Editing Radha (section)

== Worship and festivals ==
{{See also|Radha Krishna}}
{{multiple image
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| header    = Radha Krishna devotion
| image1    = Banke bihari (55).JPG
| caption1  = Worship of Radha Krishna at [[Bankey Bihari Temple]], [[Vrindavan]]
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| image2    = Interiors of Laljiu Temple, Ambika Kalna WLM2016-0193.jpg
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| caption2  = A devotee reading inside dedicated to Radha-Krishna Lalji Temple, [[Kalna City|Kalna]], West Bengal
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[[Friedhelm Hardy]] singles out such an offshoot of [[Krishnaism]] as Radha-centered stream Radhaism.{{sfn|Hardy|1987|pp=387–392}} The main representative of which is the [[Radha Vallabh Sampradaya]] ({{lit|consort of Radha}}), where goddess Radha is worshipped as the supreme deity, and Krishna is in a subordinate position.{{sfnm|1a1=White|1y=1977|1p=|2a1=Snell|2y=1991|2loc=chapter 1|3a1=Rosenstein|3y=1998|3p= |4a1=Beck|4y=2005|4p=}}{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=542}}

During the 18th century at [[Kolkata]] existed the Sakhībhāvakas community, whose members used to wear female dresses in order to identify themselves with the [[gopi]]s, companions of Radha.{{sfn|Hardy|1987|pp=387–392}}

In some devotional ([[bhakti]]) [[Krishnaism|Krishnaite]] traditions of [[Vaishnavism]] that focus on Krishna, Radha represents "the feeling of love towards Krishna".{{sfn|Hawley|Wulff|1982|pp=xiii–xviii}} For some of the adherents of these traditions, her importance approaches or even exceeds that of Krishna. Radha is worshipped along with Krishna in [[Nepal]] and many Indian states including [[West Bengal]], [[Manipur]], [[Assam]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Haryana]], [[Delhi]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Odisha]]. Elsewhere, she is a revered deity.{{sfn|Majumdar|1955|pp=231–257}} In [[Maharashtra]] region, Radha is worshipped in her regional form as [[Rahi (goddess)|Rahi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pande |first=Dr. Suruchi |date=2008 |title=Vithoba of Pandharpur |url=http://www.advaitaashrama.org/pb_archive/2008/PB_2008_August.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221081306/http://www.advaitaashrama.org/pb_archive/2008/PB_2008_August.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2008 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=}}</ref> Radha is considered as Krishna's original [[shakti]], the supreme goddess in both the [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]] and following the advent of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] also within the [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya Vaishnava]] tradition.{{sfn|Hawley|Wulff|1982|pp=xiii–xviii}}{{sfn|Dalal|2010|pp=321–322}} [[Nimbarka]] was the first well known [[Vaishnava]] scholar whose theology centered on goddess Radha.{{sfn|Ramnarace|2014|p=}}{{sfn|Singh|2004|p=125}}<ref name="Kinsley1972">{{cite journal | author = Kinsley, D. | year = 2010 | title = Without Krsna There Is No Song | journal = History of Religions | volume = 12 | issue = 2 | page = 149 | url = https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=G&oi=qs&q=nimbarka+radha+first+author:d-sarma | access-date = 2008-05-03 | doi = 10.1086/462672| s2cid = 161297914 }} "Nimbarka seems to have been the first well-known religious leader to regard Radha as central to his worship (thirteenth century)"</ref>

Since 15th century in Bengal and [[Assam]] flourished [[Tantra|Tantric]] [[Vaishnava-Sahajiya]] tradition with related to it [[Baul]]s, where Krishna is the inner divine aspect of man and Radha is the aspect of woman, what incorporated into their specific sexual [[Maithuna]] ritual.{{sfn|McDaniel|2000}}{{sfn|Hayes|2005|pp=19–32}}

Radha's connection to Krishna is of two types: ''svakiya-rasa'' (married relationship) and ''parakiya-rasa'' (a relationship signified with eternal mental "love"). The Gaudiya tradition focuses upon ''parakiya-rasa'' as the highest form of love, wherein Radha and Krishna share thoughts even through separation. The love the gopis feel for Krishna is also described in this esoteric manner as the highest platform of spontaneous love of God, and not of a sexual nature.{{sfn|Beck|2005|p=79}}

=== Hymns ===
[[File:Krishna et Râdhâ (MNAAG - musée Guimet) (11936923714).jpg|thumb|Radha Krishna painting inspired by Gita Govinda]]
List of prayers and hymns dedicated to Radha are:

