Article Talk Read Edit View history Search Wikipedia Radha From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Main page For other uses, see Radha (disambiguation). Contents Radha (Sanskrit: राधा, IAST: Rādhā), also called Radhika, Radharani, and Radhe, is a Featured content Radha Hindu goddess popular in Hinduism, especially in the Vaishnavism tradition. She was said Current events Goddess of Kindness, Love and Beauty to be the head of the milkmaids (also called the Gopis or Braj Gopikas) who resided in Braj Random article Donate to Wikipedia Dham. She is the lover of the Supreme personality of Godhead Lord Krishna in the Wikipedia store medieval era texts.[2][3] She is a supreme goddess in her own right. Interaction She is also called Jagat Janani (mother of the whole universe). She appeared as queen of milkmaids and queen of Vrindavan-Barsana. She taught selfless love and surrender to the Help About Wikipedia Godhead Shri Krishna. She is considered the supreme goddess in Vaishnavism. Rasik Community portal Saints have mentioned Her as a descension of Supreme Goddess, Source of Infinite Recent changes Lakshmi, original form of Yogmaya and Allhadini Shakti (Power of Divine Love) which is Contact page main Power of Godhead Shri Krishna. She and her consort Krishna are collectively known Krishna and Radha at Mayapur temple as Radha Krishna, the combined form of feminine as well as the masculine realities of God. Affiliation Lakshmi, Vishnu, Devi, Tools Vaishnavism, form of krishna's love Lord Krishna often underwent various kinds of "leelas" with Her. What links here and bhakti Related changes Radha is worshipped in some regions of India, particularly by Gaudiya Vaishnavas, Abode Goloka, Barsana, Vrindavan, Braj Upload file Vaishnavas in West Bengal,Manipur, and Odisha. Elsewhere, she is revered in the Dham Special pages Nimbarka Sampradaya and movements linked to Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.[4][5] Symbol Golden Lotus Permanent link Texts Brahmavaivarta Purānạ , Devi- Page information Srimati Radharani ji is considered a metaphor for soul, her longing for Lord Krishna Bhagavata Purana, Gita Govinda, Wikidata item theologically seen as a symbolism for the longing for spirituality and the divine.[6] She has many others Cite this page inspired numerous literary works,[4] and her Rasa lila dance with Krishna has inspired many Personal information types of performance arts till this day.[7] Print/export Consort Krishna Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD Create a book Her festival is Radhastami. Parents Vrishbhanu[1] (father) Download as PDF Smt. Kriti Devi[1] or also called smt Printable version Contents [hide] Kirtida (mother) 1 Etymology In other projects 2 Description Wikimedia Commons 2.1 Radha and Sita Wikiquote 3 Influence Languages 3.1 Nimbarka Deutsch 4 Temples Español 5 See also Français 6 References 한국어 7 Further reading िहदी 8 External links Italiano Русский Tiếng Việt 中 Etymology [ edit ] [8][9] 33 more The Sanskrit term Rādhā (Sanskrit: राधा) means "prosperity, success". It is a common word and name founded in various contexts in Edit links the ancient and medieval texts of India. Of these the most celebrated is the name of the gopi who was the beloved of Krishna. Both Radha and Krishna are the main characters of Gita Govinda of Jayadeva.[8] Radha in this context is considered the avatar of Lakshmi, just like Krishna is considered an avatar of Vishnu.[8] Similarly, In Hit Harivansh and Swami Haridas Literature, Radha is considered as the main form of deity. Here, Radha is not an avatar of Laxmi but another form of supreme god Shri Krishn Himself. In Devi Bhagvat and Brahma Vaibtra Purana, Radha is mentioned as the source of infinite Laxmi, Gopis, and mother of infinite souls. Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj (the 5th original Jagadguru) elaborately described the virtue of Radha and has given a brief description of Shri Radha in his lectures and Kirtans. He has said, "She is the Supreme Goddess and is worshipped by everyone including Godhead Shri Krishna himself and that's why she is called Radha; means one who is the form of worship." [8] The term is related to Rādha (Sanskrit: राध), which means "kindness, any gift but particularly the gift of affection, success, wealth". The word appears in the Vedic literature as well as the Epics, but is elusive and not as a major deity.[3] In some Vedic contexts, states Sukumar Sen, it could mean "beloved, desired woman" based on an Avestan cognate.[9] However, Barbara Stoller and other scholars disagree with the Avestan interpretation. They state that the better interpretation of Radha in these ancient texts is "someone or Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD something that fulfills a need".[10] Starting with the Bhakti movement and particularly with Jayadeva's composition, her profile as a goddess and constant companion of Krishna became dominant in Krishna-related Vaishnavism.