Sri Radhastami

Om ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur-unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ.
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.

vancha-kalpatarubhyash cha
kripa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavane bhyo
vaishnavebhyo namo namaha
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees and can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

yathā yathā gaura-padāravinde
vindeta bhaktiṁ kṛta-puṇya-rāśiḥ |
tathā tathotsarpati hṛdy akasmād
rādhā-padāmbhoja-sudhāmburāśiḥ ||
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta: 88)
“As much as one who has performed an abundance of meritorious acts acquires bhakti to Gaura’s lotus feet, so much so the nectarean ocean of Rādhā’s lotus feet automatically swells within one’s heart.”

kanaka-jalada-gātrau nīla-śoṇābja-netrau
mṛgamada-rasa-bhālau mālatī-kunda-mālau |
tarala-taruṇa-veśau nīla-pītāmbareśaus
mara nibhṛta-nikuñje rādhikā-kṛṣṇa-candrau ||16||
Radha’s body is yellow, like gold, and Krishna’s body is blue, like a cloud. Their eyes are like blue and red lotuses, black irises with the tint of rose around the edges. Tilak designs of deer musk adorn their foreheads, and they’re garlanded by malati and kunda malas. Their deep blue and pitambara outfits match their new youth. Oh my mind! Just meditate on Radha and Krishna within the hidden nikunjas!

ha devi kaku-bhara-gadgadayadya vaca
yace nipatya bhuvi dandavad udbhatartih |
asya prasadam abudhasya janasya kritva
gandharvike nija-gane gananam vidhehi ||2||
O Goddess! In great distress I prostrate myself before You, falling on the ground, praying piteously unto You with faltering voice. O Gandharvike! After You bestowed Your mercy on this fool, count him (her) amongst Your own people!

ańga-śyāmalima-chaṭābhir abhito mandī-kṛtendīvaraḿ
jāḍyam- jāguḍa-rociṣām- vidadhatam- paṭṭāmbarasya śriyā
vṛndāraṇya-vilāsinam- hṛdi lasad-dāmābhir āmodaraḿ
ādhā-skandha-niveśitojjvala-bhujam- dhyāyema dāmodaram
On Lord Damodara, whose dark bodily luster embarrasses the blue lotus flowers, the splendor of whose silken garments stuns the glory of yellow kuìkuma, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest, whose chest is fragrant with a brilliant flower garland, and whose magnificent arm rests on Radha’s shoulder, let us meditate.
(This is the final song of Volume 1 of the Stavamala.)

bhaktya vihina aparadha-laksaih
ksiptas ca kamadi-taranga-madhye
krpa-mayi! tvam saranam prapanna
vrnde! numaste caranaravindam
Unfortunately bereft of devotional service, and due to committing hundreds and thousands of offenses, we have been cast deep into the ocean of material existence; indeed, we are being tossed about by the terrible waves of lust, anger, greed, etc. Oh most merciful one! Our souls are surrendered unto you – and we offer our most respectful obeisances unto your divine lotus feet.
(Sri Vrinda-devi Ashtakam – VERSE EIGHT)

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
Supreme, any person cannot be alone. Just like we are here, we are not alone. We have so many friends, so many associates. So a person does not mean alone. A person means with associates. This Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Prabhu Nityānanda, worshiping Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu means to worship Him with His associates, Pañca-tattva.
(Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Goswami Maharaj – Gainesville, July 29, 1971)

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

First of all I offer my countless obeisances at the lotus feet of Om Viṣṇupād Paramahaṁsa Swami Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Śrīla Vāmana Gosvāmī Mahārāja.
Om Viṣṇupād Paramahaṁsa Swami Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Srila Bhaktivedānta Trivikrama Goswami Maharaj
I also offer my countless obeisances at the lotus feet of all the ācāryas in our disciplic succession along with Srila Prabhupada Saraswati Thakur and his associates. I offer my pranam, greetings to all the present Vaishnavas.

On Janmashtami, we celebrate the birthday of Yashoda Maiya and Nanda Baba’s son, under their guidance. Similarly, we celebrate the birthday of Vrishbhanu Baba and Kirtirda Maiya’s beloved daughter, under their guidance. This is the Siddhanta. There are many scriptural descriptions of how and why Radhaji came into this world. I will explain them one by one.

