Radhastami

Information – The appearance day of Śrīmatī Rādhikā in this material world is celebrated as Radhastami.

Among the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhikā is the foremost. She surpasses all in beauty, in good qualities, in good fortune and, above all, in love.
(CC Adi 4.214)

Rādhā is the one who gives pleasure to Govinda, and She is also the enchantress of Govinda. She is the be-all and end-all of Govinda, and the crest jewel of all His consorts.
(CC Ādi 4.82)

“The transcendental goddess Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the direct counterpart of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”
(CC Ādi 4.83)

In Vṛndāvana all the pure devotees pray for the mercy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the pleasure potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy of Rādhārāṇī is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord at once accepts the devotee’s admittance into His association. The conclusion is, therefore, that one should be more serious about seeking the mercy of the devotee than that of the Lord directly, and by one’s doing so (by the good will of the devotee) the natural attraction for the service of the Lord will be revived.
(SB 2.3.23 purport)

Prabhupāda: . . . Rādhāṣṭami, and birth, birthday of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. This day the function is observed by fasting up to twelve noon, and then, uh, offer prasādam to the Deity, and generally in the evening, we should hold meeting discussing the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa pastimes, especially the glories of Rādhārāṇī. Amongst the gopīs, her super-excellence . . . that is the way of observing. Rādhārāṇī’s . . . fasting is up to twelve noon and after that you can take prasādam, feasting.
(700902 – Conversation – Vaisnava Calendar Description – Calcutta)

And the birth of Rādhārāṇī was not from the womb of any human being. She was found by Her father in the field. While father was plowing, he saw one little nice child is lying there, and he had no children, so he caught it and presented to the queen, “Oh, here we have got a very nice child.” “How you got?” “Oh, in the field.” Just see. Rādhārāṇī’s janma is like that……
So Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer, and He wants to enjoy. So He’s the Supreme Brahman. He cannot enjoy anything, ātmarāma, He can enjoy it in Himself. Therefore Rādhārāṇī is the expansion of His pleasure potency. Kṛṣṇa hasn’t got to seek external things for His pleasure. No. He is in Himself full, ātmarāma. So Rādhārāṇī is expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the energetic, and Rādhārāṇī is the energy.
Just like energy and energetic, you cannot separate. Fire and the heat you cannot separate. Wherever there is fire there is heat, and wherever there is heat there is fire. Similarly, wherever there is Kṛṣṇa there is Rādhā, and wherever there is Rādhā there is Kṛṣṇa. They are inseparable. But He is enjoying.
So Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī has described this intricate philosophy of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in one verse, very nice verse.

rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī-śaktir asmād
ekātmānāv api bhuvi deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau
(CC Adi 1.5)

So Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the one Supreme, but in order to enjoy, They have divided into two. Again, Lord Caitanya joined the two into one. Caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā. That one means Kṛṣṇa in the ecstasy of Rādhā. Sometimes Kṛṣṇa is in ecstasy of Rādhā. Sometimes Rādhā is in ecstasy of Kṛṣṇa. This is going on. But the whole thing is Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa means the one, the Supreme.
(680830 – Lecture Festival Appearance Day, Srimati Radharani, Radhastami – Montreal)

The heart of Lord Caitanya is the image of Śrī Rādhikā’s emotions. Thus feelings of pleasure and pain arise constantly therein.
PURPORT
Lord Caitanya’s heart was full of the feelings of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and His appearance resembled Hers. Svarūpa Dāmodara has explained His attitude as rādhā-bhāva-mūrti, the attitude of Rādhārāṇī. One who engages in sense gratification on the material platform can hardly understand rādhā-bhāva, but one who is freed from the demands of sense gratification can understand it. Rādhā-bhāva must be understood from the Gosvāmīs, those who are actually controllers of the senses. From such authorized sources it is to be known that the attitude of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the highest perfection of conjugal love, which is the highest of the five transcendental mellows, and it is the complete perfection of love of Kṛṣṇa.
(CC Adi 4.106)

