Malati

Photo – Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur House (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 mālatÄ« flowers, mallikā flowers, jātÄ« and yÅ«thikā flowers, have you seen Kṛṣṇa passing this way, touching you with His hand to give you pleasure?
(CC Antya 15.34)

ā€œThat 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 mālatÄ« 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 VetasÄ« tree. That is my desire.ā€
(CC Madhya 13.121)

The gopÄ«s then began to address the tulasÄ« plants: ā€œDear tulasÄ«, you are much beloved by Lord Kṛṣṇa because your leaves are always at His lotus feet. Dear mālatÄ« 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?ā€
(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)

ā€œShe 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 mālatÄ« 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)

Ā I will put madhavi and malati creepers on the trees and in this way make a shady bower.Ā 
(Godruma Dhame Bhajana)

There were also the sweets known as hari-vallabha and sweets made of seį¹…oti flowers, karpÅ«ra flowers and mālatÄ« flowers. There were pomegranates, sweets made with black pepper, sweets made with fused sugar, and amį¹›ti-jilipi.
(CC Madhya 14.30)

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