A Vaishnava poet, Madhavi Dasa, wrote:
(1)
yań kali rūpa śarīra na dharata
tań vraja-prema-mahānidhi kuṭharīka, kon kapāṭa ughāḍata
1. If Rupa Gosvami had not appeared in Kali-yuga, who would have opened the great store-house of vraja-prema and distributed its contents freely?
(2)
nīra-kṣīra-haḿsana, pāna-vidhāyana, kon pṛthak kari pāyata
ko saba tyaji, bhaji’ vṛndāvana, ko saba grantha viracita
2) Just as a swan separates milk from water, who could have separated the rasas to taste them? Abandoning everything, he performed bhajana in Vrndavana and wrote his rasika literatures.
(3)
jaba pitu vana-phula, phalata nānā-vidha, manorāji aravinda
so madhukara vinu, pāna kon jānata, vidyamāna kari bandha
3) When the yellow forest flowers blossom and fruits ripen, he lived like a bee taking the nectar from lotuses – who could have understood the nectar he was collecting?
(4)
ko jānata, mathurā vṛndāvana, ko jānata vraja-nīta
ko jānata, rādhā-mādhava-rati, ko jānata soi prīta
4) Who could have understood Krsna’s lilas in Mathura and Vrndavana? How could we have known the sweet vraja-lilas and the love between Radha-Madhava?
(5)
jākara caraṇe, prasāde sakala jana, gāi gāoyāi sukha pāota
caraṇa-kamale, śaraṇāgata mādho, tava mahimā ura lāgata
5) By the mercy of his lotus feet, all can sing about and attain such divine bliss. The surrendered Madhava dasa is always praying to embrace Rupa’s glories.

What is the meaning of vraja-prema-mahānidhi? The essence of Braj’s mood, especially Sri Radha Krishna’s ashta kaliya lila, and what are the kapāṭas (doors)? Without studying Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu and Ujjval Nilamani, it is not easy to know the glories of Radha Ji. Both books have such beautiful descriptions, especially Ujjwal Nilamani has a very beautiful description, but one must be qualified for it. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu also has descriptions. Srila Rupa Goswami Pada has two plays, Vidagdha-mādhava and Lalita-mādhava. Vidagdha-mādhava depicts Braj leela, and Lalita-mādhava depicts guna leela, meaning Dwarka puri leela. When Srila Rupa Goswami was going to Jagannath Puri to meet Mahaprabhu, in a village named Satyabhamapur, a divine woman came in his dream and said, “Do my plays separately, meaning make separate plays for Braj leela and Dwarka leela.”

Then when Srila Rupa Goswami came to Jagannath Puri, Sriman Mahaprabhu said, “Do not combine Dwarka leela and Braj leela.” Then he understood that Sri Satyabhama Devi herself had come and told him. That is why he separated these two. In Lalita Madhava, it is shown that the highest mountain in the eastern part of Bharat is the Himalayas. What is the name of Himalaya’s daughter? Parvati Devi, and what is the name of Himalaya’s son-in-law? Shiv Thakur. When someone has a capable son-in-law, the in-laws are very happy. Shiv Thakur and his wife Menaka Devi were overjoyed. If someone achieves something, neighbors feel a little jealous. Seeing this, Vindhyachal Parvat felt a little pain, “What should I do? I need to do something so that my son-in-law’s deity, my Lord, becomes our Lord. What should be done for them?”
He worshipped Brahma, and when Brahma appeared, he said, “Ask for a boon!”
He said, “Who is the world under the sway of Krishna. The Lord Himself. Who is Krishna under? Srimati Radha Thakurani. Let that Radha be my daughter. And let Shiv Thakur, my son-in-law, become her servant.”

Himalaya’s son-in-law was Shiv Thakur, and Brahma had arranged his marriage. So Vindhyachal’s son-in-law said, “Let my son-in-law become his servant.”
Brahma said, “So be it!” Knowing that Krishna and Srimati Radha Thakurani were coming to this world, Brahma granted the boon. Now, a girl was born to Vindhyachal, but Putana stole her. Putana is not the name of one woman; it is a class of demonesses. All demoness of that category are called Putana. Many people think Putana is a woman’s name, but no. Then what happened? As Putana was carrying her away, Vindhyachal’s queen became frightened and called her husband, who immediately called their priest.

The priest began to chant four mantras, and as Putana was carrying the baby away, she felt a throbbing pain in her chest. She couldn’t hold the baby girls and dropped them. One fell in Raval on a lotus flower. Near Raval is a village called Chandravali, where Chandravali fell. Radhaji and Chandravali are paternal cousins, and many manjaris are also related to them, just as Nanda Baba and his brothers are five brothers and two sisters, similarly Vrishbhanu Baba and his brothers are also five brothers. So this beautiful girl was found by Vrishbhanu Baba, and the other by Chandravali’s father. Radha Ji and Chandravali are paternal cousins, and many manjaris are also from their five families. So what happened? Now Vrishbhanu Baba and Nanda Baba were very close friends. Their main residence was Vrishbhanu Baba’s Barsana, whose old name was Brihad Sanu, and Nanda Baba’s Nandagaon. Then, when the demons’ mischief began, especially with a shortage of grass, because their main wealth was go-dhan (cows), their main asset. So what did they do? They changed their location. Nanda Baba came to Gokula Mahavana, and Vrishbhanu Baba to Rawal. Both lived close by.