In this way Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī gradually concludes that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the most exalted devotee of Kṛṣṇa and that Her kuṇḍa (lake), Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa, is the most exalted place. This is verified in a quotation from Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (Uttara-khaṇḍa 45)
(The Nectar of Instruction 10 purport)

Prabhupāda: Rādhāṣṭamī. Fifteen days younger than Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Because Rādhākuṇḍa was discovered by Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
(711128 – Parikrama on the Way to Gokula – Vrndavana)

Rādhārāṇī is the source of spiritual inspiration……
So this repetition of addressing Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa or Hare Kṛṣṇa is to pray, “My dear Lord, the . . . and the energy, the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service.” That’s all. “I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.”
(740923 – Lecture Festival BG 04.10, Appearance Day, Srimati Radharani, Radhastami – Calcutta)

One of the gopīs, namely Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, was so much absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa by dint of Her personal touch with Him that She actually began to talk with a bumblebee which was flying there and trying to touch Her lotus feet. While the other gopīs were talking with Kṛṣṇa’s messenger Uddhava, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī took that bumblebee to be a messenger from Kṛṣṇa.
(Kṛṣṇa Book, Chapter 47: Delivery of the Message of Kṛṣṇa to the Gopīs)

Srila Prabhupada Lectures on Radhastami

Radhika Astottarasata Nama Stotram

 

Raghunatha Dasa Goswami has written this song “Aviksatmesvari Kascid Vrndavana”. The official name of this song is ‘Sri Radhika Astottarasata Nama Stotram‘. This song is taken from the book Stavavali In this song, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami glorifies Srimati Radha. He states that Whoever recites these 108 names of Sri Radha with great love, humility and eagerness, will certainly and swiftly behold Her Master – Sri Krsna.

