Just like Janmashtami is the Divine appearance day of Lord Krishna, Radhashtami is the Divine appearance day of His eternal consort Shrimati Radharani.Radhashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada or Hrsikesa (August – September). Devotees fast till noon and worship Her to get the mercy of Shri Krishna to progress in devotional service. This year Radhashtami will be celebrated on Wednesday, 11th September.
Shri Radha was born to King Vrishbhanu and Queen Kirtida at Raval in Brijbhoomi. She is the greatest devotee of Lord Krishna and the love between Radha and Krishna is epitomized as the highest state or perfection of love.
The Pastime of the Appearance of Shri Radhey
One day when Sri Vrishabhanu Maharaj, the king of Raval, went to the Yamuna River to take his daily morning bath, he was struck with wonder when he saw a glorious golden lotus flower which was endowed with an unearthly beauty and was radiating a divine effulgence. Being mesmerized by the transcendental thousand petaled lotus flower, he approached it and looking inside it, he saw a most amazing, gorgeous, delicate, divine baby girl, lying on the whorl of the flower. Since he had been praying for a daughter from his worshipable Lord, the Sun God, he immediately took the baby girl in his lap and accepted her as a blessing of the Sun God. Taking her home, he joyously told his wife, Devi Kirtida, about the incident, and they both bathed the child with tears of love which were incessantly flowing from their eyes. Oblivious to the fact that they had received the original Laxmi and the consort of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, as their daughter, they simply thought of her as their very dear child and showered all their maternal affection upon her. Despite their unbounded happiness, they were greatly saddened by the fact that their daughter was not opening her eyes, because of which they did not celebrate her birth with the residents of Raval. However, anticipating the appearance of Srimati Radhika, Narad Muni soon came to the house of Vrishabhanu Maharaj and after the initial pleasantries inquired from him about his children. Maharaj Vrishabhanu then called his son Sridamforward and submitted him to the lotus feet of the sage. However, Narad Muni was eager to know about their daughter, but due to her being blind, they did not inform him about her. Upon being insisted and asked repeatedly, he finally told him about Srimati Radhika; and hearing about her Narad Muni immediately felt great ecstasy in his heart. He then asked to see the child and instructed them to make arrangements for a ceremony that he would perform for her, he worshiped her with the choicest of prayers when they had gone to make the arrangements. In order to fulfil the desire of the great devotee, Srimati Radhika appeared before him in her Kishori form and blessed Narad Muni. He then instructed them to arrange for a big festival to celebrate her birth, in which they should invite Nanda Maharaj and Krishna. Following his instructions, Maharaj Vrishabhanu arranged for an elaborate festival, and during this festival, when Sri Krishna crawled to the cot of Radha, and peered inside, realising that her dearmost beloved was present before her, she opened her lotus like eyes and took darshan of Shyamsundar. Seeing the miraculous event, all the Vrajavasis were overjoyed and celebrated the occasion in great ecstasy. In this way Srimati Radhika appeared in this world to perform pastimes with Shyamsundar to attract all living entities.
Shrimati Radha Rani Pranaam Mantra
tapta-kancana-gaurangi, radhevrindavanesvari. vrishabhanu-sute devi, pranamamihari-priye.
Meaning of the mantra:
“I offer my respects to Radharani, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrindavan. You are the daughter of King Vrisabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krishna.” In Vrindavan you will see all devotees, they will address one another, “Jaya Radhe.” Because they know that “If Radhari is pleased, if I can please Radharani, Krishna will be highly pleased. Radharani is hari-priya, very dear to Krishna. So if we approach Krishna through Radharani, through the mercy of Radharani, then it becomes very easy. If Radharani recommends that “This devotee is very nice,” then Krishna immediately accepts.
How is the festival celebrated in temples?
This grand festival is celebrated differently in different temples. In some temples the deities of Shri Radha Krishna are decorated very graciously and a splendid abhishek is performed. Devotees perform kirtans and glorify Srimati Radharani by singing wonderful songs composed by Vaishnava Acharyas. Thousands of devotees visit the temples of Shri Radha Krishna to witness the celebrations. The Deities are bathed with milk, curd, ghee, honey and jaggery water followed by juices from varieties of fruits like muskmelon, apple, watermelon, pineapple, pomegranate, orange, sweet lime, papaya, grapes, etc.
On this glorious day, devotees visit temples to take darshan of her lotus feet, which can be seen only on the occasion of her appearance day and on Gopashtami in the month of Kartik. Taking darshan of her two lotus feet, which the reservoir of all mercy, the devotees feel great satisfaction.
Sending forth an ocean of mercy with her eyes, she smiles sweetly upon seeing all the assembled devotees gathered there to celebrate her appearance day. Thereafter, the devotees listen to discourses glorifying the limitless qualities of Gandharvika Sri Radha.
The Lordships are offered a sumptuous bhogaoffering comprising of innumerable palatable dishes prepared by devotees with great love and devotion, each one of which is perfectly spiced and tastes delicious. Thereafter, the arati is performed, after which all the devotees relish a feast. In this way the festival of Radhashtami is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all devotees of Shri Krishna.
Radhashtami is a special opportunity to glorify Srimati Radharani, under whose care one can attain perfection in devotional service.