While living in Gokula Mahavana, Yashoda Rani had a son, and while living in Rawal, Vrishbhanu Baba found Radha Ji. The temple there now was not Vrishbhanu Baba’s palace; the garden near the temple was Vrishbhanu Baba’s palace.
(Devotee asking:) Where we go for darshan, sir, a small temple in the bushes? (Gurudev:) Yes! There are not many facilities there, so we do darshan and then go up to the temple. It’s the same place. Yamuna was here, and she was found there.
Then what happened? When Vrishbhanu Baba went for a bath. He was returning after bathing. A very captivating light appeared. He looked back, “Where is this light coming from? What did he see?

karāravinde padāravindaḿ
mukhāravinde viniveśayantim
vaṭasya patrasya puṭe śayānaḿ
bālaḿ Radhikam manasā smarāmi
I meditate on that infant Srimati Radhika who is sleeping on the leaf of a banyan tree with Her lotus-like foot placed in Her lotus-like mouth with Her lotus-like hand.

When Gurudeva (Srila BV Narayana Goswami Maharaja) was there, one of Gurudeva’s servants made this and gave it to Gurudeva. Gurudeva laughed a lot and said, “Is this a shloka from Madhava Purana?” Gurudeva had a servant named Madhava, who wrote it, so Gurudeva said, “This is a shloka from Madhava Purana.” Gurudeva was very happy. When it was made on Radhashtami, Gurudeva would say, “Say that shloka.” Then I would say this.
Then Vrishbhanu Baba brought Radha Ji. Just as Krishna has His eternal parents, Yashoda Maiya and Nanda Baba, similarly, when Radhaji appears in any universe, Her parents will be Kritika Maiya and Vrishbhanu Baba. This will never change. No sadhaka can become Yashoda Maiya-Nanda Baba or Kritika Maiya-Vrishbhanu Baba through sadhana. They can become their servants, their friends, and serve them in that way, but they cannot become them themselves. If that were to happen, it would be ahangra upasana, which is not possible.
Vrishbhanu Baba brought her and placed her in Kritika Maiya’s lap. Until the mother has a child, milk will not come to her breast. But Srimati Radha Ji is an eternal daughter, so milk began to flow to her breast. However, Srimati Radhika Ji was blind. What was the reason for this? We will come to the second point, leaving this here and moving to another pastime.
Who was responsible for Krishna’s naming ceremony? Gargacharya Ji. He wrote a shloka in his Garga-Samhita.
Krishna said to Radha Ji, “Beloved! Let’s go to the mortal realm.”
Radha Ji asked, “Why?”
Krishna said, “We have to perform lilas.”
Guruji (Srila Narayana Goswami Maharaj) used to say, “Radha Ji is temperamental.”
She got upset and said, “You and your lilas! I am not going to the mortal realm.”
Krishna then said, “But without you, our lilas cannot happen.”
Radha Ji said, “I have nothing to do with lilas!”
He tried hard to persuade Radha Ji to agree, but even after agreeing, she said, “No! I won’t go!”
Krishna asked, “Why?”
Srimati Radha Ji said,

śrī-rādhikovāca
yatra vṛndāvanaṃ nāsti
yatra no yamunā nadī
yatra govardhano nāsti
tatra me na manaḥ-sukham
śrī-rādhikā uvāca—Śrī Rādhā said; yatra—where; vṛndāvanaṃ—Vṛndāvana; na—not; asti—is; yatra—where; na—not; u—indeed; yamunā—the Yamunā; nadī—river; yatra—where; govardhano—Govardhana Hill; na—not; asti—is; tatra—there; me—of Me; na—not; manaḥ—of the heart; sukham—happiness.
(Garga Samhita – Verse 1.3.32)
My heart cannot be happy where there is no Vṛndāvana [forest], no Yamunā river, and no Govardhana Hill.

