Radha Devi: Goddess of Kindness or Love and Beauty | Article by Radha Devi

Radha Devi: Goddess of Kindness or Love and Beauty

Krishna and Radha at Mayapur temple.

Radha also called Radhika, Radharani, and Radhe, is a Hindu goddess popular in the Vaishnavism tradition. She is a milkmaid (gopi), the lover of the Hindu god Krishna in the medieval era texts.She is also a part of Shaktism – the Hindu goddess tradition. She is an avatar of Lakshmi.

Radha with Krishna, a 1915 painting.

The Sanskrit term Rādhā means “prosperity, success”. It is a common word and name founded in various contexts in the ancient and medieval texts of India. Of these the most celebrated is the name of the gopi who was the beloved of Krishna. Both Radha and Krishna are the main characters of Gita Govinda of Jayadeva.[4] Radha in this context is considered the avatar of Lakshmi, just like Krishna is considered an avatar of Vishnu.

Radha's story has inspired many paintings. Above: Radha waiting for Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma.

Radha is an important goddess in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, as well as an aspect of the Shaktism tradition. She is a goddess whose traits, manifestations, descriptions, and roles vary with region. Since the earliest times, she has been associated with one of the most popular Hindu gods, the cowherd Krishna. In the early Indian literature, her mentions are illusive and not as common as other major goddesses of Hinduism, but during the Bhakti movement era she became popular among Krishna devotees whose strength is her love.

14th-century fresco of Radha Krishna in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Radha is an important goddess in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, as well as an aspect of the Shaktism tradition. She is a goddess whose traits, manifestations, descriptions, and roles vary with region. Since the earliest times, she has been associated with one of the most popular Hindu gods, the cowherd Krishna. In the early Indian literature, her mentions are illusive and not as common as other major goddesses of Hinduism, but during the Bhakti movement era she became popular among Krishna devotees whose strength is her love.

A 16th-century Radha sculpture in copper from Bengal.

Nimbarka was the first well known Vaishnava scholar whose theology centered on goddess Radha.

Krishna-Radha in Gokarneshwar temple, Nepal.

Radha and Krishna are the focus of temples in the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vallabhacharya, Chandidas and other sub-traditions of Vaishnavism. She is typically shown standing immediately next to Krishna, jeweled up like a bride, happy.

Radha-Krishna Prem Mandir (Love Temple) in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.

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