Maharshi Narayana narrated to Narada Muni that Maha Deva explained to Devi Parvati about the ‘Praadurbhaava’ and ‘Mahatwa’ (Origin and Magnificence) of Devi Radha. Maha Deva said: Radhaa bhajeti Shri Krishnam sa cha taam cha parasparam, Ubhayoh Sarvasaamyam cha sadaa Santho vadanti cha/ (Devi Radha worships Shri Krishna and Shri Krishna worships Radha; they both are the ‘Araadhya’ and ‘Araadhaka’ (worship and the worshipped) respectively.The Great Learned Experts are convinced and strongly believed that both Radha and Krishna are unified as also the counterpart concepts. Radha emerged from the words of ‘Ra’ denoting ‘Raasa’ and ‘Dhaavan’ denoting attraction or magnetism for the beloved (Shri Krishna). Another interpretation would be: Mere pronouncement of the ‘Shabda’ (word) ‘Raa’ would readily attract the unobtainable ‘Mukti’ and pronounciation of the word ‘Dhaa’ would instantly chase Shri Krishna’s sacred feet! A simpler interpretation of the word ‘Raa’ denotes accomplishment and the word ‘Dha’means ‘Nirvana’ or ‘Moksha’. Maha Deva further explained that from the hair roots of Radha emerged innumerable ‘Gopis’ and from Shri Krishna’s ‘romakupas’ emerged as many ‘Gopas’. From the left side of Radha was materialised Devi Lakshmi who was the ‘Adhishtatri’or Sovereign of ‘Sashya’ or Crops; Griha Lakshmi of house-holds; the Four armed Maha Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu of Vaikuntha and the Rajyalakshmi of Kingships. Radha herself resides in Krishna’s own chest and is the ‘Adhistatri’ of Krishna’s very existence, but for the curse of Sudama, due to which she had to descend from Goloka to Bhuloka as the daughter of Vrishabhunu Gopa and his wife Kalaavati. When once Radha was angry with Krishna during their love-hate dialogue objecting to Krishna’s tolerance of Viraja Gopi’s open declaration of love for Krishna, Sudama Gopa intervened and Radha therefore cursed him to become an ‘Asura’ viz. Shankhachuda the wife of Tulasi, and Radha received Sudama’s return curse to become Radha on Earth. Vrishabhanu’s wife Kalaavati gave birth to Yoga Maya Vayu alias Radha. As Radha grew up, her parents decided to marry her off to Rayana, but at the time of wedding, Maya Radha was materialised and the real Radha diappeared. In the name of security, the newly- born Krishna was transferred across the River Yamuna for the fear of King Kamsa from Mathura; Rayana was the brother of Devi Yashoda who was married to Maya Radha. Real Radha appeared at Pushkar Tirtha since Brahma performed long time Tapasya for her and blessed him; after a little stint at Brindavan at Rasa leelas with the human Krishna, the Real Radha who made hazy appearances at Brindavana;s ‘rasaleelas’ with Krishna left forTirtha Yatras for hundred years left for Goloka, while meanwhile the human form of Shri Krishna lightened of the burden on Earth by killing several Danavas inhuman forms like Kamsa, Shishupala etc. Prajapati Drona was reborn as Nanda and Yashoda who had the good fortune of parenthood of Shri Krishna; Maharshi Kashyapa was born as Vasudeva and Aditi as Devaki, while Kalavati became Radha Devi’s mother and Vrishabhanu was Vasudama Gopa.
