#Radha Krishna bhakti

[kripalumaharajquotes]

Understanding Shri Radha’s Relationship with Shri Krishna – Excerpts from Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj’s Discourse

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj emphasized the selfless devotion of Shri Radha throughout his life, accepting her as the supreme entity. Many people may have a curiosity to understand who Shri Radha is if they want to practice devotion to her. In this blog, we have shared some excerpts from a discourse given by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on 4th July 2010, where he explains the relationship between Shri Radha and Shri Krishna.

Most People ignorantly think that Shri Radha and Shri Krishna must be like Lakshmi and Vishnu or Parvati and Shiva, but it is not so. Lakshmi and Vishnu are eternal consorts, as are Parvati and Shiva. Shri Krishna is the absolute supreme divine power. For example, you have a father. But your original father’s father is the progenitor of the human race, Manu. Manu’s father was Brahma, the creator of our Brahmanda. Brahma’s father was Supreme God, Shri Krishna. There is no father of Shri Krishna; He is the Father of all.

So the one beyond whom there is nothing else is Supreme God Shri Krishna. He governs uncountable Brahmas, uncountable Vishnus, and uncountable Shivas. The Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva that you have heard about belong to one brahmanda, just as in India each state has its own governor or chief minister. The one who governs all the uncountable brahmandas is Shri Krishna, just like all the states of India are governed by the Prime Minister. There is no post or position beyond this.

So there are uncountable brahmandas and each and every brahmanda has one Brahma, one Vishnu and one Shiva.

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are all subservient to Shri Krishna. They are uncountable. Everything that relates to Shri Krishna is absolutely unlimited. He has uncountable names, uncountable forms, uncountable qualities, uncountable pastimes, uncountable abodes and uncountable souls related to Him -they are all unlimited. His powers are also unlimited.

Gauranga Mahaprabhu has said that out of uncountable divine powers, three are foremost: sat, chit, ananda. A name of God is “sat-chit-ananda”. These are three powers. The relationship they have with each other is that sat is included in chit, and sat and chit are included in ananda. This is why God is referred to as sat-chit-ananda, as chid-ananda (which includes sat), and simply as ananda (which includes sat and chit).

Ananda, the foremost power of these three, also has an essence. This is called the power of hladini. This is the greatest power of God. All of God’s powers are governed by this power. What does this power do?  With this power (hladini) God does whatever He wishes, or He doesn’t act at all or He does the complete opposite of both of these. What does it mean to perform the opposite of both of these? For example, you have eyes. What do they do? They only see. They can’t hear or smell. They perform one kind of action. But God’s eyes can see, smell, taste, touch, think, decide, and be all-knowing. This is the miracle of hladini power. Even with no senses He is all-seeing and hears everything. He knows which soul has called to Him from which brahmanda.

One aspect of God resides in all the souls and notes all our unfaithful thoughts, yet He remains ever blissful. None of these contrary thoughts affect Him. Just see that in a typical family there are about ten people-a father, mother, wife, husband, and a few children. Just from these associations alone people feel troubled! Someone or the other says something hurtful. All the children have different demands. One person feels so troubled just from ten people and God has so many children they are uncountable! And they are all wayward. They have forgotten Him. They don’t regard Him as their true father God notes all this as He resides in our hearts. Even so, He doesn’t feel troubled by this. He smiles and simply notes our thoughts. This is all possible through God’s hladini power.

Hladini also has an essence. It is called divine love (divya prema). This also has various classes. These are called prema bhakti, sneha bhakti, maan bhakti, pranaya bhakti, rag bhakti, anurag bhakti, bhava bhakti, and mahabhava bhakti, the final class. Mahabhava bhakti also has two classes, rudha-mahabhava and adhirudho mahabhava, which is the highest class. Adhirudha mahabhava also has two classes, madan and modan. This state of madan is reserved for Shri Radha alone. Even Shri Krishna cannot reach there. Only Shri Radha experiences that supreme level of bliss. Therefore, Shri Krishna loves to be in the service of the embodiment of madanakhya- mahabhava, Shri Radha and that is why He lovingly presses Her lotus feet and serves Her.