Krishna asked her, “What will you do with Vrindavan?”
She said, “If there is no Vrindavan, where will the Rasalila happen?”
Among all of Krishna’s lilas, the Rasalila is the supreme. Krishna says, “I have many lilas, and all of them captivate the mind. All lilas are worshipable, but when I contemplate the Rasa, my mind goes out of my control. I don’t understand what happens where. I cannot control my mind. That is why Rasalila is the best. Krishna is not the owner of Rasalila. Who is the owner of Rasa? Rasa-Rajeswari Vrishabhanu Nandini Srimati Radha Thakurani. Krishna is Rasa-vilasi (one who enjoys the Rasa).
“If there is no Vrindavan then how will Rasa take place?”
“Okay! I will take Vrindavan. Will you then come?”
Srimati Radhika said, “No! If there is no Yamuna River then what shall I do?”
Krishna then said, “What will you do with Yamuna?”
Srimati Radhika said, “If no Yamuna, then how will I do water sport pastimes?”
Krishna then said, “Okay! I will take Yamuna River. Now will you agree to come?”
Srimati Radhika said, “No! If there is no Govardhan then I will not go.”
Krishna then said, “What will you do in Govardhan?”

pramoda-madana-lilah kandare kandare te
racayati nava-yunor dvandvan asminn-amandam
iti kila kalanartham lagna kastad dvayor me
nija-nikata-nivasam dehi govardhana tvam
Krishna gets more love and affection and intoxicated due to the pastimes in the caves.

Srimati Radhika said, “And moreover, I will play hide and seek pastime there.” Srimati Radhika is telling. “If these three are not there, I will not go.”
Krishna agreed and said, “Okay! I will take them also. Anything else you need?”
Srimati Radhika then said, “Yes! I want to take my Sakhis. If there are no sakhis then what will I do?”
Krishna then said, “What will your sakhis do?”
Srimati Radhika said, “You are bahu vallabha (fond of many). You are not satisfied with only me, so you need many heroines. So, if there are no sakhis then what shall I do alone?”
Krishna then said, “Okay. I will take your sakhis. Now, there is a delay so now you can come with me. Already so much delay.”
Srimati Radhika said, “No!”
Krishna then said, “Why not?”
Srimati Radhika said, “Who will serve me?”
Krishna then said, “I will serve you!”
Srimati Radhika said, “Oh hoo! You will serve me? You only know how to take service. You have not even realized what to tell about knowledge on how to serve! The manjaris are there, so they will serve me!”
Krishna then said, “Okay! Now, you can come?”
Srimati Radhika said, “No! If there are not my parents and yours parents, no superiors are there then how will we get blessings?”

Then Krishna agreed. With all the associates, the Dhama, Krishna appeared in this world. Whenever Krishna will appear, He will bring his Dhama. When Maryada Purushottam Lord appears, He brings his Ayodhya Dham. Our Prem Purushottam Mahaprabhu will appear and bring his Navadweep Dham. Without Dham, they will not appear. So Radhika sometimes comes direct from mother Kirtika’s womb, sometimes not. Why is this not the case? In this kalpa, Vrishbhanu baba obtained Radhika from Yamuna. In some kalpas, Vrishbhanu did aradhana of Brahma Ji, and Brahma Ji gave him a very big golden egg. After some time, Radhika came out from that golden egg. Some kalpas, kalpa means one day of Brahma. In one day of Brahma, Maryada Purushottam Lord Rama comes once, one day of Brahma or one kalpa, Leela Purushottam Krishna comes once, one day or kalpa of Brahma, Prem Purushottam Mahaprabhu comes once. So only one time, not twice. So what happened? In some other kalpa, Vrishbhanu baba came to take bath in Bhanukhor. In Barsana, there is Bhanukund, that is called Bhanukhor. He received her there. Sometimes Srimati Radhika takes birth like a human being from mother Kirtika’s womb. This time he got her from Yamuna.
But Radhika gave another condition to Krishna, “Okay, I will come but first I will see your face, not anything else.”
(Krishna): Okay!

So Radhika is so, so attractive and beautiful, so much Vatsalya Rasa came from Vrishbhanu Baba’s heart and he gave it to Kirtika Maiya. But they never told any Brajwasi because the girl is very beautiful but blind. NO UTSAV, NOTHING! Narad Rishi was thinking, “If the potent has come, potency must come somewhere else because potent will not be without potency.” Potent means Shaktimaan (one who possesses power), Potency means Shakti (energy). So searching here and there, traveling here and there, one day he came to the palace of Vrishbhanu Baba. Vrishbhanu Baba honored Narad Ji very much, then Narad Rishi asked, “Baba! Do you have any children?”

