How to Celebrate Rādhāṣṭamī by mahānidhi swami * 1. WAKING RĀDHĀṢṬAMĪ SAṄKALPA: Upon rising from bed, take a saṅkalpa (firm vow): Before a mūrti or painting of Rādhārāṇī pray, “O Karuṇāmayī Rādhā! On this most beautiful and auspicious day of Your divine appearance, I will try my best to remember, serve, glorify and please You. O Vrindavaneshvari! Please be merciful and bless this most unworthy one with the eternal service of Your delicate, fragrant and sweet lotus feet.” * 2. CHANT AT 6 A.M. TO 8:24 A.M. LORD CHAITANYA’S RĀDHĀ PRAYER: Mahāprabhu personally wrote the following prayer and gave this benediction: “Any devotee who recites (at this time) these 108 names of Śrī Rādhikā will attain ecstatic love for Lord Krishna.” Śrī Rādhikā-Asṭottara-Śata-Nāma-Stotram 108 Names of Śrī Rādhikā śrīmad-rādhā rasa-mayī, rasa-jñā rasikā tathā rāseśvarī rasa-bhaktī, rasa-pūrṇa rasa-pradā (1) Śrī Rādhā is endowed with all the most splendrous opulences, and is completely pervaded with ever-flowing transcendental mellows. She fully understands the subtleties of these mellows. Rādhā is adept in relishing mellows. Rādhikā is the Queen of the nightly rāsa dance. She is totally devoted to expressing divine mellows. Śrī Rādhā is full to overflowing with pure mellows. She bestows these exquisite mellows unto everyone. raṅgiṇī rasa-lubdhā ca, rāsa-maṇḍala-kāriṇī rasa-vilāsinī rādhā, rādhikā rasa-pūrṇadā (2) Rādhā is always very playful. She is greedy to taste newer and newer aspects of mellows. Rādhā is the designer of the circular arenas for rāsa dancing. She enjoys sporting the rāsa dance to Her heart’s content. Rādhā is the best worshiper of Śyāma. Rādhikā, the best worshiper, is adored intimately by Her friends. She bestows mellows unto others in the most completely fulfilling way. rāmā-ratnā ratna-mayī, ratna-mālā su-śobhanā raktosṭhi rakta-nayanā, raktotpala-vidhāriṇī (3) Śrī Rādhā is the topmost jewel among all the many forms of Lakñmī-devī. All of Her ornaments and paraphernalia are studded with precious jewels. Rādhikā likes to wear gemstone necklaces. Rādhā radiates the nicest, purely sublime splendor. Her lips are naturally hued with a charming redness. The corners of Śrī Rādhā’s eyes are hued with reddish tints. She especially likes to hold a red lotus flower in Her hand. ramaṇī rāmaṇī gopī, vṛndāvana-vilāsinī nānā-ratnā vicitrāṅgī, nānā-sukha-mayī sadā (4) Rādhārāṇī is a charming young mistress. Her loveliness is especially pleasing to behold. Rādhā is a cowherd girl. She likes to frolic in the forest of Vṛndāvana. Rādhā is fond of wearing different types of gemstones. The shapes of Rādhārāṇī’s limbs are astonishingly lovely to behold. She abounds in various forms of happiness. saṁsāra-pāra-tāraṇī, venu-gītā-vinodinī krishna-priyā krishna-mayī, kṛsna-dhyāna-parāyaṇī (5) Rādhārāṇī delivers souls out of the material world. She takes great pleasure in listening to flute songs. Rādhā is very dear to krishna. She is Lord krishna’s exact counterpart. Rādhā is fond of meditating upon Śrī krishna. sadānandā ksīṇa-madhyā, kṛsṇā kṛsnālayā śubhā candrāvalī candra-mukhī, candrā ca krishna-vallabhā (6) Rādhikā is always full of bliss. Her waist is very slim. Rādhā is the female form of krishna Himself. She is the refuge of Her beloved krishna. Rādhārāṇī is the embodiment of auspiciousness. She is beautiful as a series of full moons. Rādhā’s face is round, and radiantly soothing like a full moon. She is the very personification of the moon itself. Rādhā is the dearmost beloved of Lord krishna. vṛndāvaneśvarī devī, krishna-raṅgī parā-gatiḥ dhyānātītā dhyāna-magnā, sadā-krishna-kutūhalī (7) Rādhārāṇī is the Queen of Vṛndā’s forest. She is the Supreme Goddess of the entire creation. Rādhā enjoys playing fun games with krishna. