Radha, the beloved of Krishna

 Goddess Radha is the presiding deity of ‘prema and praana’ (love and life). She is ‘nirguna’ (transcends the three gunas), ‘nirlipta’ (transcends worldly joys), and is the soul (aatma swarupini) of Lord Krishna.

“Ra” and “Dha” mean one who creates, one who preserves, and one in whom creation merges. Devi Radha is the most beautiful “purna Swarup” of Adishakti or Devi Prakriti.

According to the Narad Pancharatra, Goddess Radha is the supreme personality, beyond whom there is no other. She is the primordial nature from whom everything came into being.

Sage Ved Vyas explained the meaning of ‘Radha’ in the Brahma Vaivarta Puran-

“radhnoti sakalm kaman tasmat radheti kirtitah”

Meaning- the one who fulfils the desires of any individual who sheds a few tears is Radha.

Sage Narad praises Goddess Radha in the Patal-khanda of Sri Padma-Puran –

“O Devi, you are the source of all that is pure and good. You are the source of the hladini, sandhini, and samvit potencies, and You are the Supreme Power and Supreme Knowledge. You give supreme bliss to Sri Bhagavan, and even Brahma and Rudra (Shiva) cannot understand You. Your opulence is remarkable in every aspect. The best of yogis cannot reach You with their meditation. I feel all the divine shaktis are Your parts as You control various shaktis such as ichcha-shakti (will power), gyan-shakti (the power of knowledge), and kriya-shakti (the power of action). Swayam Bhagavân Sri Krishna, who is the Supreme Personality, has countless majesty and They are also Your parts.”

Goddess Radha birth story

Sridama’s Curse

According to ancient scriptures, once a great devotee of Lord Krishna named Sridama visited ‘goloka’ (abode of Radha Krishna). He saw Sri Krishna seated next to Devi Radha lovingly, and all gopis were worshipping them by chanting the name Radha before Sri Krishna. Sridama brought gifts for his Lord, but Sri Krishna offered them to Devi Radha. Sridama ignored Devi Radha and worshipped only Sri Krishna. During a playful pastime, Devi Radha scolded Sri Krishna, and Sridama thought that she was disrespecting Sri Krishna. Sridama lost his anger, he cursed Devi Radha that she would forget Sri Krishna for a hundred years and be born on earth. Goddess Radha accepted the curse because of Sridama’s true devotion towards Sri Krishna.

Devi Prakriti incarnates as Radha

According to Padma Puran and Garg Samhita, King Vrishbhanu of Barsana had no children, and they always wished for a baby girl. Vrishbhanu and his wife Kirtida prayed daily, but years passed, and they slowly started losing hope.

One day, King Vrishbhanu went to the shores of the River Yamuna and found an effulgent lotus floating in the water. On checking the flower closely, he found a beautiful baby girl hidden within the petals. Vrishbhanu was overjoyed to see the child, she was as bright as a thousand suns emanating from her. He took her home to his wife Kirtida and accepted her as their daughter, calling her Radha.

Soon, the delighted couple noticed that Radha was not opening her eyes; they feared their daughter might be blind. At that moment, Sage Narad appeared and advised them to hold a lavish celebration on the arrival of their daughter and invite all residents of Barsana and neighbouring villages, including Kind Nanda of Gokul.

On the day of the celebration, Kirtida placed Radha in a gem-studded cradle. Everyone was mesmerized by Radha’s beauty. Vrishbhanu welcomed all guests, including his dear friend Nana, who came with his wife Yashoda and son Krishna, Rohini (Vasudev’s wife), and their son Balrama.

While everyone was busy with the celebration, little Krishna crawled to the gem-studded cradle, held it, and stood up. And look inside the cot. His eyes fell upon Radha; he gently touched her hand. Radha immediately recognized the touch and opened her eyes for the first time and directly gazed at Krishna, the first person she had ever seen. Both were looking at each other and smiling as if they were communicating and expressing their love. King Vrishbhanu and Kirtida were overjoyed to find out that their daughter was not blind. 

