Is worshiping Radharani alone advisable or not as in Vrindavan?
Qn. In Detail from a female devotee:
Hare Krishna! Prabhuji, can u please explain or post in detail about The following: Can u tell the difference between Rukminiji and Satyabhama who are mostly worshiped in South along with Lord Krishna! But here in North, Krishna with Radha Rani is worshiped! Why there is difference ? In Srimad Bhgavatham, Radharani’s is not mentioned?.. Sorry If you find my question is offensive to Lord!..
(KRISHNA AND RADHARANI – LILAS CAN BE READ HERE!)
Many devotees here worship Radhaji than Krishna! I have seen many of them who visit Barsana Dham and come back without visiting Vrindavana!.. They say worshipping Or Praising Radhaji is enough its include Krishna himself! Is it so?.. Only recently I visited Barsana 1st time in my life.. Can u please explain the difference Prabhuji!? Hare Krishna!
Then if it is true, then Mahamantra should be Radhe Radhe, most of the devotees here prefer to say Radhe Radhe, than Hare Krishna greeting with each other!.. why I am asking is, I only concentrate on Lord Krishna! I don’t know i am heading right way ? Plz reply.. Thanx and pranam.. Hare Krishna!
REPLY:
Our sanathana dharma offers the opportunities to worship any form of God according to our BHAWA AND TASTE.
These bhawas and tastes depend on the MIX OF GUNAS a person has.
Let me first explain why different types of worship exist among the people.
(Can we approach Radharani as mother as we approach Krishna in many relations? READ HERE!)
(1) Those who are dominated with Satva Guna worship the Vishnu Tatvas such as Krishna, Vishnu, Narayana, etc. If you worship Vishnu tatvas, it will be difficult for you to develop the BHAWA required to worship Lord Shiva or any other forms.
(2) Those who have the domination of Thamo guna will worship the Lord Shiva, who is the Guna avatar of Krishna. It will be difficult for him to seriously follow the BHAWA that is required to worship Vishnu Tatvas.
(3) Those who have the domination of Rajo Guna, ie, quality of Brahma, follow aggressive mode of devotion to demigods. Eg: following aggressive and painful penances, killing and offering meat to demigods, holding a clay pot with fire inside, walking on the fire, etc. They will find it very difficult to adopt the BHAWA required to worship Vishnu tatvas.
(GLORIES OF RADHARANI CAN BE READ HERE!)
Thus, one’s choice of the devotional practices is NATURALLY CHOSEN BY THEM ACCORDING TO HIS MIX OF GUNAS AND THEIR DOMINATION.
That is why, while preaching about Krishna to hundreds of people, we face many situations in which we are unable to make many people worship Krishna. Whatever you say, they will not accept it and they will consider such aggressive practices as the best ones.
We too follow penances to Vishnu tatvas, but, in a SATVIC WAY. We follow Ekadasi fasts silently. We too allow our body to starve as a penance towards Krishna/ Vishnu/ Naryana. But, this does not involve any violent activity. We accept the pain of starvation for a day as a penance. This is a SATVA GUNA PENANCE.
Take chanting. How satvic it is! We silently sit in a place and chant.
Thus, everyone follows a way of devotion according to his mixed and dominated guna.
(BAHULASTAMI – THE APPEARANCE DAY OF RADHA-KUNDA AND SYAMA-KUNDA AND SRI RADHA-KUNDASHTAKAM! READ HERE!)
Whatever you try to make them understand, only satva guna dominated persons will come to Krishna Consciousness. Even if you convince a thamo or rajo guna person to follow Krishna Consciousness by force, he has the risk of falling from devotion in the middle.
That means, if a thamo/ Rajo guna dominated person follows Krishna, he will fall down?
Not all. Some fortunate followers can overcome the barriers!
How?
If he sustains the inducements due to his Rajo and Thamo guna, by accepting more association of Krishna devotees, he will become a satva guna person soon and shine in Krishna Consciousness.
This is the secret behind the different devotional practices existing in India.
Same explanation applies for Radharani worship.
(RADHARANI – APPEARANCE AND BIODATA – DETAILS! READ HERE!)
This too happens according to the Bhawa a devotee has.
One might have been impressed with Bhagavad Gita and hence worship Krishna like Guru.
One might have been impressed with the childhood lilas of Krishna and hence worship Him as his child.
One might have been impressed with the youthful lilas of Krishna and hence worship Krishna like a lover.
One might have been impressed with the lilas of Krishna PARTICULARLY WITH RADHARANI and hence worship Krishna ALONG WITH RADHARANI as RADHA KRISHNA, NOT SEPARATELY.
(108 NAMES OF RADHARANI CAN BE READ HERE!)
Even among these RADHA KRISHNA worshipers, some may prefer the depth of love and dedication shown by Radharani towards Krishna. They may like the way in which Radharani loved Krishna even in separation. Therefore, they may prefer the mood of Radharani more.
Radharani worship is also good one. The advice is that they should not consider ONLY Radharani is enough without Krishna. Because, Radharani is inseparable from Krishna.
They may worship Radharani alone. Ok, fine. But, developing the thoughts that Radharani alone is sufficient without the need of Krishna and worshiping Radharani alone in this mindset IS NOT ADVISABLE.
Vrindavana is the land of Radharani, Tulasi and Gopis. So, in Vrindavana, the priority is for Radharani, Vrinda devi and Gopis.
(Is it true that Radharani is Krishna’s maternal aunt? READ HERE!)
Even Radharani will not support such thoughts and bhawa, because, Radharani will always prefer to remain with Krishna. Thinking her separately may not be appreciated by Radharani Herself.
Therefore, my suggestion to such devotees is: If you prefer the worship of Radharani, that is good. Worship Radharani as much as possible. But, do not worship Radharani as a separate person without Krishna. It will never be accepted by Radharani Herself. She is always with Krishna as His internal energy.
Instead of worshiping Radharani without Krishna, if you worship Radharani considering her as the part and parcel of Krishna, Radharani will like that Bhawa and accept that worship.
Sri Ramanuja preached the worship of Vishnu/ Narayana along with Lakshmi devi. Therefore, the bhawa of SRI VAISHNAVAS is worshiping the form of Narayana + Lakshmi as Vishnu tatva.
(BEAUTY OF RADHARANI – A BLISSFUL DESCRIPTION! READ HERE!)
Similarly, Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu preached the worship of Krishna along with Radharani. Therefore, the BHAWA of GAUDIYA VAISHNAVAS is worshiping the ADHI PURUSHA Krishna directly, along with HIS INTERNAL PLEASURE POTENCY RADHARANI.
Radha Krishna worship is the topmost form of worship that requires high level of dedication, purity and love towards Krishna and Radharani.
Therefore, though Radharani can be worshiped, worshiping her along with Krishna will be preferred by herself.
Next, as far as the mention of Radharani’s name in Bhagavatham is concerned, she has been mentioned in a place INDIRECTLY. The post given below explains that.
(There is a separate counselling about the mention of Radharani’s name in Bhagavatham HERE.)
Since Radha-Krishna Relationship is very personal and confidential lilas of Krishna and Radharani, most of the acharyas including Vyasa deva, have avoided mentioning that in their writings more that can’t be rightly understood by all as it is.
Therefore, if you follow the worship of RADHA KRISHNA, that means, you are following the topmost level of the worship of Krishna along with His confidential associate Radharani. Develop more and more purity while worshiping Radha Krishna form.
Hope this helps to know whether worshiping Radharani alone advisable or not as in Vrindavan.
(Why Radharani did not marry Krishna? Complete Details can be READ HERE!)