Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja:
Rādhārani is the pleasure potency of Sri Kṛṣṇa. Do you understand? In śāstra it is mentioned.
govindānandinī Rādhā govinda-mohini govinda-sarvasva sarva-kāntā-śiromaṇi
[CC Ādi 4.82]
That means Rādhā gives pleasure to Govinda and also enchants Govinda. She is the crest jewel of all the damsels of Vraja, do you understand. She is everything for Govinda and for Her, Govinda is everything - govinda-sarvasva.
Rādhārani is the complete full potency of Kṛṣṇa. śāstra says, in Caitanya-caritāmṛta ādi-līlā it is stated.
Rādhā---pūrṇa-sakti, kṛṣṇa---pūrṇa-śaktimān dui vastu bheda nāi, śāstra-paramāņa
mrgamada, tāra gandha---yaiche aviccheda agni, jvālāte---yaiche kabhu nāhi bheda
Rādhā-kṛṣṇa aiche sadā eka-i svarūpa līlā-rasa āsvādite dhare dui-rupa
[CC Ādi 4.96-98]
Do you understand? Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is śaktiman puruşa. What do you say in English? Full, complete, potent Person - śaktiman, and Rādhā is purṇa-sakti - full potency. There is no difference between these two: Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
Examples have been given like agni and jvālā - fire and its heat. Do you understand? You cannot separate heat from the fire. Do you understand? mrga-mada and its aroma. Mrga-mada is a very sweet substance. It is available from the navel of one type of deer, kastūrī-mrga, it is said. It is very scented substance, do you understand?
So you cannot separate its scent from the mrga mada. Similarly, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are like that, you understand? eka-i svarūpa, they are one but to display pastimes and to enjoy it, two forms: Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā. Do you understand English?
Again, in Caitanya-caritamṛta, it has been said,
avatārī kṛṣṇa yaiche kare avatāra aṁśinī Rādhā haite tina gaṇera vistāra
[CC Ādi 4.76]
Do you understand? Kṛṣṇa is the source of all incarnations known as avatari, you understand? The source of all incarnations. Many, innumerable incarnations come from Him. Similarly, from Srimati Rādhārani, three types of these dear, what do you say? Wives like those who always give pleasure to Kṛṣṇa, they come.
They are gopis, Lakṣmis and the wives of Kṛṣṇa in Dvāraka. Three. Do you understand? The Goswamis, especially Rūpa Goswami has written many things about Srimati Rādhārani and some descriptions also have been given in Caitanya-caritāmṛta written by Kaviraja Goswami.
There is a book named Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā written by Śrīla Rūpa Goswami. There, Rūpa Goswami has written that the bodily complexion of Rādhārani is like molten gold, tapta-kāñcana-gaurāngi. So when Kṛṣṇa came here as Gauranga, assuming the mood of Rādhārani, so He was tapta-kāñcana-gaura, She is tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi.
So He is molten gold or this lightening, still-lightening. Lightning is very fickle but still.
vicitram nila-vasanaṁ tasyāś ca pariśobhitam nānā-muktā-bhūṣitāngi nānā-puṣpa-virājitā
[Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā]
The dress, cloth of Srimati Rādhārani is of blue color. Do you understand? And inside the blue colour sari there is a garland of mūktā - jewels and garlands of varieties of flowers is also there. Serge
dirgha-keśī sulāvanya- muktā-mālā-suśobhitā puspa-mālā-suvinyāsā suvenī paramojjvalā
Rādhā's hair on her head are long, you understand, glossy, and varieties of flowers are decorating there, do you understand? Looks very nice, externally nice.
subhāla paramoddīpta sindhūra paribhuṣtā nānā citrālakā bhāntī citrapatra suṣobhitā
There is a vermillion spot or point here on the forehead, do you understand? And it is dazzling. Externally dazzling and some little hairs hanging down we say churna-kuntala, it is a specific name. And tilak on the forehead looks very beautiful.
bahuyugmam su-lāvaṇyam neela-kankana shobhitam ananga dvandvālavaniya- mohini paramā bhavet
On Her arms, some bracelets like that, some ornaments made of a jewel, a blue jewel- nīlamaņi, blue jewel. Do you understand? Her beauty is so charming that Kṛṣṇa is always attracted towards Her.
