Radha has been depicted as part of Vaishnava tradition in
Bhagavata Purana and the Gita Govinda. She features prominently within the theology of today`s Gaudiya Vaishnava sect, which regards Radha as
Shakti. Radha is an incarnation of
Goddess Lakshmi. Radha the Gopi
In the Vaishnava traditions of
Hinduism Radha is Krishna`s friend and advisor. Other gopis are considered to be her maidservants. She is connected to Krishna in two ways: svakiya-rasa (married relationship) and parakiya-rasa (a relationship signified with eternal mental "love"). The Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition focuses on parakiya-rasa as the highest form of love, where Radha and Krishna share thoughts even through separation.
Radha was the daughter of Vrishbhanu. Vrishbhanu was King Suchandra in his previous life. Suchandra and his wife had acquired a boon from
Lord Brahma that in the Dwapar yuga
Goddess Lakshmi would be born as a daughter to them in form of Radha. Again King Suchendra and Queen Kalavati were reborn as Vrishbhanu and Kirtikumari.
Radha`s love towards Krishna is considered as divine and phenomenal which gives their love a pious form. Radha is considered as the soul of Krishna. She is worshipped in Vrindavan, the place where Krishna is said to have lived. In
Gaudiya Vaishnavism Radha`s love is considered as the most perfect because of its endless and unconditional nature.
Radha has many epithets: Radhika, Gandharvi, Govinda-nandini, Govinda-mohini, Govinda-sarvasva, Sarva-kanta Shiromani, Krishnamayi, Madan-Mohan-Mohini, Aradhana, Sarva-lakshmi, Vrshabhanu-nandini, Vrshabhanu-suta, Vrshabhanu-Dulari, Vrndavaneshvari, Lalita-Sakhi, Gokula-Taruni, Damodara Rati, Radharani, RadhaKrishna, Vrajrani, Swaminiji, Karika, Ramika, Sakalepsitdaatri, Raaseshwari, Sarveshwari, Raj- Rajeshwari, Ladali, Barsaane Wali, Krishna-Priya and Haridaas-Dulari. Barsana and
Vrindavan in
Mathura District contain several temples dedicated to both Radha and Krishna, including the Radhavallabh Temple.
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(Last Updated on : 15/11/2011)