The Saint Raskhan had a big doubt, “People say that Shri Krishna is a servant of Shri Radha.” He thought, “For Hindus the wife serves the husband, and here the situation is reversed. He is pressing Her lotus feet? No one has ever seen this! Why is it like this with Shri Radha Krishna?” He thought that Shri Radha was merely Shri Krishna’s wife. So when Raskhan became God-realised.

Shri Krishna appeared to Raskhan in this form. He was softly pressing Shri Radha’s lotus feet. Then He bestowed this knowledge on Raskhan and made him understand that He ever remains in the service of Shri Radha, while He Himself is served by Lakshmi, His eternal consort or wife. So Shri Radha is the Soul of Shri Krishna. Just as our body is the servant of our own soul, and our soul is a servant of Shri Krishna, so Shri Krishna is a servant of Shri Radha. She is that great a divine power.

Every pore of Shri Krishna’s divine body resounds with “Radhe Radhe”. Her name is this important. We should understand this when we take Radhe’s name. Imagine you found a ring. Someone asked you, “When did you find that?” “I was just going somewhere and found it on the road. Why?” “That’s worth a million!” “What? I thought it was worth $10 or $201 How much happiness will you feel when you look at the ring and realise it has made you a millionaire? Now you will take great care of it.

In the same way, when we understand the greatness of Shri Radha, and then say or sing Her name, our love for Her will grow. Always keep in mind who Shri Krishna and Shri Radha are, who you are and what is the world. Knowing the philosophy related to all of these is absolutely essential. By knowing these we become detached from the world and attached to God.

Conclusion:

From the discourse, we can infer that Shri Krishna is the absolute supreme divine power, governing uncountable Brahmas, Vishnus, and Shivas, while Radha is the embodiment of divine love (divyo prema) and represents the highest level of bliss (madanakhya-mahabhava). Even Shri Krishna cannot reach the supreme level of bliss that Shri Radha experiences. Therefore, understanding the relationship between Shri Radha and Shri Krishna is crucial for those who want to practice devotion to Shri Radha. By devoting ourselves selflessly to Shri Radha, we can ultimately attain the divine love and grace of Shri Krishna.

[thecoiledserpent]

true beauty is in the eyes of lord krishna and shri radha ✨💗

🦪 image courtesy: iskcon, new delhi

[premakalidasi]

Krishna as Kali, worshipped by Radha.

"Krishna as Kali worshipped by Radha (recto), from a Kalighat album, c. 1890. Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Gum tempera, graphite, and ink on paper; secondary support: 48.1 x 29.7 cm (18 15/16 x 11 11/16 in.); painting only: 25.4 x 20.4 cm (10 x 8 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.113.a

Krishna’s cowgirl (gopi) Radha was Ayanaghosha’s wife, and her devotion to him transcended marital ties. Whenever Radha was together with Krishna and her husband appeared, Krishna instantly transformed himself into Kali and Radha into her devotee. Radha, a model devotee, symbolizes the human soul and its longing for god. Her willingness to break the rules of duty (dharma) exemplifies her devotion."

(Via)

[krishnaart]

☀ SHRI KRISHNA GOVINDA ☀

[bhagavanbhakthi]

Lord Krishna with mother Yashoda and friends

[towardskrishna]

Hare Krishna to the reader,

I'm very new to the Krishna Concious movement. Can anyone let me know how you do sadhana and puja at home while having a study life or a busy lifestyle?

Hare Krishna!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

[mysticalblizzardcolor]

All Glories to Srimati Radharani on Radhastami

[keshavsmelody]

Radha and Krishna's love is an expansive, boundless ocean of devotion, each wave representing an endless outpouring of divine affection. Worldly lovers are like mere droplets, transient and confined within the limitations of human emotions. Their love may sparkle momentarily, but it pales in comparison to the eternal and all-encompassing love that flows ceaselessly between Radha and Krishna. Their love isn't a bunch of chemicals, it's spiritual. There is no Krishna without Radha. There is no love without Krishna, and no universe without love, because love is the very foundation of the universe. They don't love, they ARE love. Learn to love them and you shall learn to love all of those you care about and those you do not. And then, your heart will be replaced with theirs; eternal, divine, young, and loving.