nāsikā tila-puṣpābhā muktā-veśara-śobhitā nānā sugandha-yuktā sā parā dīptimati bhavet
Her nose, erect nose, tila-puspa. You know tila that we throw out at the time of havana -svāhā! Sesame seed... so you have seen that green... that creeper, that fern that produces sesame and its flower? You have not seen it. That flower is very beautiful. The flower of the sesame. So Her nose looks like that. You understand. And also, varieties of ornaments She has put on and they are all very nicely scented.
mukta-mālā danta-pankti rasanā-pariśobhitā
mukha-padmaṁ sulāvaṇyaṁ koti-candra-
prabhākaram bimbavac ca sudha-
ramya-prema-hasya-yutam bhavet
Her teeth look like mukta. What is mukta? Jewels, white jewels and Her tongue is very nice, Her face looks like a lotus flower -- mukha-padma.
The dazzling of the crores of the moons seems to be less in comparison to the dazzling of the brilliancy coming out from Her moon-like face, do you understand? And Her lips are red like the bimba fruit. Have you seen bimba fruit? A red-like fruit. We say bimba-phala. And smiling, She is always smiling.
Do you understand? Her breast is externally beautiful; this kancholi, a little corset, women generally put on. Many descriptions are there like ornaments and bodily luster.
Srimati Rādhārani is always a young fifteen years old girl. The name of Her Father is Vṛṣabhānu. And that Vrsabhānu is as brilliant as the sun. The name of Her Mother is Kirtidā and the name of Her Mother-in-law is Jatilā. Kṛṣṇa is Her eternal husband but, here in this material world pastime, outwardly She has accepted Abhimanyu as husband.
But he is not Her husband because Her real husband is Kṛṣṇa. All these things are there. Then, I will tell you that I was reading in the class from Brahma-Vaivarta purāṇa and Padma purāṇa, about the appearance of Rādhārani. You understand. In the Brahma-vaivarta purāṇa it has been said.
pulaka vṛndāvane ramye-goloke-rāsa-maṇḍale tava śṛngyaika deseca madhulika mādhavi vane ratna simhasane ramye tapto tatra jagatpatiḥ secā mayas ca bhagavan babhuva ramanācyutaḥ etasmin tāre dūrge dvividhā rūpa bhabhuvasaḥ hladhina angas ca śrī-kṛṣṇa vāma bhānam ca rādhikā
[Brahma Vaivarta purāṇa]
babhuva rāmani ramya tarā śeşe rāmauscukaḥ tapta kāñcana-padma vā arādhita ca sutejasaḥ su-sasmita sūrati suddaḥ sarat padmau nivanina
[Brahma Vaivarta purāṇa]
That means: in Vṛndāvana, in the transcendental spiritual world, Vṛndāvana, it is always, that is sad-cid-ānanda-maya-dhāma. Once Kṛṣṇa was sitting alone under a grove of mādhavī-latā.
Mādhavi creeper grove, He was sitting there. Kṛṣṇa was sitting alone. Then He desires to manifest some pastimes and to enjoy it. As soon as He desires, in His left portion of His body, Srimati Rādhārani appears. That Rādhārani is original potency.
All śāstras say, Her bodily complexion, as I had already told you, molten gold-still lightening. That I have already given you; no repetition. All Her bodily ornaments, luster everything. There is nice nupura on Her feet tingling. Then Rādhārani wished to please Kṛṣṇa, Mādhava. So as soon as She desires such thing, innumerable gopis appear from Her body. You understand?
And all gopis look like Rādhā. Hence, this is the conclusionary statement that Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are One. Only for the manifestation of līlās, pastimes, two bodies, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
You understand? This description is given in the Brahma-Vaivarta purāṇa. Then in the Padma purāṇa, some description has been given.
vrṣabhānu-puri-rāja vṛṣabhānu-mahāśaya mahākula prasuta asau sarva śāstra viśaRādhāḥ tasya bhārya mahābhāga śrīmad-kirtidā vaya rupayogau samapannau mahārāja kulod bhāva tasyam śrī-rādhikā jāta śrīmān-vṛndāvanesvarī padrimāsi sthitaḥ tasyam madhyahne subhadhārini
[Padma purāṇa]
That means, Vṛṣabhānu, the name of the Father of Rādhārani is a King. King Vṛṣabhānu is a dear devotee of the Lord, he is very opulent. The wife of Vrṣabhānu is Kirtidā. Rādhā appeared from them, Vrṣabhānu and Kirtida. And on this day, this Bhadra, the name of this month is Bhadra and Suklā Aṣṭami, aṣṭami tithi, eighth, bright moon - dark moon, bright moon, you know, so it is the bright moon, aṣṭami, eighth day, we say aṣṭami.
