Tag Archive for: Radha

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The Moonlike Faces of Rai & Kanu

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

It is very common experience of anyone visiting Vrindavana to become enchanted and irresistibly attracted upon seeing the sweet and beautiful divine faces of the popular Thakurajis—Radha-Shyamasundara, Banke Bihari, Radha-Ramana and Radha-Damodara. What is the special quality, that magnetic mysticism, of the faces of Rai and Kanu? Their beautiful faces take over our minds, and haunt our hearts with a sweetness that forcefully compels us to take Their amazing darshana whenever we can for as long as we can. O the magic of Vraja!

But how to describe that experience? How can one explain the wonderful relish of peace, joy and happiness he feels upon seeing the contented, smiling, bewitching and mischievous faces of Radha and Krishna in Their various Deity forms playing in Vrindavana?

Indeed, many Vraja saints of yore have gone mad after relishing the incredible sweetness of Radha Govinda Yugala in their trances of meditation, sphurtis or samadhi. And when they returned to external consciousness they recorded their visions in the most incredible rasika poetry of Sanskrit, Hindi or Vrajabhasa.

When writing about beholding the bewitching faces of Radha-Krishna in their eyes, dreams, visions and meditations, the saints describe the Divine Couple with phrases like moonlike faces and lotus feet. Of course, they are just trying to gives us some vague idea of their indescribable divine experiences. In reality there is absolutely no object in the material world to compare with the matchless transcendental beauty of Radha-Shyamasundara!

What is the value of the material moon to match the endlessly beautiful faces of Radha and Krishna? Kavi Bilvamangala Thakura says, “O Krishna Deva! Seeing the splendid full moon of Your face, the moon admits his defeat and takes shelter of Your feet after dividing itself into ten parts to serve Your toenails.” Further on the Kavi admits, “O my Lord! The brilliantly shining full moon in the sky, which has spots, is only useful as a lamp to worship the flawless full moon of beautiful Your face.”

And what about the “moonlike face” of Madhura-mukhi Radha? A drop of the heart-melting nectar of Radhika’s splendidly gorgeous face is glorified in Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi (126): “O Radha! If millions of simultaneously rising magnificent full moons were to flood countless millions of universes with the waves of the nectar moonlight of pure love, then that might give a slight hint of the incredible beauty of Your face visible in the land of Vrindavana!”

Darshana of the delightfully beautiful and deliciously satisfying faces of Radha-Krishna in Vrindavana is the daily fortune for a few, and an occasional treasure for most. Nevertheless, when we are away from Vrindavana, we can intensely hanker and fervently pray to see Vraja Yugala in our vision, dreams and meditations.

After once seeing Radha-Govinda in a sphurti, the great Gaudiya Vaisnava rasika-acharya, Srila Rupa Goswamipada, lamented severely in separation and penned a most inspiring verse in Utkalika-vallarih (36). May this prayer shape our cherished aspiration:

O Radha and Krishna, best of all the dancers in Vraja! Ahaha! When will that blessed day come when I can see Your gorgeous moon-like faces, overflowing with the radiant nectar of compassion, which astound the chakora-like hearts of Your sakhis?”

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Krishna Opens His Heart

By: Mahanidhi Swami

One day in Goloka Vrindavana, Shyama sat alone under the shade of a beautiful flowering kadamba tree that was filling the entire forest with a sweet fragrance reminiscent of Radharani. Becoming absorbed in vivid memories of His sweet beloved, Krishna started spontaneously glorifying Gandharvika Radha with the choicest of words full of love and genuine realization of Radhika’s grandeur.

Brilliant green parrots gathered in the branches, curious innocent deer collected nearby, and swans floated in the peaceful waters of the Yamuna. All were stunned in bliss and spellbound in amazement to hear what Shyama was saying.

Sri Krishna, musing to Himself, said, “I am the complete, spiritual Absolute Truth. I am made of unlimited self-effulgent bliss, yet Radharani’s love drives Me mad. I just can’t understand the power of Radha’s prema by which Kishori forever overwhelms Me! Everyone everywhere says I am the adi-guru, the spiritual master of the universe. But now I realize the truth is this:

rädhikära prema guru, ämi çiñya naöa

sadä ämä nänä nåtye, näcäya udbhaöa

“The prema of Radhika is My Guru, and I am dancing as Her disciple. Radha’s inconceivable love makes Me dance in various novel ways.”