Radha and Krishna grew up in Vrindavan, and their bond deepened into a profound, unconditional, and everlasting love. Whenever Krishna played his flute, the whole of Vrindavan would come to a standstill. The gopis would leave their work and dance around him in his love, but Krishna’s heart was captivated by Radha. The whole universe yearned for Krishna, but he always yearned for Radha.

 

Radha Krishna Marriage

According to Garg Samhita and the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, one day, Nand baba (Krishna’s father) took Krishna to Bhandirvan to graze the cows. Suddenly, lightning and thunder flashed through dark clouds, and soon, a heavy downpour ensued. Nand baba was worried about Krishna’s safety. Then, out of nowhere, Radha appeared, and the rain stopped. Nand baba asked Radha and Krishna to return home soon after grazing the cows, as he had to leave for some other work. Radha was happy to be with Krishna when suddenly a palace appeared in front of her, and Krishna became a handsome young man wearing jewelry and a crown decorated with peacock feathers. Krishna praised Radha and acknowledged his deep love for her. At that moment, Lord Brahma appeared and requested them to get married, and he may be the priest. Radha Krishna agreed, and Lord Brahma performed the wedding ceremony by chanting Vedic mantras in front of the holy fire. Radha Krishna exchanged lotus garlands, and their wedding ceremony was called ‘gandharva vivah.” 

Radha Krishna's marriage was kept secret to give more importance to “parakaya rasa” (love without any social foundation). Around ten million associates of Radha Krishna participated in the marriage, which included Devtas, sakhis (friends), peacocks, parrots, cows, monkeys, squirrels, and other animal friends.

Radha Krishna’s divine wedding is celebrated annually on “Phoolera Dooj”, which falls between February and March. There is a temple dedicated to their marriage in Bhandirvan village in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. 

According to Garg Samhita, 

After Krishna left Vrindavan for Mathura, Radha was heartbroken and devastated, but on Krishna’s request never shed a tear. She stopped wearing ornaments and decorating herself with flowers. Her friends tried to cheer her up, but Krishna’s departure deeply depressed her. One day before sunrise, Radha left for Kadli forest, silently leaving her illusionary form (Chhaya) in Vrindavan.

Radha’s family, believing Chhaya Radha to be real, got her married to Ayan. Ayan was an avatar of ‘Dharmadev,’ an ‘ansh avatar’ (partial form) of Lord Narayan.

Radha’s death

In the last stages of her life, Radha visited Krishna in Dwarka. She saw that Krishna had many wives and was always surrounded by them and was leading a great, prosperous life. Radha requested Krishna to allow her to work in his palace as a maid so she could have a daily glimpse of him. Krishna permitted it, and Radha became a maid, working tirelessly to stay near Krishna. Nobody came to know about her real identity. However, Radha soon realized that physical nearness was nothing compared to her spiritual closeness to Krishna. She left the palace without informing anyone, but Krishna knew and followed her to a forest, and both spent some time there. In the last moments of her life, when she was about to leave her body, Krishna wanted to grant Radha a final departing wish. Radha asked Krishna to play flute for her. Krishna played the most melodious tune he had ever played and dedicated it to Radha. Listening to the sweet melody, Radha divinely merged with Krishna. With this, Krishna decided that it was his final rendering of the flute, hence, he broke it and threw it in the bushes.

 According to Radhopanishad,

Radha and Krishna are one but have assumed two forms to perform loving pastimes. They have one intellect, one mind, one soul, and even one face. They have one knowledge. This is why there is no difference between these two.

Narad Pancharatra states:

Krishna’s half part is Radha, and Radha’s half part is Krishna. Krishna says, “I have assumed the form of Radha.” Radha says, “I have assumed the form of Krishna.”

According to the Garg Samhita,

Radha is the soul of Krishna. Krishna is the soul of all souls, yearned by every being, but He is constantly trying to serve his soul, Radha.

 Some people ask: If Radha and Krishna are one and the same, then why is Radha always mentioned before Krishna? Why do we always hear Radha-Krishna, never Krishna-Radha? Why is She so dear to Him that He says, “I see Radha everywhere: at home, in the forest when I go to graze cows, in the food I eat. I see Her at night; I see Her in the daytime. Radha pervades every pore of my being.”