The Hindu Festival of Radha Ashtami in Braj

The Birthday or Appearance Day of the Consort of Krishna in Barsana

Aug 27, 2009

Radha Ashtami or the celebration of Radha's birthday is not as widespread as that of Janmashtami. However, it is a big event in Barsana and the whole of Braj.

Radha’s birthday falls on the Ashtami (eighth day) of the first fortnight of the Hindu month of Bhadra. As far as the calendar goes, this day is exactly two weeks after Janmashtami or the birth of Krishna. However Radha was older than Krishna. Radha was born in Barsana to Vrishabhanu and Kirti. Barsana, Vrindavan, Gokul all comprise the area known as Braj, which is where the Lila of Krishna and Radha played out.

Radha did not open her eyes after birth and this had her parents worried. Yashoda and Nand came to visit Kirti and Vrishabhanu along with the new born Krishna. It was then that Radha opened her eyes so that her first sight on earth was the sight of Krishna.

Radha Ashtami in Braj

Radha Ashtami is a joyous occasion in all of Braj and especially so in Barsana. In Barsana, the center of the celebration is the temple of Radha situated at the top of Brahma Hill. Another important location is the Radha Kund or tank. Normally, people are prohibited from entering the waters because it is considered sacred. However, on Radha Ashtami the tank is thrown open to the public and the devotees of Radha queue up till midnight in order to take a dip in the holy waters.

The celebrations are also conducted in the other temples in the land of Braj. The temples are decorated and the idols of Krishna and Radha are dressed grandly. Milk colored with saffron is sprayed from the sanctum sanctorum by the priests. One important temple is that of Radhavallabh at Vrindavan. Radhavallabh is an epithet of Krishna that means Lord of Radha. At the Radhavallabh temple clothes, cereals, fruits and sweets are distributed to all devotees.

Radha Bhajans

Radha Stuti is recited during the Radha Ashtami celebrations. A stuti is a special prayer eulogizing the deity. Several Radha Stutis are popular. One of them can be read along with the translation at Stutimandal.com. Two special types of devotional songs are also sung during the celebrations. One is the Radha Aarti, which is sung during specified darshans. Again several artists are popular. The other is the Radha Chalisa. This is a forty verse song dedicated to Radha. The complete Radha Chalisa can be read at Indif.com.

However, devotees revel more in the bhajans sung to Radha and Krishna. These are in simpler language and more lyrical. They bring out the human attributes of Krishna and Radha as avatars of divinity and hence a larger section of the Hindus can identify with these bhajans.

Many of the bhajans sung in private celebrations of Radha Ashtami are taken from Hindi movies. A popular theme is Radha being fair skinned while Krishna is dark skinned. Poets ascribe this to Radha being born at dawn as compared to Krishna who was born at midnight. The song “Yashomati Maiya” from the Hindi film Satyam Shivam Sundaram is based on this theme.

Another popular theme is the jealousy experienced by Radha when Krishna dances with the other maidens of Braj. The song “Radha Kaise Na Jale” from the film Lagaan illustrates this beautifully. In fact, the most popular poetry ever written about Krishna and Radha, the Geet Govind, is based on this jealousy.

The birthdays of Radha and Krishna are celebrated on different days and they are perceived as different deities with Radha being the consort of Krishna. They are however one soul in two bodies. Their actual unity is described in the Brahmavaivarta Purana, with Radha emerging from the left side of Krishna’s body.

This view is expressed in a metaphorical paradigm by the poet Maya Govind in a quatrain. This has been translated as follows: "An inexplicable thing has taken place; Radha cannot recognize herself. Yashoda complains that Krishna is bewitched because he calls himself Radha. Krishna stands wearing women’s clothes listening to Radha play the flute. He addresses her as Krishna while she addresses him as Radha"

While Hindus celebrate birthdays of their deities they do not believe that the deities were born. Deities are eternal. The birthdays mark their appearance on earth as avatars in human form. Therefore the technically correct statement is that Radha Ashtami is the celebration of the appearance of Radha on earth.

The copyright of the article The Hindu Festival of Radha Ashtami in Braj in Hindu Ceremonies is owned by Harsh Nevatia. Permission to republish The Hindu Festival of Radha Ashtami in Braj in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.