Birthday of Radha Ji is celebrated as Radha Ashtami 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's birthday is the sacred eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). Shri Radha was born in Barsana, a suburb of Mathura and appeared as the daughter of Vrishabhanu and Kirti.
Belief on Radha Ashtami :
Shri Radha was older to Lord Krishna and it is believed that the divine girl did not open her eyes until Shri Krishna was born. The relationship between Shri Krishna and Radha Rani surpasses human concepts and is spiritual in nature. It is redundant to affirm that one may attain Krishna only through the Grace of Radha.
Hindu scriptures described that Radha and Shri Krishna's 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's 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. It is redundant to state that one may attain Krishna only through the Grace of Radha.
To understand the relationship between Shri Radha and Shri 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.
Shri Radha and Krishna always exist together or simply Shree Radhakrishna. Radha exists with Shree Krishna; not without Shri Krishna. Radha represents the individual soul and Shri Krishna the universal soul. On a lower level, we say the individual soul merges with the universal soul.
In fact, Radha on seeing Shri Krishna realizes that there is nothing called the individual soul and that she is Shri Krishna. The love of Shri Radha and Shri Krishna has been immortalized in verses by many poets of yesteryear and the unparalleled love continues to inspire many.
Radha and Krishna were celestial beings and their love was eternal. Whether they were married or not, their love made them united forever.
Celebration of the Radha Ashtami :
On the day of Radha Ashtami, devotees are allowed special sanctions which are not allowed generally. Like, Radharani's name is usually not chanted due to the possibility of committing faults towards her. Neither people are allowed to enter into Radha Kunda, or Radharani's Pond, which is considered holy.
On the day of Radha Ashtami, people wait until midnight in order to bathe there. People chant her names on the ''appearance day'' or birthday of Shri Radha. Radharani is believed to ''appear'', being an eternal companion of Krishna, she does not take birth or die. During the festival of Radha Ashtami, devotees worship Radha along with Lord Shri Krishna.
Legends of Radha Ashtami:
The legends of Radha-Krishna have become immortal. There are numerous legends and stories of Radha and Krishna depicting their true love. Radha's devotion and dedication towards Shri 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 between Radha and Krishna. Radha was not married to Lord Krishna. The immeasurable love of Krishna for Radha made Krishna's wives jealous of Radha. Once, they all planned 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 didn't 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, Shri 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 Shri 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.
