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The Love Song of Radha-Shyama

By: Mahanidhi Swami

One day in Vrindavana along the beautiful bank of the Yamuna, which was filled with red, blue and yellow lotus flowers swaying in the gentle sandal- scented breeze, Radha and Krishna were wandering alone together with their arms draped lovingly on each other’s shoulders. There were no sakhis around and the Divine Couple were in an extremely romantic mood.

Turning to Shyama and looking deeply into the eyes of His heart, Radhika began to sing…“O Pranabandhu! Thinking that I am the pride of Your pride and the very form of Your form, I forever enshrine Your tender feet within My heart. I have no one but You in My life. And moreover I feel You to be dearer hundreds of My own lives. O Shyama, You are the kajjala on My eyes and the ornaments on My body.”

In response, Shyama sings, “O Radhe, just listen. I am completely subjugated by the rapture of Your love and think of no one but You. Whenever I chant Your name and meditate on Your form I lose my patience and cannot maintain My prana.

“My mind runs to any direction where My ears hear Your name “Sri Radhe! Sri Radhe!” I gaze upon Your moonlike face like a Chataka bird thirsty for life-giving rains. Raising My head I repeatedly cry ‘Radha!’ and thus maintain My life. I enjoy Vrindavana only because of Your presence. When I cannot see You, Radha, I pick up My murali and loudly proclaim ‘RADHA!’ But upon hearing the sweet jingling of Your anklebells, My mind become pacified and peaceful.” Thus sings the poet Jnana dasa.

By hearing and singing such love songs, which are filled with waves of nectar, Radha Govinda Yugala continually savor the sweetness of Their mutual love. Intensely hankering for such a vision in one’s meditation, and sincerely praying to Sri Krishna for it is the sum and substance of raganuga bhajana.

With purified yearning in our hearts and tears of submission in our eyes, we can follow the lead of Srila Rupa Goswamipada who prayed in Utkalika-vallarih (29) “O Radha-Krishna! When will that day come when I can hear the rising waves of Your sweet artistic singing that will cleanse all the dirt from my ears?”

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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The Sweet Service of Radha’s Lotus Feet

By: Mahanidhi Swami

Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth. As Sri Krishna is Bhagavan—the Supreme Powerhouse (shaktiman), Sri Radha is Bhagavati—the Supreme Power totality (sarva-shaktimayi). Krishna is the predominator—Radha is the predominated. Krishna is the Supreme Enjoyer—Radha is the Supreme Enjoyed.

Radha and Krishna are eternally connected to each other like heat and light, moonshine and the moon, or sweetness and sugar. Krishna is the reservoir of all arts, Kalanidhi; and Radha is the master of all fine arts, Kalavati. Krishna is beauty and Radha is beautiful. Krishna is love, prema, and Radha is ecstatic bliss, mahabhaava.

Sri Krishna appeared in Vraja Dhama (INDIA) in the tiny hamlet of Gokula as the beloved son of Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda Maiya. Just nearby in Raval, Sri Radha made Her divine appearance as the darling cowherd daughter of King Vrishabhanu and Kirtida. Sri Krishna’s eternal consort Radha was discovered by her father in an effulgent lotus flower floating in the Yamuna River. In some millennium, Sri Radha appears in Varsana, Vraja Mandala.

Of all the loving devotees of Krishna, Sri Radha is the greatest because Her love is completely selfless and immaculate. Radha’s service and worship (aradhana) of Sri Krishna is the best and pleases Krishna the most. Thus only She is called Radha. As Bhagavan Sri Krishna has an unlimited number of names, forms, qualities and pastimes so does Bhagavati Sri Radha. Only in Sridhama Vrindavana do the Divine Couple, Radha Govinda Yugala, exhibit Their most attractive, adorable and satisfyingly sweet features.

