Little Gopal Gets Ready for a Beautiful Day (Aavo Gopal Shringar Banau)

Little Gopal Gets Ready for a Beautiful Day Inspired by this kirtan 1 pushtikirtan.com

Before We Begin Shri Vallabh This story is inspired by one kirtan from pushtikirtan.com. These kirtans express the divine experiences of Pushtimargiya poets. The pictures are based on their descriptions. This little book is for younger children who cannot yet read or understand the kirtans, so they may experience a little of their beauty and divinity. This is story is an adaptation inspired by the kirtans. We do not claim that it is an authentic account. Please forgive any mistakes. 2 pushtikirtan.com

Little Gopal is being made ready with love. First comes ubtan, a fragrant paste prepared for His bath. There are many lovely scents in this gentle offering. Before the beautiful clothes and shining ornaments, there is this simple care for little Gopal. 3 pushtikirtan.com

Then Gopal is bathed with warm water. The fragrant paste is washed away as His bathing continues. Each part of getting Him ready receives its own care. A beautiful outfit will follow, but for now there is only little Gopal and His warm bath. 4 pushtikirtan.com

After the bath, Gopal is dried with a cloth. His arms and legs are carefully wiped. Then His hair is gathered and arranged in a braid. From His little limbs to His lovely hair, He is tended with the same loving care. 5 pushtikirtan.com

Flowers are made into lovely garlands for Gopal. His hair has been arranged, and now His head is adorned too. A beautiful colored turban is tied with shining gold work. A jewel-studded ornament is fastened in place, ready to shine above His dear face. 6 pushtikirtan.com

Now comes Gopal’s red robe, covered with golden patterns. Green trousers are placed upon His legs. Red and green, with little touches of gold: His clothes are coming together. The little child who was being bathed is now being dressed in His beautiful outfit. 7 pushtikirtan.com

A fine purple sash is added to Gopal’s clothes. Then come ornaments for His neck: a curved hansli and a hanging necklace. The purple cloth rests beside the red and gold. Piece by piece, Gopal’s adornment grows more lovely, with each offering placed upon Him. 8 pushtikirtan.com

There is a beautiful necklace of large pearls for Gopal too. It is placed upon His chest among His other ornaments. The pearls rest against His red robe and its golden patterns. His lovely clothes and jewels are almost complete; the flower garland is still to come. 9 pushtikirtan.com

Now a garland of flowers is placed upon Gopal’s chest. It lies with the beautiful pearls, another loving part of His adornment. Flowers, jewels, and colorful cloth are all gathered around the little child. Gopal is ready to be shown His lovely reflection in a mirror. 10 pushtikirtan.com

A mirror is offered to dear Gopal. There He is, with His beautiful turban, His red robe, His pearls, and His flowers. Loving eyes gaze at Him again and again. Looking upon Him brings a quiet fullness to the heart, and the eyes are satisfied. 11 pushtikirtan.com

With His adornment complete, Gopal is fed by loving hands. Honey, dried fruits, and sweet dishes are offered to Him. Such tender care surrounds the little child. The joy of His childhood is a gift to cherish, and His sweet little ways are sung of day and night. 12 pushtikirtan.com

Original Kirtan and English Meaning Original English translation 13 pushtikirtan.com आवो गोपाल ǹंगार बनाऊं ॥ Come, Gopal; let me make You beautiful with adornment. व Ȯ व Ȯ धसुगंधन करो उबटनो पाछे उĂणजल लेजु øहवाऊं ॥१॥ I prepare a bathing paste with many fragrances; afterwards, let me bathe You in warm water. अंगअगोछ गुǻं तेरʅ बेनी फूलन ǵचǵचमाल बनाऊं ॥ Let me dry Your limbs, braid Your hair, and make lovely garlands from Ϩowers. सुरंगपाग जरतारʅतोरा रõनख च ȱ त श ȳ रपेचबंधाऊं ॥२॥ Let me tie Your beautifully colored turban with its gold-work adornment, and fasten a head ornament set with jewels. बागोलाल सुनेरʅछापो हरʅइजारचरणन व Ȯ चराऊं ॥ Let me dress You in a red robe with golden patterns, and arrange green trousers upon Your legs.

Original Kirtan and English Meaning Original English translation · continued 14 pushtikirtan.com पटुकासरस बȈजनीरंगको हँसलीहार हमेल बनाऊं ॥३॥ Let me prepare a lovely purple sash and adorn You with a curved hansli and a hanging hamel necklace. गजमो त ȯ नकेहार मनोहर वनमालाले उरपहराऊं ॥ Let me place a beautiful strand of large pearls and a garland of woodland Ϩowers upon Your chest. लेद Ȃपण देखोमेरे ùयारे न ȯ रख न ȯ रख उर नयन स ȳ राऊं ॥४॥ Take the mirror and look, my dear One. Gazing at You again and again brings contentment to my heart and eyes. मधुमेवा पकवान म Ȱ ठाइȂ अपने करले तुýहȈ ज ȳ वाऊं ॥ With my own hands, let me feed You honey, dried fruits, prepared delicacies, and sweets. व Ȯ Ăणʦदासको यही कृपाफल बाललीलाहाȈ न ȯ श द Ȭ नगाऊं ॥५॥ For Vishnudas, this is the gift of grace: to sing of Your childhood pastimes day and night. Source: Aavo Gopal Shringar Banau · Vishnudas