The immortal love between Krishna and Radha has been told and televised to us since childhood. The innocent lovers were made to part as Krishna had the greater part to play elsewhere. Never has there been any documentation of them meeting again though Krishna is said to have married eight princesses (Ashtavarya).
Rukmini is the first and widely known among eight wives, and yet Radha Krishna is more famous and is worshipped throughout the World. Why is that?
Rukmini (Rukmani)
Rukmini is said to be the incarnation of Goddess Laxmi. Rukmini is perfectly portrayed as the devotional wife of Krishna, who fell in love just by hearing Krishna’s stories and agreed to marry him without meeting or seeing Krishna.
Radha
Radha is said not to have existed in physical form; Radha represents the pure bliss of consciousness of Lord Krishna himself.
As per Devi Bhagwat Purana, Adi Parashakti (Yog Maya) was born from the center between the eyebrows of Lord Krishna. The very same Yog Maya divided herself into two parts, the right part became Radha (or consciousness and also represents the soul of every living being), and the left part became Lakshmi (which represents matter and the world)
If we look into the Vedic Version -the full manifestation of Godhead is a male and a female – Radha and Krishna. Radha is the female aspect of God. They are one as the energetic and the energy. Radha is Krishna’s energy of bliss, meaning that all bliss in the world, both spiritual and material bliss comes from Radharani or Her distortion, Maya.
There is only a little evidence about the existence of Radha in Hindu Texts. But the Divine Love of Radha and Krishna during his Boyhood was popularised much later during the Bhakti movement of the Medival period, like Gita Govinda Mahakavya by Sri Jayadeva Kavi. It focuses more on the devotion of Radha as the prime devotee and her love for Krishna. It speaks of Radha’s pain of separation while Krishna is away and their final reunion. This is to signify the untiring love and desire the Atma (spirit) needs to have towards Paramatma (Supreme Soul) for their Union.
Even when Radha is mentioned in post-medieval times, she is portrayed as an epitome of selfless love, the love which regarded no boundaries. This devotion pulled Krishna to play his beautiful flute, and it was the same devotion that drove Radha to the Raas Leela, forgetting herself.
This love, devotion, and karma, pure as a prayer and silent meditation, makes Radha divine; this is what turns a devotee into God. Radha-Krishna has been a part of poetry, drama, and folklore since immemorial. So the world worships Radha to celebrate the bond of love and devotion, one of the paths to realizing the Truth.
