3.2 The five divisions of sakhi-bhava

The above-mentioned general division of sakhi-bhava has been further subdivided into five in the Ujjvala-nilamani. There it is said that Radharani, queen of Vrindavan, has five kinds of sakhi, known respectively as
sakhi (friends) - Krishna sneh-adhika,
priya-sakhi (dear friends), parama- preshtha-sakhi (dearmost friends), - sama sneh-adhika
prana-sakhi (life-companions) and nitya-sakhi (constant companions). 119

In this classification, sakhis are those inclined primarily toward Krishna; they include Dhanishtha and Vindhya.

Priya-sakhis and parama-preshtha-sakhis are equal in their affections to both the lover and the beloved; Kurangakshi and Sumadhyama belong to the former grouping,
while Radha's closest companions-
ललित विशाखा रंगदेनि सुदेवि तुंगविध्य चंपकलत चित्र ईंदुलेख
lalita, viśākhā, raṅgadevi, sudevi, tuṅgavidhya, caṁpakalata, citra, īṅdulekha

(often known as the eight friends, or ashta-sakhi) belong to parama- preshtha-sakhi.
Their title of parama-preshtha-sakhi would indicate that they are the dearest of all to Radha.

The last two categories, which include the manjaris, are Radha-snehadhika, i.e., they have stronger feelings of love for Radha than for Krishna. Kasturi and Mani Manjaris' names are specifically mentioned in the Ujjvala-nilamani as nitya-sakhis, while Sasimukhi, Vasanti and Lasika are the names of some prana-sakhis.