Hare Krishna
' The woman who gives up pretense and shows great affection for the heroine is known as a friend (sakhi). She shows great trust, and has a similar age and dress as the heroine. (Ujjvala-nilamini 7.70 )
The activities of the sakhis consist of:
1) Excellently glorifying the love and qualities of Krsna to the nayika (heroine) and of the nayika to Krsna, creating attachment between the couple.
2) Arranging meetings of the couple.
3) Offering the heroine to Krsna.
4) Joking
5) Consoling
6) Dressing the couple
7) Expertly revealing the feelings of one lover to the other.
8) Hiding faults of the woman.
9) Cheating the husbands and others.
10) Advising
11) Associating with the couple after they meet.
12) Serving the couple by fanning etc.
13) Scolding the couple.
14) Delivering messages
15) Protecting the life of the nayika. (Ujjvala-nilamini 8.97-99)
I have just received a copy of Gita Govinda by Srila Jayadeva Gosvami
Commentary of Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati
Translated by HH Bhanu Swami
I found the above in the commentary to the first sloka itself. Quickly ofcourse I realized that such sakhis who nourish the rasa of the eternal couple do not exist anymore here. However, they surely exist in Goloka Vrndavana. My longing for Goloka Vrndavana is increasing as my reading is progressing. 
Hari bol
Replies