[haribolnamaste]

[kripalumaharajquotes]

Sadhana: The Devotional Practice for Attaining Divine Love

Lovingly meditate upon the beautiful form of Shri Radha Krishna with an ever increasing desire to attain their divine love and have their divine love vision.

You must lovingly meditate upon the beautiful form of Shri Radha Krishna. With an ever increasing desire to attain Their divine love and have Their divine vision, sing the glories of Their names, qualities, and pastimes, etc

Always keep in your mind that rupadhyana is the most essential part of all devotional processes. Whichever form or image you adore of Shri Radha Krishna that captivates your mind is the best form for you to meditate upon. Even so, you remain completely free to take the help of any other photo or idol of Shri Radha Krishna that you particularly admire. Along with your visualization remember to imbibe feelings of love and divinity, because all Their forms are (chidanandmaya) divine, conscious, and blissful.

You have the freedom to meditate upon any form of your choice, from beautiful newborns up to charming sixteen year-olds in the full bloom of youth. Dress and adorn Them using your mind in ways that appeal to you. You can change Their attire and ornaments as and when you like, embellishing Them in ever new ways that are so alluring for your mind to relish; the choice is all yours.

Visualize Them performing any one of Their innumerable Pastimes, remembering to incorporate Their unlimited Divine qualities, such as being causelessly merciful, infinity kind, and compassionate, and the protectors of humble fallen souls.

Never forget that Shri Krishna, His names, qualities, pastimes, abodes, and His Saints are all one and the same. In Fact, they are all Shri Krishna Himself.

Totally discard all your material desires for sense Gratification and abandon the desire even for liberation, for your own comfort, and for your own happiness: Always feel the presence of Shri Krishna and your Guru at all times and in all places in the form of your Protectors and witnesses of your every thought and Deed. Never consider yourself to be alone In your spare time, chant the divine name of Radhe Shyam with each and every breath.

Relinquish all bad habits including finding faults in others and criticizing other people, even if he or she should be despised. Renounce all desires to be acknowledged and admired, any feelings of dejection, disheartenment, or lackadaisicalness and abstain from associating with overtly materialistic or worldly people. Failing to do so equates to kusang or wallowing in thoughts and activities that leave a negative or bad Impression on your mind. Keep away from all these sorts of things as much as possible.

Last but by no means the least is to completely avoid committing the unpardonable spiritual offence of namapradha, i.e. harbouring any negative feelings or criticism towards Shri Krishna or His names, forms, qualities, abodes, and Saints. He Is my all-in-all. Develop this feeling to absolute Perfection.

Conclusion: Sadhana is not just a practice but a way of life that requires dedication, sincerity, and discipline. By following the guidance of a Guru and regularly engaging in sadhana, one can gradually purify the mind and heart, develop devotion and love towards the divine, and ultimately attain the ultimate goal of spiritual liberation. As Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj reminds us, the path of sadhana is not easy, but with determination, faith, and surrender to the divine, one can make progress towards the ultimate goal of union with the beloved Lord.

[santoshneti]

[glitteryyapologist]

Thinking about her <33

[krishnaart]

☀ SHRI KRISHNA GOVINDA ☀

[bhagavanbhakthi]

Krishna defeating & dancing on Kaliya serpent

[mysticalblizzardcolor]

Hare Krishna Mantra ~ Agnideva Dasa

The beauty of Kṛṣṇa has one natural strength: it thrills the hearts of all men and women, beginning with Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself." Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā (4.147)

[keshavsmelody]

Shyam Chanda Hai Shyama Chakori...Badi Sundar Hai Dono Ki Jodi.