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For Radha, the mother of Karna from Mahabharata, see: Radha (Mahabharata)
A Rajastani style painting of Sri Radha
A Rajastani style painting of Sri Radha

Radha (Devanagari: राधा) is the principal paramour of Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Gita Govinda of the Hindu religion. Radha is the foster mother of Karna in the Mahābhārata, who is not to be confused with Radha the gopi Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism The Bhagavata Purana (also known as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, or simply Bhāgavatam) is one of the Puranic texts of Hindu literature The Gita Govinda (Sanskrit गीत गोविन्द ( Song of Govinda) is a work composed in the 12th century by the great poet Jayadeva of Puri Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Within some Vaishnava traditions of Hinduism, Radha is regarded as a primary deity, often worshiped as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth Radha is almost always depicted alongside Krishna and features prominently within the theology of today's Gaudiya Vaishnava religion, which regards Radha as the original Goddess or Shakti. Gaudiya Vaishnavism (also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism) is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 in India Shakti, meaning sacred force, power, or energy, is the Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect sometimes referred Radha's relationship with Krishna is given in further detail within texts such as the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Garga Samhita and Brihad Gautamiya tantra. Brahma Vaivarta Purana, ( IAST brahma-vaivarta purāṇa) one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is divided into four parts Garga Samhita ("The narrations of Garga" is a book written by the sage Garga and deals with the life of Krishna. Radha is also the principal object of worship in the Nimbarka Sampradaya, as Nimbarka, the founder of the tradition, declared that Radha and Krishna together constitute the absolute truth. The Nimbarka Sampradaya ( IAST: Nimbārka Sampradāya, Sanskrit श्रीनिम्बार्क सम्प्रदाय also known as Nimbarka ( Sanskrit: श्री निम्बार्काचार्य Śrī Nimbārkācārya) is known for propagating the Vaishnava Theology [1]

Radha is often referred to as Radharani in speech, prefixed with the respectful term 'Srimati' by devout followers.

Contents

Radha the Gopi

In the story of Krishna, as told in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana, he spends much of his youth in the company of young cow-herd girls, called Gopis in the village of Vrindavan. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism The Bhagavata Purana (also known as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, or simply Bhāgavatam) is one of the Puranic texts of Hindu literature Gopi is a word of Sanskrit (गोपी origin meaning 'cow-herd girl' The Mahabharata does not describe Krishna's earlier life in Vrindavan in much detail, and focuses more on the later battle of Kurukshetra but within the Bhagavata Purana the child-hood pastimes of Krishna are described very vividly. Kurukshetra ( Hindi: कुरुक्षेत्र is the name of a City in Kurukshetra District of the Indian state of Haryana हरियाणा Within the Bhagavata Purana, Radha is not mentioned by name but is alluded to within the tenth chapter of the text as one of the gopis who Krishna plays with during his upbringing as a young boy. It is in later texts such as the Gita Govinda where we find the story of Radha given in more detail. The Gita Govinda (Sanskrit गीत गोविन्द ( Song of Govinda) is a work composed in the 12th century by the great poet Jayadeva of Puri

Within Vaishnavism

Radha with Krishna, as painted by Raja Ravi Varma
Radha with Krishna, as painted by Raja Ravi Varma

In the Vaishnava devotional or bhakti traditions of Hinduism that focus on Krishna, Radha is Krishna's consort. Raja Ravi Varma ( April 29, 1848 - October 2, 1906) was an Indian painter who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Bhakti ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. For some of the adherents of these traditions, her importance approaches or even exceeds that of Krishna. She is considered to be his original shakti, the supreme goddess in both the Nimbarka Sampradaya and following the advent of Chaitanya also within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Shakti, meaning sacred force, power, or energy, is the Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect sometimes referred The Nimbarka Sampradaya ( IAST: Nimbārka Sampradāya, Sanskrit श्रीनिम्बार्क सम्प्रदाय also known as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST caitanya mahāprabhu) ( Bengali চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভূ (1486 - Gaudiya Vaishnavism (also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism) is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 in India Other gopis are usually considered to be her maidservants, with Radha having the prominent position of Krishna's favour. Gopi is a word of Sanskrit (गोपी origin meaning 'cow-herd girl'

Her connection to Krishna is of two types: svakiya-rasa (married relationship) and parakiya-rasa (a relationship signified with eternal love).

