28/08/2025
SRIMATI RADHARANI'S MOTTO
Once the gopis were discussing amongst themselves about Srimati Radhika, “Oh, this one gopi has surely performed the highest aradhana of Bhagavan Sri Hari.”This verse is found in the Bhagavatam,
anayārādhito nūnaṁ
bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ
“This one amongst us has surely performed the highest worship. Thus she has received the name Radhika. That is why being very much pleased with Her, Govinda has left us in the Rasa-sthali and went off with Her to a solitary place.” (SB. 10.30.28)
Radha’s love for Krishna excels that of all others!
This love of Srimati Radharani is really the guiding light of all Gaudiya Vaishnavas. See, in this world everyone is seeking happiness and the greatest amount of happiness is found in love. If that is the guiding principle here in this world, why should this not be found in the ultimate reality from where everything originates?
There in the spiritual world this guiding principle takes on a motto, ‘Everything for Krishna, nothing for myself!’ Only those who live by this motto are entitled to be in the spiritual world. Srila Prabhupada was once asked about his guiding principle in life and he immediately said, “Everything for Krishna, nothing for myself!” Wow!
Such a high standard of devotion is possible only for personalities who have come under the shelter of Srimati Radharani. The great souls – the mahatmas – are totally sheltered at Her lotus feet.
They are no longer under the influence of the material energy which makes one selfishly struggle for one’s own pleasure. They are under the protection of the internal energy.
In the Garga Samhita we find a wonderful pastime where Radha goes to Siddhashram. She heard that anyone who would visit that holy place would certainly meet Krishna. After arriving She took Her bath and afterwards, She was carried on a decorated palanquin around this holy place.
Krishna was aware that Radha would be there and wishing to impress upon all His queens the superexcellence of Her devotion, He took all of them (sixteen thousand!) to this holy place. He wanted them to meet Her and see for themselves.
So all the queens of Krishna stood there and discussed amongst themselves, “Why is Krishna so much talking about Radha? Why is Krishna saying that, ‘I love Radha eternally and She loves Me eternally?’”
Satyabhama objected, “Am I not beautiful? Is Krishna not also very much inspired by me? After all, has He not gone to the heavenly planets and brought from there the highly fragrant parijata tree and planted it directly before my door?”
In this way, different queens were wondering about Radharani’s exalted status. When Radharani was brought to the place where they were all standing and discussing, the queens at first saw only a beautiful golden palanquin decorated with flags, ornaments, and a curtain of pearls.
Radharani was staying behind that curtain! Although the queens could not yet see Her, they could smell Her fragrance which had the scent of malati flowers and which pervaded all directions. Bees came to catch that fragrance and frolicked in the air.
Suddenly the queens noticed how Srimati Radharani very carefully placed Her lotus feet on the ground by first touching it with Her graceful toes and only then gradually resting the entire foot on the ground, which was instantaneously covered by flowers.
This darshan of Radha’s one foot, had an unexpected effect. As soon as they saw this lotus feet from far away, the queens were overcome by the overwhelming beauty of Sri Radha and suddenly fainted. It really was as if the sun had risen and all of the sudden all the minor stars fainted or as Srila Rupa Goswami says, “The brilliance of millions upon millions of full moons pales before the opulent light of the nails of Your lotus feet.”
When Srimati Radharani however came out of the palanquin She did not notice anything. She only had eyes for Krishna. She loves Krishna so much that every sense of Her is focused on Him and even when Krishna is not present, She still sees Krishna in Her pangs of separation.
But now She was standing before the Lord and exclaimed, “Now, when I see you, My life is a success, My austerity is a success and My coming to this holy place of pilgrimage, Siddhashram – everything has turned into a wonderful success.”
Radha and Krishna briefly spoke at that time – but because there were so many outsiders to their confidential relationship around, they quickly parted ways.
In the evening when all the lights went out and everyone took rest, Rukmini noticed that there was still light in Krishna’s tent, so she went to Krishna and asked Him, “My Lord, you are not sleeping. Why not?”
Krishna answered, “Because My Radha is not yet asleep. Radha is accustomed to drink milk before bedtime because She is from Vrindavan and without this She can’t sleep and that is the reason why also I can’t sleep.”
Rukmini who wished Krishna to be in comfort immediately offered, ‘Well, then I will bring Her some milk’. She went into the kitchen, personally prepared the milk, and then personally brought it to the tent of Srimati Radharani. Respectfully, but also a little uneasy Rukmini addressed Radha, “I have come on Krishna’s request to give you milk.” Radharani broke into a most beautiful smile and eagerly took the cup and emptied it at once.
A little later Rukmini came back to the tent of Krishna to massage the Lord’s feet as it was her custom in the night. But when Rukmini saw the soles of Krishna’s lotus feet, she was shocked. They were covered with blisters! She cried out, “My Lord, You have burned Your feet!” Krishna looked at Her sternly and said, “Oh, foolish Rukmini, it was you who burned My feet.” “What? I have not burned Your feet!”
Krishna replied, “When you cooked that milk, you boiled it and not thinking about the right temperature, you brought the glass of milk to Radha’s tent. Srimati Radharani became so enthusiastic that She immediately poured down the milk because it came from Me. And because My lotus feet are always in Her heart, when She drank that hot milk, My feet got burned.”
For the first time Rukmini could now understand why Srimati Radhika is so dear to Krishna – She holds the lotus feet of Her Lord always in Her heart. Therefore, the Narada-pancharatraglorifies Her as:
· Prema-priya- She passionately loves Krishna;
· Prema-rupa – She is the form of all transcendental love;
· Prema-tarangini – She is an ocean filled with waves of transcendental love and
· Prema-datri – She is the giver of that transcendental love.
Srimati Radharani can be worshipped very nicely when we are aware of Her special position. Srila Prabhupada recommended, “Instead of directly offering a flower to Krishna, you just put it in the hands of Radharani and say, ’Kindly take this flower and offer it to Krishna!’ Then Krishna will accept. You can pray, ‘Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna, to Your Krishna. Krishna is Yours!’”
And Srila Prabhupada ends, “So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy!”
On the auspicious appearance day of Srimati Radharani we can offer Her puspanjali or flowers.
Another very special and easy way to worship Srimati Radharani on Her appearance day is to chant the Holy Names keeping in mind that the “Hare” in the Hare Krishna maha mantra is the name which is most frequently there in the mantra (Her name “Hare” is present eight times while Krishna’s and Rama’s names are each four times there). While chanting, have a picture of Srimati Radharani in front of you.
So you can offer flowers to that picture and then chant with love this or another prayer:
“Oh, Srimati Radharani! Amongst all the beloved gopis of Krishna, You are His most cherished jewel, therefore kindly be pleased upon me and quickly shower Your mercy by including me amongst Your family members!”
This is a prayer by Srila Rupa Goswami.
Wishing All A Very Wonderful celebration of Srimati Radharani and may She bless us despite our present imperfections! Srimati Radharani ki jay!
----Sacinandana Swami
