radhastami - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-29T12:20:55Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/radhastamiThe spiritual world is conducted by the internal potency – Radharanihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-spiritual-world-is-conducted-by-the-internal-potency-radharan2023-12-02T09:30:00.000Z2023-12-02T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E0ypT8RaMK0/Ve-fUyG9YqI/AAAAAAAATgQ/QZUMUVlge7I/s0/2015-09-09_04-53-59.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="2015-09-09_04-53-59.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srila Prabhupada: (chants mangalacarana prayers) Today is birth, appearance day of Srimati Radharani, Radhastami. Fifteen days after Krsna’s birth, Radharani appeared. (pause) Radharani is Krsna’s pleasure potency. Radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktih. The Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has got varieties of energies, as it is confirmed in the Vedic literature. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. The Supreme Lord has nothing to do personally. Na tasya karyam. He has nothing to do. Just like here in this material world we find some very big man, political head or business head; personally, he has nothing to do. Because he has got so many assistants, secretaries, that personally he hasn’t got to do anything. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full with six opulences, why He will have to do something? No. He has got many assistants. Sarvatah pani-padas tat. In the Bhagavad-gita: “He has got everywhere His hands and legs.” You’ll find Krsna, He has nothing to do. He’s simply engaged in enjoyment with gopis and Radharani. He’s not engaged in killing the demons. When Krsna kills the demons He’s Vasudeva Krsna; He’s not original Krsna. Krsna expands Himself. First expansion is Baladeva. From Baladeva-Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva. So by the Vasudeva feature He acts in Mathura and Dvaraka. But Krsna in His original feature, He remains in Vrndavana. One of the greatest fiction writers in Bengal, Bankimchandra Chatterjee, he misunderstood Krsna that Krsna of Vrndavana, Krsna of Dvaraka, and Krsna of Mathura, They’re different persons. Krsna (is) the same, one, but He can expand Himself in millions and trillions of forms. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam [Bs. 5.33]. Advaita. Although ananta-rupam, still, He’s adyam purana-purusam, advaita. There is no such distinction.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So this Krsna, when He wants to enjoy, what kind of enjoyment He will have? That has been discussed by Srila Jiva Gosvami. Krsna is Param Brahman. Brahman, Paramatma, then Param Brahman. Absolute Truth, three different features. Someone is realizing the Absolute Truth as impersonal Brahman. Jnanis, those who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by mental speculation, by dint of his own knowledge, he’s realizing the Absolute Truth as impersonal Brahman. And those who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by meditation, yogis, they realize the Absolute Truth as Paramatma. Paramatma is situated in everyone’s heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. That feature, Paramatma feature. Andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. That Paramatma feature is one expansion of Krsna. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, athava bahunaitena kim jnatena tavarjuna ekamsena vistabhyaham. Ekamsena. When Krsna and Arjuna was trying to understand about different potential existence of Krsna, so He explained in the Twelfth Chapter, “I am this. Amongst them, I am this. Amongst them…” Like that. And He concluded that “How far I shall go on? Better try to understand that only one plenary portion of Me, by entering this universe, the whole cosmic manifestation is existing.” Ekamsena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42]. Jagat. This material world is existing on one plenary portion of Krsna. And Krsna enters, andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham, He enters within this universe. Without His entering, this universe cannot exist. Just like without the spirit soul’s entering within this body, this body cannot exist. As soon as the spirit soul goes out, immediately the body’s useless. However the body may be prime minister or anything else, as soon as the soul is out of this body, it is not worth even a farthing. Similarly, because Krsna enters within this universe, therefore the universe has value. Otherwise it is simply a lump of matter; it has no value. Ekamsena sthito jagat.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So try to understand Krsna. And when Krsna want to enjoy, what kind of enjoyment that shall be? Try to understand this point. Krsna is so great; God is great, everyone knows. So when the great wants to enjoy, then what quality of enjoyment that should be? That is to be understood. Radha-krsna… Therefore Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has written a verse, radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtih. The loving affairs of Radha and Krsna is not ordinary, these material loving affairs, although it appears like that. But one who cannot understand Krsna, avajananti mam mudhah [Bg. 9.11]. Mudha, rascals, fools, they understand Krsna as ordinary man. As soon as we take Krsna as one of us… Manusim tanum asritam, param bhavam ajanantah. These rascals, they do not know param bhavam. They try to imitate Krsna’s lila, rasa-lila. There are many rascals. So these things are going on. There is no understanding of Krsna. To understand Krsna is very difficult.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">manusyanam sahasresu<br /> kascid yatati siddhaye<br /> yatatam api siddhanam<br /> kascin mam vetti tattvatah<br /> [Bg. 7.3]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Out of millions of persons, one may try to make his life perfect. Everyone is working like animal. There’s no question of perfection of life. The animal propensities: eating, sleeping, mating and defending… So everyone is engaged like animals. They have no other business, just like animal, hogs, dogs, whole day and night working: “Where is stool? Where is stool?” And as soon as he gets some stool, gets some fat, “Where is sex? Where is sex?” No consideration of mother or sister. This is hog’s life.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So human life is not meant for hog civilization. So modern civilization is hog civilization, although it is polished with shirt and coat. So, we shall try to understand. This Krsna consciousness movement is for understanding Krsna. For understanding Krsna, it requires little labor, austerity, penance. Tapasya brahmacaryena samena damena ca. Tapasya. One has to undergo tapasya; brahmacarya, celibacy. Tapasya. Brahmacarya means stopping sex life or controlling sex life. Brahmacarya. Therefore Vedic civilization is, from the very beginning, to train the boys to become brahmacari, celibacy. Not that modern days, the schools, boys and girls, ten years, twelve years, they’re enjoying. The brain is spoiled. They cannot understand higher things. The brain tissues are lost. So without becoming brahmacari, nobody can understand spiritual life. Tapasya brahmacaryena samena damena ca. Sama means controlling the senses, controlling the mind; damena, controlling the senses; tyagena; saucena, cleanliness; tyaga, tyaga means charity. These are the processes for understanding oneself, self-realization. But in this age it is very difficult to undergo all these processes. Practically it is impossible. Therefore Lord Caitanya, Krsna Himself, has made Himself easily available by one process:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam<br /> kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha<br /> [Cc. Adi 17.21]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In this age, Kali-yuga… Kali-yuga is considered to be the most fallen age. We are thinking that we are making very much advance, but it is the most fallen age. Because people are becoming like animals. As the animals have no other interest than four principles of bodily necessities—eating, sleeping, mating and defending—so in this age people are interested with four principles of bodily want. They have no information of the soul, neither they are prepared to realize what is soul. That is the defect of this age. But human form of life is especially meant for realizing himself, “What I am?” That is the mission of human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. This life is meant for inquiring about Brahman. Brahman, Paramatma, Bhagavan. These inquiries should be there. Jijnasu. They are called jijnasu, brahma-jijnasa, jijnasu, inquiry. As we inquire every morning, “What is the news today?” Immediately we pick newspaper. That inquisitiveness is there. But we are inquiring very base things only. There is no desire to inquire about the highest possibility, brahma-jnana. That is the lack of this modern civilization. Inquiring how to earn money: diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va [SB 2.1.3]. Not only in this age… In this age it has become the principal factor, but in this material world everyone is engaged simply for these bodily necessities of life. Nidraya hriyate naktam: at night they sleep very sound sleep, snoring. Or sex life. Nidraya hriyate naktam vyavayena ca va vayah [SB 2.1.3]. In this way they’re wasting time. And at daytime, diva carthehaya rajan… And during daytime, “Where is money? Where is money? Where is money?” Artha ihaya. Kutumba-bharanena va. And as soon as one gets money, then how to purchase things for family, that’s all. Shopping, storing. This is the engagement of materialistic life. Out of that, one who is actually intelligent… Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Out of many such foolish persons engaged in sleeping, mating, earning money, and providing family with nice apartment and food… This is the general occupation. So out of many thousands of men like that, one is inquisitive how to make perfect this human form of life. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Siddhaye. Siddhi means perfection. So this life is meant for perfection. What is perfection? Perfection means that we do not want miserable condition of life, and we have to get out of it. That is perfection. Everyone is trying to get out of miserable condition of life. But they do not know what is the actual position of miserable life. Miserable condition of life: tri-tapa-yantanah. So this is called mukti, or liberation, from the misera… Atyantika-duhkha-nivrttih. Duhkha, duhkha means distress. So everybody is trying to get out of distress. But he does not know what is the ultimate goal of getting out of distress. Na te viduh. They do not know. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. One can be out of distress when he approaches Visnu. Tad visnum paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah. Tad visnoh paramam padam. The Visnu planet… Just like here in the material world they’re trying to go to the moon planet, but these foolish people do not know what they’ll gain even they go to the moon planet. It is one of the material planets. Krsna has already said in the Bhagavad-gita, abrahma-bhuvanal lokan. What to speak of this moon planet—it is very near—even if you go to the topmost planet, which is known as Brahmaloka… That is in your front, you can see every day, every night, how many lokas and planets are there. But you cannot go there. You are simply trying to go to the nearest planet. That is also failure. So what is your scientific improvement? But there is possibility. A-brahma-bhuvanal lokan. You can go. The material scientists’ calculation is that if one goes forward for forty thousands of years in the light speed, light-year speed, then one can approach the topmost planet of this material world. So at least in the modern scientific calculation, it is impossible. But one can go; there is process. That we have tried to explain in our small booklet Easy Journey to Other Planets. By yogic process one can go any planet he likes. That is the yogic perfection. When a yogi becomes perfect, he can go to any planet he likes, and the yoga practice goes on, unless the yogi thinks himself that he has made himself perfect to travel to any planet he likes. That is perfection of yoga practice.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So, these are the perfection of life, not that teeny, floating sputnik. (laughter) They do not know what is perfection of life. You can go anywhere. A living entity’s name is sarva-gah. Sarva-gah means “one who can go anywhere he likes.” Just Narada Muni. Narada Muni can travel anywhere he likes, either in the spiritual world or in the material world. So you can also do that. There is possibility. There was a Durvasa Muni, great yogi. Within one year he traveled all over the universe and went to Visnuloka and again came back. That is recorded in the history. So these are the perfections of life. And how these perfection can be attained? By understanding Krsna. Yasmin vijnate sarvam eva vijnatam bhavanti. The Upanisad says, if you simply understand Krsna, then all these things can be understood very easily. Krsna consciousness is such a nice thing.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So today, this evening, we are talking about Radhastami. We are trying to understand the chief potency of Krsna. Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krsna. As we understand from Vedic literature, Krsna has many varieties of potencies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Just like the same example, as a big man has got many assistants and secretaries so that he hasn’t got to do anything personally, simply by his will everything is done, similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has got varieties of energies, and everything is being done so nicely. Just like this material energy. This material world, where we are now living… This is called material energy. Bahir-anga-sakti. The Sanskrit name is bahir-anga, external energy of Krsna. So how nicely it is being done, everything in the material energy. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram: [Bg. 9.10] “Under My superintendence the material energy is working.” The material energy is not blind. It is… On the background there is Krsna. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih [Bg. 9.10]. Prakrti means this material energy. Similarly… This is external energy. Similarly, there is another energy, which is internal energy. By the internal energy the spiritual world is being manifested. Paras tasmat tu bhavah anyah [Bg. 8.20]. Another energy, para, superior, transcendental, the spiritual world. As this material world is being manipulated under the external energy, similarly, the spiritual world is also conducted by the internal potency. That internal potency is Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Radharani…, today is Radharani’s appearance day. So we should try to understand Radharani’s feature. Radharani is the pleasure potency, hladini-sakti. Anandamayo ‘bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). In the Vedanta-sutra the Absolute Truth is described as anandamaya, always in pleasure potency. That anandamaya potency… Just like ananda. When you want ananda, pleasure, you cannot have it alone. Alone, you cannot enjoy. When you are in the circles of friend or family or other associates, you feel pleasure. Just like I am speaking. The speaking is very pleasing when there are many persons here. I cannot speak alone here. That is not ananda. I can speak here at night, dead of night, nobody here. That is not ananda. Ananda means there must be others. So because Krsna, the Absolute Truth, is anandamaya, therefore eko bahu syam, He has become many. We are also Krsna’s part and parcel, to give pleasure to Krsna. And the chief pleasure potency is Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktir asmad<br /> ekatmanav api bhuvo (pura) deha-bhedo-gatau tau<br /> caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam caikyam aptam<br /> radha-bhava-(dyuti)-suvalitam naumi krsna-svarupam<br /> [Cc. Adi 1.5]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So Krsna is Param Brahman, as you know from the Bhagavad-gita. When Arjuna understood Bhagavad-gita, he affirmed Krsna, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So Krsna is Param Brahman. So in this material world we see that a great, saintly person, simply to enjoy brahmananda, he gives up everything of material enjoyment. He becomes sannyasi. Aham brahmasmi. Just to understand that he is in Brahman realization. So if one has to give up everything material for Brahman realization, do you think that Param Brahman, the Supreme Brahman, can enjoy anything material? No. Krsna’s enjoyment is nothing material. This point should be understood. For Brahman realization we are giving up everything material. And how Param Brahman can enjoy anything material? This question has been very much nicely discussed by Jiva Gosvami.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So when the Param Brahman… First of all, the Param Brahman information is not there in this material world. Little Brahman information is there. Or little Paramatma information is there. But not Param Brahman, or Bhagavan, information. Therefore it is said, manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Siddhaye means to understand Brahman or Paramatma. But out of many such persons who have realized Brahman and Paramatma, hardly a person can know Krsna. And that… First of all… [break] …what we can understand about Krsna’s pleasure potency? If I want to know some big man. That is one process. And without knowing that big man, how I can understand about his internal affairs? Similarly, if we do not understand Krsna, how we can understand how Krsna is enjoying? That is not possible. But the Gosvamis, they’re giving us information what is the pleasure potency of Krsna. That is Srimati Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So we have described about the Radha-Krsna loving affairs in our Teachings of Lord Caitanya in page 264. If you have got this book, you can read it, how the reciprocation of loving affairs of Radha-Krsna is there, transcendental. So our today prayer to Radharani… We pray to Radharani because She is the pleasure potency of Krsna. Krsna means “all-attractive.” But Radharani is so great that She attracts Krsna. Krsna is all-attractive, and She is attractive (attractor) of Krsna. So what is the position of Srimati Radharani? We should try to understand this day and offer our obeisances to Radharani. Radhe vrndavanesvari.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari<br /> vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye<br /> Our business is “Radharani, You are so dear to Krsna. So we offer our respectful obeisances unto You.”<br /> tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari<br /> vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">[I offer my respects to Radharani, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krsna.]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Radharani is hari-priya, very dear to Krsna. So if we approach Krsna through Radharani, through the mercy of Radharani, then it becomes very easy. If Radharani recommends that “This devotee is very nice,” then Krsna immediately accepts, however fool I may be. Because it is recommended by Radharani, Krsna accepts. Therefore in Vrndavana you’ll find all the devotees, they’re chanting more Radharani’s name than Krsna’s. Wherever you’ll go, you’ll find the devotees are addressing, “Jaya Radhe.” You’ll find still in Vrndavana. They are glorifying Radharani. They’re more interested, worshiping Radharani. Because however fallen I may be, if some way or other I can please Radharani, then it is very easy for me to understand Krsna. Otherwise,</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">manusyanam sahasresu<br /> kascid yatati siddhaye<br /> yatatam api siddhanam<br /> kascid vetti mam tattvatah<br /> [Bg. 7.3]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">If you go by the speculative process to understand Krsna, it will take many, many lives. But if you take devotional service, just try to please Radharani, and Krsna will be gotten very easily. Because Radharani can deliver Krsna. She is so great devotee, the emblem of maha-bhagavata. Even Krsna cannot understand what is Radharani’s quality. Even Krsna, although He says vedaham samatitani [Bg. 7.26], “I know everything,” still, He fails to understand Radharani. Radharani is so great. He says that… Actually, Krsna knows everything. In order to understand Radharani, Krsna accepted the position of Radharani. Krsna wanted to understand the potency of Radharani. Krsna thought that “I am full. I am complete in every respect, but still, I want to understand Radharani. Why?” This propensity made Krsna obliged to accept the propensities of Radharani, to understand Krsna, Himself.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">These are, of course, very transcendental, great science. One who is advanced in Krsna consciousness and well conversant with the sastras, they can understand. But still, we can discuss from the sastra. When Krsna wanted to understand Himself, He took the tendency of Srimati Radharani. And that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna, but He has accepted the propensities of Radharani. As Radharani is always in feelings of separation of Krsna, similarly, in the position of Radharani, Lord Caitanya was feeling separation of Krsna. That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya, feelings of separation, not meeting. The process of devotional service taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession is how to feel separation from Krsna. That is Radharani’s position, always feeling the separation.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Gosvamis, they also, when they were in Vrndavana, they never said that “I have seen Krsna.” Although they were the most perfect, they never said that “I have seen Krsna.” Their prayers were like this: he radhe! vraja-devike! he nanda-suno! kutah. He radhe, Radharani, he radhe! vraja-devike! ca. Radharani does not remain alone. He (She) remains always with His (Her) friends, vraja-devi, Lalita or Visakha and other damsels of Vrndavana. So the Gosvamins are praying, in their mature stage, when they were living at Vrndavana, they were praying in this way, he radhe! vraja-devike! ca lalite! he nanda-suno! kutah: “Where, Radharani, where You are? Where are Your associates? Where You are, Nanda-suno, the son of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna? Where you are, all?” They were searching after. They never said, “I have seen Krsna dancing with the gopis. Last night I saw.” (laughter) This is sahajiya. This is not mature devotee. This is called… They are called sahajiya. They take everything very cheap—Krsna very cheap, Radharani very cheap—as if they can see every night. No. The Gosvamis do not teach us like that. They’re searching after. He radhe! vraja-devike! ca lalite! he nanda-suno! kutah, sri-govardhana-padapa-tale kalindi-vanye kutah: “Are you there under the Govardhana Hill or on the banks of the Yamuna?” Kalindi-vanye kutah. Ghosantav iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair maha-vihvalau. Their business was crying like this, “Where You are? Where You are, Radharani? Where you are, Lalita, Visakha, the associates of Radharani? Where You are, Krsna? Are You near Govardhana Hill or on the bank of the Yamuna?” Ghosantav iti sarvato vraja-pure. So throughout the whole tract of Vrndavana they were crying and searching after Them, khedair maha-vihvalau, as if madman. Khedair maha-vihvalau. