Radha Krishna

For other uses, see Radha Krishna (disambiguation).
Radha Krishna
God and Goddess of Love,[1][2]
Purusha and Mūlaprakriti,[3]
Avatar of Lakshmi Narayana,[4]
Supreme Deities in Krishnaism[5]
Idols of Radha and Krishna at ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan
Other names
  • Madhavi Madhava
  • Keshavi Keshava
  • Shyamā Shyama
  • Kishori Kishora
  • Gopi Gopinatha
  • Gaurangi Gauranga
Devanagariराधाकृष्ण
Sanskrit transliterationrādhā-kṛṣṇa
Venerated in[6]
Affiliation
Abode
Mantra
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Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Radha-Krishna (IAST rādhā-kṛṣṇa, Sanskrit: राधा कृष्ण) is the combined form of the Hindu god Krishna with his chief consort and shakti Radha. They are regarded as the feminine as well as the masculine realities of God,[7] in several Krishnaite traditions of Vaishnavism.[8][9][10]

In Krishnaism, Krishna is referred to as Svayam Bhagavan [11] and Radha is illustrated as the primeval potency of the three main potencies of God, Hladini (immense spiritual bliss), Sandhini (eternality), and Samvit (existential consciousness), of which Radha is an embodiment of the feeling of love towards Krishna (Hladini).[12][13]

With Krishna, Radha is acknowledged as the Supreme Goddess.[14] Krishna is said to be satiated only by devotional service in loving servitude, personified by Radha. Various devotees worship her to attain Krishna via her. Radha is also depicted to be Krishna himself, split into two for the purpose of his enjoyment.[15] As per scriptures, Radha is considered as the complete incarnation of Mahalakshmi.[16][17]

It is believed that Krishna enchants the world, but Radha enchants even him. Therefore, she is the supreme goddess of all, and together they are called Radha-Krishna.[18] In many Vaishnava sections, Radha Krishna are often identified as the avatars of Lakshmi Narayana.[19]

  1. ^ Guy Beck (2005). Alternative Krishnas: Regional and Vernacular Variations on a Hindu Deity. Suny Press. pp. 64–81. ISBN 9780791464151. Archived from the original on 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  2. ^ Schweig 2004, pp. 20–25.
  3. ^ Prafulla Kumar Mohanty (2003). "Mask and Creative Symbolisation in Contemporary Oriya Literature : Krishna, Radha and Ahalya". Indian Literature. 2 (214). Sahitya Akademi: 182. JSTOR 23341400.
  4. ^ Patricia Monaghan (2010). Goddesses in World Culture. ABC CLIO. p. 7. ISBN 9780313354656. Archived from the original on 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  5. ^ Roy C Amore (1976). "Religion in India". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 14 (2): 366.
  6. ^ Vemsani 2016, pp. 222–223.
  7. ^ Rankin, John (1984). "Teaching Hinduism: Some Key Ideas". British Journal of Religious Education. 6 (3): 135. doi:10.1080/0141620840060306. ISSN 0141-6200.
  8. ^ Vyasadeva, Srila (2013-06-18). Sri Narada Pancratra. p. 349.
  9. ^ Bhandarkar, R. G. (2019-05-20), "X. The Pāñcaratra or Bhāgavata System", Vaisnavism, Saivism and minor religious systems, De Gruyter, pp. 38–41, doi:10.1515/9783111551975-010, ISBN 978-3-11-155197-5, retrieved 2023-06-30
  10. ^ Vemsani 2016, p. 221.
  11. ^ Hardy 1987, pp. 387–392.
  12. ^ Bhandarkar, R. G. (2019-05-20). "XXIII. Caitanya". Vaisnavism, Saivism and minor religious systems. De Gruyter. pp. 82–86. doi:10.1515/9783111551975-023. ISBN 978-3-11-155197-5.
  13. ^ Kar, Nishamani (2001). "Sriradha: A Study". Indian Literature. 45 (2 (202)): 184–192. ISSN 0019-5804. JSTOR 23344745.
  14. ^ AMORE, ROY C (1976-06-01). "Religion in India". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. XLIV (2): 366–a. doi:10.1093/jaarel/XLIV.2.366-a. ISSN 0002-7189. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  15. ^ Pintchman, Tracy (2001-06-14). Seeking Mahadevi: Constructing the Identities of the Hindu Great Goddess. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-9049-5. Archived from the original on 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  16. ^ Rosen 2002, p. 50
  17. ^ Srila Vyasadeva (2013-06-18). Narada Pancaratra full in 2 parts. p. 51.
  18. ^ Rosen 2002, p. 52 Chaitanya-charitamritaAdi-lila 4.95 Archived 2008-08-24 at the Wayback Machine,
  19. ^ Monaghan, Patricia (2010-12-31). Goddesses in World Culture. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-35465-6. Archived from the original on 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2022-05-18.