22/12/2023
Know Your Radha Krishna
Though Lord Krishna and Radha did not marry each other, they are still worshipped together by everyone. There are many couples who consider the love bond between Lord Krishna and Radha as their inspiration.
According to the believed facts, Radha is never separate from Lord Krishna. The bond of love between Lord Krishna and Radha was not physical, rather it was a spiritual and pure form of devotion.
Both Radha and Krishna are the main characters of the Gita Govinda by Jayadeva Gosvami. Birthplace of Radha is actually Raval which is near Gokul but is often said to be Barsana where she lived after her marriage. It is in Barsana that the Lathmar Holi is practised depicting the episode of Krishna going to Barsana and then running away escaping the beating from the womenfolk of Barsana.
Even though Radha and Krishna never married in their human forms during their time on earth, theirs was a divine union. To understand it, one has to understand the finer nuances of rasa and prema – that defined their indulgences during Krishna’s time in Vrindavan.
The Narada-pancaratra states, "Radha is Gokulesvari, the full embodiment of spontaneous love and the personification of mahabhava [the highest spiritual state. Bhagavan Sri Krishna, who is the supreme Isvara of all existence and the God among gods, is attained by Her mercy. Sri Radha is Krishna’s internal potency, and She performs worship of Her most beloved Sri Krishna with the entire wealth of Her devotion and service."
In Sammohana-tantra, Goddess Durga says, "The name Durga, by which I am known, is Her name. The qualities for which I am famous are Her qualities. The majesty with which I am resplendent is Her majesty. That Maha-Lakshmi, Sri Radha, is non different from Sri Krishna. She is His dear most sweetheart and the crest-jewel of His beloveds."
According to BrahmaVaivarta Purana, during their time in Goloka, Radha got into a heated argument with Krishna’s persona attendant Shridama.
In a fit of rage, she cursed him to be reborn as a demon. In turn, Shridama cursed Radha to endure 100 years of separation from her eternal lover in her human form. It is believed that this curse was responsible for Radha spending much of her time on earth gripped by the pain of being separated from Krishna.
Despite its ups and down and many turns and twists, Radha Krishna’s relationship not only survived its brief spell among us mere mortals but has lived on for centuries and continues to inspire millions even today. That in itself is a testament to the beauty and depth of their bond.