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So we have to follow the footprints of the Gosvamis, how to search out Krsna and Radharani, Vrndavana, or within your heart. That is the process of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s bhajana: feeling of separation, vipralambha, vipralambha-seva. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, feeling the separation of Krsna, He was falling down on the sea. He was coming out of His rest room or His bedroom and going out at dead of night. Nobody knew where He has gone. So that was His searching. This process of devotional service is taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not that very easily, “We have seen Krsna or seen Radharani in rasa-lila.” No, not like that. Feel the separation. The more you feel separation from Krsna, you should understand that you are advancing. Don’t try to see Krsna artificially. Be advanced in separation feeling, and then it will be perfect. That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Because with our material eyes we cannot see Krsna. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. With our material senses we cannot see Krsna, we cannot hear about Krsna’s name. But sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. When you engage yourself in the service of the Lord… Where the service begins? Jihvadau. The service begins from the tongue. Not from the legs, eyes, or ears. It begins from the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. If you begin service through your tongue… How? Chant Hare Krsna. Use your tongue. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And take Krsna prasadam. The tongue has got two business: to articulate sound, Hare Krsna; and take prasadam. By this process you’ll realize Krsna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Devotee: Haribol!<br /> Prabhupada: Don’t try to see Krsna. You cannot see Krsna with your material eyes. Neither you can hear about Him with your material ears. Neither you can touch. But if you engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, then He’ll reveal Himself to you: “Here I am.” That is wanted. So feel separation of Krsna just like Radharani, as Lord Caitanya teaches us, and engage your tongue in the service of the Lord; then, one day, when you are mature, you’ll see Krsna eye to eye.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Thank you very much.<br /> Devotees: Haribol! All glories to His Divine Grace! (offer obeisances) (end)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19665">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19665</a></p></div>Radhastami – A Day to Get Down on Our Knees and Pray! by Sacinandana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/radhastami-a-day-to-get-down-on-our-knees-and-pray-by-sacinandana2023-09-22T09:30:00.000Z2023-09-22T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515133086,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515133086?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" /></p>
<p>Dear devotees, I wish you a most fulfilling Radhastami where the blessings of Divine love are abundantly showered upon you and everyone else who aspires for it.</p>
<p>Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami ecstatically raises his voice in glorification of Srimati Radharani:</p>
<p>“If one asks about the origin of love of Krishna the answer is that the origin is Srimati Radharani alone.<br /> If one asks: ‘Who is the most dear friend of Krishna?’<br /> The answer again is: ‘Srimati Radharani alone.’<br /> She is able to fulfill all of Krishna’s desires like no one else.”</p>
<p>Even Lord Krishna Himself cannot reach the limits of the transcendental qualities of Srimati Radharani. How then can an insignificant living entity count them?</p>
<p>(CC Madhya 8. 182 + 185)</p>
<p>Radhastami is an utmost holy day! Therefore, we should hear the words of these dear devotees of Srimati Radharani whose deep realisations can guide us to a spiritual understanding that our own present words and thoughts would not be able to reach otherwise.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada taught us how to please Lord Krishna by taking full shelter of Srimati Radharani:</p>
<p>“Anyone who comes before Radharani to serve Krishna , oh, She becomes so pleased, ´Oh, here is a devotee of Krishna !´ She immediately recommends, “Krishna , oh, here is a devotee. He is better than Me.” This is Radharani. I may be a, not devotee. I may be most fallen rascal. But if I try to reach Krishna through Radharani, then my business is successful. Therefore we should worship Radharani first. That is our business. Instead of offering directly one flower to Krishna , you just put it in the hands of Radharani: “My mother Radharani, Jagan-mata, if you kindly take this flower and offer it to Krishna .” “Oh,” Radharani says, “Oh, you have brought a flower?” Krishna said, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati BG 9.26, but don´t try to offer Krishna directly. Just offer through Radharani. It will be very much appreciated by Radharani.”</p>
<p>So today is a day where we can get down on our knees and pray to Radharani for mercy.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada guides us further:</p>
<p>“So this is our philosophy, to please Krishna through Radharani. Just today is the auspicious day of Radharani´s appearance. So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani that “Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me Your Krishna . Krishna is Yours.” Krishna , Radha-Krishna . Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani´s property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. That is, today is the auspicious day. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy.”</p>
<p>(Both quotes are excerpts from Srila Prabhupada’s Lecture on Radhastami, given in London, Sep 5, 1073)</p>
<p>May this day be an unforgettable day where the rain of mercy gives fresh nourishment to the plant of your bhakti.</p>
<p>All the best<br /> Sacinandana Swami</p>
<p><strong>Source :</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30978">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30978</a></p></div>Radhastami, a day to meditate on the deepest mystery by Radhanath Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/radhastami-a-day-to-meditate-on-the-deepest-mystery-by-radhanath-2023-09-22T08:30:00.000Z2023-09-22T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515132660,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515132660,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515132660?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></a></p>
<p>It gives me great pleasure to welcome all of you to be with us in Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple to celebrate Radhastami. A day in which we meditate upon the deepest mystery buried within the vast treasure of the Vedic scriptures. According to a particular person’s level of spiritual awareness, and their particular inclinations, Srila Vyasadev, has compiled the Vedic literatures in such a way to elevate the consciousness of humanity. There are puranas specifically ingrained in the mode of ignorance, knowing that there is no other way to help them except to somehow try to lift them to the mode of passion. And for those in the mode of passion, to somehow lift them to the mode of goodness. And for those in the mode of goodness, to lift them to the transcendental plain.</p>
<p>And on the transcendental plain, many seek to annihilate material miseries forever, by losing their own material identity and realizing ones oneness with Brahman with all pervading impersonal aspect of the absolute truth. And for those great yogis to understand their direct and personal connection with the paramatma or the Lord who is situated within their heart’s, there is karma kanda, jnana kanda, the astanga kanda and the upasana kanda. The path of bhakti in which we can have direct experience of our eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose form is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss and who is eternally enjoying pastimes with devotees.</p>
<p>Generally we are taught that the absolute truth is the all great supreme master of all living beings. But then Vyasdev goes into deeper mysteries, how can go into a spontaneous loving relations with God, considering oneself an intimate servant or a friend on an equal level or to love the absolute truth as one’s own child or as a lover. The absolute truth is one, but that one truth Krsna is eternally manifested in both a male and female aspect or personalities for the purpose of exchanging love. And just as Krsna, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, is the source of all incarnations, His eternal pleasure potency, His hladini shakti, Srimati Radharani is the source of all consorts and all goddesses of fortune.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada explains that Srimati Radharani is the transformation of Krsna’s supreme love. She is the personification of all spiritual love. And that love is so powerful that it overpowers the all-powerful or Krsna.</p>
<p>How to understand the nature of Radha’s love?</p>
<p>To release the dormant love within our heart is only possible by the grace of the Lords Hladini Shakti, his pleasure potency Srimati Radharani, She holds the key that can unlock the deepest mysteries of the soul. But it is natural that which is most rare, most inconceivable is often misunderstood. When you go into Air India, sometimes you see on the walls painted Rasa Lila and there is Radharani dancing. And people; that are our tradition Radha and Krishna, but it is a very deep subject. That is our tradition Radha and Krishna. In order to understand the nature of Sri Radha we must understand the nature of Love. Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami goes to great lengths to define, what is spiritual love and what is the love of the Gopi’s. A relationship based on the misconception that I am this body and mind or a relationship that is based on the concern for my enjoyment that is called Kama. A relationship that is based on the knowledge of our liberated condition that we are eternal spirit souls beyond the ego, the intelligence, the mind, the senses and the body. A relationship based on selfless unconditional service, completely for the purpose of giving pleasure to the object of love that is Prema. That is love that is the nature of the soul in its relationship with Krishna.</p>
<p>The mood of the gopis – to give Krsna pleasure</p>
<p>When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained “Jivera svarupa hoy krishnera nitya das” that the soul is eternal servant of Krishna, This is that inherent nature. This is what it means to serve on the spiritual platform. And the Gopis of Vrindavan; even the greatest Sannyasis like Sukadeva Goswami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa and Sanatan Goswami, Raghunath Das Goswami, They have revealed to the world that the purity the intimacy of the love of the Gopi’s is unparalled even in the spiritual world, why because they have not even a tinge of desire for their own purposes. Their hearts, their bodies their minds, their everything is absolutely and constantly dedicated to happiness to Krishna. We read about how the Gopi’s dress themselves very beautifully, they put on cosmetics and fragrances and they comb their hair and put flowers. Now in this world, so many ladies do that and men do it in their own way also, but the Gopi’s , they only want to look beautiful because, Krishna wanted to enjoy it. It’s not that they want to look beautiful; it’s that they know Krishna wants to enjoy their beauty. And Caitanya Caritamrita tells us how the gopis, they make themselves so beautiful. And when Krishna sees their beauty, His beauty increases, due to the happiness of seeing their beauty. And when Gopis see Krishna’s beauty increase, because of the happiness of seeing their beauty, seeing his happiness, their beauty increases more. Because they see they are making Krishna happy by their beauty, so they want to be more beautiful and they become more beautiful and then Krishna becomes more beautiful, and then they become more beautiful and then Krishna becomes more beautiful and they become more beautiful and Krishna becomes more beautiful and I could spend the rest of the class just going on. It goes on for eternity. Now you may think this must be boring, but it’s not boring. It’s what everybody is seeking, the reciprocation of Love. Krishna’s only pleasure is to giving happiness to His devotees. And his devotees’ only happiness is giving pleasure to Krishna. And the gopis have perfected that art to the supreme degree.</p>
<p>Sometimes it’s asked Krishna left Vrindavan and went to Mathura and later to Dwaraka and the residents of Vrindavan, why did they stay there, over a hundred years. Why? Why didn’t they just move to Dwaraka. They could be with Krishna every day. The reason is because they wanted to give happiness to Krishna. They knew that Krishna derived the greatest pleasure only in Vrindavan , nowhere else does his lila compare. And Krishna promised the gopis, I will come back to enjoy Vrindavan pastimes with you in the forests of Kadamba trees on the bank of the Yamuna. I’ll be back. This is where I find the most pleasure. So for Krishna’s pleasure they remained there, they couldn’t go anywhere else. And they remained there. We know that beautiful story where the gopis are willing to suffer in hell for billions of years if by doing so they will Krishna one moment of relief from His headache. And they don’t think about it. It’s not that they were calculating what it would be like. Such Love is impossible in this material world; The gopis have completely spiritual bodies because they have absolutely no false egos. There is no selfishness, everything is for Krishna . The amazing contradiction is when you have absolutely no concern for your own happiness Krishna forces you to be happy. The gopis don’t want happiness they only want Krishna’s happiness. But Krishna reciprocated with that Love by giving them unlimited happiness. The happiness of giving. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu explains how Daruka was fanning Krishna and he was feeling ecstatic symptoms, which was causing his limbs to tremble and therefore he could not fan properly. So he was praying for his ecstatic symptoms to go away, because it was interfering with how he could give pleasure to the Lord. And gopis when they are fanning Krishna or serving Krishna in so many ways, some times they are in such ecstasy of Love that tears flood their eyes and they cant see what they were doing for Krishna. Let these ecstasies go away, I don’t want them. I only want Krishna’s happiness, this is Bhakti. As long as we are concerned with our own happiness, we can never really be happy. When we have no more concern for our own happiness and we repose all of our energies and desires in Krishna’s happiness then Krishna reciprocates and showers unlimited happiness upon us. That is his selfless love. And of all the Gopis, the supreme most is revealed in the Srimad Bhagavatam, in the 10th canto, where in under the Vamsi Vat tree, on the full moon night of Sharat season, Krishna plays His flute the fifth note and He specifically calls through the song for the gopis to come. What a musician! We hear how beautiful this flute is and this violin and Gaura vani prabhu’s beautiful voice. Whatever we are hearing from these wonderful devotional musicians, they are being empowered by Krishna because of their sincerity. But all arts originate in their full perfection in the absolute truth. Everything is based on Love.</p>
<p>When Krishna plays His flute, the intimate love of His heart manifests through His breath into the holes of the flute and is carried by that song, through the atmosphere, into the ears of the gopis, and then directly into their hearts. Where they are conquered. Lord Caitanya explains when Krishna plays His flute and this love of his heart is manifesting in this divine musical sound vibration and its personally for each gopi. And when it enters into their ears its like a bird that makes a nest to block the ears from everything and anything else. And then that sound goes right into the heart and plunders their entire consciousness. The gopis were helpless they left everything , their reputation and went to see Krishna. And Krishna told them to go home. And the gopis crying we don’t want to go home, we’ve come here only for you. But understand they were only saying those things because they knew that Krishna wanted them to do so. Krishna wanted to Dance with them, so they were presenting so many arguments that we want to dance with you. And K danced and He manifested himself in between each Gopi. But then it appeared that they were all becoming proud thinking Krishna’s only with me. So, He disappeared. And in that feeling of separation, they were going mad, totally engrossed in Krsna. If only we could have this experience, we just go on with our lives. The gopis, they were talking to each other, they were enacting Krsna’s various pastimes with each other, they were asking the trees, the birds, the stars, the moon, “Where is Sri Nandanandana?” All to give their hearts for Krsna’s pleasure.</p>
<p>Why Sukhadeva Goswami never mentions the names of young gopis in Srimad Bhagvatam</p>
<p>Now, Sukadev Goswami, he did not mention the names of any of the young gopis in the entire Srimad Bhagavatam. He mentions Yasoda and some of older Gopis, but there is not a single gopi’s name of the younger gopis of the Madhurya rasa. The reason – because the love of the gopis is so great. And they give such pleasure to Krsna, that if Sukadev Goswami, even once, speak any gopi’s name, he was afraid, he would go into a trance, and not be able to continue the narration. And Parikshit maharaj was going to die in seven days. By the time he was in 10th canto, there was only a few days left. So, out of compassion, he very carefully did not speak their names. But then, he comes to that point where all gopis are searching for Krsna. These are the topmost, highest most intimate transcendentalists. Those who give the most pleasure to the Lord and those who receive the greatest degree of ecstasy from God. And amongst them, they saw the footprints of one Gopi, who Krsna left everyone else to be along with. And at that point, Sukadev Goswami, he couldn’t say Her name, but he almost said Her name. anaradhito nunam bhagavan hari iswara. That Krsna left all of us, Govinda left all of us for this one gopi who loves and serves with greatest devotion. The greatest, the ultimate of all the devotees. And that is Srimati Radharani. All the gopis are expansions of Sri Radha, all love of God in every living entities heart is part and parcel of Sri Radha’s love. She is the complete unlimited reservoir of all love, and Krsna is the complete object of all love. The pastimes of Radha and Krsna are the purest form of spiritual revelation. The highest and most intimate revelation of the Absolute truth.</p>
<p>Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s appearance</p>
<p>As it was spoken of this morning, many deities of Krsna, self-manifested or were carved by Krsna’s grand-son, Vajranabha. And the great devotees, the goswamis worshipped Radha & Krsna in the form of Krsna, knowing, that in the very core of Krsna’s heart is Sri Radha. So when they worship Krsna, their main focus is on the pleasure of Sri Radha as being an assistant to serve, to be a part of Radha’s love for Krsna. So it was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His followers who so mercifully revealed Srimati Radharani super-excellence even to the people of this world. And deities of Srimati Radharani began to be put along with Krsna. Krsna is all-knowing, he knows everything past, present and future, he knows everything in everyone’s heart. But there is one thing that Krsna longed to know, the nature of Srimati Radharani’s love. The nature of his own pleasure potency. To understand the glory of Sri Radharani’s love, the sweetness she realizes in experiencing his love and what she relishes by seeing him, by tasting his qualities, Krsna. To personally taste the deepest of all secrets. But also to hear that secret and give everyone and anyone without discrimination, of Sri Radha’s love. That is Lord Caitanya’s mercy.</p>
<p>Parama karuna pahu dui jana, nitai gaurachandra…</p>
<p>Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda are most merciful. They have given what no other incarnation has ever given. Basu Gosh in his beautiful prayer, he cries, if Lord Gauranga had not come, who would have ever understood, the glory of Radharani’s love. What would be the purpose of my life? What would I live for? Lord Caitanya and his true followers, have reveled this great secret to us.</p>
<p>There are many beautiful pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna which are revealed in the puranas, in the books of great acaryas and goswamis. But what is most important is to understand the spirit of the selfless service of Sri Radha and the gopis. Because unless we enter into that spirit, we cannot really access the great treasure of their pastimes. We must follow in the footsteps of Gopis of vrindavan through selfless devotional service.</p>
<p>How Krsna who is Rasabihari, eternally longs to taste the sweetness of Sri Radha’s love</p>
<p>How Krsna who is Rasabihari, eternally longs to taste the sweetness of Sri Radha’s love. Srila Prabhupada explains it in very simple way. That Krishna is Madanmohan that means his beauty; his grace will conquer even Cupid. That means all of the temptations of this material existence, that are keeping us tightly bound. But Sri Radha is Madanmohanmohini, Which means she conquers the conqueror of Cupid by her love. This is Vrinadavan, love is supreme. Love conquers the beloved. Sri Radha is Vrindavaneshwari, She is the eternal queen, When Sri Radha will become angry with Krishna and she does so only for his pleasure, than Krishna will perform so many wonderful pastimes just to show his subordination to Radha’s love. Sometimes he would dance like a peacock just to make her laugh; sometimes he would place his head at her feet and wash her lotus feet with his tears just to break her anger. Sometimes Krishna will block the path of Sri Radha and the Gopi’s to exact tax in the form of the clay pots filled with yogurt or ghee that are on their heads. But actually what Krishna is doing is he is begging, he is begging for their love in the form of these offerings. He is dependent on the love of his devotees that is Vrindavan. Though Krishna is Abhijna and Svarat, he is all knowing and independent but by his own sweet will he becomes dependent on the love of his devotees.</p>