Vrishbhanu Baba said, “Yes.” Then he brought Sridama. Narad Rishi gave blessings and asked, “Do you have any daughter?”
(Vrishbhanu Baba): Yes… but…
(Narada Muni): What happened? Bring her.
(Vrishbhanu Baba): She has no eyes.
(Narada Muni): Don’t worry.
As soon as Vrishbhanu Baba brought Srimati Radhika, Narad Rishi recognized that She is the eternal potency of Lord Krishna.
(Narad Rishi): Rajan, I can bless her. I will do swastivachan and Mangalvaachan. I need this, this, this paraphernalia, go and get it.
Vrishbhanu Baba went to bring those things. Now a question may arise – Narad Rishi recognized that Srimati Radhika is the eternal potency of Lord Krishna, but why didn’t Vrishbhanu Baba recognize her? This is the play of the trick of Yogamaya. Yogamaya does not let one understand, just like sadhaks are doing sadhana here. If a sadhak knew his/her eternal swarupa, then his sadhana would become stagnant and his future lives would be spoiled. So, this is Yogamaya’s mercy as she does not allow, or we can’t do sadhana bhajan properly. The conditioned soul who is backward to Maha Maya is under the clutches of Mahamaya, and eternal associates are under the mercy of Yogamaya. Not clutches, but mercy for eternal associates. So, Narada Rishi is praying –

makheśvari kriyeśvari svadheśvari sureśvari
triveda-bhāratīśvari pramāṇa-śāsaneśvari
rameśvari kṣameśvari pramoda kānaneśvari
vrajeśvari vrajādhipe śrī rādhike namo ’stu te ||12||
Śrī Śrī Rādhā-kripa-kaṭākṣa-stava-rāja Text 12
O queen of Vedic sacrifices, O queen of pious activities, O queen of the material world, O queen of the demigods, O queen of Vedic scholarship, O queen of knowledge, O queen of the goddesses of fortune, O queen of patience, O queen of Vrindavana, the forest of happiness, O queen of Vraja, O empress of Vraja, O Sri Radhika, obeisance’s to You!

Srimati Radhika appeared in her teenage form before Narada Rishi. Lalita Devi is telling Narada Rishi, “Narada! Open! Open your eyes! Look! Swamini Ji has appeared. She will disappear immediately because Vrishbhanu Baba is coming here.”
Narada Rishi did pranam to Her, and She again disappeared and became a small baby. Now, a question may arise because nowadays intellectual giant babies are taking birth. They may question that Srimati Radhika told She will not open Her eyes before seeing Krishna. So, how did She open Her eyes here and bless Narada Rishi? Srimati Radhika in baby form will not see anyone else, and through her eternal swarupa, She is giving blessing to Narada Rishi. And how did She become Kishori? Krishna is in His eternal youth, teen form, making so many pastimes with the Gopis. There are no pastimes with potent and potency; it may be possible to separate fire and heat, deer musk and its fragrance, and sun and its rays. And even if these are possible, then none can separate Radha and Krishna. They are always together. Krishna is also in teen form always, and Radhika also. When babies are growing, they want to see the outer world.

One day, Nanda Baba was going for cow grazing. Krishna was always with Mother, but today He grabbed Nanda Baba as He understood Baba was going outside. This is not only for Krishna but for the whole world. If you observe a child, he will try to sit on the driving seat with his father and try to drive because it is the tendency of all humans to progress. So, Krishna wants to be with Nanda Baba, but Yashoda Maiya is not allowing. Still, Krishna went outside with Nanda Baba. Then, the sky became cloudy, and Yashoda Maiya told, “Don’t take my son outside! If he becomes wet due to rain, then he will catch a fever.” But Krishna is grabbing his father. Now Krishna is not going to his mother, so he came outside with Nanda Baba. Cow grazing was going on in the Bhandir Vann area, and the sky became completely covered with black clouds.

Now Nanda Baba is thinking, “If it rains more, the child will get wet, and Yashoda will scold me; she won’t listen.” And truly, it started raining. Nanda Baba was lost in thought, “What should I do?” He saw Radhika coming.
“Radhe, take this Krishna home. The clouds are dark, the tamala trees are dark. Krishna, Radhe, take him home.” Radhe, this child is very timid. Take him home. Radhika Ji highly respects the Guruvarga. She took Him to Kunj Griha. When they reached Kunj Griha in Bhandir Vatt, Brahma Ji was passing by from Brahmaloka to Pushkar. Important people have two or four buildings. Brahma Ji is such a great personality; he descended upon seeing this. At that moment, Krishna was a child, Radhika Ji was a girl, but she became a teenager, and the Ashta Sakhis arrived. This is shown in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana. The marriage was performed with seven shlokas; there are many, but the main ones are seven shlokas. This showed both of them as teenagers, then they were married. Brahma Ji is such a great priest; who could be a greater priest than him? He performed the marriage. And in that same Bhandir Van, I will tell two more lilas.

