Radhaashtami ~ राधाष्टमी in the Year 2023 will be celebrated on Saturday 23rd September, 2023
Birthday of Radha is celebrated as Radhaashtami throughout the country and
especially in the north, with full devotion and joy. Radha Ashtami is observed
after 15 days of Janmashtami, which
is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna. Radharani birthday is the sacred
eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September).
Who
is Radha : Sri Radha was born in Barsana,
suburb of Mathura and appeared as the daughter
of Vrishabhanu and Kirti.
Beleif on Radha Ashthami Sri Radha was older to Lord Krishna and it is believed
that the divine girl did not open her eyes
until Sri Krishna was born. The
relationship of Sri Krishna and Radha surpasses human concepts and is spiritual
in nature. It is redundant to affirm that one may attain Krishna only through
the Grace
of Radha.
Radha Krishna the form of
Universal Energy : Hindu scriptures described that Radha and Sri Krishnas relation
was a pure form of spirituality.
Their sacred relationship and dedication towards each other have great
spiritual energy. Vedic Literature explains
that Radha is Krishna Spiritual
Energy. Whenever the Lord incarnates, His Spiritual Energy also takes up
a Female Form. Hence Hindus always worship Laxmi with Narayan, Seeta with Ram and Radha with Krishna.
To understand the relationship between Shree Radha and Shree Krishna, first we
have to clear the worldly impurities from
our minds, which is clogging our vision. Once these impurities are removed we
will understand the true meaning of SAMARPAN - Raslila...the
Eternal Bliss.It is always Shree Radha and Krishna together or simply Shree Radhakrishna. Radha
exists with Shree Krishna; not without Shree Krishna.
Love of Radha and
Krishna : Radha represents the individual soul and
Shree Krishna the universal soul. On a lower level, we say
the individual soul merges with the
universal soul. In fact, Radha on seeing Shree Krishna realizes that there is
nothing called the individual soul and that she is Shree Krishna.The
love of Shree Radha and Shree Krishna has been immortalized in verses by many
poets of yesteryear and the unparalleled love continues to inspire many.
Radha Ashtami Celebrations
: Radha and Krishna were celestial beings and their love was
eternal. Whether they were married or not, their love made them united for
ever. Celebration On the day of Radhaashtami, devotees
are allowed special sanctions which are not allowed generally. Like, Radharanis
name is usually not chanted due to the possibility of committing faults towards
her. Neither people are allowed to enter into Radha Kunda, or Radharanis Pond,
which is considered holy.
On the day of Radhastami, people wait until midnight in order to bathe there.
People chant her names on the appearance day or birthday of Sri
Radha. Radharani is believed to appear, being an eternal companion
of Krishna, she does not take birth or die. During the festival
of Radha Astami, devotees worship Radha along with Lord Sri Krishna.
Legends about Radha
Ashtami : The legends of Radha-Krishna have become immortal. There are
numerous legends and stories of Radha and Krishna depicting their true love.
Radhas devotion and dedication towards Sri Krishna is the most sincere one.
Here are some legends of Radha-Krishna portraying their love for each other.
Legend
of Hot Milk : This is one interesting story showing the
eternal relation of Radha and Krishna. Radha was not married to Lord
Krishna. The immeasurable love of Krishna for Radha made
Krishnas wives jealous of Radha. Once, they all planned a mischief to make
Radha suffer. They set out a bowl of burning hot milk. They gave the bowl to
Radha, saying that Krishna had sent it for her. Radha readily drank the hot
milk. When the wives returned to Krishna, they found him full of painful ulcers.
This shows that Krishna resides in every pore of Radha i.e. why the hot milk
didnot touch Radha, but it affected Krishna. He took all her pain and miseries upon
himself.
Legend
of Charanaamrit : This is another sweet story depicting
the intense love between Radha and Krishna. Once, Sri Krishna
got very ill. Krishna asked that he would be alright if, he would get the
Charanaamrit of a true devotee. All the Gopis were asked but none of them
offered. They were afraid of committing a serious offense, by offering the
water with which they had washed their feet to Sri Krishna.
When Radha came to know about the situation, she said: Take as much as you like. What does it matter if I have to go to hell as long as my Lord is released of His pain and ailment! Radha offered the Charanaamrit with true heart. It is due to this fact; it is believed that Radha could not marry Lord Krishna. Radha loved Krishna from the core of her heart but still she offered Charanaamrit to Krishna to save him from his sickness.