<p>The Harinaam Sankirtan movement is the eternal pastimes of Radha and Krishna in the spiritual world.”Golokera Prema dhana harinaam sankirtan” and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krishna tasting the sweetness of Radha’s love has brought the eternal pastime of Naam sankirtan from the spiritual world of Vrindavan to this world and is actually inviting us to engage in this spiritual pastime that is eternally being enacted in Goloka. And when we perform Naam sankirtan with the proper selfless service attitude, that our acharyas have taught, the lord is giving us entrance into Radha and Krishna’s pastimes.</p>
<p>Mood for approaching Radharani today – As a beggar</p>
<p>Today Dwarkadhish prabhu was explaining that when we come before Srimati Radharani we are beggars, we are begging for that love,</p>
<p>We are begging for that grace. When she is pleased with us through our service to Guru, service to the Vaishnavas, through our sincerity than she could remove all the obstacles of lust and envy and anger and pride and greed and illusion and open our hearts and reveal that deep mystery of Prema bhakti. Radhashtami is the day when we celebrate the ultimate bestower of spiritual love. And Srila Prabhupada explains if we are sincere, if we are serious, if we have no ulterior motives than Srimati Radharani easily gives that Love. It is interesting that the Gopis, they are just simple Cowherd girls.</p>
<p>The gopis, they are simple cowherd girls. Laxmi devi, the godess of fortune, She wanted to enter into the Raslila of Krsna. She performed tapasya for 1000s of years for that purpose. She left Vaikunta. But she was not allowed to cross the Yamuna, to enter into the Raslila. She was given the benediction that she could see it. But in order to participate, she had to give up her love in aiswarya bhav. Another words, She had to give that conception that she was a queen. She had to milk cows, she had to pick up cow dung and carry it on her head, She had to go to the Yamuna and fill buckets of water and carry it on her head, some times long distances, do household jobs. The simplicity of Gopi’s love, even Laxmi is longing, praying, and doing tapasya to taste. But she cannot imagine that. Who is Laxmi devi? She is Radharani herself in an expanded form.</p>
<p>And Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His divine servant, Srila Prabhupad, is giving us, you and me and all the rest of us tonight, is giving us the opportunity to all of us that even Laxmi can’t achieve. That is Radharani’s mercy manifesting through Her form of Lord Caitanya. When Srila Prabhupad was on the Jaladuta, he was praying to Srimati Radharani to empower Him. And it is Her grace. Her grace manifesting through Lord Caitanya’s heart. Lord Caitanya’s heart is Radharani’s heart. It is Her grace that empowered Srila Prabhupad to give us the greatest of all treasures – access the deepest of all mysteries, the highest essence in perfection of all spiritual knowledge.</p>
<p>On Radhastami we express our gratitude by begging, begging for the chance to serve. Begging for a chance to chant the holy names of the Lord, to hear the glories of the Lord in that spirit in pure and selfless service. It is the age of quarrel and hypocrisy and all quarrel, and all hypocrisy is due to selfish motivations.</p>
<p>trinad api sunicena, taror api sahishnuna, amanina manadena, kirtaniya sada hari</p>
<p>Caintanya Mahaprabhu’s cure to Kali’s influence</p>
<p>Caitanya mahaprabhu gave us such a simple and powerful cure to all the ills and sufferings of Kali. If we can just chant the holy name in this humble state of mind, selfless servitude, following in the footsteps of the Gopis, there can be no real quarrel. And if there is a quarrel, it’s only to enhance the experience of our love. In this world, quarrel enhances our dislike, our envy, our repulsion. In the spiritual world, quarrel increases the unity of our heart, by giving dynamic energy to our love for Krsna and for each other. Sometimes, Lord Nityananda and Advaita would fight, they would throw rice on each other, they would call each other very bad names. And Vrindavan Das Takur explains, anyone who takes the side of two Vaisnavas who fight and offends the other, he will fall down. He explains, these quarrels are simply expressions of their love for each other. Now I don’t know what it’s like between husband and wife but it’s definitely not like that, in this world but on the spiritual platform, where there is</p>
<p>trnand api sunichena,<br /> taror api sahishnuna,<br /> amanina mana dena,<br /> kirtaniya sada hari</p>
<p>Where we focus on the chanting of the holy name in this spirit of selfless unconditional service for the pleasure of Krsna, for the pleasure of Vaisnavas, for the pleasure of all living beings then that type of quarrel and hypocrisy which divides us ceases to exist. Today’s world is full of conflict because our hearts are so full of conflict, because we have so many ulterior motives and so many selfish desires. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srimati Radharani has given us this gift – to rise above all of these superficial disagreements and to unite on the basis of selfless humble servitude and when we chant the holy names in that spirit Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur explains then the entire spiritual world is relived to us from within our hearts. So on this day let us pray, let us pray to Sri Radharani with deep and genuine gratitude and for these qualities that SP has so mercifully emphasized. To cultivate these qualities of humility, gratitude and selfless service to Krsna as the top priority in every aspect of our lives and let us pray that we beg, we beg for such selfless service as we cry out those Holy Names that have descended from Goloka Vrindavan to transport us to the highest perfection.</p>
<p>Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare</p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>
<p><strong>Source :</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30894">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30894</a></p></div>Srila Prabhupada’s Presentation of Srimati Radharanihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/srila-prabhupada-s-presentation-of-srimati-radharani2023-09-22T07:30:00.000Z2023-09-22T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515202203,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515202203?profile=original" width="400" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Knowledge about Srimati Radharani, Her relationship with Krishna, Her relationships with Her sakhis and gopi manjaris is expanded throughout the confidential literatures of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. In recent years these books are becoming more accessible to English speaking readers. We are becoming more aware, at least theoretically, that devotion to Srimati Radharani is the topmost expression of Krishna consciousness. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says in one of his songs, “Srimati Radhika is the teacher of the mellow of conjugal love. The pure love between Radha and Madhava is meant to be discussed and contemplated.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">But there are many warnings that one should never mistake Srimati Radharani and Her affairs with Krishna to be material dealings of man and woman. There is a danger in being curious about Srimati Radharani but not hearing in the proper way. I wanted to therefore impart Prabhupada’s presentation of Srimati Radharani and confining myself to whatever I have found in his books and lectures and talks. You will find that although Srila Prabhupada was on the one hand very reserved in speaking about Radharani he nevertheless imparted to us a sweet and pure understanding of Radharani and the practical means to advance ourselves in Her service.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In his translations and purports to relevant sections of Nectar of Devotion, Krishna Book and Caitanya-caritamrta, Prabhupada deals in all the intricacies of Srimati Radharani’s love for Krishna. I have gone through these many section especially looking for statements where Prabhupada is speaking personally his own realization in his own words.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I can remember Srila Prabhupada speaking about Srimati Radharani in the summer of 1966 at 26 Second Ave. in New York City.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I always remember Prabhupada on Radhastami because I received first initiation from Prabhupada on this day, September 23rd, 1966. Prabhupada’s qualifications for initiation were very easy in those days and so I could have been initiated at the first initiation in ISKCON which was on Janmastami day 1966. But I didn’t feel ready for the surrender of my so-called free activities. It seemed too much to give up and so I passed up the initiation.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">But a few days after that I began to regret that I didn’t get initiated. Then I heard from one of the devotees that Prabhupada was planning to hold another initiation in two weeks on the occasion of the appearance day of Srimati Radharani. So then Prabhupada began to explain to us something about Srimati Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">He said that on Janmastami we had to fast all day until midnight because Krishna is very strong and hard. But on Radhastami we would only have to fast until noon because Radharani is soft and kind.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I therefore decided that I would ask Prabhupada if I could get initiated on Radharani’s appearance day. What had seemed too hard two weeks previously on Krishna’s birthday now seemed easier under the protection of Srimati Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada’s first explanation of Radharani is an unforgettable sutra. Prabhupada said that Srimati Radharani is the best devotee of Krishna. Because She loves Him the most.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada then explained that Srimati Radharani was interested in the welfare of all devotees and that we could pray to Her. He said you can’t go directly to Krishna but if Krishna’s devotee is pleased with you then he or she will recommend you to Krishna and Krishna will be obliged to give you His mercy. This is especially true if you get the mercy of Srimati Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada put knowledge of Radharani in the very first books that he translated in America, Teachings of Lord Caitanya 1967, Krishna Book 1968, and Nectar of Devotion in 1969. In the Nectar of Devotion, under the category of “Attracting Krishna”, the characteristics of pure devotional service, Prabhupada explained the principle of approaching Krishna through Radha:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To perform devotional service means to follow in the footsteps of Radharani, and the devotees in Vrndavana put themselves under the care of Radharani in order to achieve perfection in their devotional service. In other words, devotional service is not an activity of the material world; it is directly under the control of Radharani. In Bhagavad Gita it is confirmed that the mahatmas or great souls, are under the protection of daivi prakrti, the internal energy—Radharani. So, being directly under the control of the internal potency of Krishna, devotional service attracts even Krishna Himself.” (NOD pg. 16)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada’s remark that Krishna was hard and Radharani was soft and kind, is collaborated by a statement he made in the Nectar of Devotion under Krishna’s quality of “compassionate”:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Instead of offering obeisances to Krishna, devotees offer obeisances to His compassionate nature. Actually , because Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is very difficult to approach Him. But the devotees, taking advantage of His compassionate nature, which is represented by Radharani, always pray to Radharani for Krishna’s compassion.” (NOD pg. 176)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada sometimes described Radharani as Krishna’s tenderhearted female counter part.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">And for praying to Radharani, the easiest way is to address Her in Hare Krishna Mantra which is made up of names of Radha and Krishna. :O Energy of the Lord (Hara) O Lord, please engage me in Your service.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada did not broadcast explicitly the glories of Radharani as much as he did those of Lord Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And yet he does inform us that, according to Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta, Srimati Radharani is the Queen of Vrndavana. She has the power to attract even Krishna. As stated by Prabhupada in the Nectar of Devotion:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Krishna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Krishna. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani. Krishna is called Madana Mohana, which means He is so attractive that He can defeat the attraction of thousands of Cupids. But Radharani is still more attractive, for She can attract Krishna. Therefore devotees call Her Madana Mohana Mohini, the attractor of the attractor of Cupid.” (NOD 16)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Why then was Srila Prabhupada so reserved and grave in speaking about Radharani?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">One reason Prabhupada was reserved was that we were such neophytes. Also Prabhupada was preaching in the West and it is the nature of materialistic persons outside of Vedic culture to take Radha Krishna affairs as ordinary sex affairs. Prabhupada explained this with the example of the cow who experienced fire in the barn. Once there was a fire in a barn and a cow became so frightened that thereafter whenever she saw the color red she panicked. In a similar way, conditioned souls are so traumatized or addicted to sex pleasure, that as soon as they see a picture of Krishna embracing Radha they think “Yes that’s the same as what I feel for my girlfriend.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada was also very afraid that if the devotees took prematurely to Radha-Krishna affairs they would become prakrta sahajiyas, those who take confidential matters too cheaply. He told about a man who said, “Whenever I hear the name Radha I always think of a barber’s wife whose name is Radha.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the Preface to the Krishna Book Prabhupada begins, “In these Western countries, when someone sees a cover of a book like Krishna, he immediately asks “Who is Krishna? Who is the girl with Krishna?” But it’s significant that Prabhupada then completes the Preface by answering the question who is Krishna but he does not mention who Radha is.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Another example of Prabhupada’s reserved mood is that he instructed us not to show the feet of the Radharani Deity although Krishna’s feet should be exposed.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">We can get further insight into Prabhupada’s presentation by study of some of the lectures that he gave on the occasion of Radhastami. One lecture was on August 30, 1968 in Montreal.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada explained that Radha-Krishna philosophy is a very great philosophy and is understood on the liberated stage, not on the conditioned stage.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">He said on the conditioned stage we worship Laksmi Narayana by following regulative principles.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“So in this vidhi marga, when you have no love for God or Krishna, you have to follow the regulative principles and automatically…there is practice. When practicing. Just like you practice this mrdanga playing. In the beginning it is not in order but when you become well versed in the practice, the sound will become so nice.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">This is an interesting example because in 1968 the devotees were just learning to play the mrdanga and their beats were very rudimentary but Prabhupada encouraged them that they would get better. And we see that nowadays in ISKCON there are many expert mrdanga players who have learnt by practice and by associating with other good players.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Similarly, when we are engaged by regulative principles in the worship of Radha Krishna, that is called vidhi marga. And actually when you are on the love platform, that is called raga marga. So without vidhi marga, if anyone wants to learn the raga marga immediately, that is foolishness. That is foolishness. Nobody can pass M.A. examination without going through the regulative principles or primary schools and colleges.<br /> So therefore I do not indulge in the discussions of Radha and Krishna so easily. Rather, go on with the regulative principle at the present moment. Gradually as you become purified, as you become on the transcendental platform, you will understand what is Radha Krishna.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So Prabhupada is very strict about not jumping ahead but at the same time he indicates that the path of vaidhi marga will lead upward, as certain as regular mrdanga playing will lead to expert mrdanga playing.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Don’t try to understand Radha Krishna very quickly. It is a very big subject. If we want to understand Radha Krishna very quickly, then there will be so many prakrta sahajiyas. In India there are prakrta sahajiyas. Just like Radha Krishna dancing. Radha Krishna has become a plaything. The painting Radha Krishna, Krishna’s kissing Radha, Radha’s kissing. These are all nonsense. Radha Krishna philosophy has to be understood by the liberated person, not by the conditioned soul. So we shall await for the fortunate moment when we are liberated then we shall understand Radha Krishna pranaya vikrtir.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In this 1968 lecture Prabhupada then asked for a harmonium and he began to sing Rupa Gosvami’s song “Radhe jaya jaya madhava dayite”.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Although Prabhupada was very cautious in his own way he nevertheless distributed the sweetness of Srimati Radharani’s love for Krishna. In this 1968 lecture he went on to explain “Radhe jaya jaya madhava dayite”:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“She’s so dear to Krishna.” Everyone is trying to love Krishna, but Krishna is trying to love somebody. How great She is. Just try to understand. The whole world, the whole universe all living entities are trying to love Krishna. Krishna prema. Krishna prema is so valuable but Krishna is after Radharani. Just see how Radharani is great. Try to understand the greatness of Radharani. She’s so great, we have to offer our respect. And how is she?<br /> gokula taruni mandala mahite.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Taruni taruni means young girls. You will see the pictures, they are all young girls, She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so beautiful.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">gokula taruni mandala mahite damodara rati vardana vese.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">She always dresses Herself so nicely that Damodara, Krishna, because attracted by Her beauty.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">She is the only lovable object of Krishna and She is the Queen of Vrndavana. You will find in Vrndavana, if you go to Vrndavana, everyone is worshipping Radharani. Rani means queen. They are always speaking “Jaya Radhe”. Radharani. All the devotees in Vrndavana they are worshipers of Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">(In another lecture that he gave in Vrndavana around 1972 Prabhupada was explaining that there is no one as great as Krishna, matah parataram nanyat. But then he paused and said, “There is one person greater than Krishna. That is Radharani.” He said, “But that is out of love.”)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In his 1968 Radhastami lecture Prabhupada then went on explaining the song karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite/sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Now somebody may say, O you are so great learned scholar, you are so great saintly person and you are begging mercy from an ordinary girl? How is that? Therefore Rupa Goswami says, “O, this is not ordinary girl.”<br /> Sanaka sanatana varnita carite.<br /> This girl’s description is possible to be made only by great saintly persons like Sanaka and Sanatana. She is not ordinary.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In Prabhupada’s 1969 lecture on Radhastami which he gave in London, he said “Radharani is the pleasure potency, hladhini shakti.” Prabhupada taught from the very beginning and always re-emphasized—that just as we have a desire to love and have pleasure, so that desire exists in the Supreme Person, Krishna. But when He wants to desire, He doesn’t desire pleasure from an ordinary person. He expands into the pleasure potency and that is Radharani. So actually Radharani is not different from Krishna. As Prabhupada puts it in the introduction to Teachings of Lord Caitanya, “Without Radha, there is no meaning to Krishna, and without Krishna there is no meaning to Radha. Because of this, the Vaisnava philosophy first of all pays obeisances to and worships the internal pleasure potency of the Supreme Lord. Thus the Lord and His potency are always referred to as Radha Krishna.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In that ‘69 Radhastami lecture Prabhupada began to sing the mantra, “Tapta kancana gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari” He also mentioned that we should approach Radharani and then we can get Krishna’s favor.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“If we approach Krishna through Radharani, through Her mercy, then it become very easy. If Radharani recommend, “This devotee is very nice” then Krishna immediately accepts, however a fool I may be. Because it is recommended by Radharani, Krishna accepts. Therefore in Vrndavana you will find all the devotees, they are chanting more Radha’s name than Krishna’s. Wherever you go, you will find the devotees are addressing “Jaya Radhe”. You still will find in Vrndavana. They are glorifying Radharani. They are more interested in worshipping Radharani. Because however fallen I may be, if somewhere or another I can please Radharani then it’s very easy for me to understand Krishna.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada criticized people who didn’t understand Radharani even if they did live in Vrndavana. But somehow he was favorably moved by the simple chanting of Radhe Radhe even by seemingly ordinary people in Vrndavana. I remember going on many morning walks with Prabhupada on Bhaktivedanta Swami Marga and sometimes rikshaw wallas would stop their rikshaw, get down and take off their shoes and make obeisances and say “Jaya Radhe”. In his lectures in other parts of the world Prabhupada would talk about it. And through Prabhupada’s eyes we Western disciples come to think that this was the essence of Vrndavana where even ordinary people chant Jaya Radhe. Nowhere else in the whole world, even in India, do you find that. So even if their chanting is not with full understanding Prabhupada liked it.