Of Srimati Radhika’s unlimited and astonishing attributes, acharyas have listed twenty-five. Here are nine of Radha’s wonderful qualities:

1. Radha is sweetness personified, and extremely lovely to behold.

2. Kishori always displays a tender soft smile.

3. Vilasini is an expert musician and singer.

4. Priyaji possesses sparkling feminine wit and humor.

5. Sriji is modest and gentle by nature.

6. Vrindavaneshvari is full of mercy and compassion.

7. Bhanunandini is the embodiment vraja-prema.

8. Madhuri-mukhi is controlled by the love of Her girlfriends.

9. Kunjeshvari always keeps Krishna under Her control.

The Gaudiya Vaisnavas worship Radha and Krishna together as the eternal loving Divine Couple, Radha Govinda Yugala. However, they especially emphasize the worship and service of Srimati Radhika, knowing that Sri Krishna is automatically pleased by service to His dearest sweetheart Srimati Radharani. For Gaudiya Vaisnavas, the perfection or goal of their sadhana (prayojana) is to attain Radha-Krishna prema and become a maidservant, a sakhi manjari, of Srimati Radharani. For the pleasure of Srimati Radhika, such spiritually perfected souls will engage in a variety of services, especially bringing Radha and Krishna together for mutual enjoyment in the pleasure groves of Vraja Dhama.

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Kishori’s Chubby Calf

By: Mahanidhi Swami

In Goloka Vrindavana, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, His divine beloved Radha, and all Their friends, families and associates have transcendental spiritual bodies. There are also spiritual, ever-lasting animals, birds, fish, trees, creepers and plants. In that eternal joyous realm, every person and every object exist solely to give pleasure to Nandanandana Sri Krishna.

Radha and Krishna also have Their favorite pet birds and animals which the Divine Pair lavish with their affection and tender loving care. O, what an incredible fortune to be Radha’s favorite bird or animal!

Let’s hear about Radha’s pets and their names, and marvel at the sweetness of Goloka Vrindavana where even animals are absorbed in serving and pleasing Radharani from moment to moment.

RADHA’S FAVORITE PETS:

Cows: Bahula, Sunada, Yamuna

Calf: a cute, chubby one named Tungi.

Monkey: an old, wrinkled, female monkey named Kakkhati, who shrieks at 4 a.m. to assist in Priya-Priyatama’s nikunja bhanga-lila.

Doe: a playful named Rangini, with large innocent eyes who prances for Priya’s pleasure.

Chakori: A bird named Charu-chandrika, who subsists on the moonshine ofChandramukhi’s radiant face.

Swan: Tundikeri; who plucks blue lotuses from Radha Kunda, and offers them to Kundeshvari to remind Her of Kunjabihari.

Peahen: Tundika

Parrots: Shubha, Sukshmadhi, Manjubhasini who sing to glorify Radha, carry messages and spy on rivals.

Vraja’s divine pashu pakhi ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Black Is Beautiful & Bitter

By: Mahanidhi Swami

The songs and books of the Gaudiya Vaisnava’s mention that black is Radha’s favorite color because Radha loves Shyamasundara, who is dark bluish-black in complexion. Radha wraps Her beautiful divine form in dark blue sari so She can always remember Her Priyatama Shyama.

Because they are black in color or by name, and remind Radha of Her dearest sweetheart Sri Krishna, Radha likes all the following;

Shyama or Krishna and the sakhi named Shyamala;

Amavasya—the moonless night;

Krishna-paksha—waning moon time of the month;

Krishna-sara—Sanskrit for black deer so prominent in Vraja lila;

Bhramara—Shyama-blue bumblebees;

Kajjala—black eye-liner cosmetic;

Kasturi—black musk dot on Kishori’s chin;

Winter Season—with long DARK nights giving more time with Shyama;

Tamala Tree—glossy black trunk often embraced by Radha in prema delirium;

Rain Clouds— resemble Shyama’s hue and their rumbling like Muralidhara’s flute;

Blue Lotuses—blossoming like Kishora’s sweet nectar-filled face;

Yamuna River—dark, meandering, mysterious and deep like Shyama wandering in the glen;

Evening—named Shyama in Hindi;

Midnight—the darkest time of night, beautiful alone with Shyama;

Sapphire—deep blue bracelets and necklaces;

Although Radha is very satisfied and pleased by all black things, that same sweet color sometimes becomes very, very bitter to Bhanunandini.

Once an intimate sakhi said to Radhika, “O Ishvari! I know you like the dark night when the moon is waning, the newly blossoming blue lotus, black bumble bees, the black deer, the dark tamala tree, the dark monsoon clouds, and the dark Yamuna River. But why then, do You dislike charming Krishna, who resembles them in name and form?” (Radha Rasa Sudha Nidhi 89)

Here’s how the sweetness of the color black suddenly turns into the bitterness of poison.

Krishna, detained all night by a rival sakhi, arrives just before sunrise at the gate of Rai Vinodini’s kunja. Upon seeing all the signs of amorous affairs on Shyama’s body, Radhika becomes very upset and enters a deep state of maan—a contrary mood of jealous anger.