In the Nimbarka Sampradaya, Radha's relationship with Krishna is characterised by the svakiya-rasa, based on texts in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana and the Garga Samhita describing the wedding of Radha and Krishna. The Nimbarka Sampradaya ( IAST: Nimbārka Sampradāya, Sanskrit श्रीनिम्बार्क सम्प्रदाय also known as Brahma Vaivarta Purana, ( IAST brahma-vaivarta purāṇa) one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is divided into four parts Garga Samhita ("The narrations of Garga" is a book written by the sage Garga and deals with the life of Krishna. The Gaudiya tradition focuses upon parakiya-rasa as the highest form of love, wherein Radha and Krishna share loving exchanges through separation. The love the gopis feel for Krishna is also described in this esoteric manner as the highest platform of spontaneous love of God, and not of a mundane sexual nature. Proponents of the Gaudiya and Nimbarka schools of Vaishnavism give the highly esoteric nature of Radha's relationship to Krishna as the reason why her story is not mentioned in detail in the earlier Puranic texts.

Birth

Vaishnava tradition states that Radha was born in either Varshana, or Rawal, a village about 8 kilometers from Vrindavan, near present day New Delhi in India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Barsana (बरसाना or Varsana (alt Vrindavan (alternate spellings Vrindaban or Brindavan) or Vraj in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India is a town on New Delhi (नई दिल्ली ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ نئی دلی is the Capital city of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country [2] 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 called Vrishabhanu, and her mother is called Kamalavati, or Kirtida.

Her worship is especially prominent in Vrindavan, the place where Krishna is said to have lived over 5000 years ago. Vrindavan (alternate spellings Vrindaban or Brindavan) or Vraj in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India is a town on Wherein Her importance surpasses even the importance of Krishna. Radha's love for Krishna is held within Gaudiya Vaishnavism as the most perfect primarily because of its endless and unconditional nature. Thus she is the most important consort of Krishna, 'His heart and soul', and His 'hladini-shakti' (spiritual pleasure potency).

In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Radharani is described as follows: "The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. A goddess is a Female Deity. Many Cultures have goddesses Often deities are part of a polytheistic system that includes several deities She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord. "

Nimbarka

Nimbarka was the first Vaishnava acharya to disseminate teachings about Radha. Nimbarka ( Sanskrit: श्री निम्बार्काचार्य Śrī Nimbārkācārya) is known for propagating the Vaishnava Theology Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and An acharya ( acariya in Pali) is an important religious teacher ( Guru) who teaches by his own example (from Sanskrit 'achara' behavior [3][4]

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

The Bengali saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 - 1534) is believed by many (see especially the modern-day ISKCON movement) to be an incarnation of both Radha and Krishna, simultaneously in one form. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST caitanya mahāprabhu) ( Bengali চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভূ (1486 - The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) also known as 'the Hare Krishna ' movement is one of several Vaishnava groups Throughout his life, Chaitanya lived as a devotee of Vaishnava tradition, not openly claiming to be any form of avatar, but in his biographies it is claimed that he revealed his divine form to some of his closer associates. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation [5]

Festivals

Radha (right) with Krishna at Krishna-Balarama Temple in Vrindavan
Radha (right) with Krishna at Krishna-Balarama Temple in Vrindavan

Radha's birthday is celebrated as Radhastami. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Balarama (बलराम Balarāma) also named Baladeva, Baldau, Balabhadra and Halayudha, is the elder brother of the divine Radhastami is the celebration day of Srimati Radharani 's birth During this time devotees are allowed special sanctions not normally allowed. For example, Radha's name is normally not chanted due to the possibility of committing offenses towards her. Neither are all devotees qualified to enter into her kunda, or lake, which is considered holy. On the festival day of the appearance of Radha Kunda (Radharani's lake), devotees wait up until midnight in order to bathe there. And there is much recitation of her holy names on her "appearance day" or "birthday". She is said to "appear" because she does not take birth or die, being an eternal associate of Krishna, both of whom are liberated. She is the most chaste woman, "married" to Krishna.