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Another indication of Prabhupada’s deep affection for Srimati Radharani was that he would always begin his lecture by singing “Jaya Radha Madhava”. We don’t find that other Gaudiya Vaisnavas begin their lectures by singing this song as a regulative principle. But Prabhupada always did it and sometimes he would fall into deep ecstasies and not be able to speak.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">We also know that Prabhupada’s father prayed that he could please become a devotee of Srimati Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Also, when Prabhupada was on the boat to America he wrote a poem in which he said, “My dear brothers, you cannot get success in Krishna consciousness unless you worship Srimati Radharani.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Another important point is that as Radharani worshipped Krishna in the mood of separation, after Krishna left Vrndavana, so Lord Caitanya was in this mood. And Lord Caitanya’s demonstration of separation was taken up by the six Gosvamis. Prabhupada indicates that this should also be taken up by all sincere and serious devotee in this line. There are a few examples of his saying that.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Here is one from the 1969 Radhastami lecture. Prabhupada quoted “He radhe vrajadevike ca lalite, he nanda suno kutah”.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Where, Radharani, where are You? Where are Your associates? Where are You, Nanda Suno, the son of Nanda Maharaja, Krishna? Where are you all? They were searching after. They never said, “I have seen Krishna dancing with the gopis. Last night I saw.” This is sahajiya. They take everything very cheap. They take Krishna very cheap and Radharani very cheap as if they can see every night. No. The gosvamis don’t teach us like that. They are searching after.<br /> “So we have to follow the footprints of the Gosvamis how to search out Krishna and Radharani. (We may do this in Vrndavana) or within our heart….This process of devotional service is taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Don’t say that very easily we have seen Krishna or seen Radharani in Rasa Lila. No not like that. Feel the separation. The more you feel separation from Krishna you should understand that you are advancing.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Prabhupada told us, If you engage your tongue in the service of the Lord He will reveal Himself to you, “Here I am.” We should feel separation of Krishna just like Radharani, as Lord Caitanya teaches, and engage our tongues in the service of the Lord, then one day when we are mature we will see Krishna eye to eye.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">This same point is described in Antya Lila Chapter 14 of Caitanya-caritamrta. Krishna dasa Kaviraja tells us that Radharani’s emotions after seeing Uddhava exactly corresponded to those of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then in the purport Prabhupada says that some theosophists declare, “because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, such cultivation of separation is easy for Him but difficult for the living entity. And so we can approach Krishna in any way we like. To nullify this idea, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated practically how one can achieve love of Krishna by adopting Srimati Radharani’s mood in separation from Krishna.” (Antya lila 14 14)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Although these confidential matters are not to be cheaply taken up, yet such an esoteric doctrine as separation from Krishna in the mood of Radharani, is something Prabhupada recommends.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lamented, “I found Krishna in Vrndavana, and now I have again lost Him and come to Kuruksetra. Unless one is a very highly advanced devotee, he cannot understand these intricate feelings. The author of Caitanya-caritamrta, however, has tried to explain this divyon mada as far as possible, and it is our duty simply to appreciate it as far as possible. Therefore the author has made the following request, “My dear readers, simply try to hear this description with faith and love. That will help you to understand transcendental ecstasy and at last you will achieve love of God very easily.” (Antya 14.37 purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the Krishna Book Prabhupada also recommend to all devotees the mood of Radharani in separation. He says that the six Gosvamis were in this mood and so was Lord Caitanya.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“He was in the role of Radharani, feeling separation of Krishna. Those who are in the disciplic succession of Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya should also feel the separation of Krishna, worshipping His transcendental form and discussing His transcendental teachings, His pastimes, His qualities entourage and association. The spiritual masters should enrich the devotees to the highest devotional perfection. Feeling constant separation while engaged in the service of the Lord is the perfection of Krishna consciousness.” (Krishna Book, Chapter 34)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">There are just two more short quotes that I have chosen because of Prabhupada’s personal use of words in describing Radharani. This give us another glimpse into the fact that although he didn’t indulge in talking so much about Radharani, his feelings are very great within.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">One statement occurs in the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam where he is discussing the feelings of separation felt by the members of the Yadu dynasty for Krishna:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The feelings of separation cannot be described, but it can simply be imagined by devotees only. After His separation from Vrndavana and the innocent rural cowherd boys, girls, ladies and others, hey all felt shock through their lives, and the separation of Radharani, the most beloved cowherd girl, is beyond expression. Once they met at Kuruksetra during a solar eclipse, and the feeling which was expressed by them is heart rending.” (SB 1.10. verses 9 & 10 purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">A final quote is from Caitanya-caritamrta about the Supreme position of Radharani even in relationship to Krishna. This is spoken by Lord Caitanya while dancing at the Ratha Yatra and speaking about Radha and Krishna:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Sri Krishna continued, all the inhabitants of Vrndavana dhama—my mother, father, cowherd boyfriends and everything else—are like my life and soul. And among all the inhabitants of Vrndavana, the gopis are my very life and soul. Among the gopis, You Srimati Radharani, are the chief. Therefore you are the very life of My life.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the purport Prabhupada says:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srimati Radharani is the center of all Vrndavana’s activities. In Vrndavana, Krishna is the instrument of Srimati Radharani; therefore all the inhabitants of Vrndavana still chant “Jaya Radhe”. From Krishna’s own statement given herein, it appears that Radharani is the Queen of Vrndavana and that Krishna is simply Her decoration. Krishna is known as Madana Mohana, the enchanter of Cupid, but Srimati Radharani is the enchanter of Krishna. (Madhya lila 13.150 verse and purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So we like to hear of Srimati Radharani from Srila Prabhupada. It is the safe and most expert way. Because, as Srila Prabhupada writes, “The spiritual master is always considered one of the confidential associates of Srimati Radharani or a manifested representative of Sri Nityananda prabhu.” (CC Adi 1.46)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"> <a href="http://www.sdgonline.org/radha/radharani_prabhupada.html">http://www.sdgonline.org/radha/radharani_prabhupada.html</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Source: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30955">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30955</a></p></div>Radhastami – Appearance Of Srimati Radharani 2022https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/radhastami-appearance-of-srimati-radharani-20222022-09-02T06:30:00.000Z2022-09-02T06:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10795679684,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10795679684?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="500" /></p>
<p>Radhastami is a special festival in Mayapur. Srimati Radharani is Navadvipeshwari, the giver of Navadvip dhama. In her divine abode, join us in celebrating Her Divine Appearance Day. A two day festival with Radha Prem dhan Kirtan Mela and Adhivas festival on 3rd Sep and on 4th sep, new otufits will be offered to Sri Sri Radha Madhava Asta Sakhis. Unparalleled glories of our Divine Mother will flow as nectar in the morning Special Radhastami class. At 11 am, we will bathe or offer Maha Abhisheka to Their Lordships Sri Radha Madhava, followed by elaborate Bhog Offering, Pushpanjali and Maha arti. Feast prasadam will be served to all the community devotees, Brahmacaries and Pilgrims to Mayapur. In the evening, festivities continue with deep dhan ( lamp offering) and Radhikastakam Prayers.</p>
<p>Honoring and serving Sri Radhastami, is a wonderful way to obtain the mercy of the dham and the divine couple. Hence don’t miss!!</p>
<p>Prasadam Seva<br /> Visiting Devotees – ₨ 200,001.00<br /> Community Devotees – ₨ 300,001.00<br /> Brahmacharis – ₨ 45,001.00<br /> Adhivas Prasadam – ₨ 25,001.00</p>
<p>Deity Sevas:<br /> Bhoga Offering – ₨ 50,001.00<br /> Cake – ₨ 25,001.00<br /> Deity Garlands – ₨ 60,001.00<br /> Temple Flower Decorations – ₨ 50,001.00<br /> Altar Flower Decorations – ₨ 45,001.00<br /> Flower Abhishek – ₨ 50,001.00</p>
<p>Abhishek Seva<br /> Milk – ₨ 5,001.00<br /> Yogurt – ₨ 5,001.00<br /> Honey – ₨ 6,001.00<br /> Ghee – ₨ 7,001.00<br /> Sugar Candy – ₨ 5,501.00<br /> Fruit Juice – ₨ 12,501.00<br /> Green Coconut – ₨ 4,001.00<br /> Pancha Pushpa Water – ₨ 15,001.00<br /> Rose Water – ₨ 3,001.00<br /> Chandan – ₨ 10,001.00<br /> Abhishek Clothes – ₨ 2,501.00<br /> Tulasi Puja – Rs.2001<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="https://www.mayapur.com/2022/radhastami-appearani-of-srimati-radharani-2022/">https://www.mayapur.com/2022/radhastami-appearani-of-srimati-radharani-2022/</a></p></div>Srimati Radharani’s Appearancehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/srimati-radharani-s-appearance-12022-09-02T05:30:00.000Z2022-09-02T05:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10801559885,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10801559885?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>The transcription of a lecture Srila Prabhupada gave on September 18, 1969 in London, on the occasion of the appearance anniversary of Srimati Radharani.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: (chants maṅgalācaraṇa prayers) Today is birth, appearance day of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Rādhāṣṭamī. Fifteen days after Kṛṣṇa’s birth, Rādhārāṇī appeared. (pause) Rādhārāṇī is Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure potency. Rādhā-kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī-śaktiḥ.</p>
<p>The Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has got varieties of energies, as it is confirmed in the Vedic literature. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śruyate. Na tasya kāryaṁ karaṇaṁ ca vidyate. The Supreme Lord has nothing to do personally. Na tasya kāryam. He has nothing to do. Just like here in this material world we find some very big man, political head or business head; personally, he has nothing to do. Because he has got so many assistants, secretaries, that personally he hasn’t got to do anything. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full with six opulences, why He will have to do something? No. He has got many assistants. Sarvataḥ pāṇi-pādas tat. In the Bhagavad-gītā: “He has got everywhere His hands and legs.” You’ll find Kṛṣṇa, He has nothing to do. He’s simply engaged in enjoyment with gopīs and Rādhārāṇī. He’s not engaged in killing the demons. When Kṛṣṇa kills the demons He’s Vasudeva Kṛṣṇa; He’s not original Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa expands Himself. First expansion is Baladeva. From Baladeva—Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vāsudeva. So by the Vāsudeva feature He acts in Mathurā and Dvārakā. But Kṛṣṇa in His original feature, He remains in Vṛndāvana. One of the greatest fiction writers in Bengal, Bankimchandra Chatterjee, he misunderstood Kṛṣṇa that Kṛṣṇa of Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa of Dvārakā, and Kṛṣṇa of Mathurā, They’re different persons. Kṛṣṇa (is) the same, one, but He can expand Himself in millions and trillions of forms. Advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣam (Bs. 5.33). Advaita. Although ananta-rūpam, still, He’s ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣam, advaita. There is no such distinction.</p>
<p>So this Kṛṣṇa, when He wants to enjoy, what kind of enjoyment He will have? That has been discussed by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. Kṛṣṇa is Paraṁ Brahman. Brahman, Paramātmā, then Paraṁ Brahman. Absolute Truth, three different features. Someone is realizing the Absolute Truth as impersonal Brahman. Jnanis, those who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by mental speculation, by dint of his own knowledge, he’s realizing the Absolute Truth as impersonal Brahman. And those who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by meditation, yogis, they realize the Absolute Truth as Paramātmā. Paramātmā is situated in everyone’s heart. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati (Bg. 18.61). That feature, Paramātmā feature. Aṇḍantara-sthaṁ paramānu-cayāntara-sthaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. That Paramātmā feature is one expansion of Kṛṣṇa. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, athavā bahunaitena kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna ekāṁṣena viṣṭabhyāham. Ekāṁṣena. When Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna was trying to understand about different potential existence of Kṛṣṇa, so He explained in the Twelfth Chapter, “I am this. Amongst them, I am this. Amongst them…” Like that. And He concluded that “How far I shall go on? Better try to understand that only one plenary portion of Me, by entering this universe, the whole cosmic manifestation is existing.” Ekāṁṣena sthito jagat. Jagat. This material world is existing on one plenary portion of Kṛṣṇa. And Kṛṣṇa enters, aṇḍāntara-sthaṁ paramānu-cayāntara-stham, He enters within this universe. Without His entering, this universe cannot exist. Just like without the spirit soul’s entering within this body, this body cannot exist. As soon as the spirit soul goes out, immediately the body’s useless. However the body may be prime minister or anything else, as soon as the soul is out of this body, it is not worth even a farthing. Similarly, because Kṛṣṇa enters within this universe, therefore the universe has value. Otherwise it is simply a lump of matter; it has no value. Ekāṁṣena sthito jagat.</p>
<p>So try to understand Kṛṣṇa. And when Kṛṣṇa want to enjoy, what kind of enjoyment that shall be? Try to understand this point. Kṛṣṇa is so great; God is great, everyone knows. So when the great wants to enjoy, then what quality of enjoyment that should be? That is to be understood. Rādhā-kṛṣṇa… Therefore Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī has written a verse, rādhā-kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtiḥ. The loving affairs of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is not ordinary, these material loving affairs, although it appears like that. But one who cannot understand Kṛṣṇa, avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāḥ. Mūḍha, rascals, fools, they understand Kṛṣṇa as ordinary man. As soon as we take Kṛṣṇa as one of us… Mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritāṁ, paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ. These rascals, they do not know paraṁ bhavam. They try to imitate Kṛṣṇa’s līlā, rāsa-līlā. There are many rascals. So these things are going on. There is no understanding of Kṛṣṇa. To understand Kṛṣṇa is very difficult.</p>
<p>manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye yatatām api siddhānāṁ kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ (Bg. 7.3)</p>
<p>Out of millions of persons, one may try to make his life perfect. Everyone is working like animal. There’s no question of perfection of life. The animal propensities: eating, sleeping, mating and defending… So everyone is engaged like animals. They have no other business, just like animal, hogs, dogs, whole day and night working: “Where is stool? Where is stool?” And as soon as he gets some stool, gets some fat, “Where is sex? Where is sex?” No consideration of mother or sister. This is hog’s life.</p>
<p>So human life is not meant for hog civilization. So modern civilization is hog civilization, although it is polished with shirt and coat. So, we shall try to understand. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is for understanding Kṛṣṇa. For understanding Kṛṣṇa, it requires little labor, austerity, penance. Tapasya brahmacāryeṇa śamena damena ca. Tapasya. One has to undergo tapasya; brahmacārya, celibacy. Tapasya. Brahmacārya means stopping sex life or controlling sex life. Brahmacārya. Therefore Vedic civilization is, from the very beginning, to train the boys to become brahmacārī, celibacy. Not that modern days, the schools, boys and girls, ten years, twelve years, they’re enjoying. The brain is spoiled. They cannot understand higher things. The brain tissues are lost. So without becoming brahmacārī, nobody can understand spiritual life. Tapasya brahmacāryeṇa śamena damena ca. Śama means controlling the senses, controlling the mind; damena, controlling the senses; tyāgena; śaucena, cleanliness; tyāga, tyāga means charity. These are the processes for understanding oneself, self- realization. But in this age it is very difficult to undergo all these processes. Practically it is impossible. Therefore Lord Caitanya, Kṛṣṇa Himself, has made Himself easily available by one process:</p>
<p>harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā (Adi 17.21)</p>
<p>In this age, Kali-yuga… Kali-yuga is considered to be the most fallen age. We are thinking that we are making very much advance, but it is the most fallen age. Because people are becoming like animals. As the animals have no other interest than four principles of bodily necessities—eating, sleeping, mating and defending—so in this age people are interested with four principles of bodily want. They have no information of the soul, neither they are prepared to realize what is soul. That is the defect of this age. But human form of life is especially meant for realizing himself, “What I am?” That is the mission of human life. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. This life is meant for inquiring about Brahman. Brahman, Paramātmā, Bhagavān. These inquiries should be there. Jijñāsu. They are called jijñāsu, brahma- jijñāsa, jijñāsu, inquiry. As we inquire every morning, “What is the news today?” Immediately we pick newspaper. That inquisitiveness is there. But we are inquiring very base things only. There is no desire to inquire about the highest possibility, brahma-jñāna. That is the lack of this modern civilization. Inquiring how to earn money: divā cārthehayā rājan kuṭumba-bharaṇena vā (SB 2.1.3) Not only in this age… In this age it has become the principal factor, but in this material world everyone is engaged simply for these bodily necessities of life. Nidrayā hṛiyate naktam: at night they sleep very sound sleep, snoring. Or sex life. Nidrayā hṛiyate naktaṁ vyavāyena ca vā vayaḥ (SB 2.1.3). In this way they’re wasting time. And at daytime, divā cārthehayā rājan… And during daytime, “Where is money? Where is money? Where is money?” Artha ihāya. Kuṭumba- bharaṇena vā. And as soon as one gets money, then how to purchase things for family, that’s all. Shopping, storing. This is the engagement of materialistic life. Out of that, one who is actually intelligent… Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye (Bg. 7.3). Out of many such foolish persons engaged in sleeping, mating, earning money, and providing family with nice apartment and food… This is the general occupation. So out of many thousands of men like that, one is inquisitive how to make perfect this human form of life. Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye.</p>
<p>Siddhaye. Siddhi means perfection. So this life is meant for perfection. What is perfection? Perfection means that we do not want miserable condition of life, and we have to get out of it. That is perfection. Everyone is trying to get out of miserable condition of life. But they do not know what is the actual position of miserable life. Miserable condition of life: tri-tāpa-yantanaḥ. So this is called mukti, or liberation, from the misera… Ātyantika-duḥkha-nivṛttiḥ. Duḥkha, duḥkha means distress. So everybody is trying to get out of distress. But he does not know what is the ultimate goal of getting out of distress. Na te viduḥ. They do not know. Na te viduḥ svārtha- gatiṁ hi viṣṇum (SB 7.5.31). One can be out of distress when he approaches Viṣṇu. Tad viṣṇuṁ paramaṁ padaṁ sada paśyanti sūrayaḥ. Tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam. The Viṣṇu planet… Just like here in the material world they’re trying to go to the moon planet, but these foolish people do not know what they’ll gain even they go to the moon planet. It is one of the material planets. Kṛṣṇa has already said in the Bhagavad-gītā, abrahma-bhuvanāl lokān. What to speak of this moon planet—it is very near—even if you go to the topmost planet, which is known as Brahmaloka… That is in your front, you can see every day, every night, how many lokas and planets are there. But you cannot go there. You are simply trying to go to the nearest planet. That is also failure. So what is your scientific improvement? But there is possibility. Ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokān. You can go. The material scientists’ calculation is that if one goes forward for forty thousands of years in the light speed, light- year speed, then one can approach the topmost planet of this material world. So at least in the modern scientific calculation, it is impossible. But one can go; there is process. That we have tried to explain in our small booklet Easy Journey to Other Planets. By yogic process one can go any planet he likes. That is the yogic perfection. When a yogi becomes perfect, he can go to any planet he likes, and the yoga practice goes on, unless the yogi thinks himself that he has made himself perfect to travel to any planet he likes. That is perfection of yoga practice.</p>