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the final transcendental goal. She is naturally situated far, far beyond anyone’s meditation. Rādhā is very meditative by nature. She is always playing mischievous pranks on krishna. prema-mayī prema-rūpā, premā prema-vinodinī krishna-priyā sadānandī, gopī-maṇḍala-vāsinī (8) Rādhikā is effused with the purest ecstatic love. She is the embodiment of love’s most beautiful form. Her every thought, action, word and deed is totally saturated with love. She revels in the delightful sports of pure love. Rādhā is the favorite of Lord krishna. She is perpetually absorbed in the greatest happiness. Rādhārāṇī resides within the circle of Her cowherd girlfriends. sundarāṅgī ca svarṇābhā, nīla-paṭṭa-vidhāriṇī kṛsṇānurāgiṇī caiva, krishna-prema-su-laksaṇā (9) Rādhā’s bodily limbs are all very attractive. Her complexion is radiantly golden. Rādhā especially likes to wear blue silken garments. She is very contented in Her attachment to krishna. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is nicely marked by Her obvious love for krishna. nigūḍha-rasa-sāraṅgī, mṛgāksī mṛga-locanā aśesa-guṇa-pārā ca, krishna-prāṇeśvarī samā (10) Rādhā embodies variegated forms of confidential mellows. Her eyes are just like those of a dear. Rādhā views things innocently like a dear. She excels even beyond limitless good qualities. Rādhārāṇī is the mistress of the very life-breath of krishna. She is equal in Her dealings with all. rāsa-maṇḍala-madhyasthā, krishna-raṅgī sadā śuciḥ vrajeśvarī vraja-rūpā, vraja-bhūmi-sukha-pradā (11) Rādhā dances in the center of the circular rāsa dance. She enjoys frolicking with Lord krishna. Rādhārāṇī always has immaculate manners. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the Queen of Vraja-dhāma. Aspects of Her form are visible in all the natural features throughout Vraja. Śrī Rādhā is the grantor of happiness to all beings in Vraja-bhūmi. rasollāsā madonmattā, lalitā rasa-sundarī sarva-gopī-mayī nityā, nānā-śāstra-viśāradā (12) Rādhā especially blossoms with delight during the rāsa dance. She becomes wildly intoxicated by drinking honey-wine. Rādhā embodies the most charming loveliness. She is the truly beautiful expression of divine loving mellows. She expands Herself into multiple forms as all the cowherd girls. Rādhā is the essence of eternity. She is greatly learned in various scriptures. kāmeśvarī kāma-rūpā, sadā krishna-parāyaṇā parā-śaktī-svarūpā ca, sṛsṭi-sthiti-vināśinī (13) Rādhā is the Queen of transcendental lust. She is the personification of divine desire. Śrī Rādhikā is always cherishing krishna. She is the very figure of divine potency. Rādhā is the annihilator of the material creation. saumyā saumya-mayī rādhā, rādhikā sarva-kāmadā gaṅgā ca tulasī caiva, yamunā ca sarasvatī (14) Rādhā is pleasing like the moon. All of Her dealings are soft and gentle. She is endowed with all prosperity and success. Rādhā fully satisfies Her beloved by Her intimate worship. She fulfills the aspirations of all beings. Śrī Rādhā is the original form of the Ganges River. She is the original form of the holy basil