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Radha

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For other uses, see Radha (disambiguation).

Radha
Beauty, Humanity, Kindness, Nature, Devotion, World
Devanagariराधा

Radha (IAST: Rādhā, Hindi: राधा ), also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is a Hindu goddess who is almost always depicted alongside Krishna and features prominently within the theology of today's Vallabha and Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sects, which regards Radha as the original Goddess or Shakti. Radha is also the principal god of worship in the Nimbarka Sampradaya, as Nimbarka, the founder of the tradition, declared that Radha and Krishna together constitute the absolute truth.[1] Radha is the most important gopi in Raas (Special kind of dance) with Lord Krishna. Radha is often referred to as Rādhārānī or "Radhika" in speech, prefixed with the respectful term 'Srimati' by devout followers. [2][3][4] Gaudiya Vaishnavas, believe that in fact Radha is the original source from whom Goddess Lakshmi emanated.

Etymology

The term comes from Proto-Indo-European *rad, compare Proto-Slavic radъ (with its Czech descendant rád = glad) and Serbian радост (radost) = joy, Persian rād (generous, liberal). In Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism it is understood that the origin of name Rādhā are Sanskrit words ārādha (paying homage, gratification) and ārādhana (homage, worship)[5]. The accurate understanding would be service, specifically devotional service, since it comes from love and thus is joyful.

Within Vaishnavism

See also: Radha Krishna
Krishna and Radha Seated on a Terrace - Brooklyn Museum
Ras lila of Radha and Krishna.

In the Vaishnava devotional or bhakti traditions of Hinduism that focus on Krishna, Radha is Krishna's friend and advisor. 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 Mahaprabhu also within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Radha Chalisha mentions that Krishna accompanies one who chants " Radha" with pure heart. Other gopis are usually considered to be her maidservants, with Radha having the prominent position of Krishna's favour. It has been mentioned in the narration of the Skanda Purana that out of a two billion of gopis and queens, 16,000 are prominent. Out of these, 108 are important, and out of 108, eight are principal. Out of eight gopis, Radha and Chandravali are chief, and out of these two Radha is superior. Radharani's superiority is given by Krishna's flute, which repeats the name Radha. Between Radha and Rukmini, Radha is superior, it is also said that when lord Krishna brought all his consorts to meet with goddess Radha they saw Radha rani's face and told that she is the most beautiful lady in the whole universe and she will be there on this position until the end of the universe as no will born more beautiful than her. All the gopis and queens of Lord Krishna are reincarnation of goddess Lakshmi but Radha is the eternal life energy of lord Vishnu. She is greater than goddess Lakshmi as lord Vishnu touches the feet of her.[6]

Her connection to Krishna is of two types: svakiya-rasa (married relationship) and parakiya-rasa (a relationship signified with eternal mental "love"). The Gaudiya tradition focuses upon parakiya-rasa as the highest form of love, wherein Radha and Krishna share thoughts even 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 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 other Puranic texts.[7]

Nimbarka

Nimbarka was the first Vaishnava acharya to disseminate teachings about Radha.[8][9]

Temples dedicated to Radha

  • Barsana and Vrindavan in Mathura District, Northern India contain a large number of temples dedicated to both Radha and Krishna, including the Radhavallabh Temple.[10] Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir in Delhi is also the Radha krishna Temple.[11][12]

Further reading

  • Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead (ISBN 0-89213-354-6) by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
  • Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 81-208-0379-5) by David Kinsley
  • Hawley J.S. & D.M. Wulff (ed.) (1986) The Divine Consort: Radha and the Goddesses of India, Beacon Press, Boston, ISBN 0-8070-1303-X.
  • Radha by Krishna Dharabasi, a Nepali novel awarded with Madan Puraskar, Most prestigious literary award.

Footnotes

  1. ^ H.Wilson, 'English Translation', Motilal Banarsidas Publishers, 1990 reprint.
  2. ^ Encyclopaedia of Hindu gods and goddesses By Suresh Chandra http://books.google.co.in/books?id=mfTE6kpz6XEC&pg=PA198&dq=goddess+lakshmi
  3. ^ "Radha - Goddess Radha, Sri Radharani, Radha-Krishna, Radhika". Festivalsinindia.net. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  4. ^ Radha in Hinduism, the favourite mistress of Krishna. In devotional religion she represents the longing of the human soul for God: The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 2006, by ELIZABETH KNOWLES
  5. ^ "Radha means..." Vaniquotes.org. Retrieved 18 March 2016. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. ^ Swami B.G. Narasingha. "Sri Gayatri Mantrartha Dipika - Illuminations on the Essential Meaning of Gayatri | Sri Narasingha Chaitanya Ashram". Gosai.com. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  7. ^ Swami Tripurari, "Sri Radha: Indirectly the Absolute", Sanga, 1999.
  8. ^ Singh, K.B. (2004). "Manipur Vaishnavism: A Sociological Interpretat1on". Sociology of Religion in India. ISBN 978-0-7619-9781-8. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  9. ^ Kinsley, D. (2010). "Without Krsna There Is No Song". History of Religions. 12 (2): 149. doi:10.1086/462672. Retrieved 3 May 2008."Nimbarka seems to have been the first well-known religious leader to regard Radha as central to his cult (thirteenth century)"
  10. ^ Radhavallabh Temple
  11. ^ "Asia and India ISKCON temples". Radha.
  12. ^ Dandavats http://m.dandavats.com/?p=6770. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ Vedic Foundation Inaugurated at Barsana Dham, Austin. Retrieved Dec 15th, 2011.
  14. ^ Ciment, J. 2001. Encyclopedia of American Immigration. Michigan: M.E. Sharpe
  15. ^ Hylton, H. & Rosie, C. 2006. Insiders' Guide to Austin. Globe Pequot Press.
  16. ^ Mugno, M. & Rafferty, R.R. 1998. Texas Monthly Guidebook to Texas. Gulf Pub. Co.
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