Tamil Arts Volume33
Rāsa Līlā — Kṛṣṇa Līlā
Dr. R. Nagaswamy
There are thousands of thoughts and actions arising from them in human beings. When the thinking power is clean, pure and enthusiastic it gives rise to good thoughts and actions which are likened to beautiful young girls — gopis. They are part of the thinking power and spoken of as in union with the main Thinking power “Kṛṣṇa”. So Kṛṣṇa is said to sport with thousands of young girls. It is “Kṛṣṇa Līlā” or “Rāsa Līlā” i.e., sport of essence.
Excerpts from the book “Vedic Roots of Indian Iconography”, article titled “Kṛṣṇa Sādhana”