Radha
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Radha refers to either one of two figures in Hindu religion. By far the most important is Radha, the gopi, who participates in the Rasa Lila with Krishna.
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Radha the Gopi
In the story of Krishna, as told in the Puranas and Mahabharata, she is one of the gopis (cow-herding women, or cow-girls) of Barsana, and was brought up in this community with Krishna.
She was born in Barsana, a village about 8 kilometeres from Vrindavana. There are a number of accounts of her parentage. According to one of the common ones, her father is the leader (sometimes regarded as king) of cowherds Vrishabhanu, and her mother Kamalavati, or Kirtida. They are, however, only her foster parents. In the devotional or bhakti traditions of Hinduism that focus on Krishna, Radha the gopi is his consort. For some of the adherents of these traditions, her importance approaches or even exceeds that of Krishna. Further accounts of her in this role can be seen in the article on Radharani.
Radharani, or Radha is the consort of Krishna and have a prominent position in a number of the Vaishnava schools of Hinduism, especially in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. She is considered His adi (original) shakti, the Supreme Goddess. Other gopis are considered to be Her expansions. Her connection to Krishna is of two types: svakiya-rasa (married relationship) and parakiya-rasa (unmarried, amorous relationship). The second type is considered more exalted.
One of Her names, Hara (mentioned in Narada-pancaratra 5.5.59), in vocative Hare, forms a part of the Hare_Krishna_Maha_Mantra, one of the most popular mantras in India, known around the world mainly through the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). This mantra invokes Radha and Krishna as the Supreme Brahman.
She is mentioned in Vedas, Upanisads, Puranas and Vaishnava tantras.
Glory
Radha's love for Krishna is seen by Vaishnavas as the most perfect because it is endless and without conditions. She is a cowherd-girl (gopi), who has a simple and pure-hearted nature that enchants Krishna greatly. Thus She is the most important consort of Krishna, His heart and soul, and His hladini-shakti (spiritual pleasure potency). Similarly, the shakti of Shiva is Parvati or the shakti of Narayana is Lakshmi.
In the devotional (bhakti) traditions of Gaudiya (Bengali) Vaishnavas, a part of orthodox Hinduism, Her worship has a special emphasis. It is especially prominent in Vrindavan, the place where Krishna is said to have lived over 5000 years ago. Her importance surpasses the importance of Krishna. This is because it is said by some that nobody can approach Krishna directly, but He is easily attainable through the mercy of Radharani. This mode of worship is also adopted by the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a Gaudiya Vaishnava branch, as it was instructed by Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, incarnation of Krishna as His devotee in the bhava (mood) of Radharani. For more information, see Vaishnava Theology and Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology.
Festivals
Radha's birthday is celebrated as Radhastami.
Vaishnava traditions
In the orthodox Vedic tradition Srimati Radharani is considered to be the eternal consort of Krishna.
RADHARANI THE MOST IMPORTANT GOPI OF KRSNA </br> The Padma Purana mentions eighteen thousand cowherd-girls among whom 108 are most important. Among those 108, eight are considered more important. Among the eight, two have a special position, Candravali and Radharani. Between the two, Padma Purana tells us Sri Radha is the foremost and without Her presence no one of the gopis can really satisfy Krsna. In the Bhagavatam, Candravali herself admits this truth. Thus the Bhagavatam is dedicated to explaining the importance of Sri Radha as no other Purana has done.
THE POSITION OF RADHARANI </br> According to Vedic scriptures Radharani is Krishna's pleasure potency. She is described to be the greatest devotee of Krishna, and although Krsna is said to be all-knowing, still He cannot understand Her quality of devotion. Krsna means "all-attractive," but Radharani because of Her devotion can easily attract Krishna. One of the prayers to Her says:
tapta kancana gaurangi radha vrndavanesvari vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye
"Radharani, You are so dear to Krsna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You."