plant. She is the original form of the Yamunā River. Rādhā is the original form of the Sarasvatī River. bhogavatī bhagavatī, bhagavac-citta-rūpiṇī prema-bhakti-sadā-saṅgī, premānanda-vilāsinī (15) Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the original form of the Bhogavatī river [the Ganges flowing in the Pātāla region. She is the Supreme female divinity. Rādhā is the embodiment of Bhagavān’s very heart. She is continuously associated with ecstatic loving devotion. Rādhā cavorts in the ecstatic bliss of pure love. sadānanda-mayī nityā, nitya-dharma-parāyaṇī trailokyākarsaṇī ādyā, sundarī krishna-rūpiṇī (16) Rādhikā is perpetually permeated with exhilaration. She is the incarnation of agelessness. Rādhā is devoted to performing auspicious daily rituals. She is the attractor of the three worlds. Śrī Rādhā is the original source of all that is. She is the absolute manifestation of total beauty. Rādhārāṇī expresses Herself as the form of Lord krishna. śatam-aśṭottaraṁ nāma, yaḥ paṭhet prayataḥ śuciḥ prātaḥ-kāle ca madhyāhne, sandhyāyāṁ madhya-rātrike yatra tatra bhavet tasya, krishnaḥ prema-yuto bhavet (17) If a pious and clean devotee recites these 108 holy names of Śrī Rādhikā -- either in the morning [6-8:24a.m.], evening [6-8:24p.m.], or in the middle of the night [10:48p.m.-3:36a.m.]-- wherever and however that person lives, they become endowed with ecstatic love for Lord krishna.” * 3. CHANT RĀDHĀ PRĀṆAM PRAYERS: As a love offering to Sukumari Rādhā on Her Divinely wonderful birthday, memorize the following short prayers, or others, and chant them for Sundarī Rādhā’s pleasure: a. tavaivāsmi tavaivāsmi na jīvāmi tvayā vinā iti vijñāya devī tvaṁ naya māṁ caraṇāntikam “O Rādhe, I am Yours! I am Yours! I cannot live without You! O Devi, please understand this and bring me to the service of Your lotus feet.” (Śrī Vilāpa-kusumāñjali 96) b. bhajāmi rādhāṁ aravinda-netrāṁ smarāmi rādhāṁ madhura-smitāsyāṁ vadāmi rādhāṁ karuṇā-bharārdrāṁ tato mamānyāsti gatir na kāpi (2) I worship Rādhā who has lotus eyes, I remember Rādhā who has a sweet smile, and I speak of Rādhā who is melted with compassion. There is nothing else for me. She is my life and soul. (Śrī Viśākhānandadābhidha-stotram 131) * 4. HEAR AND READ RĀDHĀ KATHĀ: Hear lectures and read books glorifying the astonishing name, form, qualities, pastimes and loving service of Rādhārāṇī (e.g. Radha-Krishna Ganoddesha Dipika, Vilāpa Kusumanjali, Rādhā Rasa Sudhānidhi, Saṅkalpa Kalpadruma, Govinda Līlāmṛta, Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi, and Caitanya-caritāmṛta, adi four and other chapters see index. * 5. SING RĀDHĀ BHAJANS & RĀDHĀ NĀMA KĪRTANA: a. RĀDHĀRĀṆĪ KĪ JAI! MAHĀRĀṆĪ KĪ JAI! (rādhāraṇī kī jai, mahārāṇī kī jai. bolo barsāṇe vārī kī jai jai jai) ṭhākurāṇī kī jai, hari pyārī kī jai vṛsabhānu-dulārī kī jai jai jai gaurāṅgī kī jai, hemāṅgī kī jai vrajarāja-kumāri kī jai jai jai vrajā-rānī kī jai, vraja devī kī jai gahvara vana vārī kī jai jai jai All glories to Rādhārāṇī! All glories to the greatest of all Queens. Sing the glories of Rādhārāṇī, who lives in Barsāṇā. All glories to Rādhā Ṭhākurāṇī [Queen Rādhā], who is the beloved of Śrī Hari. All glories to the beloved daughter of King Vṛshabhānu. All glories to Rādhārāṇī who has a fair complexion and golden limbs. All glories to the Queen of Vraja. All glories to the goddess of Vraja. All glories to Rādhā who wanders in the Gahvara forest. b. jaya jaya rādhe, jaya