<p>So, these are the perfection of life, not that teeny, floating sputnik. (laughter) They do not know what is perfection of life. You can go anywhere. A living entity’s name is sarva-gaḥ. Sarva-gaḥ means “one who can go anywhere he likes.” Just Nārada Muni. Nārada Muni can travel anywhere he likes, either in the spiritual world or in the material world. So you can also do that. There is possibility. There was a Durvāsā Muni, great yogi. Within one year he traveled all over the universe and went to Viṣṇuloka and again came back. That is recorded in the history. So these are the perfections of life. And how these perfection can be attained? By understanding Kṛṣṇa. Yasmin vijñāte sarvam eva vijñātaṁ bhavanti. The Upaniṣad says, if you simply understand Kṛṣṇa, then all these things can be understood very easily. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is such a nice thing.</p>
<p>So today, this evening, we are talking about Rādhāṣṭamī. We are trying to understand the chief potency of Kṛṣṇa. Rādhārāṇī is the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa. As we understand from Vedic literature, Kṛṣṇa has many varieties of potencies. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śruyate. Just like the same example, as a big man has got many assistants and secretaries so that he hasn’t got to do anything personally, simply by his will everything is done, similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has got varieties of energies, and everything is being done so nicely. Just like this material energy. This material world, where we are now living… This is called material energy. Bahir-aṅga-śakti. The Sanskrit name is bahir-aṅga, external energy of Kṛṣṇa. So how nicely it is being done, everything in the material energy. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram: (Bg. 9.10) “Under My superintendence the material energy is working.” The material energy is not blind. It is… On the background there is Kṛṣṇa. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ (Bg. 9.10). Prakṛti means this material energy. Similarly… This is external energy. Similarly, there is another energy, which is internal energy. By the internal energy the spiritual world is being manifested. Parās tasmāt tu bhavaḥ anyaḥ (Bg. 8.20) Another energy, parā, superior, transcendental, the spiritual world. As this material world is being manipulated under the external energy, similarly, the spiritual world is also conducted by the internal potency. That internal potency is Rādhārāṇī.</p>
<p>Rādhārāṇī…, today is Rādhārāṇī’s appearance day. So we should try to understand Rādhārāṇī’s feature. Rādhārāṇī is the pleasure potency, hlādinī-śakti. Ānandamayo ’bhyāsāt. In the Vedānta-sūtra the Absolute Truth is described as ānandamaya, always in pleasure potency. That ānandamaya potency… Just like ānanda. When you want ānanda, pleasure, you cannot have it alone. Alone, you cannot enjoy. When you are in the circles of friend or family or other associates, you feel pleasure. Just like I am speaking. The speaking is very pleasing when there are many persons here. I cannot speak alone here. That is not ānanda. I can speak here at night, dead of night, nobody here. That is not ānanda. Ānanda means there must be others. So because Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, is ānandamaya, therefore eko bahu syām, He has become many. We are also Kṛṣṇa’s part and parcel, to give pleasure to Kṛṣṇa. And the chief pleasure potency is Rādhārāṇī.</p>
<p>rādhā-kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī-śaktir asmād ekātmānāv api bhuvo (purā) deha-bhedo-gatau tau caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ rādhā-bhāva-(dyuti)-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam (Cc. Adi 1.5)</p>
<p>So Kṛṣṇa is Param Brahman, as you know from the Bhagavad-gītā. When Arjuna understood Bhagavad-gītā, he affirmed Kṛṣṇa, paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān (Bg. 10.12) So Kṛṣṇa is Param Brahman. So in this material world we see that a great, saintly person, simply to enjoy brahmānanda, he gives up everything of material enjoyment. He becomes sannyāsī. Ahaṁ brahmāsmi. Just to understand that he is in Brahman realization. So if one has to give up everything material for Brahman realization, do you think that Paraṁ Brahman, the Supreme Brahman, can enjoy anything material? No. Kṛṣṇa’s enjoyment is nothing material. This point should be understood. For Brahman realization we are giving up everything material. And how Paraṁ Brahman can enjoy anything material? This question has been very much nicely discussed by Jīva Gosvāmī.</p>
<p>So when the Param Brahman… First of all, the Param Brahman information is not there in this material world. Little Brahman information is there. Or little Paramātmā information is there. But not Param Brahman, or Bhagavān, information. Therefore it is said, manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye (Bg. 7.3). Siddhaye means to understand Brahman or Paramātmā. But out of many such persons who have realized Brahman and Paramātmā, hardly a person can know Kṛṣṇa. And that… First of all… [break] …what we can understand about Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure potency? If I want to know some big man. That is one process. And without knowing that big man, how I can understand about his internal affairs? Similarly, if we do not understand Kṛṣṇa, how we can understand how Kṛṣṇa is enjoying? That is not possible. But the Gosvāmīs, they’re giving us information what is the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa. That is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.</p>
<p>So we have described about the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa loving affairs in our Teachings of Lord Caitanya in page 264. If you have got this book, you can read it, how the reciprocation of loving affairs of Rādhā- Kṛṣṇa is there, transcendental. So our today prayer to Rādhārāṇī… We pray to Rādhārāṇī because She is the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa means “all-attractive.” But Rādhārāṇī is so great that She attracts Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is all-attractive, and She is attractive (attractor) of Kṛṣṇa. So what is the position of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī? We should try to understand this day and offer our obeisances to Rādhārāṇī. Rādhe vṛndāvaneśvarī.</p>
<p>tapta-kāñcana-gauraṅgī rādhe vṛndāvaneśvarī vṛṣabhānu-sute devī pranamāmi hari-priye</p>
<p>Our business is “Rādhārāṇī, You are so dear to Kṛṣṇa. So we offer our respectful obeisances unto You.”</p>
<p>tapta-kāñcana-gauraṅgī rādhe vṛndāvaneśvarī vṛṣabhānu-sute devī pranamāmi hari-priye</p>
<p>Rādhārāṇī is hari-priyā, very dear to Kṛṣṇa. So if we approach Kṛṣṇa through Rādhārāṇī, through the mercy of Rādhārāṇī, then it becomes very easy. If Rādhārāṇī recommends that “This devotee is very nice,” then Kṛṣṇa immediately accepts, however fool I may be. Because it is recommended by Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa accepts. Therefore in Vṛndāvana you’ll find all the devotees, they’re chanting more Rādhārāṇī’s name than Kṛṣṇa’s. Wherever you’ll go, you’ll find the devotees are addressing, “Jaya Rādhe.” You’ll find still in Vṛndāvana. They are glorifying Rādhārāṇī. They’re more interested, worshiping Rādhārāṇī. Because however fallen I may be, if some way or other I can please Rādhārāṇī, then it is very easy for me to understand Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise,</p>
<p>manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye yatatām api siddhānāṁ kaścid vetti māṁ tattvataḥ (Bg. 7.3)</p>
<p>If you go by the speculative process to understand Kṛṣṇa, it will take many, many lives. But if you take devotional service, just try to please Rādhārāṇī, and Kṛṣṇa will be gotten very easily. Because Rādhārāṇī can deliver Kṛṣṇa. She is so great devotee, the emblem of mahā-bhāgavata. Even Kṛṣṇa cannot understand what is Rādhārāṇī’s quality. Even Kṛṣṇa, although He says vedāhaṁ samatītāni, “I know everything,” still, He fails to understand Rādhārāṇī. Rādhārāṇī is so great. He says that… Actually, Kṛṣṇa knows everything. In order to understand Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa accepted the position of Rādhārāṇī. Kṛṣṇa wanted to understand the potency of Rādhārāṇī. Kṛṣṇa thought that “I am full. I am complete in every respect, but still, I want to understand Rādhārāṇī. Why?” This propensity made Kṛṣṇa obliged to accept the propensities of Rādhārāṇī, to understand Kṛṣṇa, Himself.</p>
<p>These are, of course, very transcendental, great science. One who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and well conversant with the śāstras, they can understand. But still, we can discuss from the śāstra. When Kṛṣṇa wanted to understand Himself, He took the tendency of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. And that is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitam. Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, but He has accepted the propensities of Rādhārāṇī. As Rādhārāṇī is always in feelings of separation of Kṛṣṇa, similarly, in the position of Rādhārāṇī, Lord Caitanya was feeling separation of Kṛṣṇa. That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya, feelings of separation, not meeting. The process of devotional service taught by Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His disciplic succession is how to feel separation from Kṛṣṇa. That is Rādhārāṇī’s position, always feeling the separation.</p>
<p>The Gosvāmīs, they also, when they were in Vṛndāvana, they never said that “I have seen Kṛṣṇa.” Although they were the most perfect, they never said that “I have seen Kṛṣṇa.” Their prayers were like this: he rādhe! vraja-devīke! he nanda-suno! kutaḥ. He rādhe, Rādhārāṇī, he rādhe! vraja-devīke! ca. Rādhārāṇī does not remain alone. He (She) remains always with His (Her) friends, vraja-devī, Lalitā or Viśākha and other damsels of Vṛndāvana. So the Gosvāmīns are praying, in their mature stage, when they were living at Vṛndāvana, they were praying in this way, he rādhe! vraja-devīke! ca lalite! he nanda- suno! kutaḥ: “Where, Rādhārāṇī, where You are? Where are Your associates? Where You are, Nanda-suno, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa? Where you are, all?” They were searching after. They never said, “I have seen Kṛṣṇa dancing with the gopīs. Last night I saw.” (laughter) This is sahajiyā. This is not mature devotee. This is called… They are called sahajiyā. They take everything very cheap—Kṛṣṇa very cheap, Rādhārāṇī very cheap—as if they can see every night. No. The Gosvāmīs do not teach us like that. They’re searching after. He rādhe! vraja-devīke! ca lalite! he nanda-suno! kutaḥ, śrī-govardhana-pādapa-tale kālindī-vanye kutaḥ: “Are you there under the Govardhana Hill or on the banks of the Yamunā?” Kālindī-vanye kutaḥ. Ghoṣantāv iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair mahā-vihvalau. Their business was crying like this, “Where You are? Where You are, Rādhārāṇī? Where you are, Lalitā, Viśākha, the associates of Rādhārāṇī? Where You are, Kṛṣṇa? Are You near Govardhana Hill or on the bank of the Yamunā?” Ghoṣantāv iti sarvato vraja-pure. So throughout the whole tract of Vṛndāvana they were crying and searching after Them, khedair mahā-vihvalau, as if madman. Khedair mahā-vihvalau. Vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu- yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau.</p>
<p>So we have to follow the footprints of the Gosvāmīs, how to search out Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī, Vṛndāvana, or within your heart. That is the process of Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s bhajana: feeling of separation, vipralambha, vipralambha-sevā. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu, feeling the separation of Kṛṣṇa, He was falling down on the sea. He was coming out of His rest room or His bedroom and going out at dead of night. Nobody knew where He has gone. So that was His searching. This process of devotional service is taught by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Not that very easily, “We have seen Kṛṣṇa or seen Rādhārāṇī in rāsa-līlā.” No, not like that. Feel the separation. The more you feel separation from Kṛṣṇa, you should understand that you are advancing. Don’t try to see Kṛṣṇa artificially. Be advanced in separation feeling, and then it will be perfect. That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Because with our material eyes we cannot see Kṛṣṇa. Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa- nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ [BRS. 1.2.234] With our material senses we cannot see Kṛṣṇa, we cannot hear about Kṛṣṇa’s name. But sevonmukhe hi jihvādau. When you engage yourself in the service of the Lord… Where the service begins? Jihvādau. The service begins from the tongue. Not from the legs, eyes, or ears. It begins from the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau. If you begin service through your tongue… How? Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Use your tongue. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. And take Kṛṣṇa prasādam. The tongue has got two business: to articulate sound, Hare Kṛṣṇa; and take prasādam. By this process you’ll realize Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>Devotee: Haribol!</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Don’t try to see Kṛṣṇa. You cannot see Kṛṣṇa with your material eyes. Neither you can hear about Him with your material ears. Neither you can touch. But if you engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, then He’ll reveal Himself to you: “Here I am.” That is wanted. So feel separation of Kṛṣṇa just like Rādhārāṇī, as Lord Caitanya teaches us, and engage your tongue in the service of the Lord; then, one day, when you are mature, you’ll see Kṛṣṇa eye to eye.</p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>
<p>Devotees: Haribol! All glories to His Divine Grace! (offer obeisances) (end)</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=13070">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=13070</a></p></div>Showing Radharani’s Lotus Feet Position Paper – ISKCON Deity Worship Ministryhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/showing-radharani-s-lotus-feet-position-paper-iskcon-deity-wors-12021-09-15T14:15:42.000Z2021-09-15T14:15:42.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p>The ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry (IDWM) acts on behalf of the GBC to ensure that the worship in our temples and centres is done according to the standards as given by Srila Prabhupada. It also provides training for devotees interested in developing their skills and abilities as Pujaris and brahmanas. The Ministry is also presently compiling ‘position papers’ that address often asked questions related to worship. By closely studying and researching Srila Prabhupada’s books, conversations and letters as well as speaking to various senior devotees it aims to give devotees clear direction and guidance on the common questions asked. For example two of these questions are ‘can we show Radharanis feet on festivals like Radhastami and Gopastami? Can non brahmanas assist in the Abhisekas during festivals? Other questions range from the use of white sugar in cooking, changing the form of the deity, worship of demigods, worship of Dvaraka silas etc. In all the IDWM is presently working on over 20 position papers.</p>
<p>Showing Radharani’s Lotus Feet</p>
<p>Position Paper – ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry</p>
<p><img style="width:500px;height:328px;margin:5px;" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9569567485,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="Showing Radharani’s Lotus Feet Position Paper – ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry" /></p>
<p>By ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry</p>
<h1>Position Statement</h1>
<p>Srimati Radharani’s lotus feet should not be ever shown publicly at ISKCON temples, whether on a daily basis or particularly on festivals such as Radhastami and Gopastami.</p>
<h1>Supporting Information</h1>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Srila Prabhupada wrote a clear written response in a letter to the head pujari of ISKCON Los Angeles in 1973, which was the western headquarters of ISKCON. ISKCON LA had one of, if not the most established deity worship programs whereby Prabhupada gave extensive instructions on the subject. Among other questions related to the deity worship in ISKCON LA, the head pujari’s first question was apparently whether Radharani’s feet can ever be shown. Srila Prabhupada’s response was, “Your first question, shall Srimati Radharani’s feet be showing, the answer is no, they should never be seen. Krsna’s feet, however, should be showing.” The deity worship instructions he gave to ISKCON LA is understood to establish principles and standards for other temples to follow. The instruction in this letter cannot be relegated by some to fall under the category of being just a personal instruction from Srila Prabhupada to an individual disciple as the nature of the questions were for how the worship should be conducted publicly at a prominent ISKCON temple. To this day, ISKCON of Los Angeles never shows Radharani’s feet based on this clear instruction they received. (See References section below for full letter)</p>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<p>The ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry has been unable to determine any circumstance where Srila Prabhupada instructed, approved, or even witnessed Radharani’s lotus feet being publicly viewed in an ISKCON temple. It seems that the practice of showing Her feet in ISKCON temples on Radhastami and/or Gopastami became popular in ISKCON sometime in the 1980’s. We must assume that he was certainly aware of this practice in some Vrindaban temples, including Radha-Damodar Mandir, where he resided for many years. However, there is no record of him introducing this as a practice for any festival observance.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Srila Prabhupada emphasized that we worship Radha-Krishna in the mood of Laxmi-Narayana with awe and reverence as one would worship a king and queen.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>This worship is based on primarily on pancaratriki viddhi, emphasizing the mood of awe and reverence. Showing the feet of a queen is generally not compatible with this mood of worship he instructed for deity worship in ISKCON. However, if Srila Prabhupada instead emphasized us to worship Radha-Krishna as a young cowherd boy and girl based on raga-marga principles which is quite prominent in some Vrindaban temples, then arguably there could be scope for license to show Radharani’s lotus feet in ISKCON temples. The indisputable fact is that Srila Prabhupada consistently instructs in Srimad Bhagavatam purports, letters, and lectures that our worship in ISKCON of Radha-Krishna deities is in the mood of worshiping Laxmi-Narayana. He particularly states in a letter, “This is why we should worship Radha-Krsna in Their Laksmi-Narayana feature with all respect and reverence. If we deviate from this standard then we shall be prakrta-sahajiya, or a person who takes things very cheap.”</p>
<p>(See References section below for purports and letters on this topic)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry requested the GBC body to vote on this topic at their AGM meeting in Mayapur in 2014. They were asked via questionnaire, “Do you feel it is acceptable to show Radharani’s lotus feet?” and requested to respond by selecting “yes”, “no”, or “undecided”. A 65% majority of the GBC body responded that it is not appropriate to ever show Radharani’s feet.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<h1>Countering Argument</h1>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Some devotees who believe that it is acceptable to show Radharani’s feet annually on Radhastami and/or Gopastami in ISKCON temples cite one known instance where Srila Prabhupada apparently gave consent specifically for the</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Radha-Damodara deities during a bus tour program when he attended the Rock Opera performance at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania held on Govardhan Puja, 1972. This was not regulated worship at an ISKCON temple.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Radha-Damodara have been residing in Gita Nagari for many years now and Radharani’s feet are not shown.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>* See References section for accounts of this instance, along with first-hand devotee understandings of this.</p>
<p>References</p>
<p>Bombay</p>
<p>4 January, 1973</p>
<p>73-01-04</p>
<p>My Dear Dhruvananda,</p>
<p>Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 17, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care. You have asked me several questions about the deity worship in Los Angeles, so I shall answer them one after another: Your first question, shall Srimati Radharani’s feet be showing, the answer is no, they should never be seen. Krsna’s feet, however, should be showing.</p>
<p>I do not know when I have said to anyone that Krsna should not wear anything black color, nor I know where I have given any permission to wear black color, but there is no harm if sometimes Krsna dresses something black. Sometimes in Vrndavana they dress Him in black.</p>
<p>Yes, the leaves of Srimati Tulasi Devi may be offered to all Visnu-tattva expansions of Krsna, including Nityananda and Balarama.</p>
<p>You may dress Lord Caitanya in the standard way, main things is do it nicely, don’t make it funny. In your Western countries Lord Caitanya should be entirely covered, He should not appear bare-chested.</p>
<p>Why you are pouring water over the head of Radha and Krsna deities? Big deities should not be bathed in this way, using water or other things. Rather they are bathed daily by mantra, do you not know these things? Under no circumstances shall we bathe the Jagannatha deities with anything water or liquid, they should be bathed with mantra also. Now you are asking if Lord Jagannatha carries flute? Why this nonsense question? You are asking me so many concoctions and manufactured nonsense. Don’t bother my head in this way any more. From now on unless I order you do something change or in addition, go on with the usual standard way. You manufacture ideas and then I have to waste my time. I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything. Why you are asking these things? Who has given you such freedom? Pujari should operate entirely under the supervision of temple president and GBC, not independently. The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities. So don’t ask any more new questions, whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that’s all.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>=> Letter to: Dhruvananda — Bombay 4 January, 1973</p>
<p>9 October, 1974</p>
<p>74-10-09</p>
<p>Brooklyn</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My Dear Pariksit dasa:</p>