(1-2)
aviksyatmesvarim kacid vrndavana-mahesvarim
tat-padambhoja-matraika-gatir dasy ati-katara
patita tat-saras-tire rudaty arta-ravakulam
ta-chri-vaktreksanavaptyai namany etani samjagau
(3)
radha gandharvika gostha-yuva-rajaika-kamita
gandharva radhika candra-kantir madhava-sangini
(4)
damodaradvaita-sakhi karttikotkirtidesvari
mukunda-dayita-vrnda-dhammilla-mani-masjari
(5)
bhaskaropasika varsa-bhanavi vrsabhanuja
ananga-masjari-jyestha sridamavarajottama
(6)
kirtida-kanyaka matr-sneha-piyusa-putrika
visakha-savayah prestha-visakha-jivitadhika
(7)
pranadvitiya-lalita vrndavana-viharini
lalita-prana-laksaika-raksa vrndavanesvari
(8)
vrajendra-grhini-krsna-praya-sneha-niketanam
vraja-go-gopa-gopali-jiva-matraika-jivanam
(9)
snehalabhira-rajendra-vatsalacyuta-purvaja
govinda-pranayadhara-surabhi-sevanotsuka
(10)
dhrta-nandisvara-ksema-gamanotkanthi-manasa
sva-dehadvaitata-drsti-dhanistha-dhyeya-darsana
(11)
gopendra-mahisi-paka-sala-vedi-prakasika
ayur-vardhaka-raddhanna rohini-ghrata-mastaka
(12)
subala-nyasta-sarupya subala-priti-tosita
mukhara-drk-sudha-naptri jatila-drsti-bhisita
(13)
madhumangala-narmokti-janita-smita-candrika
parunamasi-bahih-khelat-prana-pasjara-sarika
(14)
sva-ganadvaita-jivatuh sviyahankara-vardhini
sva-ganopendra-padabja-sparsa-lambhana-harsini
(15)
sviya-vrndavanodyana-paliki-krta-vrndaka
jsata-vrndatavi-sarva-lata-taru-mrga-dvija
(16)
isa-candana-sanghrsta-nava-kasmira-deha-bhah
java-puspa-prabha-hari-patta-cinarunambara
(17)
caranabja-tala-jyotir-aruni-krta-bhu-tala
hari-citta-camatkari caru-nupura-nihsvana
(18)
krsna-sranti-hara-sroni-pitha-valgita-ghantika
krsna-sarvasva-pinodyat-kucascan-mani-malika
(19)
nana-ratnollasa-chankha-cuda-caru-bhuja-dvaya
syamantaka-mani-bhrajan-mani-bandhati-bandhura
(20)
suvarna-darpana-jyotir-ullanhi-mukha-mandala
pakva-dadima-bijabha-dantakrstaghabhi-chuka
(21)
abjaragadi-srstabja-kalika-karna-bhusana
saubhagya-kajjalankakta-netra-nindita-khasjana
(22)
su-vrtta-mauktika-mukta-nasika-tila-puspika
su-caru-nava-kasturi-tilakascita-bhalaka
(23)
divya-veni-vinirdhuta-keki-pischa-vara-stutih
netranta-sara-vidhvamsi-krta-canurajid-dharih
(24)
sphurat-kaisora-tarunya-sandhi-bandhura-vigraha
madhavollasakonmatta pikoru-madhura-svara
(25)
pranayuta-sata-prestha-madhavotkirti-lampata
krsnapanga-tarangodyat-smita-piyusa-budbuda
(26)
pusji-bhuta-jagal-lajja-vaidagdhi-digdha-vigraha
karuna-vidravad-deha murtiman-madhuri-ghata
(27)
jagad-gunavati-varga-giyamana-gunoccaya
sacy-adi-subhaga-vrnda-vandyamanoru-saubhaga
(28)
vina-vadana-sanita-rasa-lasya-visarada
narada-pramukhodgita-jagad-ananda-sad-yasah
(29)
govardhana-guha-geha-grhini kusja-mandana
candamsu-nandini-baddha-bhagini-bhava-vibhrama
(30
divya-kundalata-narma-sakhya-dama-vibhusita
govardhana-dharahladi-srngara-rasa-pandita
(31)
girindradhara-vaksah-sri-sankhacudari-jivanam
gokulendrasuta-prema-kama-bhupendra-pattanam
(32)
vrsa-vidhvamsa-narmokti-sva-nirmita-sarovara
nija-kunda-jala-krida-jita-sankarsananuja
(33)
muramardana-mattebha-viharamrta-dirghika
girindradhara-parindra-rati-yuddhoru-simhika
(34)
sva-tanu-saurabhonmatti-krta-mohana-madhava
dor-muloccalana-krida-vyakuli-krta-kesava
(35)
nija-kunda-tati-kusja-klpta-keli-kalodyama
divya-malli-kulollasi-sayya-kalpita-vigraha
(36)
krsna-vama-bhujanyasta-caru-daksina-gandaka
savya-bahu-lata-baddha-krsna-daksina-sad-bhuja
(37)
krsna-daksina-caruru-slista-vamoru-rambhika
girindradhara-dhrg-vakso-mardi-su-stana-parvata
(38)
govindadhara-piyusa-vasitadhara-pallava
sudha-sascaya-carukti-sitali-krta-madhava
(39)
govindodgirna-tambula-raga-rajyat-kapolika
krsna-sambhoga-saphali-krta-manmatha-sambhava
(40)
govinda-marjitoddama-rati-prasvinna-san-mukha
visakha-vijita-krida-sranti-nidralu-vigraha
(41)
govinda-carana-nyasta-kaya-manasa-jivana
sva-pranarbuda-nirmaschya-hari-pada-rajah-kana
(42)
anu-matracyutadarsa-sapyamanatma-locana
