Radhanath Swami Maharaj
The name “Rādhā” is derived from the root word ārādhana, which means “worship.” The personality who excels all in worshiping Krishna may therefore be called Rādhikā, the greatest servitor therefore Rādhā is parama-devatā, the supreme goddess, and She is worshipable for everyone. She is the protector of all, and she is the mother of the entire universe.
Rādhā is the original source of all the goddesses of fortune “sarva-lakṣmī.” The word “sarva-kānti” indicates that all beauty and luster rest in her body. All the lakṣmīs derive their beauty from her. “sarva-lakṣmī” indicates that she fully represents the six opulences of Krishna
“Kānti” may also mean “all the desires of Lord Krishna.” All the desires of Lord Krishna rest in Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, she fulfills all the desires of Lord Krishna. This is the meaning of “sarva-kānti.”. Lord Krishna enchants the world, but Rādhā enchants even him. Therefore She is the supreme goddess of all.
The beloved consorts of Lord Krishna are of three kinds: the goddesses of fortune, the queens, and the milkmaids of Vraja, who are the foremost of all. These consorts all proceed from Rādha. Just as the fountainhead, Lord Krishna, is the cause of all incarnations, so Śrī Rādhā is the cause of all these consorts. The goddesses of fortune are partial manifestations of Śrīmatī Rādha, and the queens are reflections of her image. The goddesses of fortune are her plenary portions, and they display the forms of vaibhava-vilāsa. The queens are of the nature of her vaibhava-prakāśa. The Vraja-devīs have diverse bodily features. They are her expansions and are the instruments for expanding rasa. Without many consorts, there is not such exultation in rasa. Therefore there are many manifestations of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī to assist in the Lord’s pastimes. Among them are various groups of consorts in Vraja who have varieties of sentiments and mellows. They help Lord Krishna taste all the sweetness of the rāsa dance and other pastimes.
Rādhā is the one who gives pleasure to Govinda, and she is also the enchantress of Govinda. She is the be-all and end-all of Govinda, and the crest jewel of all his consorts. “The transcendental goddess Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the direct counterpart of Lord Śrī Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”
Her worship [ārādhana] consists of fulfilling the desires of Lord Krishna. Therefore the Purāṇas call Her Rādhikā.
“Krishna-mayī” means “one whose within and without are Lord Krishna.” She sees Lord Krishna wherever she casts her glance. Also “krishna-mayī” means that he is identical with Lord Krishna, for she embodies the mellows of love. The energy of Lord Krishna is identical with him. Since Krishna’s personality is full of love, His loving potency, Rādhārāṇī, being non different from him, is called krishna-mayī.
Śrī Rādhā is the full power, and Lord Krishna is the possessor of full power. The two are not different, as evidenced by the revealed scriptures.They are indeed the same, just as musk and its scent are inseparable, or as fire and its heat are nondifferent. Thus Rādhā and Lord Krishna are one, yet they have taken two forms to enjoy the mellows of pastimes. . Radha is the supreme energy of Lord Krishna and accompanies Krishna in all his incarnations
This year on 14th Sept we will be celebrating Radha Ashtami the most blessed and auspicious celebration of the supreme pleasure potency, Srimati Radha Rani appearing within this material existence. To understand the nature of Srimati Radha Rani is a great philosophical journey into the depths of the essence of all absolute knowledge.
(The author is the Spiritual Guru of International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
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