* ''[[Gita Govinda]]'': This 12th century work of [[Jayadeva]] is dedicated to both Radha and Krishna. Gita Govinda is still the part of temple songs of [[Jagannath Temple, Puri|Jagannath Temple]], Puri.{{sfn|Datta|1988|pp=1419–1420}}
* ''Radhe Krishna'': The maha-mantra of [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]] is as follows:
{{Poem quote|''Rādhe Kṛṣṇa Rādhe Kṛṣṇa''
''Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Rādhe Rādhe''
''Rādhe Shyām Rādhe Shyām''
''Shyām Shyām Rādhe Rādhe''}}
* ''Radha [[Gayatri Mantra]]'': "''Om Vrashbhanujaye Vidmahe, Krishnapriyaye Dhimahi , Tanno Radha Prachodayat."'' 
* ''[[Lakshmi]] Gayatri Mantra'': "Samuddhrtayai vidmahe Vishnunaikena dhimahi | tan no Radha prachodaydt || " (We think about her whom [[Vishnu]] himself supports, we meditate on her. Then, let Radha inspire us). The mantra is mentioned in [[Linga Purana]] (48.13) and invokes Lakshmi through Radha.{{sfn|Miller|1975|pp=655–671}}
* ''[[Shri Radhika Krishnashtaka]]'': It is also called Radhashtak. The prayer is composed of eight verses and is popular in [[Swaminarayan Sampradaya]].
* ''Shri Radha Saharsnama Strotam'': The prayer has more than 1000 names of Radha and is part of the Sanskrit scripture [[Pancharatra|Narada Panchratra]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Sri Radha-sahasra-nama, The Thousand Names of Sri Radha |url=https://www.stephen-knapp.com/sri_radha-sahasra-nama.htm |access-date=2021-05-28 |website=www.stephen-knapp.com}}</ref>
* ''Radha Kripa Kataksh Strotam'': This is the most famous stotra in Vrindavana. It is written in Ūrdhvāmnāya-tantra and is believed to be spoken by Śiva to Parvati. The prayer is dedicated to Radha and has total 19 verses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sri Sri Radha-kripa-kataksha-stava-raja|url=http://www.harekrsna.de/Radha-kripa-kataksha-stava.htm|access-date=2021-05-28|website=www.harekrsna.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Radha Kripa Kataksha - Lord Shiva|url=https://brajrasik.org/articles/5956a9261350677a49620717/radha-kripa-kataksha-lord-shiva|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Braj Ras - Bliss of Braj Vrindavan.}}</ref>
* ''Yugalashtakam'': This prayer is dedicated to Yugal (combined) form of [[Radha Krishna]]. It is popular in [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]] and was written by [[Jiva Goswami]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shree Yugal Ashtakam.|url=https://www.shrinathdham.com/stotra-stuti-aarti/shree-yugal-ashtakam/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Shrinathdham|language=en-GB}}</ref>
* ''Radha Chalisa'': A devotional hymn in praise of Radha. The prayer has 40 verses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shree Radha Chalisa - Forty Verses of Shri Radha's Glory |url=https://brajrasik.org/articles/5ecaba472c91730061b25a5d/shri-radhe-vrishabhanujaa-bhaktani-praanaadhaar-shri-radha-chalisa |access-date=2021-05-28 |publisher=Braj Ras - Bliss of Braj Vrindavan}}</ref> 
* ''[[Hare Krishna (mantra)|Hare Krishna Mahamantra]]'': In this mantra, "Hare" is the vocative form of both "[[Hari]]" (Krishna) and "Hara" (Radha).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Judah|first=J. Stillson |title=Religious Movements in Contemporary America |chapter-url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400868841-024/html|chapter=The Hare Krishna Movement|date=2015-03-08|pages=463–478 |publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-6884-1|doi=10.1515/9781400868841-024}}</ref> The mantra is mentioned in [[Kali-Saṇṭāraṇa Upaniṣad|Kali Santarana Upanishad]].<ref>{{cite book |surname=Beck |given=Guy L. |chapter=Hare Krishna Mahamantra: Gaudiya Vaishnava Practice and the Hindu Tradition of Sacred Sound |editor1=Edwin Bryant |editor2=Maria Ekstrand |year=2004 |title=The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant |place=New York |publisher=Columbia University Press |url={{Google books|mBMxPdgrBhoC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |pages=35–44 |isbn=0-231-12256-X}}</ref> 
{{Blockquote|text=<poem>
''Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa''
''Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare''
''Hare Rāma Hare Rāma''
''Rāma Rāma Hare Hare''</poem>}}
* ''Hita-Caurasi'': The eighty-four verses (hymns) in [[Braj Bhasha]] of the 16th-century poet-sant [[Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu]], founder of [[Radha Vallabh Sampradaya]], in praise of Radha as the ultimate deity, the Queen, while Krishna depicted as her servant.{{sfnm|1a1=White|1y=1977|1p=|2a1=Snell|2y=1991|2p=|3a1=Beck|3y=2005|3p=67}}
* ''[[Radhe Radhe]]'': Greeting or salutation in [[Braj]] region dedicated to Radha.

=== Festivals ===
Radha is one of the major and celebrated goddess in Hinduism. Following is the list of festivals associated with her.