To the Vaisnavas, or worshipers of Krishna, Radharani is of great importance. They consider that only by Her mercy they can easily approach Krishna. Therefore in Vrindavana – the place where Krishna spent His childhood pastimes - it is very common to hear devotees chanting Radharani's name. They even greet one another, "Jaya Radhe!” - All glories to Radharani." Why is this so? Because they consider Srimati Radharani the Mother of bhakti or devotion. When there is a connection with the source of the devotional flow, Srimati Radharani, then the living entity can perform his normal and natural function in relationship to Krishna.
KRISHNA’S AND RADHARANI’S MANIFESTATIONS </br> It is not mentioned in the Bhagavat Purana or any other scripture that Radharani ever went to Dvaraka to meet Krsna, yet Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is saying that She did go there. So how to understand this? The answer is that just as there are many different manifestations of Krsna, such as, Vrndavana-Krsna, Mathura-Krsna, and Dvaraka-Krsna, and They are all separate, similarly Radharani who went to Kuruksetra was one particular Radharani, Radharani who went to Dvaraka was another, and the Radharani in Vrndavana is yet another. This concept of different expansions and manifestations from the primeval Divinities is not unusual because according to the description of the Vedic scriptures the Supreme Divinities are all-powerful. Radharani is in the category of Supreme Goddess and thus She has many expansions and manifestations just like Krishna. NOTE: She is a Supreme Goddess but acts as a devotee.
SRIMATI RADHARANIS EXALTED QUALITIES </br> Srimati Radharani has unlimited transcendental qualities, of which twenty-five are principal. These include: 1) She is very sweet. 2) She is always freshly youthful. 3) Her eyes are restless. 4) She smiles brightly. 5) She has beautiful, auspicious lines. 6) She makes Krishna happy with Her bodily aroma. 7) She is very expert in singing. 8) Her speech is charming. 9) She is very expert in joking and speaking pleasantly. 10) She is very humble and meek. 11) She is always full of mercy. 12) She is cunning. 13) She is expert in executing Her duties. 14) She is shy. 15) She is always respectful. 16) She is always calm. 17) She is always grave. 18) She is expert in enjoying life. 19) She is situated in the topmost level of ecstatic love. 20) She is the reservoir of loving affairs in Gokula. 21) She is the most famous of submissive devotees. 22) She is very affectionate to elderly people. 23) She is very submissive to the love of Her friends. 24) She is the chief gopi. 25) She always keeps Krishna under Her control. In short, She possesses unlimited transcendental qualities, just as Lord Krishna does. (Ujjvala-nilamani, Sri-radha-prakarana 11-15)
THE BEAUTY OF SRIMATI RADHARANI </br> Her beauty is glorified in many poetic compositions. Writing, reciting and hearing about Her equally benefits everybody. Here are two examples:
"Although the effulgence of the moon is brilliant initially at night, in the daytime it fades away. Similarly, although the lotus is beautiful during the daytime, at night it closes. But, O My friend, the face of My most dear Srimati Radharani is always bright and beautiful, both day and night. Therefore, to what can Her face be compared?" (Vidagdha-madhava 5.20) "When Srimati Radharani smiles, waves of joy overtake Her cheeks, and Her arched eyebrows dance like the bow of Cupid. Her glance is so enchanting that it is like a dancing bumblebee, moving unsteadily due to intoxication. That bee has bitten the whorl of My heart." (Vidagdha-madhava 2.51)
Foster mother of Karna
Another Radha is also found in the Mahabharata. She is the wife of the cart driver Adiratha, who found the abandoned newborn boy Karna. Adiratha and Radha became his foster parents. Hence, Karna is sometimes called Radheya (son of Radha)
External links
- Who Is that Girl with Krishna?
- Sri Radha
- More details
- Sri Radha Sahasra Nama (1000 names)
- Srimati Radharani's Appearance
- Krsna and Radha, Goloka - references
- Sri Radha's name in Srimad Bhagavatam
- More resources
| Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Itihasa | Image:Aum.png |
|---|---|
| Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Indra | Lakshman | Hanuman | |
| Female Deities: Gayatri | Lakshmi | Sarasvati | Durga | Devi | Sita | Radha | Kali | Parvati | Shakti | |
| Texts: Vedas | Puranas Ramayana | Mahabharata |