Now, in the Madhani Lila, what is there? Hindol means swing, playing dice, water sports, stealing butter, drinking honey, many lilas are there. Now all the Gopis are there and saying, “We will play dice here, and do wrestling.” Krishna is very mischievous while playing dice; he is naughty and playful.
Now Krishna said, “We will do this, we will wrestle.”
Then Lalita Ji said, “What wrestling will you do? What do you know about wrestling?”
Krishna said, “Don’t think of me as ordinary. I defeated Putana.”
Lalita Devi said, “What did you do in that? It happened because of Nanda Baba’s worship of Narayana. What is your capability in this?”
Krishna said, “No!”
Lalita Devi said, “Alright!”
Srila Rupa Goswami is showing this lila, wrestling, meaning Srimati Radhika Ji was made the wrestler. As soon as Krishna saw Srimati Radhika, he became weak, and then Krishna was defeated. This lila also happened in Bhandir Vann, one marriage, this is the second.

Now Rupa Goswami is showing the third. It is shown that everyone in Braj wanted Radha and Krishna to be together, but Yashoda Maa and Nanda Baba had planned a proper marriage since childhood. “When I marry my son in seven days, with your daughter,” Vrishbhanu Baba said, “I will marry my daughter to this son of yours.” Everything was decided. Now everyone is bound to accept Yog Maya’s decision. Yog Maya saw that if they got married, the Parakiya Rasa experience would not be tasted. Now, when everything was decided, they went to Purnamasi, who said, “This marriage is not auspicious for the groom’s side nor for the bride’s side. It is inauspicious for both. This will not work.” Therefore, the marriage did not happen, and she married Abhimanyu instead. They are not saying that both will abandon this world; they are not saying that it is a great inauspiciousness, there cannot be a greater inauspiciousness than this, that is why it did not happen.
In those days, there were no phones, but they had pet parrots, which would fly around and deliver all the news. On the pretext of Surya Puja, Radhika Ji came out of the house. What did she do? She was having fun with Krishna in Bhandir Vann. Padma’s parrot saw this and told Padma, and Padma told Radha Ji’s mother-in-law. Padma said, “Look! Your daughter-in-law is having fun with Krishna, with Shyamsundar.”
She said, “Oh really! She’s not at home!”
Padma said, “I saw it myself.”
She got angry, and Guru Ji (Srila Narayan Maharaj) used to say, “She was hissing like a cobra!” She went straight to Mukhara and said, “You say your granddaughter is chaste, a great sadhvi. Come, I’ll show you the reality.” She caught both of them and they came. As they were coming, Lalita’s parrot saw them and said, “Beware! Jatila is coming! She’s very angry with Mukhara, her face is red like a tomato!”
Immediately, the sakhis hid behind the bushes and dressed Subal Sakha as Radhika. And they quickly dressed various other sakhis. Now, they are coming. When they arrived, she said, “Look! Look! Your granddaughter is having fun with another man, embracing him! Is this a sign of chastity?” Rupa Goswami is showing this, and Jatila is saying, “Look! Look at your granddaughter’s activities, my hair is burning!”
And everyone is seeing that it’s really Radhika. Radhika and Subal’s faces somewhat resemble each other. And as they were leaving, Yogamaya helped so that no one could recognize them. Radhika Ji wears blue clothes, and so do Subal and Baladev. When they came very close, Krishna signaled all the sakhis and caught Subal, saying, “Today I will disrobe you, today I will perform the Draupadi Vastran Haran of Mahabharata!” He was having fun. And he grabbed the cloth and started pulling it. Inside, it was a sakha’s attire, and on top, a blue sari. Two large lotus flowers fell from his chest, and Subal started laughing. One sakha did this to another sakha; inside it was a sakha’s attire, and on top, a sakhi’s attire. And Mukhara came and said, “Look, you are saying this! Look, will Mukunda touch my granddaughter? Look, they are playing, doing drama. What harm will come to you, tell me?” Rupa Goswami showed this. Srimati Radhika Ji’s sakhis were hidden behind the bushes, watching the show from there.
Then we come to another subject: how did Radha Ji’s first meeting happen? I told you that she said she wouldn’t open her eyes without seeing Krishna. Now, when Narad Rishi offered prayers, Vishnu was coming, and then she disappeared and became a small baby. When everyone brought the items, Narad Rishi began chanting swasti vachan.
oṁ svasti no govindaḥ svasti no ’cyutānantausvasti no vāsudevo viṣṇur dadhātusvasti no nārāyaṇo naro vaisvasti naḥ padmanābhaḥ puruṣottamo dadhātusvasti no viśvakseno viśveśvaraḥsvasti no hṛṣīkeśo harir dadhātusvasti no vainateyo hariḥsvasti no ’ñjanā-suto hanūr bhāgavato dadhātusvasti svasti sumaṅgalaiḥ keśo mahān śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-ghanaḥ sarveśvareśvaro dadhātu
Such Swasti Vachan was performed, and everyone was blessed.
During Guru Ji’s (Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj) time, we had to do swasti vachan at least 10-12 times a week. Today is his birthday, tomorrow is his Annaprashan, this and that. Anywhere in the world. Guru Ji would hold a flower, and I would chant the mantra. Then what happened? Now Narada Rishi is saying.
“Look, Rajan! Your mind is a bit disturbed. You have such a beautiful daughter, but she has no eyes, right?”
Vrishbhanu Baba said, “Yes!”
Narada Rishi said, “Don’t worry! She has kept her eyes closed for a special reason. In a few days, she will open her eyes. Because of her, your lineage’s name will spread 3-4 times every day. Whoever eats what she makes will always remain youthful. Whoever eats the food she prepares will never suffer from any disease. Whoever eats what she makes can never be defeated by enemies. No enemy can ever defeat them in battle.”
He told all the qualities. Look, Narada Rishi told all the qualities, but Vrishbhanu Baba, under the influence of Yogamaya, remained innocent. In between, Vrishbhanu Baba and Kirtida Maiya would come to Nanda Bhawan, and Nanda Baba-Yashoda Maiya would come to Vrishbhanu Bhawan. Then Nanda Baba-Yashoda Maiya brought baby Krishna, and Krishna immediately fell asleep. Now Radha Ji was also sleeping on the bed, so Krishna was laid beside her, on the same bed, and both mothers started talking, and both fathers also talked. Now Krishna slowly touched Radha Ji. By the touch of Krishna’s limb, Radha Ji opened her eyes. Then both children were laughing and playing. Everyone heard this, and both mothers came running. Yashoda Maiya picked up Radhika, and Kirtida Maiya picked up Krishna. Both ran to Rajan and said, “Rajan! Look! Look! The child has opened her eyes! Narada Rishi had given the boon, hadn’t he!” Now Narada Rishi’s glories began to be sung. This is Sri Radha Krishna’s first meeting in the mortal realm.