<p>Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 13, 1974 and have noted the contents. The answers to your questions are as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Regarding Krsna das Kaviraja, there is no such information, but as far as possible, he was brahmacari.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Lord Nityananda and the associates appeared in the room.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The stick held by Lord Nityananda is like your sketch.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The bodily hues of the devotees of Lord Nityananda, why green? But, it can be done, there is no harm.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>You can continue not showing Srimati Radharani’s feet. I hope this meets you in good health.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Your ever well wisher,</p>
<p>A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs</p>
<p> </p>
<p>=> Letter to: Pariksit — Mayapur 9 October, 1974</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Establishing ISKCON Radha-Krishna Worship in the Mood of Laxmi-Narayana</h2>
<p>Generally the worship of the Lord begins with the worship of Narayana, or Visnu, whereas the worship of Lord Krsna and Radha is most confidential. Lord Narayana is worshipable by the pancaratrika-vidhi, or regulative principles, whereas Lord Krsna is worshipable by the bhagavata-vidhi. No one can worship the Lord in the bhagavata-vidhi without going through the regulations of the pancaratrika-vidhi. Actually, neophyte devotees worship the Lord according to the pancaratrika-vidhi, or the regulative principles enjoined in the Narada Pancaratra. Radha-Krsna cannot be approached by the neophyte devotees; therefore temple worship according to regulative principles is offered to Laksmi-Narayana. Although there may be a Radha-Krsna vigraha, or form, the worship of the neophyte devotees is acceptable as Laksmi-Narayana worship. Worship according to the pancaratrika-vidhi is called vidhi-marga, and worship according to the bhagavata-vidhi principles is called raga-marga. The principles of raga-marga are especially meant for devotees who are elevated to the Vrndavana platform.</p>
<p>The inhabitants of Vrndavana — the gopis, Mother Yasoda, Nanda Maharaja, the cowherd boys, the cows and everyone else — are actually on the raga-marga or bhagavata-marga platform. They participate in five basic rasas-dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, madhurya and santa. But although these five rasas are found in the bhagavata-marga, the bhagavata-marga is especially meant for vatsalya and madhurya, or paternal and conjugal relationships. Yet there is the visrambha-sakhya, the higher fraternal worship of the Lord especially enjoyed by the cowherd boys. Although there is friendship between Krsna and the cowherd boys, this friendship is different from the aisvarya friendship between Krsna and Arjuna. When Arjuna saw the visva-rupa, the gigantic universal form of the Lord, he was afraid for having treated Krsna as an ordinary friend; therefore he begged Krsna’s pardon. However, the cowherd boys who are friends of Krsna in Vrndavana sometimes ride on the shoulders of Krsna. They treat Krsna equally, just as they treat one another, and they are never afraid of Him, nor do</p>
<p>they ever beg His pardon. Thus the raga-marga, or bhagavata-marga, friendship exists on a higher platform with Krsna, namely the platform of visrambha friendship. Paternal friendship, paternal service and conjugal service are visible in the Vrndavana raga-marga relationships.</p>
<p>Without serving Krsna according to the vidhi-marga regulative principles of the pancaratrika-vidhi, unscrupulous persons want to jump immediately to the raga-marga principles. Such persons are called sahajiya. There are also demons who enjoy depicting Krsna and His pastimes with the gopis, taking advantage of Krsna by their licentious character. These demons who print books and write lyrics on the raga-marga principles are</p>
<p>surely on the way to hell. Unfortunately, they lead others down with them. Devotees in Krsna consciousness should be very careful to avoid such demons. One should strictly follow the vidhi-marga regulative principles in the worship of Laksmi-Narayana, although the Lord is present in the temple as Radha-Krsna. Radha-Krsna includes Laksmi-Narayana; therefore when one worships the Lord according to the regulative principles, the Lord accepts the service in the role of Laksmi-Narayana. In The Nectar of Devotion full instructions are given about the vidhi-marga worship of Radha-Krsna, or Laksmi-Narayana. Although there are sixty-four kinds of offenses one can commit in vidhi-marga worship, in raga-marga worship there is no consideration of such offenses because the devotees on that platform are very much elevated, and there is no question of offense. But if we do not follow the regulative principles on the vidhi-marga platform and keep our eyes trained to spot offenses, we will not make progress.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>=> SB 4.24.45, SB 4.24.46, SB 4.24.45-46</p>
<p>Regarding your question about why we dress the Deities in very opulent fashion and not as simple cowherds boy and girl, this is an intelligent question and the answer is that according to the regulative principles we cannot worship Radha-Krsna now. Radha-Krsna worship is meant for persons who have already developed spontaneous love of God. In the training period we are only worshiping Laksmi-Narayana. We worship Radha-Krsna because Laksmi-Narayana is there also, but actually we are not worshiping Radha-Krsna with our present Deity ceremonies; we are worshiping Laksmi-Narayana. Narayana is there when Krsna is there, but actually we do not worship Radha-Krsna in Their original form. This is why we should worship Radha-Krsna in Their Laksmi-Narayana feature with all respect and reverence. If we deviate from this standard then we shall be prakrta-sahajiya, or a person who takes things very cheap. We worship Laksmi-Narayana and because Radha-Krsna includes Laksmi-Narayana there is no necessity of installing a Laksmi-Narayana Deity. It is just like a king who is engaged in administering justice. Actually that business belongs to the justice department. But what is the justice department? It is all part of the king’s energy, and the king also has the power to execute this function.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>=> Letter to: Madhusudana, 24th January, 1969</p>
<p>Actually, although Radha-Krsna is worshipped in Vrndavana which is like a simple village, but we worship Laksmi-Narayana and the worship is accepted by the Radha-Krsna Deity. Actually, in our present status we cannot worship Radha-Krsna. But as all the Visnu murtis</p>
<p>are situated in Krsna, therefore our Radha-Krsna worship is transferred to Visnu, Lord Narayana. Visnu worship is the regulative devotional principles, and Radha-Krsna worship is spontaneous service of eternal feelings. Therefore, as Laksmi-Narayana is the Deity of great opulences, similarly our Radha- Krsna murtis should be worshipped with great pomp and dignity. Krsna will give you the proper intelligence to do this very nicely. So far as prayers, you may sing Hare Krsna, Govinda jaya jaya and Govindam adi-purusam.</p>
<p>=> Letter to: Satsvarupa, 12th February, 1969</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Accounts of Instance Regarding Showing Radharani’s Feet During Radha-Damodara Program</h2>
<p>“Srila Prabhupada had seen these Deities on a number of occasions. They had presided, along with His Divine Grace, at the 1972 New Vrindaban Vyasa-puja celebration. Once Prabhupada had asked why Srmati Radharani’s dress was so long as to make Her Look almost like mother Yashoda with her small boy,</p>
<p>Damodara. Visnujana explained that he had thought Radharani’s lotus feet</p>
<p>should be fully covered.”‘You do not like to see Radharani’s Lotus feet?’ Prabhupada chided.</p>
<p>And from that day onward, especially on festive occasions, Radharani’s lotus feet would be slightly showing.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>=> Servant of the Servant – Tamal Krsna Goswami</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Regarding the Deity worship, Prabhupada asks Visnujana why Radharani’s dresses are so long as to make her look like Mother Yasoda with her small boy, Damodara. Visnujana explains that he had thought Radharani’s lotus feet should be fully covered.</p>
<p><br /> “Oh? You do not like to see Radharani’s lotus feet?” Prabhupada says with a twinkle in his eye.</p>
<p>Visnujana at once understands that since Radha-Damodara are the childhood forms of the Lord, it would not be immodest for Radharani to display Her lotus feet. From this time onward, especially on festive occasions, Radharani’s lotus feet are slightly shown.</p>
<p>Sankarsana: Radha-Damodara would stay up late to do these concerts, so Prabhupada gave permission for Them to get up later in the morning. Radha-Damodara would take rest for six hours, so whatever time They went to bed, They would get up six hours later.</p>
<p>Visnujana asked Prabhupada directly in Pittsburgh, and Prabhupada authorized it in that situation. Visnujana also got permission to show Radharani’s lotus feet, which is normally not done.</p>
<p>=> Radha Damodar Vilasa – Vaiyasaki dasa</p>
<p> </p>
<h3>Govardhana Puja 1972</h3>
<p>Vishnujana Swami wants to make sweet rice to offer to Radha-Damodara. He loves this festival and prepares enough sweet rice in two large pots. His idea is to satisfy all the Atlanta devotees with Radha-Damodara’s maha-prasadam. After a blissful kirtan his pleasure is to honor each person by personally serving everyone the sweet rice.</p>
<p>Radharani’s lotus feet are visible for this occasion as special nectar for the devotees.</p>
<p>She is the only Radharani Deity whose lotus feet are revealed. She has two outfits that are cut so that Her lotus feet can be seen. On the day She reveals Her lotus feet the devotees go mad in ecstasy. It isn’t a common thing, just on special occasions. Amoghalila is particularly attracted by this pastime. Still, he wonders if it is bona fide and approaches Vishnujana Swami.</p>
<p>Taking him gently by the arm, Maharaja escorts Amoghalila to a quiet place and explains how Srila Prabhupada had come on the bus for Radha-Damodara’s darshan in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>“Damodara’s outfit displayed His lotus feet as He stood on the base that was locked into the bus altar for stability. Radharani’s long dress, however, not only covered Her feet but the base as well, making Her look much taller than She really was. After offering obeisances, Srila Prabhupada gazed at the two Divine forms and quietly commented, ‘Radharani looks more like Mother Yasoda.’</p>
<p>“I was feeling embarrassed, so I replied, ‘Radharani’s lotus feet are covered out of respect.’</p>
<p>“Prabhupada looked at me, ‘Oh, you don’t like to see Radharani’s lotus feet?’ I was really surprised. ‘Yes, you can show Radharani’s lotus feet,’ he continued, ‘because She is at the Damodara age.’</p>
<p>“It was a moment of enlightenment. And ever since that day, devotees can have the darshan of Radharani’s lotus feet.” Amoghalila is satisfied to hear this nectar story from Maharaja.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>***********</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sachi Dulal: The thing I liked about Radha-Damodara was that the bus was nicely painted and kept really clean. The brahmacaris were clean and nicely dressed. Radha-Damodara were so sweet and so beautiful. They were nicely taken care of. They were the only Deities in the movement where Radharani’s lotus feet were shown. I always relished that.</p>
<p>When people come on the bus for darshan, Vishnujana Maharaja explains how Silavati began showing Radharani’s lotus feet many years ago when Radha-Damodara first came to America. Prabhupada had given his sanction because Radha and Damodara are at the kumara age of young children so it’s all right. Silavati was the foremost pujari at the time having been trained personally by Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p>=> Radha-Damodara Vilasa II – Vaiyasaki dasa</p>
<p> </p>
<p>From: “Sankarshan Das Adhikari”</p>
<h3>Subject: RE: Radharani’s lotus feet</h3>
<p>Date: 3 September 2012 7:33:23 PM AEST</p>
<p>To: “‘Nrsimha Kavaca dasa'” Dear Nrsimha Kavaca Prabhu,</p>
<p>Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p>Due to my traveling and preaching I am heavily backlogged on my emails. That’s why I have taken so long to reply to your important email.</p>
<p>I heard this directly heard it from His Holiness Vishnujana Maharaja on the morning of 9 September 1972 at the ISKCON center in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. This was the morning after the famous Rock Opera performance at the Syria Mosque, which was attended by Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p>He told me that Prabhupada had instructed him that Radha Damodar could be awakened 6 hours after they took rest. This was because they were up late as the stars of our Rock Opera and could only take rest after the opera was finished.</p>
<p>He also told me that Prabhupada gave us permission to show Radharani’s lotus feet. I understood this as a special instruction for Sri Sri Radha Damodar on the Road Show, not as a general principle for all deities. Also, I do not assume that this applies to Radha and Damodar where they are now stationed on the altar at Gita Nagari. I support your analysis that her feet should not be shown.</p>
<p>I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.</p>
<p>Your servant, Sankarshan Das Adhikari<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=66427">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=66427</a></p></div>Sri Radha—the Feminine Divinehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/sri-radha-the-feminine-divine-12021-09-15T14:06:35.000Z2021-09-15T14:06:35.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img style="width:500px;height:535px;margin:5px;" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9569559081,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="Sri Radha - The Feminine Divine" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>By Satyaraja Dasa</p>
<p>The divine counterpart of Sri Krishna is known as Sri Radha. Together, according to the ancient Vaishnava tradition, this dual-gendered divinity is God-male and female dimensions of the Absolute Truth. Sri Radha is the complete energy, and Sri Krishna is the complete energetic source. They are nondifferent from each other, just as musk and its scent are forever merged, or as fire and heat are inseparable.</p>
<p>Radha and Krishna are one, yet They have assumed two separate forms to enjoy loving pastimes. Numerous theological texts explain how this is so, but most thorough are the writings of Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami, great masters in the Vaishnava tradition whose books have been translated and commented upon by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. To understand Sri Radha, then, English readers would do well to turn to Srila Prabhupada’s books.</p>
<h2>Sri Radha in Literature</h2>
<p>Historically, the ancient Puranas reveal much about Sri Radha’s manifest pastimes, even if the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.30.28), the cream of all such Puranic literature, mentions Her name only once-with the indirect anayaradhitah, indicating that She is “the one who worships Krishna best.” Both the Padma Purana and the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, on the other hand, elaborate on Her pastimes of love with Krishna and reveal how the divine couple is the source of all that is. The Brahma-vaivarta Purana, in fact, reveals an esoteric creation story in which Radha co-creates the material world with Krishna.</p>
<p>Sri Radha’s dominance in Vaishnava theology did not come to light until the twelfth century, when the saintly poet Jayadeva Gosvami wrote his famous Sanskrit work Gita Govinda. Krishna’s spiritual love then became a celebrated theme throughout India, colorfully conveyed in festivals and the arts, with the personality of Radha sometimes eclipsing even Krishna.</p>
<p>It is important to point out that Jayadeva understood the spiritual nature of Radha and Krishna’s love. He knew that people could easily misconstrue it as mundane, comparing his work to erotic love poetry (as many still do). Anticipating this misconception, he commenced his Gita Govinda with a section called Dasha-avatara, in which he clearly outlines Krishna’s divine nature, listing and glorifying His transcendental descents as incarnations (avatara). With this as a preface, it becomes obvious that the loving affairs to follow-the affairs of this same divine Krishna, who incarnates as so many avataras-are not ordinary. Indeed, they represent the zenith of spiritual love.</p>
<p>This love was expressed more fully after Jayadeva’s time. In the fifteenth century, two Bengali poets, Chandidasa and Vidyapati, wrote beautiful Bengali verse about the divine couple. In the sixteenth century, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu-the combined form of Radha and Krishna, in the guise of Their devotee-relished this poetry, along with Jayadeva’s breakthrough Sanskrit work. He also enjoyed hearing the story of Radha and Krishna as expressed in the ancient work of Bilvamangala Thakura, Sri Krishna-karnamrita, and in a contemporary poem, Ramananda Raya’s Jagannatha-vallabha-natakam.</p>
<p>Sri Chaitanya’s followers were quick to add their own realizations and insights based squarely on the earlier literature. Two outstanding examples are the Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi-stotram, composed by Prabhodananda Sarasvati, and Radha-Krishna-ganoddesha-dipika, by Rupa Gosvami, the latter of which is easily the most detailed exposition of Sri Radha’s divine personality ever published.</p>
<h2>Her Divine Pastimes</h2>
<p>How does Radha’s story unfold in the world of three dimensions? Though there are many versions of this story, the most gripping is found in the Padma Purana (Patala-khanda, Chapter 71): Early one morning, in the country atmosphere of Vraja (ninety miles south of present-day Delhi) some fifty centuries ago, Vrishabhanu Maharaja was taking his morning bath in the holy Yamuna River. Just then, a beautiful baby girl floated by, lying on a radiant and fully blossomed lotus. With intense glee, he embraced the divine infant and carried Her off to his queen, Kirtida Devi.</p>
<p>When Kirtida saw her husband with this magnificent child, she ran over and showered little Radha with unrelenting affection.</p>
<p>But the king and queen quickly noticed that the baby’s eyes did not open. This naturally broke their hearts, and they prayed that God might bless Her with the power of sight.</p>
<p>Soon, Nanda Maharaja’s wife, Yashoda Devi, arrived from Gokula, holding young Sri Krishna in her arms. Vrishabhanu and Kirtida, now the parents of Sri Radha, greeted her with due honor, but Yashoda could not take her eyes off the newborn baby girl resting in Kirtida Devi’s arms.</p>
<p>Yashoda drew closer with baby Krishna, and as soon as Krishna came face to face with the baby girl, She opened Her eyes for the first time. Appropriately, Her first sight was the moonlike face of Her beloved Sri Krishna, and She paused as She gazed upon His lovely form. Krishna too was overwhelmed with love as He saw before Him His eternal consort, in the guise of a baby.</p>
<p>In this way, the scriptures relate how the eternal divine couple go about “meeting” each other as They appear, time and again, in the material world. As They “grow in years,” They play with loving friends, swim in the Yamuna, graze their cows, and relish each other’s loving embrace. Sacred texts and the realizations of the sages elaborate on the details, establishing narratives that serve as virtual magnets, attracting all who hear them back to the spiritual realm.</p>
<h2>The Circle Dance of Love</h2>
<p>Of all such narratives, the rasa-lila, the circular dance of love described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, is in many ways the most important.</p>
<p>The divine dance takes place one moonlit autumn night when the cowherd maidens (gopis) of Vrindavana, upon hearing the sound of Krishna’s flute, sneak away from their families to be with Him. The rasa-lila is considered one of the highest and most esoteric of Krishna’s revealed pastimes, and it should never be confused with mundane pastimes of prurient interest. Accordingly, Vaishnava commentators make one thing perfectly clear: romantic love between human beings is a diminished, compromised reflection of the soul’s original, ecstatic love for Krishna, God, in the spiritual world. Studying the rasa-lila under a bona fide spiritual master allows one to realize this as a tangible truth. It also allows one to develop love for God, just as the gopis do in their dance of love.</p>
<h2>Radha’s Mercy</h2>
<p>In short, the theology of Sri Radha is deep. The scriptures describe that one must go through many lives of pious acts, religious rituals, and yogic perfection before attaining the mercy of Sri Radha. And when one does, Krishna is not far off. In fact, it is through Sri Radha’s mercy that Krishna becomes attainable.</p>
<p>Radha is Krishna’s mercy incarnation, and through Her one can attain the culmination of the spiritual pursuit. Srila Prabhupada sums this up as follows:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Radharani, You are so dear to Krishna. So we offer our respectful obeisances unto You.” Radharani is hari-priya: “very dear to Krishna.” Through the mercy of Radharani we can easily approach Krishna. If Radharani recommends, “This devotee is very nice,” then Krishna immediately accepts me, however great a fool I may be. Because I am recommended by Radharani, Krishna accepts me. Therefore in Vrindavana you’ll find all the devotees chanting Radharani’s name more than Krishna’s. Wherever you’ll go, you’ll find the devotees greeting one another, “Jaya Radhe!” You’ll find this still in Vrindavana. The devotees are glorifying Radharani.</p>
<p>If you go by the speculative process to understand Krishna, it will take many, many lives. But if you take to devotional service and just try to please Radharani, Krishna will be gotten very easily. Radharani can deliver Krishna. She is so great a devotee, the emblem of maha-bhagavata. Even Krishna cannot understand the quality of Radharani’s devotion. Although Krishna says vedaham samatitani-“I know everything”-He fails to understand Radharani. She is so great.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is in pursuit of these truths that Radha and Krishna descend as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, for in that form They taste the highest mercy and bestow it on others. The chief manifestation of that mercy is the holy name in the form of the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.</p>
