The names of Sri Krishna and Sri Radha are invariably spoken of together, symbolising the eternal bond of divine love and devotion. While Krishna is revered as the Supreme, Radharani is honoured as His eternal consort, the crown jewel of devotees and the very essence of loving service to Him. On the auspicious occasion of Sri Radhashtami, the appearance day of Srimati Radharani, this article—authored by Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa, President of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir and Senior Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore, and published in The Speaking Tree—offers insights into Her exalted position, Her transcendental relationship with Krishna, and why Her worship is of profound significance in the path of devotion, which remains little known to the wider audience.
RADHARANI: KRISHN'S TOPMOST DEVOTEE
Keshav is the absolute Truth, the source of everything, and His pleasure-giving shakti is Radharani, writes CHANCHALAPATHI DASA.
We are a reflection of that absolute Person, absolute Truth, Krishn; we are an aṁśa of Him. And so, whatever attributes we have, He has in their finest form, and to an unlimited extent, Now, what will give Him pleasure?
Since everything is from Him; He is the source of everything. His pleasure must also come from Him. The Vedic literature further describe parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate - the Absolute Truth has multiple energies, but among them, there are three principal ones.
One of them is sandhini shakti, by which He exists. One of the manifestations of sandhini shakti is His beautiful form. Another is the samvit shakti, which gives Him knowledge. That means He is not dependent on anything else for knowledge, but only on His own samvit shakti. The third is the hladini shakti, which gives Him pleasure. Again, He is not dependent on any external source for pleasure; it comes only from His own hladini shakti. Thus, Krishn, the all-attractive Absolute Truth, has no origin outside Himself. He is the source of everything, including us. And this pleasure-giving shakti, another person, is Radharani.
Radha means one who worships, one who serves Krishn. We are propagating the Hare Krishn Mahamantra. This mantra, mentioned in the Upanishads, has three words Krishn, Ram and Hare. What does the word, 'hare' mean? It comes from the word 'hara'. It means 'the one who can captivate. In Sanskrit, a lion is called 'hari'. Because a lion captures or captivates smaller animals.
The Lord is also called Hari because He is sarva-duhkhānām hānir, meaning He can take away the suffering of all living beings, and so, He is also called Hari.
Now, what about the word hara? Hara also means the same - one who can captivate, one who can carry away, take away. So, Radharani, the pleasure potency of Krishn captures and captivates the heart of Krishn, and that is why the word 'hara' in the Upanishad's mantra refers to Radharani.
In this mantra, it is a call of the jiva. Hara becomes Hare in the vocative. The word 'hara' refers to Radharani, hladini shakti, who can capture Krishn's heart, and she is addressed in the mantra as Hare.
So, in the Hare Krishn mantra, we are appealing to Radharani, Krishn and Ram, who are all names of the Absolute Truth.
Srila Prabhupada said, "You cannot buy a ticket and come to Vrindavan. You must be blessed by Radharani to come to Vrindavan."
The special thing about devotees of Vrindavan is that they have understood one very important spiritual principle. If you go around Vrindavan, people don't say Krishn, but Jai Shri Radhe!
You will see 'Jai Shri Radhe' written on trees, on boundary walls, everywhere, because if we somehow get blessings of Srimati Radharani, we will get Krishn.
Krishn's most dear devotee is Srimati Radharani; if she blesses, Krishn feels obliged to accept such a devotee. This secret is not so well known, but devotees in Vrindavan have understood, which is why they say, 'Jai Sri Radhe,' and they are always eager to worship Radharani.
Srimati Radharani is not an ordinary woman. She is the transcendental pleasure shakti of the supreme personality, Krishn. This is the theology, philosophy, and position of Srimati Radharani. And so, to worship Radharani and get her blessing is the easiest way to get Krishn.
Radhashtami is on August 31, 2025