Editing Radha (section)

== Etymology and epithets ==
[[File:RadhaKrishnaUdaipur.JPG|thumb|14th-century fresco of Radha (right) and Krishna (left, playing flute) in [[Udaipur]], Rajasthan.]]
The Sanskrit term {{IAST|Rādhā}} ({{langx|sa|राधा}}) means "prosperity, success, perfection and wealth".<ref name=mmwradha>Monier Monier-Williams, [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0900/mw__0909.html Rādhā], Sanskrit-English Dictionary with Etymology, Oxford University Press, page 876</ref><ref name=sen434>Sukumar Sen (1943), "Etymology of the name Radha-Krishana," Indian Linguistics, Vol. 8, pp. 434–435</ref>{{sfn|Miller|1975|pp=655–671}} It is a common word and name found in various contexts in the ancient and medieval texts of India. The word appears in the [[Veda|Vedic]] literature as well as the [[Hindu epics]], but is elusive.{{sfn|Miller|1975|pp=655–671}} The name also appears for [[Radha (Mahabharata)|a figure]] in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=mmwradha/> Rādhikā refers to an endearing form of Radha.<ref name=mmwradha />

In chapter 15th, ''[[Goloka]] khanda'' of ''[[Garga Samhita (Vaishnavite text)|Garga Samhita]]'', Sage Garga elaborates the complete meaning of Radha. In Radha, 'R' signifies ''Rama'', goddess [[Lakshmi]], 'a' means ''[[Gopi]]s'', "dh" signifies ''dhara'', goddess [[Bhumi (goddess)|Bhudevi]] and last 'a' symbolises ''River'' ''Virājā'' (also called [[Yamuna in Hinduism|''Yamuna'']]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gita Press Gorakhpur |url=http://archive.org/details/garga-samhita-gita-press-gorakhpur |title=Garga Samhita Gita Press Gorakhpur |pages=58}}</ref>

The fifth chapter, ''Fifth night'' of ''[[Pancharatra|Narada Pancharatra]]'' mentioned 1008 names of Radha under the title ''Shri Radha Saharsnama Strotam''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Swami Vijnanananda |url=https://archive.org/details/swami-vijnanananda-1997.-narada-pancharatram-english-translation-with-sanskrit-text/page/300/mode/1up |title=Swami Vijnanananda ( 1997). ' Narada Pancharatram English Translation With Sanskrit Text' |date=1997 |pages=301}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Vyasadeva |url=http://archive.org/details/NaradaPancaratraPart2 |title=Narada Pancaratra Part 2 |date=2015-06-18 |pages=447–503}}</ref> The 68th chapter, ''Tritiya paad'' of ''[[Naradiya Purana|Narada Purana]]'' also listed 500 names of Radha.<ref name=":13">{{Cite book |last=Gita Press Gorakhpur |url=https://archive.org/details/narada-puran/page/n522/mode/1up |title=Narada Puran |pages=512–520}}</ref> Some of the common names and epithets are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sri Radha-sahasra-nama, The Thousand Names of Sri Radha |url=http://www.stephen-knapp.com/sri_radha-sahasra-nama.htm |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=www.stephen-knapp.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Śrī Rādhā Sahasranāma—English translation |url=http://www.vrindavan.de/1000-radha.htm |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=www.vrindavan.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Swami Vijnanananda |url=https://archive.org/details/swami-vijnanananda-1997.-narada-pancharatram-english-translation-with-sanskrit-text/page/n602/mode/1up |title=Narada Pancharatram English Translation With Sanskrit Text |date=1997 |pages=300, 603–614 |language=Sanskrit |trans-title="On the thousand names of Sri Radhika"}}</ref><ref name=":13" />

* ''[[Shri|Sri]]'', ''Shreeji'', ''Shriji'': Goddess of radiance, splendor and wealth; [[Lakshmi]]
* ''Madhavi'': Feminine counterpart of [[Madhava (Vishnu)|Madhava]]
* ''Keshavi'': Feminine form of [[Keshava]]
* ''Aparajita'': She who is unconquerable
* ''Kishori'': Youthful
* ''Nitya'': She is eternal
* ''Nitya-gehinī'': Krishna's eternal wife
* ''[[Gopi]]'': Cowherd girl
* ''Shyama'': Beloved of [[Shyam]]
* ''Gaurangi'': She whose complexion is bright like the lustrous gold
* ''Raseshvari'' and ''Rasa-priya'': Queen of [[Raslila]] and she who is fond of rasa dance
* ''Vrindavaneshvari'': Queen of [[Vrindavan]]
* ''Krishneshvari'': Feminine counterpart of Krishna