<p>In this mantra both Radha and Krishna are fully manifest. A prayer to Sri Radha (Hare is the vocative form of Hara, another name for Radharani), it beseeches Krishna to be engaged in devotional service, the highest form of yoga. Radha is the medium through which such service is enacted, for She is the embodiment of devotion, the essence of love for Krishna.<br /> <br /> Source: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=13069">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=13069</a></p></div>Radhashtami - Birth Anniversary of Radhahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/radhashtami-birth-anniversary-of-radha2020-08-26T12:57:23.000Z2020-08-26T12:57:23.000ZPratanu Banerjeehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/PratanuBanerjee370<div><p><strong>Radhashtami</strong> has been regarded as the holiday for Hindu. It remembers the Radhika’s birth anniversary. She has been regarded as the Goddess Mahalakshmi in certain scriptures of India. She has been regarded as the hladini shakti of Sri Krishna. She has been respected as a shakti by the scriptures of Vaishnav community. On a particular day, she had risen from lotus flower in the form of lover-consort of Sri Krishna.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7621402069,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7621402069,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="7621402069?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a></p><p>There is a celebration by the Krishna devotees. She is celebrated significantly at her birthplace named Barsana on Shukla Paksha Ashtami in the month of Bhadra month. For <em>Viṣṇu Khaṇḍa</em> in the Skanda Purana, it has been written that Sri Krishna have 16,000 friends and they are known as Gopi along with the gopikas. Radha is the dominant out of the respected 108 friends.</p><p> </p><p>The birth of Radharani had taken place on eighth day or ashtami on Shukla Paksha at the month of Bhadrapada. She has been found and chosen by Keerti and Vrishbhanu from the pond located at Barsana. The eyes have been closed from the birth and this has been opened as Shri Krishna came to meet her.</p><p>In ISKCON, the Gaudiya Vaishnav followers celebrate the Radha Ashtami Vrat or fast. The fasting is followed by the devotees for half-day on a particular day called Radhastami. There are certain devotees who follow the fast for the total day and there are some devotees who follow it without taking water. In the temples of ISKCON Mahabhishek of our Radharani takes place.</p><p>Radhashtami has been celebrated with the ceremony in Brij zone. On the day of Radhastami, the icons of Radha Krishna are decorated with the flowers. The Radhashtami has been the day where the devotees might get to see the feet of Radha. In the rest of the day of the year, the feet is generally covered.</p><p>The fast of devotee takes place till noon and they are singing devotional songs for praising Radha and Krishna who are regarded as the divine couple and they praise the pastimes of Radha and Sri Krishna. Subsequently, a feast is held. It consists of plum chutney, which is quite spicy.</p><p>The Vaishnav chant mantras on Radhashtami and they are:</p><p>“<em>Aum Vrashbahnujaye Vidmahe, Krishnapriyaye Dheemahi Tanno Radha Prachodyat</em> and <em>Jai Jai Shree Radhe</em>.”</p><p> </p><p> </p></div>Words Of Wisdom On Radhastami by Visakha Priya dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/words-of-wisdom-on-radhastami-by-visakha-priya-dasi2020-08-26T07:41:12.000Z2020-08-26T07:41:12.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7618727292,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="7618727292?profile=RESIZE_584x" />So in your country, the situation is different. You see? The boys and girls are freely mixing, and from school, college, they are freely mixing, free sex without any restriction. So we cannot enforce, at least, at the present moment. If some boy and some girl agree, then I bless him. That’s all. Now another thing, that girls should not be taken as inferior. You see? Sometimes… Of course, sometimes scripture we say that “Woman is the cause of bondage.” So that should not be, I mean to say, aggravated. (laughs) That should not be aggravated, that “Woman is inferior,” or something like that. So the girls who come, you should treat them nicely, at least. I heard that Gargamuni, after his wife left him, he became a woman-hater like that. (chuckles) That is not good. You see? Yes. After all, anyone who is coming to Krsna consciousness, man or woman, boys or girls, they are welcome. They are very fortunate. You see. And the idea of addressing “prabhu” means “you are my master.” That is the… Prabhu means master. And Prabhupada means many masters who bows down at his lotus feet. That is Prabhupada. So each, everyone shall treat others as “My master.” This is the Vaisnava system. So now, who is going with your party? That girl?<br /> Ref. VedaBase: Room Conversation about Marriage — September 24, 1968, Seattle</p>
<p>Dear Devotees,<br /> Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.<br /> On Radhasthami day this year, a close friend of mine had audience with her authority. He told her something which I am now paraphrasing: All big religious movements start small and with high standards and are thus exclusive. But, as the devotees progress on the spiritual path and feel the urge to share their wonderful experiences with others, the religious movement becomes more and more inclusive, and gradually the standards go down and the essence is imperiled, if not altogether lost. So, my friend’s authority said, it is our duty to preserve the high standards of Krsna consciousness given to us by our founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20035">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20035</a></p></div>The most amazing Radhastami of my lifehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-most-amazing-radhastami-of-my-life2020-08-26T07:00:00.000Z2020-08-26T07:00:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/wp-content/uploads/Radhastami2.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.dandavats.com/wp-content/uploads/Radhastami2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" alt="Radhastami2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></div>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Manjari Gauthie</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">…The crowd presses forward, a mass of bodies all straining to get a better view of the altar. The curtains are still closed, but thin wisps of frankincense smoke can be seen curling from behind their edges. The sweet smell permeats the room and fuels my eagerness to finally see Their Lordships in our temple for the first time. Balabhadra is leading an intense kirtan. The vibration of hundreds of voices in the air is almost too much to stand. I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling an almost unbearable anxiousness for the waiting to be over. Finally, after what seems like years, the curtains begin to move, and the shapes of bodies can be seen as the pujaris make their hasty exit. The kirtan reaches a roaring peak as Balabhadra gives voice to the mounting energy. All the devotees are dancing and bouncing off eachother madly.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Finally – finally, two pujaris appear on either end of the altar, and the strong sound of conchshells resound in my head. Sweet, heavy smoke is pouring off the alter – the curtains are opening! Oh, so painfully slow they are opening. On my left, Tulsi Priya is sobbing. All the franksincense is now escaping, huge billows rolling over the crowd, so thick that even though the altar is now completely opened, it is still a few moments before I can see anything. A little patch clears, and I get a glimpse of the spiritual realm. I have smoke and tears in my eyes, but I can still make out an outfit of delicate pink lace and dripping with pearls. The Govindam prayers echoe through my mind and my lips, and I gaze upon their Lordships, so beautiful…SO beautiful…They have stolen my heart, and I never want it back. This has been the most amazing Radhastami of my life.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1099">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1099</a></p></div>Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day Lecturehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/srimati-radharani-s-appearance-day-lecture-12020-08-25T09:30:00.000Z2020-08-25T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j8wqHM-3Ark/V9Acxoa0fWI/AAAAAAAAens/13nHZPzfGWo/s0/2016-09-07_15-57-21.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j8wqHM-3Ark/V9Acxoa0fWI/AAAAAAAAens/13nHZPzfGWo/s0/2016-09-07_15-57-21.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="2016-09-07_15-57-21.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="534" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">[August 30, 1968, Montreal, Canada]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Now today is our Radhastami ceremony. So, so far Radharani, Radharani, today is the birthday of Srimati Radharani. Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Brahman. Just try to understand. Krsna is the Supreme Brahman. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan. So when param brahma wants to enjoy… that enjoying spirit is there in the param brahma. Otherwise we cannot have this enjoying spirit. Because we are part and parcel, therefore we have got that enjoying spirit, but that is materially contaminated. But the fact is there, because Krsna, He is enjoying. This enjoying spirit we have got also, but I do not know how to enjoy. We are trying to enjoy in the matter, in the dull matter. That is spiritual. So brahman sukhanubhutya. People are trying to feel what is brahmasukha, pleasure of brahmanubhava. That is not material pleasure. So many yogis, they have given up their family life, their kingdom, and meditating to achieve that Brahman pleasure. Actually, the idea is Brahman pleasure. So many brahmacaris, so many sannyasis, they are trying to achieve that Brahman pleasure, and in order to achieve that Brahman pleasure they are neglecting, they are kicking off all this material pleasure. Do you think that Brahman pleasure is ordinary, this material pleasure? To achieve a portion of Brahman pleasure, if they are kicking off all this material pleasure… don’t talk of ourselves, we are ordinary men. In the history we have got instances, that of Bharata Maharaja. Bharata Maharaja, under whose name this planet is called Bharatavarsa. That Bharata Maharaja was the emperor of the whole world. And as emperor he had his beautiful wife, young children. But at the age of twenty-four years, just young man, he gave up everything. All right. This is very old story, of course, but you know Lord Buddha. He was also a prince. He was also prince, not ordinary man, and he was ksatriya, and he was always enjoying with beautiful women. That is the palace pleasure accustomed in every, in Oriental countries, that in the palace there are many beautiful girls, they’re always dancing and giving pleasure to the kings and the prince. So Lord Buddha was also in such pleasure, but he gave up everything and began to meditate.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">There are many hundreds of instances in Indian history that to realize the Brahman pleasure they gave up everything. They gave up everything. That is the way. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting something severe for realizing the supreme pleasure. That is called tapasya. So if, for tasting a little Brahman pleasure, all materialistic pleasures are to be given up, do you think that the Supreme Brahman, Lord Krsna, is enjoying this material pleasure? Is it very reasonable? This Krsna, He’s enjoying… laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam. Hundreds and thousands of goddess of fortune are engaged in His service. Do you think these Laksmis are material women? How Krsna can take pleasure in the material women? No. This is mistake. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih. In the Brahma-samhita you’ll find that He expands His ananda-cinmaya-rasa, the mellow of transcendental pleasure potency. And these gopis are expansion of His pleasure potency. And Radharani is the center. Radharani is the center. So Radharani is not… don’t take that Radharani is an ordinary woman like we have our wife or sister or mother. No. She is the pleasure potency. And the birth of Radharani 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. Radharani’s janma is like that. So this janma is today and Radha, this name is sometimes not found in Bhagavata. So the atheistic class of men protest this Radharani’s name is not in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. How this name came, Radharani? But they do not know how to see it. There is anayaradhyate. There are many gopis, but there is mention that by this particular gopi He is served more pleasingly. Krsna accepts this gopi’s service more gladly. Anayaradhyate. Aradhyate. This aradhate, this word, aradhyate means worshiping. From this word aradhyate, Radha has come. But Radha’s name are there in other Puranas. So this is the origin.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So Radha, so Radha and Krsna. Krsna is the enjoyer and He wants to enjoy. So He’s the Supreme Brahman. He cannot enjoy anything, atmarama, He can enjoy it in Himself. Therefore Radharani is the expansion of His pleasure potency. Krsna hasn’t got to seek external things for His pleasure. No. He is in Himself full, atmarama. So Radharani is expansion of Krsna. Krsna is the energetic, and Radharani 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 Krsna there is Radha. And wherever there is Radha there is Krsna. They are inseparable. But He is enjoying. So Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has described this intricate philosophy of Radha and Krsna in one verse, very nice verse: radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktir asmad ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau. So Radha and Krsna is the one Supreme, but in order to enjoy, They have divided into two. Again Lord Caitanya joined the two into one. Caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna. That one means Krsna in the ecstasy of Radha. Sometimes Krsna is in ecstasy of Radha. Sometimes Radha is in ecstasy of Krsna. This is going on. But the whole thing is Radha and Krsna means the one, the Supreme.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So Radha-Krsna philosophy is a very great philosophy. It is to be understood in the liberated stage. Radha-Krsna philosophy is not to be understood in the conditioned stage. But when we worship Radha-Krsna in our conditional stage, actually we worship Laksmi-Narayana. You have seen that picture, this viddhi-marg and raga-marg. Radha-Krsna worship is on the platform of pure love, and Laksmi-Narayana worship is on the regulative principles. So long we do not develop our pure love, we have to worship on the regulative principles. One has to become a brahmachari, one has to become a sannyasi, one has to perform the worship in this way, in the morning he has to rise, he has to offer. So many rules and regulations. There are at least sixty-four rules and regulations. So we shall introduce them gradually as you develop. So in the viddhi-marg, when you have no love for God or Krsna, we have to follow the regulative principles and automatically there is practice. When practicing. Just like you practice this mrdanga playing. In the beginning it is not in order, but when you become well versed in the practice, the sound will come so nice. Similarly, when we are engaged by regulative principles in the worship of Radha-Krsna, that is called viddhi-marg. And actually when you are on the love platform, then that is called raga-marg. So without viddhi-marg, if anyone wants to learn the raga-marg immediately, that is foolishness. That is foolishness. Nobody can pass M.A. examination without going through the regulative principles of primary schools and colleges. So therefore I do not, I mean to say, indulge in the discussions of Radha and Krsna so easily. Rather go on with the regulative principle at the present moment. Gradually, as you become purified, as you become on the transcendental platform, you’ll understand what is Radha-Krsna. Don’t try to understand Radha-Krsna very quickly. It is a very big subject. If we want to understand Radha-Krsna very quickly, then there will be so many prakrita-sahajiyas. In India there are prakrita-sahajiya. Just like Radha-Krsna dancing. Radha-Krsna has become a plaything. The painting Radha-Krsna, Krsna is kissing Radha, Radha is kissing. These are all nonsense. Radha-Krsna philosophy has to be understood by the liberated person, not by the conditioned soul. So we shall await for the fortunate moment when we are liberated, then we shall understand radha-krishna-pranaya-vikrtir. Because Krsna and Radha, They are not on the material field. Try to understand. This is Jiva Gosvami’s analysis, that Krsna is the Supreme Brahman. The Supreme Brahman cannot accept anything material. So Radha is not in the material field.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Now there is a very nice song. I shall sing if you can play on the harmonium. Yes. This is Rupa Gosvami’s song:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite<br /> gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite<br /> damodara-rati-vardhana-vese<br /> hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese<br /> vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe<br /> lalita-sakhi guna-ramita-visakhe<br /> karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite<br /> sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite<br /> radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">This song was sung by Rupa Gosvami. He is the real person, actual person, to understand Radha and Krsna. So he says, “All glories to Radharani.” radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. “She’s so dear to Krsna.” Krsna, everyone is trying to love Krsna, but Krsna is trying to love somebody. Now how great She is. Just try to understand. Everyone, the whole world, the whole universe, all living entities, they are trying to love Krsna. Krsna-prema. Lord Caitanya describes, prema-pumartho mahan. And Rupa Gosvami described that “You are distributing krsna-prema.” So krsna-prema is so valuable, but Krsna is after Radharani. Just see how Radharani is great. Just try to understand the greatness of Radharani. Therefore She is so great, and we have to offer our respect. Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. How She is? Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Taruni, taruni means young girls. You’ll see the pictures, they are all young girls. But of all the young girls, She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so beautiful. Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite, damodara-rati-vardhana-vese. And She always dresses Herself so nicely that Damodara, Krsna, becomes attracted by Her beauty. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. And She is the only lovable object of Krsna, and She is the “Queen of Vrndavan.” This “Queen of Vrndavan” you’ll find in Vrndavan, if you go to Vrndavan, everyone is worshiping Radharani. Rani means queen. They are always speaking, “Jaya Radhe!” Radharani. All the devotees in Vrndavan, they are worshiper of Radharani. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese, vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe. And She appeared as the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and Her companion, Lalita-sakhi and Visakha-sakhi, and the devotees. So on behalf of the pure devotees of Krsna, Rupa Gosvami is praying, karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite. “Oh, my worshipable Radharani, You are full of mercy. So I am begging of Your mercy because You are so merciful, very easily You offer, bestow Your mercy. So I am begging Your mercy.” Karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite, sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. Now somebody may say, “Oh, you are so great, learned scholar, you are so great saintly person, and you are begging mercy from an ordinary girl? How is that?” Therefore Rupa Gosvami says, “Oh, this is not ordinary girl.” Sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. “This girl’s description is possible to be made by great saintly persons like Sanaka-Sanatana. She is not ordinary.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So the lesson is that we should not treat Radharani as ordinary girl, or Krsna as ordinary man. They are the Supreme Absolute Truth. But in the Absolute Truth, there is the pleasure potency, and that is exhibited in the dealings of Radha and Krsna. And Radha’s expansion all the gopis, and Krsna is the Supreme Lord.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Thank you very much. Chant Hare Krsna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31166">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31166</a></p></div>ISKCON Mayapur to Provide Virtual Reality Radhastami Experiencehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/iskcon-mayapur-to-provide-virtual-reality-radhastami-experience2020-08-22T06:13:53.000Z2020-08-22T06:13:53.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_byline" style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/08-Aug/iskcon-mayapur-vr-1-small_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" alt="iskcon-mayapur-vr-1-small_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>By Madhava Smullen <br /><br /></strong></div>
<div>
<p>The promotional poster for Kripa Kataksha: The Gaze of Grace.</p>
</div>
<div id="article_body">
<p>With devotees around the world isolated in their homes due to COVID-19, visiting the sacred holy places of Mayapur or Vrindavan is not currently possible. But an innovative new project promises to bring Mayapur to you – straight into your living room – via an immersive 360 degree Virtual Reality film on Radhastami, August 26th. Entitled Kripa Kataksha: The Gaze of Grace, the film is available by registering at <a href="https://www.mayapurvrfestivals.com/">https://www.mayapurvrfestivals.com/</a>.</p>
<p>At the behest of Jayapataka Swami and ISKCON Mayapur management, the Strategic Synergies Department at Sridhama Mayapur, headed by Radhapati Gopinath Das, has been finding unique ways to give the worldwide community of devotees the Mayapur experience for some time now, starting with their Round the World Digital Ratha Yatra on June 23rd.</p>
<p>Purchasing 108 Zoom accounts each with a capacity of 500 participants, the team broadcast a special interactive digital Ratha Yatra to 50,000 devotees in over 100 countries around the world.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-mayapur-to-provide-virtual-reality-radhastami-experience,7471/">https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-mayapur-to-provide-virtual-reality-radhastami-experience,7471/</a></p>