Kanha tries to mollify Manini Radha but nothing works. Sriji chases Krishna out of the kunja, vowing never again look at anything black.

Then Radhika casts off Her blue sari, blue bangles and sapphire necklace, and dons a red sari, ivory bangles and a pearl necklace. Radha wipes off the musk dot on Her chin, Her musk tilaka, and the kajjala around Her eyes. Kishori replaces all these with white sandal-paste decorations. When Gandharvika sees a rain cloud, She opens an umbrella.

Radha whitewashes the tamala trees and refuses to meet Her girlfriend named Shyamala. And Radha stays far away from peacocks because their feathers remind Her of Krishna’s turban.

Noticing Her black hair reflected in a mirror, Srimati breaks the mirror into a hundred pieces. When the sun sets, Radharani covers Her eyes with Her palms to not see the night.

These wonderful expressions in maan, or contrariness in love, are all part of Radha and Krishna’s divine pastimes in the eternal kingdom of love—Sridhama Vrindavana.

Ultimately, everything will end on a sweet note as the Divine Pair meet again with warm embraces and rapturous kisses.

And black will once more become sweet and beautiful within the mind and heart of Radha.

Manini Radha ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Beginnings of Love

By: mahanidhi Swami

Radha and Krishna are eternally connected in a loving bond of sweet intimacy. Yet to relish the rich flavor arising from the curious and tender moments of first falling in love, the Divine Couple appear to fall in love one day.

Our acharyas describe the beginning stage of love before meeting closely as purva-raga, which means prior attachment. In these initial days of Radha-Madhava’s relationship, mutual attraction, infatuation, desire and captivation flood Their minds and hearts.

Many exalted devotees have portrayed this stage of love in their writings. Because this stage of Radha Govinda Yugala’s immaculate love affair is so wonderfully attractive, sweet and endearing, we are including translations of some of their rasika bhajans for the purifying pleasure of one and all. By hearing and meditating upon them, we are sure that your hearts will melt into rivers of attraction rushing to the lotus feet of Radha Govinda Yugala to engage in their eternal prema seva!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Shyama Falls in Love with Radha

I. Meeting

Once upon a time, Shyama met a sakhi and opened His restless heart to her.

Shyama said, “O sakhi! I just met a most extraordinary girl whose face resembles a mixture of Madana (Cupid) and the moon. And surrounding that face is a mass of rain clouds! That Sundari cast Her furtive eyes at Me, smirked and turned away. Since that moment, My heart started burning in the fire of desire. My mind has become most agitated and unsteady due to constantly meditating on Her while awake and while dreaming. You are a clever girl and a good person, so please help Me and show Me this sweet form once again.” (Padakarta Radha Vallabha)

II. Meeting

One day Shyama described His amazing first meeting with Kishori.

Shyama said, “O, I have seen a wonderful golden girl who just pierced My heart. Lotus flowers blossom wherever She glances, and nectar flows whenever She smiles. And Her crooked glances release thousands of Cupid’s arrows! (Sri Vidyapati Thakura).

III. Meeting

One day a sakhi messenger told Radhika how much Krishna is in love with Her.

Sakhi: “O Radhe! When Subala gives Govinda a garland of golden Champaka flowers, His mind wavers and tears of passionate love flow from Shyama’s eyes. O beautiful girl! Your form forever awakens intense love in Shyama’s heart.

“Vrishabhanunandini! Vrishabhanunandini! Vrishabhanunandini!” is the only word that Shyama says throughout the day and night! Although lacs of girls speak sweet words to Shyama, He does not hear them even in His dreams! In His ecstasy, Shyama can only pronounce RAA! Then tears stream from Shyama’s eyes and He rolls on the ground! O Radha, how can I describe Kanu’s distress? In His miserable state only Your mercy can destroy Shyama’s suffering! (Govinda Dasa)

IV. Meeting

By chance, Krishna once heard someone chant the most astonishing name of RADHA. A few moments later, Priyatama met a sakhi and disclosed His mind.

Murari said, “O priya-sakhi! Who just chanted Radha’s name? Upon hearing Radha’s name My heart moved in many ways. Gokula is filled with so many names, but none of them can agitate My heart like the name of Radha!

