Radhastami, Appearance of Sri Radha

Founder-Acharya of the world-wide Hare Krishna Movement, Brahma Sampradaya Acharya

By taking shelter of Krishna, one has to become absorbed in thinking of Krishna. That is not very difficult. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [ Bhagavad-gita 18.65]. It is not at all difficult. You simply chant Hare Krishna mantra. You'll be man-maya. This is so nice thing. Therefore Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended,

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [ Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi-lila 17.21]

So our request is… Everyone who is present here… Today is Radhastami. So pray to Radharani. And She is hare, hara. This hare, this word, is Radharani. Hara, Radharani. Radha or Hara: the same thing. So Hare Krishna. So we are praying to Radharani, "My Mother, Radharani, and Krishna." Hare Krishna. "O Krishna, O the Lord." Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, the same thing, repetition. "O Radharani, O Krishna." "O Radha-Krishna." "Radhe-Krishna" or "Hare Krishna," the same thing. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Again addressing, "O Krishna, O Krishna, O Radharani." Hare Rama. The same thing, again. Hare Rama. Rama is also Krishna. Rama is Rama, Rama is Balarama. They are all Krishna. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

So this repetition of addressing Radha and Krishna or Hare Krishna is to pray, "My dear Lord, … and the energy, the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service." That's all. "I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service."

This is good sense. We are servants here. We are engaged in so many services. But it is not giving us comfort. Na trapa nopashanti. The service which we are rendering to others, they are not satisfied, I am not satisfied. This is material service. But if you give service to Krishna… Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. A little service can save you from the greatest danger. This is the formula.

Just like Ajamila. Ajamila, in his boyhood, he was brahmana [belonging to the intelligent class of men known as intellectuals, teachers, spiritual leaders]. He was giving service to Vishnu. But in young age he became a victim of a prostitute, and he fell down. But at the end, ante narayana-smritih [Srimad Bhagavatam 2.1.6], when Yamadatas were coming and were so fearful, he did not know in whom to take shelter, but he was attached to his youngest son, whose name was Narayana. So he thought, "This Narayana would give me protection." So he asked him, "Narayana!" But at the same time he remembered that "That Narayana, oh, hm, I sometimes gave service." So immediately Narayana saved him. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat.

So it is our duty therefore… That is the duty of human life: to become Krishna conscious. And that is stated here. Vita-raga-bhaya-krodha man-maya mam upashritah, bahavah [Bhagavad-gita 4.10]. It is not that one or two. Many. Jnana-tapasa. Jnana [knowledge, spiritual realisation]. That is required: knowledge and tapasya [austerity]. That is human life. If, if we remain just like cats and dogs, eat, sleep and have sex life, beget children and die someday, this is cats' and dogs' life. This is not human life. Human life is different. Man-maya mam upshritah. Jnana-tapasa puta. To become purified by knowledge and tapasya. Tapo divyam yena shuddhyet sattvam [Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.1]. That is the statement of Rishabhadeva. Everywhere. We have to purify our existence, and get out of this repetition of birth and death. That is success of life.

So we shall pray to Radharani… What is Radharani? Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krishna. Pleasure potency. Parasya shaktir vividhaiva shruyate [Chaitanya-charitamrita Madhya-lila 13.65, purport]. The Supreme Lord has many potencies. Na tasya karyam karanam cha vidyate. Therefore He has nothing to do. He has got so many potencies. Just like big man, a rich man. He's sitting. But his energies, his potencies, are working. Big, big factory. And he knows everything. Similarly, parasya shaktir vividhaiva shruyate. He has got many multi-potencies. One of them is this pleasure potency. Pleasure potency… He also wants pleasure. So when Krishna wants… Krishna is Param Brahman. He cannot enjoy anything material. He has to create the source of enjoyment by His own spiritual potency. That is Radharani. So Radharani is described in the shastra: radha-krishna-pranaya-vikritir hladini-shaktir asmad [Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi-lila 1.5]. That is Krishna's hladini-shakti [pleasure potency]. She gives pleasure to Krishna. So She is very kind. And today is Radhastami. If we pray to Srimati Radharani… Therefore in Vrindavana you'll see. They are first of all glorifying, "Jaya Radhe!" Everywhere you'll hear. "Jaya Radhe."

Guest: Jaya Radhe.

Prabhupada: To glorify Srimati Radharani. So if Radharani's pleased, he'll be able to approach Krishna very easily. And that is the goal of our life. That is the goal of life. Vita-raga-bhaya-krodha man-maya mam upshritah [Bhagavad-gita 4.10]. Mam upshritah means you have to take… You cannot take shelter of Krishna directly. You have to take shelter of His potency.

Krishna is therefore trying to help us. Guru-krishna-kripaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Chaitanya-charitamrita Madhya-lila 19.151]. He is within. He is called chaitya-guru. If you are purified… Krishna… Buddhi-yogam dadami tam. He'll directly speak you. And so long you cannot, then He sends His representative, the spiritual master, the guru. You can ask through the spiritual master about Krishna. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah.

So in this way we have to be absorbed in the thought of Krishna. We have to take shelter of Krishna. Then… If you take shelter of Krishna, this jnana…

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty ashu vairagyam
jnanah cha yad ahaitukam [Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.7]

The same thing. Krishna will speak. Krishna is within you. Simply you have to take shelter of Krishna, always thinking of Krishna, chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama…

Guests: …Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Prabhupada: Thank you very much. That's all.