Kṛṣṇa appeared in dark moon, āṣṭamī, that is the eighth day. Rādhā appeared on bright moon, aṣṭami. So aṣṭami and āṣṭami, bright and dark mixing, total, full moon. You understand? That Gauranga appeared on full moon day because Gauranga is Kṛṣṇa plus Rādhā. So Kṛṣṇa appeared at midnight, Rādhārani appeared at midday, Gauranga appeared in-between, evening.
janmilena vrajeśvari harira icchāte parānanda maya haila gopa parivāra sakala gokula haila ānanda apāra
So all Gokul became jubilant when Rādhārani was born, do you understand? That daughter of Vṛṣabhānu looks extremely brilliant, very beautiful. All the inhabitants of Gopa-pura came running to the palace of Vṛṣabhānu to see Rādhārani, his daughter.
Vṛṣabhānu's daughter, you understand? Vṛṣabhānu, the King Vṛṣabhānu gave many gifts, presentations, to the brāhmaṇas, Vaisnavas, bhrātās, you understand. In the meantime, Nārada Muni came to see Rādhārani. Rādhārani was a little child. Nārada Muni came to the palace of Vṛṣabhānu, King Vṛṣabhānu and worshipped him, gave him a nice seat to sit, then paid obeisances, and Nārada Muni asked, "Are you okay? Everything alright?"
Vrṣabhānu said, "It is your mercy. "You are such a sadhu, devotee, therefore everything is alright here, by your mercy." Then Vṛṣabhānu gave Nārada Muni his newborn Daughter, Rādhārani. Nārada Muni could understand Srimati Rādhārani has been born so he offered many prayers to Rādhārani.
Rādhārani also manifested Her original form before Nārada Muni, do you understand? Nārada Muni was so fortunate to see all these things. So many descriptions are there. I am not going to say all of them, tell you all these... just reciting all these things. Then again Rādhārani became a little child.
Then Narada Muni gave back the child to Vṛṣabhānu-rāja and said, "You and your wife are very, very fortunate because you got such an excellent Daughter. Kamalā, Pārvatī, Arundhati, Śacī, Satyabhāmā, all are portions and portions of this Daughter of yours and She is the most beloved of Lord Hari. Now all, everything auspicious is coming unto you by the birth of this Daughter."
Then with folded hands, King Vṛṣabhānu asked Nārada Muni, "Who is Her dear husband?" Nārada Muni said, "She will be the wife of mahā-puruṣa, you understand mahā-puruṣa, the Supreme Lord, great purușa. Then Nārada Muni left their palace.
A description has been given that when Rādhārani was born, Her eyes were closed- not opened, do you understand? So there is Padma purāṇa there is a conversation between Śiva and Goddess Parvati, Pārvatī asked Lord Śiva "Why it is so?" And Śiva answers, Once Lord Hari wished that He would incarnate Himself here, in this material world. So He called Rādhārani that "You should be born into this material world, I am going there. Many nice pastimes We will display." Then Rādhārani said, "If I will be born in this material world, so other purusas -- male persons I will see which I don't like. I will see only You, no other purusa. So I'll be very, very, sorrowful, miserable condition will be."
But Kṛṣṇa said, "No, You will always see Me." Then Kṛṣṇa was born in Nanda rāja's house and Rādhā was born there, as the Daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and Kirtidā. But eyes were shut. So Kirtidā, the mother of Rādhārani, was very sorry. Such a nice Daughter, eyes were not opened... How is it?
Then Lord Siva says, "When Vṛṣabhānu's Daughter was born, he invited all the inhabitants of Gopa-pura. They all came with many presentations. Vandor Sanja
All came riding on a cart, bullock cart, śakata. Then Nanda Mahārāja and Yasoda-rāni came with Kṛṣṇa. Do you understand? So Vṛṣabhānu and Nanda, they embraced each other. Yaśodā and Kirtidā also, they embraced each other.