“It is now very clear to Me that Rädhä’s love is all-pervading, leaving no room for expansion. But still Madhura-mukhi’s love keeps expanding constantly. Although there is certainly nothing greater than Priyaji’s love, Radha does not show a drop of pride. This is solid proof of the greatness of My Radharani!

“Nothing is purer than Shyama-priya’s love. But Vaidagdhi Radha always acts in contrary and crooked ways. Although Rädhä’s love is pure like a mirror, its purity increases at every moment. There is no one in this world except Radha that is more qualified than Me. In Radha’s presence alone I can find pleasure.

“Seeing Rädhäräëé gives pleasure to My eyes. The sweet words of Çrématé enchant My ears, and the naturally sweet scent of Rädhäräëé’s limbs captivates My mind and heart. I am charmed by the nectarean taste of Radha’s luscious lips, and completely refreshed by the cooling caress of Kishori beautiful limbs. The incomparable beauty and attributes of Çré Rädhikä are My life and soul! Nothing satisfies My eyes more that gazing upon Bhanu-tanya’s delightful form. The happiness I feel meeting Rädhäräëé is a hundred times greater than the happiness I get from anyone else.”

Somehow by the will of Providence, that very Queen of Shyama’s heart suddenly appeared at that lonely spot beside the Yamuna. Seizing this rare opportunity to flatter the cherished treasure of His heart, Gopinatha said, “O My dear auspicious Rädhäräëé! Your divinely attractive body is the source of all beauty. O Sulochana, Your radiant cherry-red lips are softer than the sense of immortal sweetness. O Pranapriya, the effulgent orb of Your perfectly shaped lotus face bears the aroma of a lotus flower. O Radha, Your heart touching, honey sweet words silence the soothing warbling of the cuckoo. O Devi, Your shapely golden limbs are cooler than the pulp of sandalwood. O Shyamaa, all My senses are totally overwhelmed in ecstatic pleasure by being with You, who are completely decorated by beautiful qualities.” (Cc. Adi 4)

Sri Krishna Prema ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Meeting Radha’s Family

By: Mahanidhi Swami

One aspect of raganuga-sadhana is learn about the identities, relationships, feelings and moods of love of Radha and Krishna’s friends and family members. Why you may ask? Attaining the spiritual perfection of Krishna prema means to enter Goloka Vrindavana, and to lovingly serve Radha-Krishna alongside all of Their friends and family members. Therefore, here as part of our sadhana we must prepare ourselves to know where we are going, and with whom we will live and serve with upon getting there.

To facilitate this “spiritual family familiarization sadhana”, our compassionate Gaudiya Vaisnava acharyas Srila Rupa Goswamipada and Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada wrote two essential books for our study:

Radha-Krishna Ganoddesha Dipika and Vraja Vilasa Stava. Also Sri Kavi Karnapura wrote Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika to help us learn the dual identities of Krishna’s eternal associates in both Vraja-lila and Gaura-lila.

To celebrate Radhastami, we are listing the key personalities in Srimati Radharani’s transcendental family of loving servitors. Wherever known, we’ll include their Gaura-lila names in brackets.

But first however, we should warn everyone with a few words of caution. If you are at all attached to your relativities in the form of friends and family members, then definitely

DO NOT READ THIS description of the pure and loving, beautiful people in Radha’s realm of eternal transcendental bliss!

Radha’s Elders

Paternal grandfather: Mahibhanu

Paternal grandmother: Sukhada

Father: Vrishabhanu (Pundarika Vidyanidhi)

Maternal grandfather: Indu

Maternal grandmother: Mukhara

Mother: Kirtida (Ratnavati)

Elder brother: Sridama (Abhirama Gopala)

Younger sister: Ananga-manjari (Jahnava-devi)

Paternal uncles: Bhanu, Ratna-bhanu, Subhanu.

So-called husband: Abhimanyu

Father-in-law: Vrka-gopa

Mother-in-law: Jatila (Ramachandra Puri)

Brother-in-law: Durmada

Sister-in-law: Kutila

Radha’s Ashta Sakhis:

Lalita (Svarupa Damodara Goswami)

Vishakha (Ramananda Raya)

Chitra (Govindananda Thakura)

Indulekha (Vasu Ramananda)

Champakalata (Shivananda Sena)

Tungavidya (Vakreshvara Pandita)

Ranga-devi (Govinda Ghosh)

Sudevi (Vasudeva Ghosh)

And: Vrinda-devi (Mukunda Dasa)

Dhanishta (Raghava Pandita)

Nandimukhi (Saranga Thakura)

Radha’s Ashta-Manjaris:

Sri Rupa-manjari: (Srila Rupa Goswamipada)

