Radhashtami Special

Who is Srimati Radharani?

Dear Bandhus,

Today is Radhaashtami, which occurs in the Shukla Paksha of the month of Bhaadrapada. Coming a little over two weeks from Janmaashtami, Radhaashtami celebrates the earthly Avatara of Devi Radha, Eternal Consort of Shri Krishna!

Radha-Krishna – An inseparable bond

  • The story of Devi Radharani’s ‘Praadurbhaava’ descent is told by Mahadeva to Devi Parvati – Radhaa bhajeti Shri Krishnam sa cha taam cha parasparam, Ubhayoh Sarvasaamyam cha sadaa Santho vadanti cha. This means that Devi Radha worships Shri Krishna and Shri Krishna worships Radha; they both are the ‘Araadhya’ and ‘Araadhaka’ (worshippped and the worshipper), respectively.
  • The sacred name of Devi Radha comes from the terms ‘Raa’ denoting ‘Raasa’ and ‘Dhaavan’ denoting attraction towards Shri Krishna. Simply put, ‘Raa’ denotes achievement of and ‘Dha’ means ‘Moksha’.

Manifestation of Sri Radharani

The puranas say that innumerable ‘Gopis’ emerged from the hair roots of Devi Radha, while Gopas appeared from Shri Krishna’s ‘hair ends’.

It is from the left side of Radha was materialised Devi Lakshmi who was the ‘Adhishtatri’ of ‘Sashya’ or Crops; Griha Lakshmi of house-holds; the four-armed Mahalakshmi, the wife of Vishnu of Vaikuntha and the Rajyalakshmi of Kingships.

Devi Radha herself resides in Krishna’s own chest and is the ‘Adhistatri’ of Krishna’s very existence, but for the curse of Gopa Sridama.

Manifestation of Sri Radharani

The puranas say that innumerable ‘Gopis’ emerged from the hair roots of Devi Radha, while Gopas appeared from Shri Krishna’s ‘hair ends’.

It is from the left side of Radha was materialised Devi Lakshmi who was the ‘Adhishtatri’ of ‘Sashya’ or Crops; Griha Lakshmi of house-holds; the four-armed Mahalakshmi, the wife of Vishnu of Vaikuntha and the Rajyalakshmi of Kingships.

Devi Radha herself resides in Krishna’s own chest and is the ‘Adhistatri’ of Krishna’s very existence, but for the curse of Gopa Sridama.

As Devi Radha grew up, her parents decided to marry her off to a Gopa Rayana, but at the time of wedding, Maya Radha replaced Srimati Radharani. Devi Radha appeared at Pushkar Tirtha as Brahmadeva performed Tapasya and blessed him; after a little stint at Vrindavana at the Rasa leelas with Shri Krishna, she returned to Goloka, after the 100 years of the curse.

 

Birth of Sri Radharani

Once during a tiff with Shri Krishna, Devi Radha accused him and this angered the Gopa Sridama. By his curse, she descended from Goloka to Bhuloka as the daughter of Vrishabhunu Gopa and his wife Kalaavati. In turn, Devi Radha also cursed him to become an ‘Asura’ viz. Shankhachuda, whose wife was Tulasi.

Puranic references

  • Srimati Radharani is mentioned in many Puranas like the Paadma, Skanda, Narada, Brahmanda, Brahmavaivarta, Matsya, Shiva Purana as well as the Devi Bhagavatam.
  • The Padma Purana highlights her worship on Radhashtami and Radhadamodara Vrata.
  • The Patala Khanda, Chapter 71 of the Paadma Purana is about the greatness of Shri Radhakrishna and the subsequent few chapters describe the various Leelas of Shri Radha-Krishna, including one where Arjuna becomes a Gopika called Arjuni and is blessed with the darshan of Radhakrishna.
  • The Skanda Purana’s Vaishnava Khanda, Bhagavata Mahatmya says “Atma Tu Radhika Tasya” – Radharani is Krishna’s soul.
  • In the Brahmanda Purana, Upodghata Parva, the last few chapters tell the story of Parashurama. In these chapters, Bhagavan Parashurama receives the hymn called Krishna Prema-Amrta from Rishi Agastya. He goes to Kailasa to meet Lord Shiva, where he chops off Lord Ganesha’s tusk. When Parvati Devi is furious with Parashurama, Shri Krishna and Radharani come from Goloka to appease Devi Parvati.
  • It is the Shiva Purana that tells the story of Shankhachuda, who is actually Sridama, the Gopa, who incarnates as a demon due to the curse of Radharani.
  • The Devi Bhagavatam dedicates its entire Navama Skandha (Ninth Canto) to the glories of Radhakrishna and their Leelas.
  • While we do not have any references to Devi Radha in the Srimad Bhagavatam, there are many who say that Shukabrahma Rishi was a pure devotee of Radhakrishna, and so uttering their pastimes would cause him to lose consciousness. He refers to her using common nouns such as ‘Kaachit’ (One Girl), ‘Saa Vadhuh’ (That Bride (of Krishna)), and ‘Priya’, (Beloved).
  • The Garga Samhita is also devoted to the story of Radhakrishna, and how the divine couple performed their Leelas in Vrindavana, and also describes their separation and eventual reunion in Siddhashrama, after the elapse of the hundred-year curse of separation