Many types of musical instruments were being played. Rādhārani was sleeping in a cradle, a swing, do you understand? Then Lord Hari went there without the notice of anybody. Nobody could notice it that Lord Hari went there, Kṛṣṇa went there. Visualizing or seeing the face of Rādhārani, Kṛṣṇa was very much delightful then He put His hand on the eyes of Rādhārani.
So as soon as He put His hand on the eyes of Rādhārani, Her eyes were opened. The eyes of Rādhārani and the eyes of Krsna.... they looked at each other. Then Kirtidā, Mother of Rādhārani came there and saw Her eyes were open, so she was very much delightful and saw it that this boy, Kṛṣṇa gave the eyes to Rādhārani.
"So this Daughter, my Daughter will be like the, life and soul of Kṛṣṇa." These are very nice descriptions about the appearance of Rādhārani. So Vṛṣabhānu-rāja, King Vṛṣabhānu arranged a grand feast and festival, fed one and all and gave them different types of presentations to all brāhmaṇas, Vaiṣṇavas, all the Vrajavāsīs, all the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi came there to see the child.
When the eyes of Rādhārani were opened then Kirtidā was very much delightful, "Alright, now my Daughter has eyes." So pleased were Vṛṣabhānu and Kirtida for having such a nice Daughter. They say, "We will also perform a Vedic purificatory ceremony." That means the naming ceremony, nāma-kārana-saṁskāra.
So all the Vrajavāsīs, they said, "Whatever name the astrologer or the priest may give, we are not concerned with it. What We give this child name Rādhikā' - āmrā rakhila nāma 'Radhikā'." They said, "This Daughter will be beloved of mahā-puruşa, the Supreme Lord. Don't be unhappy that this is a Daughter, not a son.
But, this Daughter will deliver all your dynasty." Then rāja Vṛṣabhānu, King Vṛṣabhānu looked at the face, the beautiful face of his Daughter. His heart was very much delighted, a grand feast, a great festival were performed, all were fed, all were given presentations, all were very happy.
The cowherd men came with ghee, dadhi - yogurt, milk, an immense amount of ghee, curd, milk - haridra, came as if an ocean - ocean like. All praised Vṛṣabhānu and Kirtida and visualizing the beauty of such an excellent Daughter they said, "This is very auspicious. We have never seen such Daughter anywhere, Her face, Her cheeks, Her forehead, Her hands, Her nails, every part of the body so nice and excellently beautiful."
Vṛṣabhānu and he has two other brothers, Ratnabhānu and Subhānu, so they are three. Vṛṣabhānu, Ratnabhānu, Subhānu, three brothers were dancing delightfully. And the milk, the ghee, the curd - yogurt, mākhan - butter and the milk, came in immense amounts as if a vast ocean was there.
And all were playing, throwing it at each other, delightfully. Gopis were dancing, cowherd men were dancing, boys were dancing and rolling on the ground in the mud! Such a nice festival.
ānanda badāi gīto gāya chari pala lakṣa lakṣa garvi vastra alankṛta kari brāhmaṇe kariye dāna āpana pasāre
Vṛṣabhānu-raja gave brāhmaṇas and Vaisnavas lakhs of cows decorated with golden ornaments. They gave as dāna, cows to Vaisnavas and brāhmaṇas. You understand. Many singers, many dancers they came, they sung, danced and they were also given presentations by Vṛṣabhānu. All were very pleased seeing this daughter of Kirtidā. In this way this description has been given.
We also many times, whenever necessary or whenever such topic comes up in Caitanya- caritamṛta class, we speak on Rādhā-tattva. Last time you might have recorded something, isn't it, Rādhā-tattva, yes. So, whenever such topic will come again, we will discuss and the description has been given in Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
In Caitanya-caritamṛta class, we may say something more whenever such topic comes. So this is all about the appearance of Srimati Rādhārani. Unless one gets the mercy of Rādhārani, One cannot approach Kṛṣṇa and get Kṛṣṇa, do you understand? So Rādhārani's mercy is required to get Kṛṣṇa. Our life will be fulfilled if we get Kṛṣṇa.