[3] Rādhikā refers to an endearing form of Gopi Radha.[8] Description [ edit ] Radha is an important goddess in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. She is a goddess whose traits, manifestations, descriptions, and roles vary with region. Since the earliest times, she has been associated with one of the most popular Hindu gods, the cowherd Krishna.[2] In the early Indian literature, her mentions are illusive and not as common as other major goddesses of Hinduism, but during the Bhakti movement era she became popular among Krishna devotees whose strength is her love.[11] According to Jaya Chemburkar, there are at least two significant and different aspects of Radha in the literature associated with her, such as Sriradhika namasahasram. One aspect is she is a milkmaid (Gopi), another as a female deity similar to those found in the Hindu goddess traditions.[12] She also appears in Hindu arts as ardhanari with Krishna, that is an iconography where half of the image is Radha and the other half is Krishna. This is found in sculpture such as those discovered in Maharashtra, and in texts such as Shiva Purana and Brahmavaivarta Purana.[13] In these texts, this ardhanari is sometimes referred to as Ardharadhavenudhara murti, and it symbolizes the complete union and inseparability of Radha and Krishna.[13] Radha with Krishna, a 1915 painting. Radha's depictions vary from being an already married woman who becomes an adulterous lover of Krishna in a secondary role,[6] to being dual divinity equal to Krishna in Jayadeva's Gita Govinda, to being supreme object of devotional love for both Krishna and devotees in Rupa Gosvami's tradition.[2][11] In some Hindu sub-traditions, Radha is conceptualized as a goddess who breaks social norms by leaving her marriage, and entering into a relationship with Krishna to pursue her love.[6] According to Heidi Pauwels, it is a "hotly debated issue" whether Radha was already married or had an affair with Krishna while she remained married.[14] Several Hindu texts allude to these circumstances.[6] According to David Kinsley, a professor of Religious Studies known for his studies on Hindu goddesses, the Radha-Krishna love story is a metaphor for divine-human relationship, where Radha is the human devotee or soul who is frustrated with the past, obligations to social expectations and the ideas she inherited, who then longs for real meaning, the true love, the divine (Krishna). This metaphoric Radha Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD (soul) finds new liberation in learning more about Krishna, bonding in devotion and with passion.[6][15] Radha and Sita [ edit ] The popular Itihasas and other legendary literature of the Hindu traditions present two major Lakshmi avatars – Radha and Sita, and two major Vishnu avatars as their respective companions – Krishna in the Mahabharata and Rama in the Ramayana. The Radha-Krishna and Sita-Rama pairs represent two different personality sets, two perspectives on dharma and lifestyles, both cherished in the way of life called Hinduism.[16] Sita is traditionally wedded, dedicated, and virtuous wife of Rama, an introspective temperate paragon of a serious, virtuous man.[17][18][19] Radha is a lover of Krishna, a playful adventurer.[17][16] Radha and Sita offer two competing templates within the Hindu tradition.[16] If "Sita is a queen, aware of her social responsibilities", states Pauwels, then "Radha is exclusively focused on her Radha's story has inspired romantic relationship with her lover", giving two contrasting role models from two ends of the moral many paintings. Above: Radha waiting for Krishna by Raja Ravi universe. Yet they share common elements as well. Both love their man and their lives, both face life Varma. challenges, both are committed to their true love and both have been influential, adored and beloved goddesses in the Hindu culture. Therefore in their deepest meaning, when they are referred to each other; like Krsna and Rama, they will continue their " past life " and " fulfill their dharma " in this way. This is espeacially interesting in the spheres of astrology. [16][20] Influence [ edit ] See also: Radha Krishna In some devotional (bhakti) traditions of Vaishnavism that focus on Krishna, Radha represents "the feeling of love towards Krishna".[4] For some of the adherents of these traditions, her importance approaches or even exceeds that of Krishna. Radha is worshipped along with Krishna in Bengal, Assam and Odisha by Vaishnava Hindus. Elsewhere, such as with Visnusvamins, she is a revered deity.[21] She is considered to be his original shakti, the supreme goddess in both the Nimbarka Sampradaya and following the advent of Chaitanya Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD Mahaprabhu also within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.[4][5] Radha Chalisa mentions that Krishna accompanies one who chants " Radha" with pure heart.