Shri Radha

Who Shri Radha is

Radha is the gopi of Braj whom Krishna loved above all others. She is the daughter of King Vrishabhanu and his wife Kirti, which is why she is called Vrishabhanu Nandini and Kirti Kumari. Tradition places her birth at Rawal, near Gokul, and her childhood at Barsana, her father's village on a hill a few kilometres from Krishna's Nandgaon. She is almost never worshipped alone. In temples and homes she stands at Krishna's left, and the pair is worshipped as one: Radha-Krishna, the yugal sarkar, the divine couple.

Where her story comes from

Many people are surprised to learn that the Bhagavata Purana, the main source for Krishna's childhood, does not name Radha. In its account of the rasa dance it mentions one gopi whom Krishna leads away from the others, and her companions say she must have worshipped him especially well. Devotional tradition reads that gopi as Radha. Her story was filled out later: in the Brahmavaivarta Purana, which makes her the supreme goddess; in Jayadeva's twelfth-century Gita Govinda, the Sanskrit love poem about Radha and Krishna; and in the songs of Vidyapati, Chandidas and Surdas. Traditions differ on some details, including whether she and Krishna were married. The Brahmavaivarta Purana describes a wedding performed by Brahma in the Bhandir forest, while much of the poetry celebrates a love that stays outside marriage.

Krishna's own power

In the Vrindavan traditions Radha is far more than a beloved. The Gaudiya Vaishnavas who follow Chaitanya Mahaprabhu call her Krishna's hladini shakti, his own power of bliss. The Nimbarka tradition worships the couple together, and the Radhavallabh tradition founded by Hit Harivansh puts Radha first. The Radha Chalisa says the same in devotional language: from a part of her arise countless Umas, Lakshmis and Saraswatis; Krishna sings her name and meditates on her day and night; and whoever worships Krishna while leaving her out will not cross the ocean of the world. That is why the greeting heard everywhere in Braj is not "Jai Shri Krishna" but "Radhe Radhe". Pilgrims say her name in order to reach him.

Love in separation

When Krishna left Braj for Mathura and later Dwarka, he did not come back to live there. His wedded queens, Rukmini and the others, belong to Dwarka. Radha stays in Braj, and the poetry of her longing, called viraha, is one of the great themes of Indian devotion. In the bhakti view, that longing is the highest form of love: the soul that never stops thinking of God even when he seems far away.

Festivals

• Radhashtami (Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami): her birthday, fifteen days after Janmashtami. The Shriji temple at Barsana holds the biggest celebration, with an abhishek at dawn.
• Lathmar Holi: in the week before Holi, the women of Barsana playfully beat the men of Nandgaon with sticks, re-enacting Krishna and his friends coming to tease Radha's sakhis. The next day it happens the other way round in Nandgaon.
• Kartik: the whole month is especially dear to Radha in the Vrindavan tradition, and lamps are offered to Radha-Damodar every evening.

How to worship her

Worship her together with Krishna. A picture or murti of Radha-Krishna, a ghee lamp, tulsi for Krishna, flowers and makhan-mishri or kheer are enough. Read the Radha Chalisa, sing the Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki, and chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. In the Gaudiya reading, its "Hare" calls on Radha herself. Ashtami of each month is her day. Above all, the tradition asks for bhav, loving feeling, rather than elaborate ritual.

Temples

The Shriji (Ladli Ji) temple on the Bhanugarh hill at Barsana is her own home. In Vrindavan, the Banke Bihari temple worships Krishna in a form understood as Radha and Krishna united, and the Radha Raman, Radha Vallabh and modern Prem Mandir temples are all centred on the couple. Near Govardhan, Radha Kund is held by Gaudiya Vaishnavas to be the holiest spot in all of Braj.