In the story ofKrishna, as told in theMahabharataand theBhagavata Purana, he spends much of his childhood in the company of young cow-herd girls, calledGopisin the village of Madhuvan. Krishna left his native place at the age of twelve for study at gurukul .The Mahabharata does not describe Krishnas earlier life in Vrindavan in much detail, and focuses more on the later battle ofKurukshetrabut within the Bhagavata Purana the child-hood pastimes of Krishna are described very vividly. Within the Bhagavata Purana, Radha is not mentioned by name but is alluded to withinthe tenth chapter of the text as one of thegopis whom Krishna plays with during his upbringing as a young boy.Krishnaleft Vrindavan for Mathura at the age of 10 years and 7 months according toBhagavata Purana.[6]Radha was 12 years older than Krishna. It is in later texts such as theGita Govindawhere we find the story of Radha given in more detail. Krishna is never recorded in any text to return to Vrindavan or there is no reference that he married Radha, though the names of his other wivesRukmaniandSatyabhamaare often mentioned in texts. Infact there is no mention of Radha in any ancient scripture. Not in Shrimad Bhagavatam nor in Mahabharata nor in Harivansham. Just as the Mahabharat is about the Kuru dynasty, Harivansham is about the Yadu dynasty. It too does not mention Radha or any girlfriend of Krishna in any direct or indirect way. All three of these were written at about the same time and cover the life and work of Shri Krishna.Radha is only mentioned in medieval scriptures after Acharya Nimbarkand poet Jayadeva wrote about her in their works. There is certainly a lot written in medieval literature from that point on. But none of this is based on any historical or original Indian scriptures or Vedas. Their revelations are the devotional revelations of their journey into their bhav. There is no real evidence nor historical authenticity about what they say. It is their sakhi-bhav and their feelings of love for Krishna that are expressed in their writings. This does not negate or denigrate their experience. Theirsadhana and their experiences are unique in the realm of Bhakti.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 09:49:41 +0000
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