New Delhi, India
Radha Ashtami: Why is Radharani Known as a Lover Instead of a Goddess?
Radha, the eternal Kriya Shakti (primary source) of Krishna’s Leela, is the divine lover in Hinduism. She is the Queen of Vrindavan. Without her, there would be no universe, earth, life, love, or Indian mythology. Radha Ashtami marks it as divine and the day of her birth to earth in the Vedic story.
Indians celebrate her birth with great enthusiasm, especially the temple of Krishna and Radha. She is life and the divine force of existence. She is Radha, the eternal love of Lord Krishna.
I am naive to describe her. I am limited in my vision to imagine her and her dwelling in Vrindavan during Dwapara Yuga.
But I will try my best to give a little glimpse of Radharani, the Queen of Vaikuntha.
What is the meaning of Radha, the one who is beyond description?
Radha!
The name is itself a holy mantra. Krishna worships her. Indian mythology artists and painters love capturing her through their art, and Krishna is on her feet as a lover who worships her.
Radha is a being who is a mystery. Krishna, as Vishnu, is seen as a sustainer of the universe. Why did he need to worship her with love and devotion? It fills me with even more questions and encourages me to find the secrets.
Let me inform you—no Indian texts such as Vedas, Puranas, and holy scriptures give a description of her except Krishna Leela, part of Shrimad Bhagavatam.
She is only known as the lover of Lord Krishna, who enjoys raasa with him. Radha, the most beautiful sakhi, a Gopi of Vishakha and Lalita.
If you ask me about her name’s meaning, then I am entitled to write what I know and others too.
Radha is the one who takes the soul closer to the Almighty.
Why is Radha believed to be Goddess Lakshmi?
Hinduism finds her the consort of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi.
Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, is believed to be an incarnation of Radharani. She has taken the avatar of Lakshmi and divided herself into the Ashtalakshmi, the collective eight forms of prosperity.
- Adi Lakshmi
- Dhana Lakshmi
- Dhanya Lakshmi
- Gaja Lakshmi
- Santana Lakshmi
- Veera Lakshmi
- Vidya Lakshmi
- Vijaya Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi does not want anything in return and fulfills the wishes of the beings on earth.
Radharani is also considered a great wish-fulfiller because she remains in a position to bestow her devotees. Therefore, Indian mythology and texts believe in Goddess Lakshmi, the Radharani.
Why Do We Need to Know What Radha Ashtami is?
Radha Ashtami is the day of Radha’s birth on earth. Hinduism celebrates her birthday as Radha Jayanti. This auspicious day falls on the 8th day of the Shukla Paksha as per the Indian calendar during the month of Bhadrapada.
Radha Ashtami celebrates and honors the selfless love and bond between Radharani and Krishna.
Bharata celebrates the day by performing pujas, prayers, and kirtans.
Radha Krishna devotees wear dresses as Radha and Krishna and play Raasa Leela.
Vrindavan, the raasa bhumi of Radha Krishna, celebrates Radha Ashtami most grandly and magnificently possible.
Barsana, the birthplace of Radha, is the center point for devotees to visit and worship her.
Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna, worships her along with the Nandlal.
Why is Radha and Lord Krishna’s relationship complicated to understand for people?
Many people in the world get complex to understand the essence of Radha Krishna’s relationship.
It is a divine relationship. To understand it, we need to throw ourselves at the feet of Lord Krishna and Radha. Thereafter, we will be able to clean our inner self and impurities we have, such as untruthfulness, jealousy, ego, fear, and many other things.
Once we can remove all of these, our minds will be ready to perceive the meaning and understanding of the relationship.
What Does Raasleela Mean, and How Are We All Connected to It?
Raasleela has many meanings, but mostly the world understands it as lovemaking. In truth, it is beyond the reasoning and vision one holds.
Raasleela, it is the process of an individual to realize that he or she is part of the universal soul.
We all need to realize and be willing to unite with the one and only Krishna.
Raasleela is similar to Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean. Devas and Daityas churn out the ocean to bring the elixir and become immortal.
Similarly, we must churn out our souls to find the reason behind our birth and be willing to meet Krishna, our chitchor (soul thief).
Radha in Raasleela presents herself as an individual soul who is looking for Krishna all over Vrindavan to unite.
In simple and mostly digestible language, we are all immortal, but somehow we get distracted, resulting in separation from Krishna just like Radha.
Our soul as an individual is looking for a path to unite with the (chitchor), the universal soul of Krishna.
That is why Radha took birth on earth at Barsana on the 15th day after Krishna Janmashtami; thus, it is known as the Radha Ashtami.
Why Should You Chant Radha Ashtami Mantra?
It is believed that Radha Ashtami vrat, or fast, is rewarding because Radha blesses her devotees without any delay.
She fills her devotees’ lives with prosperity. Radha frees the devotees from problems and even helps them get material wealth and wishes. Most importantly, she helps get salvation faster.
What is the Radha Ashtami Aarti for Vrat?
What Are the Top 3 Legends of Radha Ashtami?
- Legend 1
Radha, the lover of Lord Krishna, was born to King Vrishbhanu Gopa and Keerthida.
According to Padma Purana, once Vrishbhanu was cleaning the land for sacrifice, yagna, and found Radha in the form of land, Dharti.
He raised Radha as his daughter and loved her with all his heart.
- Legend 2
As per another legend, Lord Vishnu once asked all the Devas to take birth on earth to help him as Krishna.
He asked goddess Lakshmi to take birth as Radha, his lover.
- Legend 3
Brahma Vaivarta Purana also narrates a tale of Radha and calls her Krishna’s friend.
When she grows up, she is married to a person named Rayan.
Thus, the story of Radha Ashtami is divine yet secret to the world.