The famed Dhruva of Manu Vamsha had a noted son called King Utkal who performed several Yagnas and Brahma himself gave him the title of Suyagna. At one of the Yagnas, there was an excellent congregation of Maharshis like Santkumaras, Pulaha, Pulastya, Pracheta, Bhrigu, Marichi, Kashyapa and so on. Into this great ‘Sabha’ walked in an ill-dressed Brahmana called Sutapa and the King was not quite enthusiastic and did not attend to him in reverence. The Brahmana Muni was hurt and annoyed as also gave him a curse that his wealth and Kingship would be lost due to the King’s indifferent attitude. One by one the Maharhis in the Court supported the Brahmana Muni and passed their adverse comments too. The King begged of the unqualified pardon of Sutapa and advised the highly remorseful Suyagna to worship Maha Devi Radha with Dhyana, Stuti, Kavacha, Mantra and the formal Puja comprising ‘Shodaposhacharas’ who could only reverse Brahmana ‘Shaapa’ (curse).He taught the Mula mantra viz. OM SHRI RADHAYAI SWAHA and perfomed formal Puja after Dhyana as follows: Shweta champaka varnaabhaam Koti chandra Sama prabhaam,
Sharatpaavarna chandraasyaam Sharat Pankaja lochanaam/
Sushreyneem sunatimbaam cha pakka bimbaadharaam varaam/
Muktaapankti vinidyaikadantapankti manoharaam,
Ishadbhaasya prasannasyaam Bhaktaanugraha kaataraam/
Vahni shuddhaamshukaadaanaam ratnamaalaavibhushitaam/
Ratna keyuara valayaam ratna manjeeraranjitaam,
Ratna kundala yugmeyna vichitrena viraajataam/
Suryaprabhaa pratikruti gandasthala viraajitaam/
Amulya ratna nirmaana graiveya vibhushitaam,
Sadratnanirmaana kireeta makutojjvalaam/
Rataagaleeya samyuktaam ratna paashaka shobhitaam/
Vibhrateem kabareebharam Maalati maala bhushitaam/
Rupaadhistaatru Deveem cha Gajendramanda gaamineem/
Gopobhih Suprima abischa sevitaam Shweta chaamaryaih,
Kasturi vindubhih Saadbhramadhas chandana bindunaa/
Sindura bindunaa chaaruseemantaathahojjvalaam,
Raasey Raasewara yutaam Radhaam Raseswareem bhajey!
After the Dhyana, the ‘Puja Krama’ to Radha Devi includes the Sixteen Services viz. Asana, Vastra, Padya, Arghya, Gandha, Chandana, Dhupa, Deepa, Pushpa, Snaana, Bhushana, Naivedya, Tambula, Jala, Madhuparka and Shayya. Pujas to eight ‘Nayikas’ also need to be performed and these are Malavati in East, Madhavi in Agneya, Ratnamala in South, Susheela in Nairuti, Shashikala in west, Parijata in Vayavyakona, Padmavati in North and Sundari in Ishana kona. These pujas concluded, there should a Parihara Mantra by way of Stuti in Saama Veda manner:
Twam Devi jagataam Mataa Vishnu Mayaa Sanaatani,
Krishna praanaadhi Dvi cha Krishna Praanaadhika Shubhaa/
Krishna prema mayi Shaktih Krishna Sowbhagya rupini,
Krishna bhakti pradey Raadhey Namatey Mangalapradey/
Adyame saphalam janma jeevanam saarthakam mama,
Pujitaasi mayaa saa yaa Shri Krishnena pujitaa/
Krisha Vakshasi yaa Radhaa Sarva Sowbhagya samyutaa,
Raasey Raaseswari rupaa Vrindey Vrindaavaney Vaney/
Krishna piiyaacha Golokey Tulasi kaananey tu yaa,
Champaavati Krishnasangey kreedaa champaka kaananey/
Chandraavali Chandra – vaney Shatashringey Sateeticha,
Viraaja darpahantri cha virajaa tata kaananey/
Padmavati Padmavaney Krishnaa Krishna sarovarey,
Bhadraa kunja kuteerey cha Kaamyaa vai Kaamyakey vaney/
Vaikunthecha MahaLakshmi varni Naraayanorasi,
Ksheeradey Sindhu kanyaa cha Martyai Lakshmirharipriya/
Sarva Swargey Swarga Lakshmirdevaduhkha vinaashani,
Sanaatani Vishnu maayaa Durgaa Shankara vakshasi/
Savitri Veda maataacha kalayaa Brahmavakshasi,
Kalayaa Dharma patni twam Naranaraayana prasuh/
Kalayaa Tulasi twam cha Gangaa Bhuvana Paavani,
Lomakupodbhavaa gopyah Kalaamshaa Rohini ratih/
Kalaa kalaamcharupaacha Shatarupaa Shachee Ditih,
ditirdeva maataa cha twatkalaamsha Hari Priyaa/
Devyasha Muni patnischa twatkalaa kalayaa shubhey,
Krishna bhaktim Krishna daasyam dehimey Krishna pujitey/
Yevam krutwaa pareehaaram Stutwaa cha Kavacham patheth,
Puraakrutam Stotrametadbhakti daasya pradam Shubham/
Those who recite the above Radha Stuti for a year would bestow many-sided boons of attaining wealth, progeny, health, and complete contentment in life and Goloka Prapti subsequently. Indeed, constant ‘Radhopaasana’ provides Sampurna Tirtha Snaan, all kinds of Daanaas, performance of several Vratas, Prithvi Parikramana Phala, many Yagna diksha grahana, protection of Satya and Dharma, Nitya Krishna Seva, Chaturveda pathanaa phala.