and delicious. They are also served twelve kinds of sour preparations made with tamarinds, limes, lemons, oranges, and pomegranates.

(7)
luci cini sarpurÄ« lādĢ£dĢ£u rasābalÄ«
bhojana korena krĢ£sĢ£nĢ£a ho'ye kutÅ«halÄ«

There are puns made with white flour and sugar; puns filled with cream; laddus; and dahl patties boiled in sugared rice. Krsna eagerly eats all of the food.

(8)
rādhikāra pakka anna vividha byaƱjana
parama ānande krĢ£sĢ£nĢ£a korena bhojana

In great ecstasy and joy Krsna eats the rice, curried vegetables, sweets, and pastries cooked by Srimati Radharani.

(9)
chale-bale lādĢ£dĢ£u khāy śrÄ«-madhumanĢ‡gala
bagala bājāy āra deya hari-bolo

Krsna's funny brahmana friend Madhumangala, who is very fond of Laddus, gets them by hook or by crook. Eating the laddus he shouts, "Haribol! Haribol!~' and makes a funny sound by swapping his sides under his armpits with his hands.

 (10)
rādhikādi ganĢ£e heri' nayanera konĢ£e
trĢ£pta ho'ye khāy krĢ£sĢ£nĢ£a jaśodā-bhavane

Beholding Radharani and Her gopifriends out of the courters of His eyes, Krsna eats at the house of mother Yasoda with great satisfaction.

(11)
bhojanānte piye krĢ£sĢ£nĢ£a subāsita bāri
sabe mukha prakhāloy ho'ye sāri sāri

After lunch, Krsna drinks rose-scented water. Then all of the boys, standing in lines, wash their mouths.

 (12)
hasta-mukha prakhāliyā jata sakhā-ganĢ£e
ānande biśrāma kore baladeva-sane

After all the cowherd boys wash their hands and mouths; in great bliss they take rest with Lord Balarama.

 (13)
jambula rasāla āne tāmbūla-masālā
tāhā kheye krĢ£sĢ£nĢ£a-candra sukhe nidrā gelā

 The two cowherd boys Jambula and Rasala then bring Krsna pan made with betel nuts, fancy spices, and catechu. After eating that pin, Sri Krsnacandra then happily goes to sleep.

 (14)
biśālākha śikhi-puccha-cāmara dĢ£hulāya
apÅ«rba śayyāya krĢ£sĢ£nĢ£a sukhe nidrā jāya.

While Krsna happily takes His rest on an excellent bedstead, His servant Visalaksa cools Him with a fan of peacock feathers.

 (15)
jaśomatÄ«-ājƱā pe'ye dhanisĢ£tĢ£hā-ānÄ«to
śrÄ«-krĢ£sĢ£nĢ£a-prasāda rādhā bhuƱje ho'ye prÄ«to

At mother Yasoda's request the gopi, Dhanistha, brings remnants of food left on Krsna's plate to Srimati Radharani, who eats them with great delight

 (16)
lalitādi sakhÄ«-ganĢ£a avaśesĢ£a pāya
mane mane sukhe rādhā-krĢ£sĢ£nĢ£a-gunĢ£a gāya

Lalita-devi and the other gopis then receive the remnants, and within their hearts they sing the glories of Radharani and Krsna with great joy.

 (17)
hari-līlā ek-mātra jāhāra pramoda
bhogārati gāy tĢ£hākur bhakativinoda

Thakura Bhaktivinoda, whose one and only Joy is the pastimes of Lord Hari, sings this Bhoga-arati song


This is the Bhoga Arotik which was greatly popularized by the 1970 album ā€œThe Radha Krsna Templeā€ mainly sung by Her Grace Yamuna Devi and produced by George Harrison.

To listen to the album: The Radha Krsna Temple

Here is Yamuna Devis cookbook: Lord Krishna's Cuisine


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