Dear Devotees and TOVP Donors,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this most auspicious occasion of the appearance day of Srimati Radharani, we at the TOVP would like to extend our best wishes to all of you. We hope that on this day everyone can receive Her blessings, which are needed to attract Lord Krishna’s mercy. Srila Prabhupada wrote the song ‘Krishna Tava Punya Habe Bhai’ in his Jaladuta diary, where he explained:
“O, brothers! The Supreme Lord Krishna will bestow virtue upon you — but He will do this only when Srimati Radharani first becomes pleased with you. This I surely declare to you.”
Krishna Tava Punya Habe Bhai from Jaladuta Diary by Srila Prabhupada
From the very beginning of his preaching in 1966, Srila Prabhupada told us that Radharani is the best devotee of Krishna because She loves Him the most. He told us not to approach Krishna directly, but that if we prayed to Radharani, she could recommend us to Krishna, and then Krishna would be obliged to give us His shelter. This is the secret behind the power of the Maha-mantra.
As the internal pleasure potency of Lord Krishna, Radharani’s position is of paramount importance to anyone who also wants to please Krishna. Srila Prabhupada did not often speak in public about Radharani, but he did describe Her relationship with Krishna fully in his books such as the Krishna Book, Chaitanya-caritamrta, and the Nectar of Devotion. As he explained in the Nectar of Devotion,
“To perform devotional service means to follow in the footsteps of Radharani… Devotional service is directly under the control of Radharani.”
Nectar of Devotion 1
“Krishna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Krishna. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani.”
Nectar of Devotion 1
As followers of Lord Chaitanya, the infinite ecstatic love shared between Radha and Krishna is the basis for our entire theology. As Radharani was always absorbed in feelings of separation from Krishna, Lord Chaitanya descended to relish and distribute this same topmost treasure to us conditioned souls.
“The process of devotional service taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession is how to feel separation from Krishna. That is Radharani’s position, always feeling the separation… The more you feel separation from Krishna, you should understand that you are advancing. Don’t try to see Krishna artificially. Be advanced in separation feeling, and then it will be perfect.”
Radhastami Lecture, London, August 29, 1971
Once when Krishna was enjoying with another gopi called Viraja, Radharani personally created a beautiful garden designed to attract Krishna back to Her. She filled it with varieties of beautiful animals and flowers, and ordered the auspicious Ganga and Yamuna rivers to arrive there as well. Springtime and Cupid resided there permanently. She then played a beautiful melody on a flute to call Krishna.
When Krishna arrived He was overcome by His love for Radharani. He promised Her that He would always stay there with Her, and that all the holy places would reside there. He named the garden Navadvipa. Thus, it was no coincidence that Lord Chaitanya chose to break open the storehouse of Krishna-prema from Mayapur.
If we can please Radharani, especially on Her appearance day, our further progress in devotional service is guaranteed. Today is thus an extremely good day to make a contribution towards Radha-Madhava’s new home, which will greatly increase their worship in this most intimate place.
So this is our philosophy, to please Krishna through Radharani, and just today is the auspicious day of Radharani’s appearance. So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani that ”Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna. Krishna is Yours.” Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani’s property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. That is, today is the auspicious day. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy.
Radhastami Lecture, London, September 5, 1973
Yours in the Service of Sridham Mayapur,
Braja Vilas das
Global Fundraising Director
brajavilasa.rns@gmail.com