At least in India people are (somewhat) aware that Radha and Krishna are a divine couple. But imagine telling this to the Westerners. Srila Prabhupada did exactly that when he wrote his summary of Sri Krishna’s famous pastimes given in the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. He wrote: “In the Western countries, when someone sees the cover of a book like Krishna, he immediately asks,” Who is Krishna? Who is the girl with Krishna?” etc.

And then he answered his own question with one of the most lucid answers given about the nature of the Supreme Lord: “The immediate answer is that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How is that? Because He conforms in exact detail to descriptions of the Supreme Being, the Godhead. In other words, Krishna is the Godhead because He is all-attractive. Outside the principle of all-attraction, there is no meaning to the word” Godhead.” How is it one can be all-attractive? First of all, if one is very wealthy, if he has great riches, he becomes attractive to the people in general. Similarly, if someone is very powerful, he also becomes attractive, and if someone is very famous, he also becomes attractive, and if someone is very beautiful or wise or unattached to all kinds of possessions, he also becomes attractive. So, from practical experience we can observe that one is attractive due to (1) wealth, (2) power, (3) fame, (4) beauty, (5) wisdom and (6) renunciation. One who is in possession of all six of these opulences at the same time, who possesses them to an unlimited degree, is understood to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These opulences of the Godhead are delineated by Parasara Muni, a great Vedic authority.”

After having given such a surgically precise understanding of Sri Krishna still the task is only half finished. If Sri Krishna is so much misunderstood in the minds of the general populace as well as the erudite scholars, understanding Srimati Radharani is an even more daunting task. Therefore, our acharyas have given a “soft landing” approach to enter into the mysteries of Srimati Radhika devi. And that is to begin our worship with Lord Narayana or Lord Vishnu and their consort Srimati Lakshmi devi.

Technically speaking there are two vidhis, or systems of worship – païcaratrika and bhagavata. The païcaratrika-vidhi is strictly regulated, while the bhagavata-vidhi weighs heavily on spontaneity. Thus, Lord Narayana is worshipable by the païcaratrika-vidhi, or regulative principles, whereas Lord Krishna is worshipable by the bhagavata-vidhi.

Without serving Krishna according to the regulative principles of the païcaratrika-vidhi, unscrupulous persons want to jump immediately to the spontaneous principles. Such persons are called sahajiya. There are also those who enjoy depicting Krishna and His pastimes with the gopis, taking advantage of Krishna by their licentious character. These persons who print books and write lyrics on the spontaneous principles are surely on the way to hell. Unfortunately, they lead others down with them. Therefore, one should be very careful to avoid such persons.

Still one lingering doubt remains: Isn’t Radha and Krishna an unmarried couple (sort of)? Isn’t their loving dealing like “affairs” of this material world?

Here is the shastric answer: 

A liberated person who hears about the loving affairs of Radha and Krishna is not inclined to have lusty desires. One mundane rogue once said that when the Vaishnavas chant the name “Radha, Radha,” he simply remembers a barber’s wife named Radha. This is a practical example. Unless one is liberated, he should not try to hear about the loving affairs between Radha and Krishna. If one is not liberated and listens to a relation of the rasa dance, he may remember his own mundane activities and illicit connections with some woman whose name may also be Radha. In the conditioned stage one should not even try to remember such things. By practicing the regulative principles, one should rise to the platform of spontaneous attraction for Krishna. Then and only then should one hear about Radha-Krishna lila. Although these affairs may be very pleasing to both conditioned and liberated souls, the conditioned souls should not try to hear them.

Due to the explosive social media revolution, Sri Vrindavan-dhama is experiencing a huge surge in tourism. But unless one follows the formula given above, understanding Sri Sri Radha Krishna will always remain beyond the comprehension of the general populace. Therefore, as we celebrate Radhashtami this month, let us follow in the footsteps of the previous acharyas to understand Srimati Radharani.

—Syamananda Dasa