The foremost of the Gopis

The Padma Purana describes 18,000 cowherd-girls (gopis) among whom it says 108 are the most important. Padma Purana ( Devanagari: पद्म पुराण one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is divided into five parts Among those 108, eight are considered more important still, and among the eight, two have a special position - Chandravali and Radharani. Of the two, Radha is considered the foremost.

Names & Worship

Temple in Varsana, dedicated to the worship of Radha and Krishna
Temple in Varsana, dedicated to the worship of Radha and Krishna

Radha has many epithets describing her qualities and characteristics. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Barsana (बरसाना or Varsana (alt

One of her names, Hara (mentioned in Narada-pancaratra 5. Vrindavan (alternate spellings Vrindaban or Brindavan) or Vraj in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India is a town on Lalita the name of one of the principal Gopis within traditional Gaudiya Vaishnava worship of Radha and Krishna. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the Jat chieftain see Gokula. Radha Krishna ( IAST rādhā-kṛṣṇa, Sanskrit राधा कृष्ण is a Hindu Deity. 5. 59), in vocative Hare, forms a part of the Hare Krishna 'Maha-Mantra', one of the most popular Vedic mantras, especially amongst Gaudiya Vaishnavas. The Hare Krishna Mantra, also referred to reverentially as the Maha Mantra ("Great Mantra" is a sixteen-word Vaishnava mantra made well Gaudiya Vaishnavism (also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism) is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 in India Radharani's names hold a place of prime importance within Gaudiya Vaishnava religious practices.

Temples dedicated to Radha

Temple Deities in India and abroad are generally named in order of Radharani first and then Krishna. Krishna is approachable through the mercy of Srimati Radharani and no one else. So for example, if one were to enter the Govindaji temple in Vrindavan the Deities are named Radha Govinda and devotees of Krishna would pray to Radha and Govinda not just Krishna. Govinda and Gopāla are Names of Krishna, referring to his youthful occupation as a Cowherd. This is because Krishna is controlled by Radharani's love.

Quotations about Radha

Husband of Radha

In a number of versions of her story, although Radha's first love is Krishna (whom she knows through her childhood) she is later forced to marry Abhimanyu, the son of Jatila. Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ( Sanskrit:, abhaya-caraṇāravinda bhakti-vedānta svāmī prabhupāda, Bangla: অভয়চরনাবিন্দ One source for this information is Sri Sri Camatkara Candrika by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura ( 1626 ? - 1708 ? was a Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharya born in the village of Deva-gram within Nadia district Other traditions give the name of the husband of Radha as 'Chandrasena'

See also

Further reading

Footnotes

  1. ^ H. Wilson, Brahmavaivarta Purana with English Translation]], Motilal Banarsidas Publishers, 1990 reprint. Brahma Vaivarta Purana, ( IAST brahma-vaivarta purāṇa) one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is divided into four parts
  2. ^ Bimanbehari Majumdar (1969). Kṛṣṇa in History and Legend. India: University of Calcutta, 307.  pp. 85-86
  3. ^ Singh, K. B. (2004). "Manipur Vaishnavism: A Sociological Interpretat1on". Sociology of Religion in India.  
  4. ^ Kinsley, D. (1972). "Without Krsna There Is No Song". History of Religions 12 (2): 149.  "Nimbarka seems to have been the first well-known religious leader to regard Radha as central to his cult (thirteenth century)"
  5. ^ Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya-lila 8.282
  6. ^ Gopala Tapani Upanishad 2. Gopāla-tāpanī Upanishad is an Upanishad associated with the Atharvaveda. 12,28,118
  7. ^ Radhavallabh Temple
  8. ^ University Newsletter

External links

General Information

Festivals

Names of Radha

Further Resources

Dictionary

Radha

-proper noun

  1. (Hinduism) The beloved of the Hindu avatar Krishna.
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