jaya shyāma, jaya jaya śrī Vrindavana dhāma. pavana Rādhe tero nāma pavana śrī Vrindavana dhāma. Jaya jaya Shyamaa, jaya jaya Shyāma, Jaya jaya śrī Vrindavana dhāma. “All glories, all glories to Radhe-Shyama! O Rādhā, Your Holy Name is completely purifying and so is Your beautiful abode named Vrindavana. All glories to You, the Golden One whose heart is brimming with Shyama-rasa. And all glories to Your dark Lord of Love—the sweet heart stealer of Vraja.” c. Maine Raṭanā Lagāi Rādhā Nāmakī Traditional Brijbhāshā Song (Rasiyā) (refrain) maine raṭanā lagāi rādhā nāmakī maine raṭanā lagāi rādhā nāmakī (1) merī palakoṅ meṅ rādhā, merī alakoṅ meṅ rādhā maine māṅga bharāi rādha nāmakī Rādhā is there in the blinking of my eyes. Rādhā is there in the curls of my hair I have filled up the very part of my hair Oh! With the sweet name of Rādhā. (2) mere nainoṅ meṅ rādhā, mere bainoṅ meṅ rādhā maine bainī guthāi rādha nāmakī Rādhā is there within my vision. Rādhā is there within my speech. I interweave my every word Oh! With the sweet name of Rādhā. (3) merī dularī meṅ rādhā, merī cunarī meṅ rādhā maine nathanī sajāi rādha nāmakī Rādhā is there in my necklace. Rādhā is there in my sārī. I have adorned my nose-ring Oh! With the sweet name of Rādhā. (4) mere calane meṅ rādhā, mere halane meṅ rādhā kaṭi kiṅkinī bajāi rādha nāmakī Rādhā is there in my walking. Rādhā is there in my gestures. My sash of waist-bells resounds Oh! With the sweet name of Rādhā. (5) mere dāye bāye rādhā, mere āge pīche rādhā roma roma rasa chāi rādha nāmakī Rādhā is there on my right and on my left. Rādhā is there in front of me and behind. My every fiber reflects the rasa flowing, Oh! With the sweet name of Rādhā. (6) mere aṅga aṅga rādhā, mere saṅga saṅga rādhā gopal bamshi bajai radha namaki Rādhā is there on my each and every limb. Rādhā is there accompanying me always. Lord Gopāl plays His flute which calls out, Oh! With the sweet name of Rādhā. d. Jaya Rādhe, Jaya Rādhe Rādhe Hari Vyāsa Devācārya nava-nava raṅgi tri-bhaṅgi jaya, syāma su-aṅgi syāma jaya rādhe jaya hari-priye, śrī-rādhe sukha dhāma (introductory verse) “All glories to Śrī Krishna who stands in a beautiful three-fold stance! Shyāma is the connoisseur of newer and newer playful sports, and His body is effulgent with the nicest dark complexion. All glories to You, Rādhe! All glories to You, O Hari-priyā! O Śrī Rādhe! You are the abode and reservoir of all happiness!” (1) (Refrain) jaya rādhe jaya rādhe rādhe jaya rādhe jaya śrī-rādhe jaya krishna jaya krishna krishna jaya krishna jaya śrī-krishna (2) syāmā gorī nitya-kisorī prītama-jorī śrī-rādhe rasika rasīlo chaila-chabīlo guṇa-garabīlo śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Syāmā—a fresh young maiden with slender waist, endowed with the luster of new adolescence; Gorī—You possess the fairest golden complexion; Nitya-kisorī—You are eternally situated in the sweet blossoming of divine youth; Prītama-jorī—You are the only perfect match for Your most Beloved. O Śrī krishna! You are: Rasika—the true relisher of transcendental mellows; Rasīlo—You are sweet and relishable in every aspect; Chaila-chabīlo—You are so effulgent that You represent the topmost super excellence of pure enchantment; Guṇa-garabīlo—You are situated in great pride due to full awareness of Your own transcendental qualities. (3) rāsa-vihārini rasa-bisatārini piya-ura-dhārini śrī-rādhe nava-nava-raṅgī navala-tribhaṅgī syāma-su-aṅgī śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Rāsa-vihārini—the sportive Princess of the ecstatic rāsa-dance festival, which You organize every night; Rasa-bisatārini—You are the distributor of pure ecstatic rasa-mellows to all other living entities; Piya-ura-dhārini—You love to embrace the chest of Your Lover. O Śrī krishna! You are: Nava-nava-raṅgī—the connoisseur of newer and newer playful sports; Navala-tribhaṅgī—You like to stand in a three-fold bending posture that always appears ever-fresh; Syāma-su-aṅgī—Your body is perfectly exquisite in both proportion and deep dark complexion. (4) prāna-piyārī rūpa-ujyārī ati-sukuṅvārī śrī-rādhe maina-manohara mahā-moda-kara suṅdara-bara-tara śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Prāna-piyārī—the most dear loving friend of everyone’s life; Rūpa-ujyārī—You manifest a brilliant splendor of sheer beauty; Ati-sukuṅvārī—You are extremely soft and delicate due to Your fresh youth. O Śrī krishna! You are: Maina-manohara—the enchanter of the mind of Cupid; Mahā-moda-kara—You are the giver of great transcendental bliss to all living entities; Sundara-bara-tara—Your beauty surpasses the best by far. (5) sobhā-sainī mobhā-mainī kokila-bainī śrī-rādhe kīrati-vantā kāmini-kaṅtā śrī-bhagavaṅtā śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Sobhā-sainī—the manifestor of wonderful beauty while You are gracefully reclining on a flower bed; Mobhā-mainī—You radiate the luster of the transcendental Cupid, Lord Kāmadeva; Kokila-bainī—Your speech sounds just like the soft, gentle cooing of the cuckoo bird. O Śrī krishna! You are: Kīrati-vaṅtā—honored by Your own glorious fame; Kāmini-kaṅtā—You are the lover of lusty young gopīs; Śrī-bhagavaṅtā—Your position is the highest amongst all the different forms of Godhead. (6) caṅdā-badanī kuṅdā-raḍanī sobhā-sadanī śrī-rādhe parama-udārā prabhā-apārā ati-sukuṅvārā śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Chaṅdā-badanī—the possessor of a spotless moon-face; Kuṅdā-raḍanī—Your teeth look just like small round jasmine flowers; Sobhā-sadanī—You are the very abode of majestic beauty and splendor. O Śrī krishna! You are: Parama-udārā—the most supremely magnanimous personality; Prabhā-apārā—Your bodily aura radiates out into unlimited eternity; Ati-sukuṅvārā—You are naturally endowed with the softness of extremely youthful charms. (7) haṁsā-gavanī rājati-ravanī krīḍā-kavanī śrī-rādhe rūpa-rasālā naina-bisālā parama-kṛpālā śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Haṁsā-gavanī—fond of walking like a majestic swan; Rājati-ravanī—You are the most radiant lover; Krīḍā-kavanī—You are the instigator of many fun sports and contests. O Śrī krishna! You are: Rūpa-rasālā—the embodiment of the most relishable type of beauty; Naina-bisālā—Your lotus eyes are large and wide; Parama-kṛpālā—You are the topmost merciful personality. (8) kaṅcana-belī rati-rasa-relī ati-alabelī śrī-rādhe saba-sukha-sāgara saba-guṇa-āgara rūpa-ujāgara śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Kaṅcana-belī—just like a golden creeper wound around the Śyāma tamāla-tree; Rati-rasa-relī—You are completely full to the brim with the ecstatic mellows of purely divine love; Ati-alabelī—Your unique activities are conducted in complete privacy. O Śrī krishna! You are: Saba-sukha-sāgara—the ocean of all types of happiness; Saba-guṇa-āgara—You are the mine of all good qualities; Rūpa-ujāgara—You radiate a famous