From the book LEKH aur UPDESH

Compiled in Hindi by Smt Dhiruben Patel – Pravachan on 14-8-1938.

The tales of Cheer Haran and Raas Leela are closely interconnected. ‘Cheer Haran’ is the means and the Raas Leela is the fruit (end result).

A student prepares for his course for the whole year and receives a certificate or acknowledgement for his hard work in the end.

The ‘Cheer Haran’ is like a course and the certificate is the bhakti and mukti (devotion and liberation).

The Gopikas were trying their best to get this certificate and for that they had taken the vow of the Katayani fast. They started the fast in the first

month of Hemant Ritu .The reason for keeping the fast was to gain the main object of mukti. They pray to Katyani mata and ask for the following boon.

“Katyani Mahamaye ,Mahayoginidhiswari,   Nand Gopustam Devi Patim Mein Kuru Namah”

“Hey Katayani, Hey Mahamaye, Hey Maha Yogini, Hey Swamini of one and all. Please make Nand Nandan our husband. Devi we bow at your feet.”

Bathing nude in the river became an obstacle in their path to mukti (liberation) and also in the Katyani fast. The Lord asked them to do penance by bowing

to Surya Narayan Swami — “Hey Gopiyo, you have gone against the rules of the devta and the penance for it is to salute the Sun Lord”.

After they had done the requisite rites for the penance the Lord said- “Hey Kumaris (young girls) now all of you go to your own homes. Your sadhana

has been accomplished and in the coming Sharad Ritu you shall have my company. The purpose for which you have fasted will then bear fruit.”