</div></div>Sweet reminiscence of Janmastami and Radhastami in Mayapur!https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/sweet-reminiscence-of-janmastami-and-radhastami-in-mayapur2019-09-12T11:22:36.000Z2019-09-12T11:22:36.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3552824566,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552824566,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552824566?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552825668,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552825668?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Today we are observing the Sri Krishna janmasahtami adhivas because lord Krishna Janmastami is one of the most holy days in the universe. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita My birth and My work is transcendental. We will offer about 26 sacred items to the deities. We will offer that with various prayers. We have here the gurukula students who will chant the mantras and different pujaris, brahmanas and sanyasis will offer the sacred items. See the deities have come forward in their utsav murti and you can offer your prayers to the deities what seva you want to do. And tomorrow we will observe the janmastami the whole day till midnight.” – His Holiness Jayapataka Swami on Janmastami adhivas ceremony speech 2019.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The auspicious Janmastami day in Mayapur was stocked with spiritual events like samskaras, aratis and abhishek. Melodious kirtan went on for the whole day. The day started with stunning mangal arati darshan. The Bhagavatam class focused on the transcendental janma, tattva and karma of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2lMI9Bn">Janmastami Festival Gallery</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2kvRf5j">Radhastami Darshan Gallery</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2kFz1OF">Radhastami Abhishek Gallery</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826022,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826022,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552826022?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The festival events in Mayapur consisted of day darshan, samskaras, abhisekh and night darshan.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The entire temple room was decorated amazingly for sringar arati. Sri sri Radha Madhav and Asta Sakhis were adorned with a new colorful dress. They were marvelously dressed with a variety of flowers, jewels and ornaments.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The crowded temple full of devotees stood astounded taking darshan and singing to their lordships.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Devotees from the Gurukula then began preparations for the performance of Krishna’s samskaras. Devotees played different roles like Krishna, Nanda, Yashoda, and Garga muni. A large number of samskaras were performed, beginning from Jata Karma (Birth), Niskramanam (first outing), Nama karana (name giving), Paustika karma (nourishment), Anna prasana (first grains), Cuda karanam (hair cutting), Upanayanam (sacred thread), and finally Samavartana (graduation from Gurukula). Little boy Krishna then went out to everyone present in the temple room to collect Gurudakshina which was a wonderful sight to witness.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The abhisekh started two hours before midnight. They were bathed with Panca-gavya – the five sacred items from cow – and are then bathed with milk, yogurt, ghee, honey and sugar water, which are known as the five nectars. They were also bathed with seasonal and colourful juices from fruits such as mangoes, grapes, pomegranates, oranges, watermelons, and papayas. Water scented with saffron, rose, aguru, musk and kusha grass were also used to bathe Their Lordships, and fragrant flower waters made with flowers such as rose, bakul, lotus, jasmine, and gandharaj. Radha Madhava are also bathed in coconut water and are given two kinds of showers: Sarva Aushadi and Maha Aushadi, which uses natural medicinal and herbal substances to bathe the Lord.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">A maha-arati was performed and Radha Madhava gave darshan in another new outfit. This was the grand Night darshan that devotees eagerly waited for after the curtains closed. Mean time there was charanamrta distributed to all the devotees in the panchatatya courtyard. Sumptuous anukalpa maha prasadam was then served to everyone who attended and fasted on this auspicious day.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Just 12 days after celebrating Janmastami there was a buzz all over Mayapur. The 4th of September was Lalita sasti and the devotees of Mayapur were getting set for yet another celebration, the appearance day of Mayapur’s most beloved Srimati Radharani. Pilgrims from local villages and abroad gathered in huge numbers to attend this grand festival. The Radha Premdan Kirtan Utsav commenced the day before the festival, an ecstatic kirtan was performed all day with devotees both residents of Mayapur and visiting devotees, getting to chant the maha mantra singing radhe! radhe!.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826606,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826606,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552826606?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826952,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826952,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552826952?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Preparations carried on for the adhivas cermony and Radahastami.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the evening, during adhivas the utsav murti Sri sri Radha Madahv came forward and were honored with 26 auspicious items. The devotees were encouraged to prepare their consciousness for Sri Radhastami the next day.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“We often pray to Radharani because She is the pleasure potency of Krsna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The very word “Krsna” means all-attractive, but Radharani is so great that She attracts Krsna. If Krsna is always attractive to everyone, and Radharani is attractive to Krsna, how can we imagine the position of Srimati Radharani? We should try humbly to understand and offer Her our obeisances, saying, “Radharani, You are so dear to Krsna. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are Krsna’s beloved. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You. Radharani is very dear to Krsna, and if we approach Krsna through the mercy of Radharani we can easily attain Him. If Radharani recommends a devotee, Krsna immediately accepts him, however foolish he may be.” – Srila Prabhupad on Elevation to Krishna Consciousness.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">On the Radhastami day srimati Radharani gave her first darshan during mangal arati. Srimati Radhika dazzled wearing a yellow saree, her hair braided on both sides, glancing mercy to all devotees assembled, holding a bouquet of flowers in her hands. The bhagavatam classes started from 6AM discussing her glories, activities and birth narrated by various exalted vaishnavas. Srimati Radharani’s glorious birth occurred on the eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra. Srimati Vishakha Devi was also born on the same day. The entire temple altar was exquisitely decorated by various selfless hard-working devotees.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">During darshan arti Her Divine Grace took your breath away. Srimati Radahrani was dressed in new clothes, ornaments, flower garlands and anklets. She was wearing a garden of all varieties of blooming flowers which attract even the maddened bumblebee Sri Krishna. Her bodily complexion snatched away the pride of a golden lotus flower and her fragrance spread all over the temple room. During that time the devotees chanted govindam adi purusham and nothing else mattered only our beloved Queen Srimati Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The devotees offered various gifs during the gift offering session and soon after the Radha Premdan Kirtan Utsav resumed from 10 Am which would go on till 10 Pm. The Maha Abhisheka started an hour before noon and this was the climax of the festival. The Radha Madhav utsav deities were bathed with various colors of auspicious items as the chanting mantras and the kirtan continued in the background. Bhoga offering, puspanjali and Maha arti followed. There was a feast prasadam served in all the kitchens for everybody who attended this glorious festival.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the evening, devotees chanted Sri Radhikastakam for the pleasure of Srimati Radharani with every line ending with one request – to always bestow upon me the service of Her lotus feet. Lamps were distributed for devotees to offer and sing at the same time. This day was all about Radharani!</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Thank you to all the donors and selfless servitude mentality of devotees who made this festival a grand success. All glories to Radharani – always bestow upon me the service of Your lotus feet.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826394,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826394,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552826394?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Source: <a href="http://www.mayapur.com/2019/67098/">http://www.mayapur.com/2019/67098/</a></p></div>The life of Krsna’s life – Srimati Radharanihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-life-of-krsna-s-life-srimati-radharani2019-09-06T07:58:28.000Z2019-09-06T07:58:28.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:justify;"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3540488424,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3540488424?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Kadamba Kanana Swami</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">It is explained that all the residents of Vrndavana are like the life force of Krsna. Without them, what reason is there to exist? Krsna makes this very clear. But then, He points out that when it comes to Srimati Radharani, She is His very life force itself. Without Her, there is no life. She is therefore the centre of all of Vrndavana’s activities. It is said that Krsna is simply the instrument of Radharani. So Krsna is completely controlled by Srimati Radharani. This is our Krsna, who is purchased by the love of His devotees.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Krsna is atmarama; He is satisfied within Himself. But then it is said in the tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam that like a boy who is playing with His reflection, prati bimba, Krsna is playing with His own energies. Krsna is manifesting so many different energies and the most amazing of all energies is His pleasure potency. Srimati Radharani is that hladini shakti, the pleasure potency of Krsna. Krsna says that, ‘so many are praying to Me and I give them pleasure. But who gives pleasure to Me? Who can really give pleasure to Me; only one who is a hundred times more qualified than I am!’ So like this, Krsna is looking upon Srimati Radharani as unlimitedly qualified, unlimitedly pure, unlimitedly dedicated and of course today, we are looking at Srimati Radharani as the emblem of pure devotion.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Source: <a href="https://www.kksblog.com/2019/09/the-life-of-krsnas-life-srimati-radharani/">https://www.kksblog.com/2019/09/the-life-of-krsnas-life-srimati-radharani/</a></p></div>Radhastami Puja !!!https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/radhastami-puja2019-09-06T06:30:00.000Z2019-09-06T06:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515264870,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="260" alt="2515264870?profile=original" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srimati Radharani appeared on the eight day of the waxing moon of Hrsikesha (Bhadra) mase, at noon.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Srimati Radharani is as fully spiritual as Krishna. No one should consider Her to be material. She is definitely not like the conditioned souls, who have material bodies, gross and subtle, covered by material senses. She is all spiritual, and both Her body and mind are of the same spiritual embodiment. Because Her body is spiritual, Her senses are also spiritual. Thus Her body, mind and senses fully shine in love of Krishna. She is the personified hladini-sakti (the pleasure-giving energy of the Lord’s internal potency), and therefore She is the only source of enjoyment for Sri Krishna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Sri Krishna cannot enjoy anything that is internally different from Him. Therefore Radha and Sri Krishna are identical. The sandhini portion, Sri Krishna’s internal potency, has manifested the all-attractive form of Sri Krishna, and the same internal potency, in the hladini feature, has presented Srimati Radharani, who is the attraction for the all-attractive. No one can match Srimati Radharani in the transcendental pastimes of Sri Krishna.” (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.71, purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The transcendental mellow relished by the gopis in Braja is super excellently featured in Srimati Radharani. Mature assimilation of the transcendental humor of conjugal love is represented by Srimati Radharani, whose feelings are incomprehensible even to the Lord Himself. The intensity of Her loving service is the highest form of ecstasy. No one can surpass Srimati Radharani in relishing the transcendental mellow qualities of the Lord.” (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.50, purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Sri Krishna is the potent factor, and Srimati Radharani is the internal potency. According to Vedanta philosophy, there is no difference between the potent and potency; they are identical. We cannot differentiate between one and the other, any more than we can separate fire from heat. Everything in the Absolute is inconceivable in relative existence. Therefore in relative cognizance it is very difficult to assimilate this truth of the oneness between the potent and the potency. The philosophy of inconceivable oneness and difference propounded by Lord Caitanya is the only source of understanding for such intricacies of transcendence.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“In fact, Radharani is the internal potency of Sri Krishna, and She eternally intensifies the pleasure of Sri Krishna. Impersonalists cannot understand this without the help of a maha-bhagavata devotee. The very name Radha suggests that She is eternally the topmost mistress for the comforts of Sri Krishna. Devotees in Vrindavana therefore seek the mercy of Srimati Radharani in order to be recognized as loving servitors of Sri Krishna. (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.56 purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">One should conduct the worship at noon time. One may construct a mandapa (pavilion) with a vedi (altar), or raised platform, decorate it with colored flags, four doors, banana trees, kumbhas, flowers and surround it with red string.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">On the vedi one should draw a sarvatobhadra mandala, and establish a kumbha wound with threads on it. The kumbha should be filled with water, jewels and herbs and decorated with leaves and flowers.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">One should establish a conch according to the rules and sprinkle water everywhere reciting the mula mantra of Radha (Shrim Raam Radhikaya namah).</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the eight directions establish pots, starting from the east side, containing sarvausadhi, mahausadhi, bijastaka, navaratna, flowers, fruit, gandha, and chandana water. Water from the pot on the sarvatobhadra mandala should be sprinkled on these pots. One should then perform the puja of Srimati Radhika, or of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna with the regular sixteen items, and as well one may rub sesame and poppy seed powder over Her body before the bath. One may bathe her in panchamrta. Then one should bathe Srimati Radharani in the water from the eight pots starting from the eastern pot.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">After the bath one should offer cloth, ornaments, gandha, flowers, incense, lamps, naivedyam, aratrika, stutis, pranamas and circumambulation, as described in the puja manuals.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Radharani’s birthplace at Rawal (Raval) in Vraj.<br /> Radharani’s Palace at Varshana, Vraj.<br /> Pila Pokhar where Radharani’s touch made a pokhar (kund) changed colour to golden.<br /> Sri Radha Kunda</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Padma Purana confirms that Sri Radha is the foremost of the gopis:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">yatha radha priya vishnos<br /> tasyah kundam priyam tatha<br /> sarva-gopishu saivaika<br /> vishnor atyanta-vallabha</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Just as Srimati Radharani is most dear to Krishna, Her bathing pond is similarly dear. Of all the gopis, She is the most beloved of the Lord.”<br /> The Brihad-gautamiya-tantra also names Srimati Radharani as Krishna’s foremost consort:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">devi krishna-mayi prokta<br /> radhika para-devata<br /> sarva-lakshmi-mayi sarva<br /> kantih sammohini para</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.” (This translation is Srila Prabhupada’s English rendering of Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 4.83.)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Additional information about Sri Radha is given in the Rig-parisishta (the supplement to the Rig Veda): radhaya madhavo devo madhavenaiva radhika/ vibhrajante janeshu. “Among all persons, it is Sri Radha in whose company Lord Madhava is especially glorious, as She is especially glorious in His.”<br /> (The servants of HDG Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. SB 10.32.8. purport.)</p>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1084">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1084</a></div></div>A Radhastami Meditation by Achyut Gopal Dashttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/a-radhastami-meditation-by-achyut-gopal-das2019-09-05T05:55:51.000Z2019-09-05T05:55:51.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CO46MOg3_5U/XW6qtKvBsvI/AAAAAAAAG-U/4aqrlSnFnmEFc400VSRULA2ZVo7dw5THACLcBGAs/s640/130_001.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="130_001.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" /></div>
<div style="text-align:justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align:justify;">Jai Sri Radhe!! Is the chant on everyone's minds and hearts now. Atleast in the minds and hearts of devotees. It's time to celebrate the most auspicious of auspicious festivals; it's time to celebrate Sri Radhashtami - the appearance day of Srimati Radharani. For devotees, Radhashtami is a more important festival than Janmashtami. Why? Because for the world Krishna is God but for devotees, Radha is God because they know that Krishna is subservient to the love of Radha. In our ISKCON circle, it is said that - Janmashtami is a public event but Radhashtami is a private event for only devotees who understand the supreme position of Srimati Radharani.<br /><br /> On the most auspicious occasion of Radhashtami, I would like to bring to your attention a beautiful meditation that His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami wrote many years back on this occasion called "An offering for the Divine Mother". The best prayer is to repeat the prayer of previous realized, great souls. Keeping this thought in mind, I am presenting a part of the write-up of Bhakti Tirtha Swami for your benefit. May this meditation make your Radhashtami even more better, meaningful and relishable.</div>
<div>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><span style="font-size:16px;">AN OFFERING FOR THE DIVINE MOTHER</span></strong><br /><br /> My dear Mother today is your appearance day. The creatures in this material universes were forced to take birth, due to their desire to enjoy material sense gratification. Their birth is a punishment, a period of confinement in material prison. Our bodies are the prison uniforms, and the cities, states, nations and planets are all places of repeated birth and death, characterized by constant harassment. You are not only a resident of the spiritual world, with a body of pure devotion to our Divine Father, but You manage to extend your protective energies as the guardian of the devotees. Dear Mother, please do not abandon us even though we hold tightly on to our prison mentalities. <br /> <br /> My dear Mother, today is Your appearance day, and we are all reminded that every true Saint attains love of the universal Father through You. You hold the key that unlocks the Bhakti stored in the heart of everyone. You ring the bell that attracts the attention of our beloved Father. No one can go to him or even attract a second of his attention, without Your blessings...oh, how we long for those blessings.<br /><br /> My dear Mother, today is your appearance day, and as usual Your thoughts are on others. We all want to chant Your glories, but You have defeated us terribly by putting our cases before our Beloved Father, telling Him to please bless us. Some heard You say: "Hey Govinda! These devotees are serving so nicely! Please receive them; they are better servants than I."Oh Mother how can we ever come up to a standard that really deserves Your affection and endorsements? <br /> <br /> My dear Mother, today is Your appearance day. Let every atom vibrate Your name. Your servants in Vrindavan chant Your name before and after all activities. Your name is the means and the end. They know nothing but You. They speak only of You. They see all Beauty as a reflection of Your splendor. They are so intoxicated with Your pastimes that whoever associates with these great souls immediately contracts their disease. Even if this contagious fever spreads all over the entire universe, still the residents would never be able to glorify You sufficiently. What can I offer you in general, what to say of this most auspicious day of your appearance? <br /><br /> How am I, so unqualified and unworthy, able to receive Your blessings? This is surely a sign of Your causeless mercy. Divine Mother, I can only get a glimpse of Your causeless mercy when I attempt to even think of offering something to You. As I am most expert at taking, on this auspicious day I run after those great true devotees of Yours, demanding one particle of dust from their lotus feet, which is sufficient to remove the tons of dust accumulated on my heart. Once this dust is completely removed, I will be able to offer You in service the only thing I seem to value. . .My life!<br /> <br /> Although You are in need of nothing, Divine Mother, please grant me forgiveness on all sides and allow me association with your true bhaktas. Otherwise I shall remain a disgrace, passing another year with nothing of value to offer You...<br /><br /> Jai Sri Radhe!!</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Source: <a href="https://thewisdompark.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-radhashtami-meditation.html">https://thewisdompark.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-radhashtami-meditation.html</a></p>
</div></div>