Now, when is the second meeting? Suradasa writes: One day Krishna saw Radha Ji, “Who are you? Who are you, fair one? I have never seen you in Braj before.”
Radha Ji said, “My parents do not let me go out, so I keep playing in my garden. I have heard that you are the son of Nanda Maharaj and you steal butter.”
Krishna said, “You also knew that? What did I steal from you? Let’s both play!”
Radha Ji started thinking, “Oh, he seems so simple? Why does everyone call him a thief?”
Then both went and started playing. This is the second meeting. This is near Brahma Ghat. The name of the Ghat is also given in the Shastras. Krishna met Radhika. Now I will show the third meeting: Since when did Krishna like the food made by Radha Ji? Radha Ji was very young. One day, Dhurvasa Rishi came to Radha Ji’s house. Radha Ji cooked and served everything nicely.
Dhurvasa Rishi said, “Who made this food? This dish?”
Kirtida Maiya said, “My daughter made it.”
“Such a small child made it?”
“Yes.”
Dhurvasa Rishi gave many blessings. He described all the qualities of Lakshmi that Radha Ji possessed. Krishna came with Nanda Baba and Yashoda Maiya. They had food at Radha Ji’s house. The next day, Krishna had food at his own house and started making faces. Then Yashoda Maiya asked, “What happened, Lala?”
Krishna said, “The food is not tasty.”
Yashoda Maiya asked, “Then what will you eat? Rohini Maiya cooks your food every day!”
Krishna said, “The one I ate at that house that day? That tasted good to me. I want that!”
When they found out, it was revealed that Kirtida Maiya’s daughter, Radha Ji, had made it. That’s when Yashoda Maiya started allowing Radha Ji to come and go in her house. This became an excuse for Radha Krishna’s meeting. All the Rasas, directly or indirectly, nourish Madhurya Rasa. From there, the meetings began. Now, when Radha Ji came to cook in Nanda Bhawan, there was a small window between the kitchen and Nanda Bhawan, through which Krishna would see Radha Ji. This beautiful description is given in the Shastras.

When Krishna was tied by Yashoda Maiyya (Dam Bandhan Lila), everyone got to know that Krishna has been tied because of his mischief. Since then, Srimati Radhika would come and without letting anyone know, she would cook and feed Krishna by her own hands, secretly. She thought if Krishna keeps stealing, Yashoda Maiyya would tie him up. It is better Radhika herself feeds Krishna directly, so that Krishna doesn’t need to steal. So this way they used to meet. But were not able to meet in front of anyone else. Now, Sri Rupa Goswami has shown in his writings that Krishna and Baladeva don’t go for Cow Grazing everyday. Sri Rupa Goswami showed this in 2 places, one on the day of Kaliya Daman (Defeating Kaliya Serpent) and the other on the day of Brahma Vimohan Lila (Bewildered Brahmaji). On both those days, Baladeva didn’t go for Cow Grazing. So what’s the reason for that? It is the order of Yashoda Maiyya and Rohini Maiyya, on all the days during a month with the same Janm Nakshatra (Birth star), then they are not allowed to go out for Cow Grazing. All human beings have their Birth stars coming once a month. So Baladeva and Krishna have their Birth stars coming once a month. So in 12 months, Krishna’s Birth star comes up 12 times and on that day Krishna can’t go for Cow Grazing. And in the same way, Baladeva’s Birth star comes up 12 times in a year, so he can’t go out for Cow Grazing on those days.