“There is so much sweetness in this name RADHA that it automatically fills My heart with nectar, and brings the beautiful form of Vrishabhanunandini into My mind! I feel I am swimming in an ocean of nectar! (Yadunandana)

Radhika Falls in Love

I. Meeting

Ramani Radha is similarly stunned with ecstatic symptoms whenever She hears the name KRISHNA. One day in the stage of purva-raga, Radha became agitated and overwhelmed upon hearing Krishna’s name.

Revealing Her heart to a confidante, Radha said, “O sakhi! Who just sang the name Krishna, which has pierced My heart and disturbed My mind? There is so much honey in Krishna nama that My mouth cannot stop drinking it. Repeating the name “Krishna! Krishna! Krishna!” I become astounded so how can I ever forget it?

“Hey sakhi! If Krishna’s name has such power, then what will happen when I touch Krishna’s body? Wherever I am, My eyes see Shyama. In this condition, how can I possibly uphold the principles of dharma? Although I do try to cast Krishna out of My mind, it is to no avail! O sakhi, what shall I do now?” (Dvija Chandi das)

II. Meeting

Once upon a time, Priyaji revealed Her heart to Paurnamasi, the elderly yogini who always helps Radha and Krishna meet.

Radha said, “Who is this playing His flute along the Yamuna’s bank? And who is that filling the meadows of Gokula with the melodies of His flute? My body and mind have gone mad in agitation by hearing this flute song! O Paurnamasi, I simply cannot stop the flow of tears from My eyes. And My mind is so overwhelmed that it has gone blank upon hearing that sweet flute of Nandanandana!”

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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A Look at Radha’s Purva Raga

By: Mahanidhi Swami

The sweet madhurojjvala lila-rasa of Radha Govinda Yugala is divided into two categories: vipralambha (divine love in separation) and sambhoga (divine love in union or meeting). Vipralamba is subdivided into four: 1) Purva-raga, love prior to meeting; 2) Maana, pouting huff, love sulk; 3) Prema-vaicittya, feeling separation even in the beloved’s presence; 4) pravasa, separation when the beloved is far away.

Purva-raga is very beginning stage of love, the falling in love period before lovers first meet. It is a very absorbing, exciting time full of hope, anticipation and doubts.

Acharyas describe eight ways that kindle or ignite Radha’s loving attraction to Shyamasundara:

Hearing the sound of Shyama’s murali.

Hearing from a girlfriend.

Hearing from messenger.

Hearing a song.

Hearing from professional reciters.

Seeing a painting.

A vision in a dream.

Direct vision.

Watch for more articles about Radha’s pure love.

Purva-ragini Radha ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Vraja Holi In Ananda Vrndavana Campu (Chapter-14 Summary)

By:Mahanidhi Swami

During the 40 days that Holi is celebrated in Vraja (Vasant Pancami-Gaura Purnima), Nanda Maharaja gives Krsna and Balarama leave from cowherding to play Holi. Thus they can throw color dyes and water at each other and the other Vrajavasis. In the morning of Vasant Pancami, Srimati Radharani and Her sakhis are attacked with colored powderby Krsna and the gopas while they are on the way to Nandisvara to cook Krsna’s breakfast. In the haze of red powder (abira and gulala), that cloudies the sky during this attack of colors, Sri Krsna secretly embraces and kisses Radhika as proud Lalita safely brings Her to Nandisvara to peacefully cook Krsna’s daily breakfast.
Some days later, Paurnamasi announces, “Tomorrow is Maghi Purnima and the gopi of any husband who on this day worships Vasanta Madana(the spring god of love-Krsna) at the base of an Asoka tree will gain lots of wealth and cows!.” Hearing this, the elderly gopis allow their daughters-in-law to do that puja. On that purnima day, Sri Radha dressed in a crimson sari, enters the forest to meet Krsna on the pretext of doing Vasanta Madana Puja. At that time, Vrnda Devi said, “O Radha! A kinnari named Matanga has come to play veena for your pleasure along with her ensemble Radhika listens to the performance, suddenly Krsna appears on the scene holding His flute in His left hand and a flower bow stuffed with vermilion powder in His right hand. Syama was surrounded by Subala and other dear friends, who were loudly singing Holi bhajanas. Syama’s eyes were rolling in intoxication and two friends on either sides served Him tambula which colored His playful lips with a pleasing reddish hue. The red powder flying here and there in the sky gradually settled down on Syama, beautifully coloring and scenting His hair, tilaka and eyebrows.