Rati-manjari: Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada)

Lavanga-manjari (Srila Sanatana Goswamipada)

Raga-manjari (Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami)

Guna-manjari: (Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami)

Manjulali-manjari: (Sri Lokanatha Goswami)

Vilasa-manjari (Sri Jiva Goswamipada)

Kasturi-manjari (Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja)

Radha’s Favorite Pets:

Calf: Tungi

Chakori bird: Charu-chandrika

Cows: Bahula, Sunada, Yamuna

Doe: Rangini

Elephant: Madhuri

Monkey: Kakkhati

Talking Parrots: Shubha, Sukshmadhi

Peahen: Tundika

Swan: Tundikeri

Sri Radha’s premika nitya-parisads ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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RADHA’S Resolutions

By: Mahanidhi Swami

Krishna is Radha’s Hari because Krishna takes away Radha’s shyness, unwillingness and any other obstacle to Their meeting. One day Sri Radha became very angry with Krishna and She made three resolutions, thinking, “From now on, I will not look at, speak to or trust that black fellow any more.”

A short time later, the clever prankster arrived and begged Radha, “O Shyama Jiu! Look at Me just once!” While admiring Shyama’s sweet form, the sakhis started talking to each other, “Aha! How sweetly Shyama stands in tribhanga pose. The life of that lady-love who does not see such sweetness is wasted.” Hearing this, Radha becomes eager to look at Krishna and She does. Radha’s first resolution is broken. Krishna is speaking so nicely with lots of flattery and witty remarks that Radharani cannot remain silent anymore. So Radha says, “Just go to that gopi you love. Don’t stay here speaking so cleverly.” Thus, Radha’s second vow is gone. Krishna slowly slides His foot forward to touch the tips of Radha’s toes. Being disturbed by this, Radha takes Krishna by the hand and pushed Him out of the kunja. Then Radha thinks, “Oh just see! Now I have also touched Him. If I can not keep any vow, then how can I keep Krishna away.” Then Radha steps out of the kunja, wraps Her beautiful arm around Shyama’s neck and brings Him back into the kunja. Thus Lord Hari continually steals the tender heart of Sri Radha with all His sweet charms.

Three resolutions wali Radha ki jai!

Chatura shiromani Hari ki jai!

Jai jai Sri Radhe!!

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My Life and Soul Is Radha Nama

By: Mahanidhi Swami

“The ambrosial elixir of the name of RA DHA is rarely attained by the demigods, the regular devotees, the liberated souls and Krishna’s closest associates. With tears streaming down His face, Sri Hari often describes or loudly sings the name RA DHA to Radhika’s sakhis. If anyone chants RA DHA with loving affection, he will experiences a flood of the blissful nectar of love. The nectarean name of RADHA is my life and soul.” (Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi 97)

A Verse Meditation:

Look at a beautiful painting of Sri Radha;

Read the verse above with full concentration;

Pray to Radhika for the memory power or shakti to remember it;

Close your eyes;

Chant japa while immersing your mind and heart in this divine illumination.

Jai Jai Sri Radhe

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Holi In The Heart

By: Mahanidhi Swami

Filled with erotic desires, Syama shines like a moon in the Vrndavana forest as He enjoys pastimes of throwing red powder. A blissful reddish wave – filled river of spiritual love flows amidst the circle of beautiful gopis. Radhika, the topmost heroine of amorous pastimes, showers red powder on Syama. Kandarpa Raja Krsna, the King of amorous pastimes, then kisses Radha’s face. Kishori’s moon-faced gopi friends filled with wonder gather together to attack Krsna. Trembling, they bombard Krsna, snatch His flute and run away. The karatalas declare, “Bhali! Bhali! Bhali!!” And everyone shouts, “Ho! Ho! Holi!” The ground is red with powder, the trees saplings are red and every being moving on the ground or in the water is one color only. The water is red, the lotuses are red and now even Govinda das’s heart is covered red (and I hope yours is too).

Jay Jay Sri Radhe

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Perfection Now!

By:Mahanidhi Swami

One will definitely attain spiritual perfection in this very lifetime by following three steps:

1) Give up your INDEPENDENCE completely.

2) Fully SURRENDER to Sri Guru and Sri Krishna.

3) Sincerely SERVE Radha Govinda Yugala under the guidance of Sri Guru.

In this regard Srila Prabhupada said, “All of my disciples should attain spiritual perfection in this lifetime. Why wait for another?” This quote was also often spoken by Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to his disciples.

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Giriraj Dharan Ki Jai!