This is the aim of this human life, perfection of this human life, paramartha labha. You understand? This is the purpose of this human life. So therefore Rādhārani's mercy is required. So all the ācāryas - Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Narottama dās Ṭhākura, all Vaiṣṇava ācāryas, they have prayed for the mercy of Rādhārani and they have said so, that
Rādhā-bhajane yadi mati nahi bhelā kṛṣṇa-bhajana tava akāraṇe gelā
If you cannot chant the glories of Rādhārani, your Kṛṣṇa-bhajan is fruitless, no value. You understand? So we chant the name of Rādhā, glorify Her. 'hare kṛṣṇa', 'hare' means 'O Rādhārani,' you understand. First 'hare', then 'kṛṣṇa'. Bhaktivinoda Thakura Gitavali Goswamis, they have said like this:
anārādhya Rādhā-padāmbhoja renu anāśritya vṛndāṭavīm tat padānkām asambhāsya-tad bhāva-gambhira cittān kutaḥ śyāma-sindho rasasyāvagāhaḥ
[Stavamāla]
That means, "If someone doesn't worship the lotus feet of Rādhārani or the dust at Her feet or the Vrajabhumi that has been purified by the footsteps of Rādhārani, if someone doesn't worship, in other words, if someone doesn't serve Rādhārani, he cannot innundate himself in Shyam-sindhu and Śyamasundara is like an ocean, you understand, Shyam-sindhu. Sindhu means ocean. That means he cannot be liked by Shyam. Do you understand?"
In other words, if someone doesn't serve Rādhārani, he cannot innundate himself in Shyam-sindhu - and Śyamasundara is like an ocean, you understand, Shyam-sindhu. Sindhu means ocean. That means he cannot be liked by Shyam. Do you understand?"
They have said:
āśāsya dāsyaṁ vṛṣabhānu-kumāri-kāyās
jāyā stire samadhyāsya ca bhānujāyāḥ
kadā nu vṛndāvana kuñja vīthiṣv
aham nu rādhe hy atithirbhaveyam
[Rādhā-rasa-sudha-nidhi 198]
That means:
vṛṣabhānu-kumārīra haiba kinkarī kalinda-nandinī tīre ra'ba vāsa kari'
They aspire for this, the Gosvāmīis: "I will be maidservant of the Daughter of Vṛṣabhānu, Rādhārani and I will live on the bank of Yamuna, kalinda-nandini, Yamuna."
karuṇā kariyā rādhe e dāsīra prati vṛndāṭavi kuñja-pathe haiba atithi
"Then Rādhārani will shower Her mercy on this maidservant so I can see Her, get Her mercy, or get an opportunity to serve Her in Vṛndāvan.
Then,
nirantara kṛṣṇa-dhyāna, tan-nāma-kirtana kṛṣṇa-pada-padma-sevā, tan-mantra-japana
rādhā-pada-dāsya-mātra abhiṣṭa-cintana kṛpāya labhiba Rādhā-rāgānubhāvana
[Bhajana Rahasya]
These are the aspirations of the Goswamis. They say, "Always we will or I, the Goswamis meditate on Kṛṣṇa and chant His holy Name and serve His lotus feet, you understand, getting the causeless mercy of Rādhārani."This is my only desire that I will be a servant, maidservant at the lotus feet of Srimati Rādhārani and get Her mercy." They say like this.
This is Rādhā-rasa-sudha-nidhi (142):
rādhā-nāma sudhā rasam rasayitum jihvās tu me vihvalā
pādau tat padakankṣitā sucaratām vṛndā-ṭavīvīthiṣu
tat karmaiva karaḥ karotu hrdayam tasyaḥ padam dhyāyatām
tad bhāvotsavataḥ param bhavatu me tat prāṇa nāthe ratiḥ
[Rādhā-rasa-sudhā-nidhi]
That means they say:
"My tongue, let my tongue always recite the Name of Rādhārani. Let my feet tread on Vṛndāvana, the favourite place of Rādhārani. Let my hands serve Rādhārani, let my mind remember Rādhārani."
Like this. So, in this way there are many prayers offered by the Goswamis, Rādhā-pādapadma eka mātra gati - only the lotus feet of Rādhārani is our only shelter.
devi duḥkha kula-sāgarodare
dūyamāna mati durgatam janam
tvat kṛpā pravala naukayādbhutam
prapaya svapada-panka-jālayam
[Vilāpa Kusumāñjali 8]
That means: "O Rādhārani, Vrajadevī, anyhow I am here in this material world and have been fallen into this great ocean of misery, duḥkha-sindhu. Please shower Your mercy on me and just deliver me with the boat of Your lotus feet. And take me to You, for Your service, and accept me as one of Your maidservants."