When it is Batsorik Janma Nakshatra, i.e. the day of birth like Janmashtami or Baladeva Purnima, both Krishna and Baladeva can’t go for Cow Grazing. Therefore Baladeva can’t go for Cow Grazing on 12 days in a year for his own Birth stars and for the 13th time on Krishna’s Batsorik Janma Nakshatra (Janmashtami). And in the same way, Krishna can’t go for Cow Grazing on 12 days in a year for his own Birth stars and for the 13th time on Baladeva’s Batsorik Janma Nakshatra (Baladeva Purnima, which comes once annually).
So 13 days every year, Baladeva and Krishna can’t go out for Cow Grazing. Out of which, on 2 of the days both the brothers don’t go for Cow Grazing, i.e. Janmashtami and Baladeva Purnima, they both wouldn’t go. At the time of Brahma Vimohan Lila, Baladeva Prabhu wasn’t present, otherwise that Lila wouldn’t have taken place. Even during the Kaliya Daman Lila, Baladeva Prabhu wasn’t present. Srila Rupa Goswami has written about this in Kaliya Daman Lila, in his book – Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu. There is a verse for Srila Rupa Goswami’s Glorification, “Ko Jaanat Braj Neet, Kaun Kapaat Ugharata” meaning “How would we have got to know about all the Braj Lila and these secrets, if Rupa Goswami had not come, who would have told us.”

So Baladeva Prabhu said (to Subala Sakha), “Oh Subala, (Subala generally remains with Krishna when it gets a bit late), please tell my brother, Shyamsundar, to not go into Kaliya Hrid by any chance. I cannot accompany you all today, both the mothers (Yashoda Maiyya and Rohini Maiyya) have put a barrier for me to go out today, since it is my birth star today and I have to go for Cow worship, Brahmin worship, and pious deeds.” Also Jiva Goswami pada and Srila Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur have written that the Birth star that day was the monthly one, not the yearly one (Baladeva Purnima), otherwise both Krishna and Baladeva couldn’t go.

But as soon as Subala reached, Krishna had already jumped into Kaliya Hrid. And Brahma Vimohan Lila took place on the same day of Aghasura’s killing, even that day Baladeva Prabhu wasn’t present. So all this has been shown by Srila Rupa Goswami in his writings, and as we mentioned earlier, all the Braj pastimes would have remained undisclosed forever, if not for Srila Rupa Goswami.
His creations, Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu and Ujjawal Nilamani contain the description about Asht Kaliya Lila (the eternal daily Pastimes of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna, divided into eight periods throughout the day and night) in a condensed form. I had explained the Nishant Lila pastime with the help of various Shlokas on Srila Rupa Goswami’s Disappearance Day.

Srila Gurudev (Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) used to explain these topics out of his sheer mercy, so I was able to describe it as per his teachings.
Also in Srimad Bhagwatam, there is a shlok,
mallānām aśanir nṛṇāṁ nara-varaḥ strīṇāṁ smaro mūrtimān
gopānāṁ sva-jano ’satāṁ kṣiti-bhujāṁ śāstā sva-pitroḥ śiśuḥ
mṛtyur bhoja-pater virāḍ aviduṣāṁ tattvaṁ paraṁ yoginā
ṁvṛṣṇīnāṁ para-devateti vidito raṅgaṁ gataḥ sāgrajaḥ
(ŚB 10.43.17)

In this shlok, Krishna is depicted as the supreme object for 12 kinds of Rasas. But in 3-4 places within that shloka, there is Rasabhasa Dosh (or flaws in spiritual sentiment, leading to distorted experience of Devotional mellows). I will explain it when I am there in Vrindavan, also Srila Rupa Goswami has shown 2 special events in Sri Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu. First, that Krishna is the Ashray (shelter) of all the Rasas and second, Krishna as the Vishay (subject) of all the Rasas.
That’s all for today, Hare Krishna!!
Vancha Kalptaru Bhayashch Kripasindhu Bhyaeva cha,
Patitanam Pavanebhyo Vaishnave bhyo Namo Namah.