==== Radhashtami ====
{{Main|Radhashtami}}
[[File:Radha Syamasundar Vrindavan Radhastami 2004.jpg|thumb|Radha Krishna on Radhashtami, [[ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan]]]]

Radhashtami, also called Radha Jayanti is celebrated as the appearance anniversary of Radha. In the Hindu calendar, Radhashtami is observed annually in the month of the [[Bhadra (Hindu calendar)|Bhadra]], 15 days after [[Krishna Janmashtami]], the birth anniversary of Krishna, which suggests that Radha is very much an aspect of the cultural-religious faith system governing social life.<ref name=":8" /> The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor especially in the [[Braj|Braj region]]. The festivities include fasting till afternoon (12 pm), abhishek and [[Arti (Hinduism)|aarti]] of Radharani, offering her flowers, sweets and food items, singing songs, dancing and prayers dedicated to Radha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radhastami {{!}} Krishna.com|url=http://www.krishna.com/radhastami|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.krishna.com}}</ref> The [[Radha Rani Temple]] in [[Barsana]] host this festival in a grand manner as Basana is also considered as the birthplace of Radha. Apart from Barsana, this festival is celebrated in nearly all the temples of [[Vrindavan]] and [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|ISKCON]] temples across the world as it is one of the major festival for many [[Vaishnavism]] sections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radhastami – ISKCON VRINDAVAN|url=https://iskconvrindavan.com/festivals/radhastmi/|access-date=2021-05-29|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Holi ====
{{Main|Holi}}
[[File:3 Nichal Chand (attr) Krishna Celebrates Holi with Radha and the Gopis 1750-60 Boston MFA.jpg|thumb|''Krishna Celebrates Holi with Radha and the Gopis'' by [[Nihâl Chand|Nihal Chand]], [[Kishangarh]], 1750-60]]

Holi, one of the major Hindu festival, also called ''festival of love'' and ''festival of colors'' also celebrates the divine and eternal love of Radha and [[Krishna]]. [[Mathura]] and Vrindavan are known for their Holi celebrations. According to popular legend associated with [[Radha Krishna]], as a child, Krishna would cry to his mother [[Yashoda]] about Radha being fair while he had a dark complexion. His mother then advised him to smear colour of his choice on Radha's face, thus giving birth to Braj ki Holi. It is said that every year, Lord Krishna would travel from his village [[Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh|Nandgaon]] to Goddess Radha's village Barsana, where Radha and the [[gopi]]s would playfully beat him with sticks.<ref>Yudit Greenberg, Encyclopedia of Love in World Religions, Volume 1, {{ISBN|978-1851099801}}, p. 212</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=McKim Marriott |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9hairjdT-ekC |title=The Life of Hinduism |publisher=University of California Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-520-24914-1 |editor=John Stratton Hawley and Vasudha Narayanan |page=102}}, Quote: "Holi, he said with a beatific sigh, is the Festival of Love!"</ref> In present times, Holi celebrations in Barsana begin one week before the actual date of the festival, moving to Nandgaon the next day. In Mathura and Vrindavan, the festival is celebrated in different forms like [[Lathmar Holi]] in Barsana and Nandgaon, where sticks are used to create playful beats, to which young men and women dance; Phoolon wali Holi in Gulaal Kund near the [[Govardhan Hill]], during which [[Raslila|Ras Leela]] is performed and Holi is played with colourful flowers and Widow's Holi in Vrindavan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Incredible India {{!}} Braj ki Holi|url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/mathura-vrindavan/braj-ki-holi.html|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.incredibleindia.org}}</ref>

==== Sharad Purnima ====
{{Main|Sharad Purnima}}

Sharad Purnima refers to the full moon of the autumn season. On this day, devotees celebrate Krishna performing a beautiful dance called "[[Raslila|rasa lila]]" with Radha and the gopis—the cowherd damsels of Vrindavan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Braj Darshan {{!}} MAHARAAS: The Dance of Spirituality|url=https://www.brajdarshan.in/maharaas/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.brajdarshan.in|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212511/https://www.brajdarshan.in/maharaas/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On this day, Radha Krishna in temples are dressed in white outfits and are adorned with flower garlands and glittering ornaments.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Aashish|title=ISKCON-London - Sharad Purnima - Kartik Full Moon Festival|url=https://www.iskcon-london.org/events/festivals/sharad-purnima|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.iskcon-london.org|language=en-gb}}</ref>

==== Kartik Purnima ====
{{Main|Kartik Purnima}}

In [[Vaishnavism]], the occasion of Kartik Purnima is considered as the most auspicious day to worship goddess Radha. According to [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], Krishna also worshiped Radha on this day.<ref name="Shanti Lal Nagar"/> In Radha Krishna temples, sacred vow is observed throughout the [[Kārtika (month)|Karthik month]] and performances of [[Raslila]] are organized to celebrate this festival.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Mohapatra |first=J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UdpzAgAAQBAJ&dq=worship+radha&pg=PA164 |title=Wellness In Indian Festivals & Rituals |date=2013 |publisher=Partridge Publishing |isbn=978-1-4828-1690-7 |pages=164 |language=en}}</ref>