nitya-nutana-govinda-vaktra-subhramsu-darsana
(43)
nihsima-hari-madhurya-saundaryady-eka-bhogini
sapatnya-dhama-murali-matra-bhagya-kataksini
(44)
gadha-buddhi-bala-krida-jita-vamsi-vikarsini
narmokti-candrikotphulla-krsna-kamabdhi-vardhini
(45)
vraja-candrendriya-grama-visrama-vidhusalika
krsna-sarvendriyonmadi-radhety-aksara-yugmaka
(46)
idam sri-radhika-namnam astottara-satojjvalam
sri-radha-lambhakam nama stotram caru rasayanam
(47)
yo ‘dhite parama-pritya dinah katara-manasah
sa natham acirenaiva sa-natham iksate dhruvam
(1) Some maidservant, unable to find her mistress, has fallen on the bank of Radhakunda, crying in great anxiety, being very eager to take exclusive shelter of Her lotus feet, glorifying Her by singing the following names of Her:
(2) 1. Radha, 2. Gandharvika, 3. The only girl desired by the prince of Vraja, 4. Who is worshipped by the Gandharva-angels, 5. Whose luster is like the moon, 6. Who accompanies Madhava.
(3) 7. Damodar’s unrivalled girlfriend, 8. The queen who bestows fame on the Kartika month, 9. The crestjewel of Mukunda’s ladyfriends.
(4) 10. Who worships the sun, 11. Who belongs to King Vrsabhanu, 12. Who is born from King Vrsabhanu, 13. Ananga Manjari’s older sister, 14. Sridama’s younger sister, 15.The greatest (fem.)
(5) 16. Kirtida’s daughter, 17. Who is the nectarean object of Her mother’s affection, 18. Who is of the same age as Visakha, 19. Who is dearer than life to Visakha.
(6) 20. Who is none other than Lalita’s very life, 21. Enjoys in Vrndavana, 22. Who saves Lalita’s life lakhs of times, 23. Queen of Vrndavana.
(7) 24. Who is as dear to Mother Yasoda as Krsna, 25. Who is the only life of the life of the cows, cowherdsmen and cowherdgirls of Vraja.
(8) 26. Who is the object of King Nanda’s affection, 27. Who gets parental affection from Balaram, 28. Who is the object of Govinda’s love (Govinda is eager to serve His surabhi cows).
(9) 29. Who is very eager to go to Nandisvara for serving Krsna, 30. Who is regarded as non-different from her by Dhanistha and seen in her meditations, (Dhanistha is Yasoda’s maidservant).
(10) 31. Who is seen in Mother Yadosa’s kitchen, 32. Whose cooked grains increase Krsna’s life, 33. Whose head is smelt by Rohini.
(11) 34. Who has bestowed a form equal to Hers to Subala, 35. Who is very fond of Subala, 36. Who is nectar in Mukhara’s eyes, 37. Who is afraid to see Her mother-in-law, Jatila.
(12) 38. Who smiles like the moonbeams after hearing Madhumangala’s jokes, 39. The she-parrot of Whose heart is caught in Paurnamasi’s cage.
(13) 40. Who is the only life of Her friends, 41. Who increases the pride of Her relatives, 42. Who is very happy to touch Upendra’s feet with Her friends.
(14) 43. Who has placed Vrnda in charge of Vrndavana’s gardens, 44. Who is known by all the vines, trees, deer and birds of Vrndavana.
(15) Whose body shines with fresh vermillion ground with some sandalpaste, 46. Whose silken dress shines more reddish than the java flower.
(16) 47. Whose lotus footsoles make the surface of the earth shine crimson-red, 48. Who astonishes Hari’s mind with the sweet sound of Her anklebells.
(17) 49. The nice sounds of whose waistbells remove Krsna’s fatigue, 50. The pearl necklace on whose firm, raised breasts is everything to Krsna.
(18) 51. Whose two beautiful arms are adorned with conchshell bangles inset with various jewels, 52. On Whose wrist the beautiful Syamantaka jewel shines.
(19) 53. The shining of Whose face defeats that of a golden mirror, 54. Whose teeth, that shine like ripe pomegranate seeds, attract the parrot-like Aghabhit (Krsna).
(20) 55. Whose ruby earrings are shaped like lotus buds, 56. Whose wagtail-like eyes are anointed with beautiful eyeliner, giving great joy to the eyes.
(21) 57. Whose nose, that is beautiful as a sesame flower, is adorned with a round pearl, 58. Whose forehead is adorned with beautiful tilak made of fresh musk.