Jay Jay Sri Radhe

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Spring Holi of Krishna

By:Mahanidhi Swami

Krsna and His boyfriends inaugurated the spring festival of Holi by singing, dancing, and throwing balls of fine reddish powder in all directions. The lightweight, sweet smelling powder just floated in the air. As it gradually fell down, itbeautifully colored and scented Krsna’s turban, hair, eyelids, and tilaka. Kársna’s friends sang carcari and dvipadika songs in the vasanta raga with clear marginal notes and notes in the three scales. In this way they blissfully danced and played while repeatedly throwing red powder balls at each other.

Jay Jay Sri Radhe

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Miraculous Holi Of Srinivasa Acarya

By:Mahanidhi Swami

The miraculous Holi of Srinivasa Acarya. Srinivasa Acarya, overcome in the rapture of divine bliss, always floated in the waves of Krsna’s oceanic Vraja-lila. One day in spring, Srinivasa was meditatingon Radha and Krsna’s Holi-lila. In his meditation, he saw a very beautiful secluded place in Vrndavana permeated with a gentle, cool breeze. The cuckoos and parrots sitting in the kadamba trees filled the air with their pleasing singing. Innumerable peacocks were dancing there and bumblebees were flying amongst the fragrant flowers. Vrnda devi and other gopis arrange all the necessary paraphernalia for the upcoming Holi festival. Vrnda devi collected different colored powders and tuned the vina and other musical instruments. Then in the kunja grove, Syama, Radha and all the sakhis started excitedly playing Holi. Amongst much mirth and merry, Sri Radha and Her sakhis covered Krsna’s body with colored powder. Receiving an approving wink from the sakhis, Srinivasa in his meditative manjari svarupa supplied powder to Radha while standing by Her side. So much beauty and sweetness arose from the love play of Radha and Krsna in Holi that hundreds of Cupids fainted. The colored powders hurled into the sky, covered the Sun. Sri Krsna, the emperor of love sports, showered powder on everyone. Sri Krsna drenched the gopis with colored water mixed with musk and saffron. Then that clever Syama offered various excuses, so he could embrace and kiss them. Lalita and the other sakhis, thrilled with joy, were watching the Holi festival. At the conclusion of the festival, they sat Radha and Krsna on a throwne and served Them. Srinivas in his manjari form, fanned Radha and Krsna with the camara to remove Their exhaustion.
Upon concluding this service, Srinivasa Acarya came to external consciousness and discovered that his whole body was covered with holi powders. Its divine fragrance drove everyone mad. In this way Srinivasa Acarya meditated on Holi.

(Bhakti Ratnakara 6th wave)

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Holi Pastimes Of Gauranga

By: Mahanidhi Swami

From the first day of spring, Vasanta Pancami (Visnupriya’s appearance day) until Gaura Purnima, Lord Gauranga plays Holi for 40 days continuously. On each day of these 40 days, Sri Gaurasundara performs Holi lila in the homes of His various confidential devotees. First Holi is in Advaitacarya’s house on Vasanta Pancami. Then on Trayodasi, He plays Holi in Nityananda’s house. In this month on Sukla Sasthi (March 6) , Gauranga plays Holi in Gauridasa Pandita’s house. Then on astami, in Uddharana Datta’s house. On Purnima, Mahaprabhu plays Holi in own home.
Holi Pastimes of Gauranga
On the bank of the Ganga, Sri Gauranga divided His intimate devotees into two groups: One team with Gauranga, and one team with Gadadhara Pandita. In Gadadhara’s team, there were Svarupa Damodara, Mukunda, Vasu Ghosa and many others. Gauranga’s side was led by Gauridasa Pandita. As previously in Krsna-lila, all the sakhis and manjaris sided with Radha and all the sakhas teamed up together with Krsna to attack the sakhis. And now in Nadiya, the same devotees sided with either Gaura or Gadadhara respectively. Picking up pichkaris (syringes), Gauranga’s team squirted Sri Gadadhara and his team. Then in retaliation, Svarupa Damodara and others began to hurl coloured powders bombarding Gauranga and His party from all sides. As the fun pastimes of Holi progressed, Gauridasa started clapping his hands and shouting excitingly, “Gauranga has won, Gauranga has won!” Then Svarupa Damodara angrily replied, “No, Gauranga has lost. The winner is my Gadadhara!” At this instant, some devotees slapped their chests and others sang and danced raising their hands into the sky, “Haribol! Haribol! Gaura Haribol!”

(Mohan dasa, disciple of Srinivasa Acarya)

Jay Jay Sri Radhe