iMonk | September 2005

Navadwip, West Bengal, India — Sunday, September 11th

Radhastami

Today we celebrate the holy appearance day of Srimati Radharani, who holds the highest position in our rupanuga-gaudiya-sampradaya. What is Her exalted position?

Once, when Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad was at Radha Kunda, in Vrindavan, a brahmachari reported that the Diwan (Chief Minister) of Bhaghpur state and his family were circumambulating Radha Kunda, and the minister's wife was doing dandavat-parikrama (lying down at full stretch, placing a stone marker in front of her, and repeating the process) all the way around the kunda.

When the brahmachari eagerly contended, "They also have so much regard for Srimati Radharani," Srila Bhakti Siddhanta's reply revealed the glorious position of Srimati Radharani: how radha-dasyam — the service of Sri Radha — is the highest goal of the followers of Srila Rupa Goswami, the rupanuga-gaudiya-sampradaya:

"Our concern for Srimati Radharani and their concern for Srimati Radharani are quite different. It is just the opposite," he said. "They worship Srimati Radharani because She is the favorite of Lord Krishna, but our primary interest is with Her: we worship Krishna because He is the favorite of Srimati Radharani."

We worship Srimati Radharani not because She is krsna-priya (dear to Krishna) but because we only want a connection with that higher world through service, and She is the Mistress of Service. And Krishna? We worship Him because He is radhika-priya (dear to Srimati Radharani).

This is the unparalleled and unprecedented conception of Krishna consciousness given by our gurudevas and the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math:

gayatri muralista kirtana-dhanam radha-padam-dhimahi

Srila Gurudeva, meditating deeply on Srila Guru Maharaj's unique contribution to the rupanuga-gaudiya-sampradaya — his extraordinary explanation of the brahma-gayatri mantra — designed the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math logo to boldly proclaim:

Krishna's flute exclusively sings the song of service to the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani.

Tags: Srimati Radharani

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