aura of glorious beauty. (9) ravanī-ramyā tara-tara-tamyā guṇa-agamyā śrī-rādhe dhāma-nivāsī prabhā-prakāsī sahaja-suhāsī śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Ravanī-ramyā—the most charming mistress of Your beloved; Tara-tara-tamyā—You are naturally situated at the topmost level of successive greatness; Guṇa-agamyā—Your divine qualities are imperceptible to ordinary senses or minds. O Śrī krishna! You are: Dhāma-nivāsī—a permanent resident of the holy abode of Śrī Vraja; Prabhā-prakāsī—You radiate a most influential aura; Sahaja-suhāsī—You naturally wear a pleasant smile. (10) śaktyāhlādini ati-priya-vādini ura-unmādini śrī-rādhe aṅga-aṅga-tauna sarasa-salauna subhaga-suthauna śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: śaktyāhlādini—the very potency of divine pleasure; Ati-priya-vādini—Your speech is such that whoever hears it becomes lovingly attached to it; Ura-unmādini—Your breasts are crazed with the wildest desire to be satisfied by Your Beloved. O Śrī krishna! You are: Aṅga-aṅga-tauna—endowed with such bodily limbs that each and every aspect of them is very captivating; Sarasa-salauna—Your beauty is indeed saturated with an all-pervading, overflowing rasa-current; Subhaga-suthauna—Your chest is beautifully endowed with majestic divine opulences. (11) rādhā-nāmini guṇa-abhirāmini hari-priya-svāminī śrī-rādhe hare-hare-hari hare-hare-hari hare-hare-hari śrī-krishna O Śrī Rādhe! You are: Rādhā-nāmini—celebrated with the most blessed name of “Rādhā”; Guṇa-abhirāmini—You please everyone with your good qualities; Haripriya-svāmini—You are the only worshipable Queen for Haripriya [the author, Hari Vyāsadeva]. Hare Hare Hari, Hare Hare Hari, Hare Hare Hari, Śrī krishna * 6. COOK RĀDHĀ’S FAVORITE PREPS: * 7. NOONTIME RĀDHĀRĀṆĪ PŪJĀ: If you have Deities then worship with a variety of wonderful items per your standard and more. If you only have a painting or Deity photo of Śrī Rādhā, then worship that form of Rādhārāṇī externally with a delicious bhoga offering, aroti, fragrant flower garlands and scents, all followed by a euphoric kīrtana! Internally as manasic-puja, you can offer many, many bhoga preparations to your painting/ photo mūrti of Shyama-priya. You can bathe Rādhārāṇī with pancha-amrta, and thousands of juices, nectars and waterfalls of jeweled-inlaid tears. Then you can dress Rai-vinodini in a splendidly stunning designer outfit with elaborate decorations and ornaments—all of flowers, especially blue lotus and every other exotic tropical flower you can think of. Your mind is an unlimited temple, wherein you are completely free to worship Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in an infinite number of sweet, intimate and beautiful ways. Open the garden of your heart and decorate Kishori with the flowers of all your love! Jai Jai Śrī Rādhe! * 8. FULL DAY RĀDHĀ ABSORPTION: After noon pūjā, you can spend the whole day pleasing Śrī Rādhā with reading, speaking, kīrtana, dancing and bhajanas—all focused on bringing bliss to Sukumari Rādhā. After all this absorption, close your eyes, meditate on all that you have received, and then glide through the wee hours of the night chanting the Radha-Krishna Yugala Mahā Mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare ŚRĪ RĀDHĀṢṬAMĪ MAHĀ MAHOTSAVA KI JAI! Jai Jai Śrī Rādhe!
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 08:40:04 +0000
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