(22) 59. Whose divine hairbraid is worshiped by peacock feathers (being defeated in beauty), 60. The arrows of Whose glances destroy the patience of Krsna, Who defeated the Canura wrestler.
(23) 61. Who is blooming teenage beauty personified, 62. Who pleases Madhava, 63. Who maddens Madhava with Her sweet, cuckoo-like voice.
(24) 64. Who is more attached to Madhava’s great glories than to millions of lives, 65. Whose nectarean smiles provide bubbles on the waves of Krsna’s glances.
(25) 66. Who is the very form of cleverness, embarrassing the whole world, 67. Whose body melts in kindness, 68. Who is abundant sweetness personified.
(26) 69. Whose glories arre loudly sung by all the great ladies of the world, 70. Who is incessantly praised by beautiful ladies like Saci.
(27) 71. Who is expert in singing and playing vina in the rasa dance, 72. Whose pure glories are sung by sages headed by Narada, giving joy to the world.
(28) 73. She is the housewife in the caves in Govardhana, 74. She decorates the kunja, 75. She has a sisterly relationship with Yamuna, (Yamuna is the daughter of the sun and Radha is thedaughter of Vrsabhanu, the sun in Taurus).
(29) 76. She is adorned with the wreath of divine Kundalata’s friendship, 77. She is the professor in amorous rapture, giving joy to the holder of Govardhana.
(30) 78. She is Laksmi on the chest of the holder of Govardhan, 79. She is the life of the enemy of Sankhacuda, 80. She is the settlement of Cupid for the love of the son of Gokulendra.
(31) 81. Who made Her own pond after the killer of Arista mocked Her, 82. Who defeats Sankarsana’s younger brother in sports in Her own pond.
(32) 83. She is the ambrosial pond of enjoyment for the intoxicated elephant who defeated Mura, 84. She is a powerful lioness fighting amorous sports with the king of lions, the holder of the best of mountains.
(33) 85. Who enchants Madhava with Her intoxicating bodily fragrance, 86. Who agitates Kesava by playfully showing Her armpit.
(34) 87. Who expands Her artful plays in the kunja on the bank of Her own pond, 88. Who makes a bed of divine jasmine flowers there with joy.
(35) 89. Who places Her beautiful right cheek on Krsna’s left arm, 90. Who holds Krsna’s right arm with Her left vine-like arm.
(36) 91. Whose beautiful, broad, banana-like left hip touches Krsna’s right hip, 92. Whose nice, mountain-like breasts are being massaged by the Holder of Govardhana.
(37) 93. Whose leaf-like lips are scented by the nectar of Govinda’s lips, 94. Whose beautiful words distribute nectar, cooling Madhava off.
(38) 95. Whose cheeks are colored by the pan from Govinda’s lips, 96. Who realizes Krsna’s fancies of amorous enjoyments.
(39) 97. The profuse perspiration from whose face is wiped off by Govinda, 98. Who is being fanned by Visakha when She falls asleep after playing with Krsna.
(40) 99. Who has placed Her life, body and mind at Govinda’s lotus feet, 100. Who worships the dust of Hari’s lotus feet with billions of hearts.
(41) 101. Who curses Her eyes for every second that they do not see Acyuta, 102. Who beholds Govinda’s ever-fresh moonlike face.
(42) 103. Who is the only enjoyer of Hari’s endless sweetness and beauty, 104. Who can only blink at the fortune of Her co-wife, the Murali flute.
(43) 105. Who takes Krsna’s flute after defeating Him in a gambling match, 106. Who increases the ocean of Krsna’s desires by the full moonbeams of Her joking words.
(44) 107. Who is the moonlike resting place for all the senses of the moon of Vraja (Sri Krsna), 108. The two syllables of Whose name Ra-dha madden all of Krsna’s senses.
(45) Whoever recites these 108 names of Sri Radha, that consists of all beautiful, nectarean Radha-nama, with great love, humility and eagerness, will certainly and swiftly behold Her Master.