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All About Radha Ashtami
The festival of Radha Ashtami is celebrated on the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. According to mythological scriptures, this date is also considered as the appearance day of Radha Ji. Radha ji had appeared from the Yagya altar in Vrishabhanu ji’s house. He has been praised as Krishnavallabha in Vedas and Puranas etc.
Some experts believe that Shri Radha ji appeared in Vrishabhanupuri i.e. Barsana or his maternal grandfather Raval village. On this day, devotees circumambulate the forest situated on these high hills of Barsana i.e. Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh too, cultural and folk programs are organized at various places on the day of Radhashtami. Temples are decorated. And Shri Radha ji is worshiped in temples. So let’s know about the story of Radhashtami…
Know Why Worship of Radha Is Necessary On Radha Ashtami
According to a story in Devi Bhagwat Purana, Shri Krishna and Radha are not two but one. They live in Goloka, which is even above Vaikuntha. According to this Purana, Shri Radhaiyai Swaha Mantra is an ancient mantra. According to this Purana, those who worship Krishna and do not worship Radha Rani, their worship is not accepted. Lord Krishna always remains at the behest of Radharani. By worshiping Radha who resides in the heart of Lord Krishna, Shri Krishna fulfills all the wishes. It is said that those who observe fast on Shri Krishna Janmashtami should observe the fast on Radhashtami.
Muhurat of Radha Ashtami (Date and Time)
Radha Ashtami is observed on the Ashtami of Shukla Paksha in the Bhadrapada month.
| Radha Ashtami | Saturday, 23 September 2023 |
| Radha Ashtami 2023 date start | 22 September 2023 at 01:35 PM |
| Radha Ashtami 2023 date ends | on 23rd September 2023 at 12:17 PM |
Mythological Significance of Radha
In Devi Bhagwat, Shri Narayan has described the necessity of Shri Radha puja to Narad in the context of the very ancient tradition and remarkable glory of Shri Radhayi Swaha Mantra. If a person does not worship Shri Radha, he does not have the right to worship Lord Krishna. All Vaishnavas should pray to Goddess Radha. Shri Radha is the presiding deity of Lord Shri Krishna’s life, hence the Lord remains subordinate to her. He is Radhan for all the wishes, hence is called Shri Radha.
What Is The Importance Of Radha Ashtami Fast?
Radha ashtami fast also gives the same results as the fast of Shri Krishna Janmashtami. Vrishabhanu’s wife Kirti gave birth to Radha ji in the afternoon of Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada. Vrishbhanu and his wife Kirti had performed rigorous penance in their previous birth, due to which Goddess Radha appeared in their house. In the house where Radha Rani is worshipped, there is increase in the age, happiness, property, wealth, prosperity and good fortune of the family members.
Radha Rani is thought to be necessary for Lord Krishna’s worship to be complete. People who observe fast on Krishna Janmashtami. They must also observe fast on the birth anniversary of Radha Rani. It is said that without fasting on Radhashtami, the full virtue of fasting on Krishna Janmashtami is not achieved. On Radha Ashtami, people adore both Radha and Krishna. It is believed that those who fast and worship on this day attain all happiness. Radha Rani is also called Vallabha.
Fasting on Radha Ashtami is considered to bestow special virtues. It is claimed that this fast will solve all kinds of problems. On this day, married women observe a fast and do special worship of Radha ji. By worshiping one attains unbroken good fortune. The festival of Radha Ashtami also removes the money problems coming in life. By worshiping Radha ji on this day, one also gets the blessings of Lord Shri Krishna. Happiness and prosperity are maintained in life by keeping this fast.
Radha Ashtami fast is a fast that gives great virtue. A person observing fast on this day gets the blessings of both Shri Radha ji and Shri Krishna ji. According to Hindu scriptures, by observing fast on Radhashtami
- All of man’s sins have been eliminated.
- Women get a happy married life and unbroken good fortune.
- Happiness, peace and wealth and prosperity reside in the family.
- The childless get a child.
- One who observes Radha Ashtami fast never faces shortage of money. Lakshmi always resides in his house.
- All the wishes of a person are fulfilled and his life becomes happy.
- A seeker who observes fast on this day, after enjoying the pleasures of life, attains Gaulok after death.
How to Celebrate Radha Ashtami
On this auspicious occasion, Shri Radha Krishna is decorated with new clothes. The altar is decorated with bright, colorful flowers that spread their fragrance everywhere. Devotees perform Kirtan by singing wonderful songs composed by Vaishnav Acharyas and sing the glory of Sri Radharani. Hundreds of devotees come to the temple to witness the festival. The idols of the Lord are bathed with water containing milk, curd, ghee, honey and jaggery and then with the juices of fruits like muskmelon, apple, watermelon, pineapple, pomegranate, orange, sweet lime, papaya, grapes etc. An elaborate and huge aarti is performed. Devotees sing Shri Radhika Strot.
After the Aarti, the deities are bathed with holy water from 108 Kalash. After this, various types of flowers are showered. After the consecration, Chhappan Bhog is offered to Shri Radha Krishna.
The ceremony would conclude with a grand Shayan Aarti.
Radha Ashtami Worship Method (Puja Vidhi)
Radha-Krishna should be worshiped on this day. A person should fast for the whole day and should avoid grains and eat only fruits. Decorate the idols of Shri Radha and Krishna by bathing them with Panchamrit, perform Yagya and then offer incense, lamps, flowers etc. Make a mandap with five colors of powder and make a hexadem shaped lotus inside it. In the middle of that lotus, keep the idol of Shri Radhakrishna facing backwards and meditate on Divyasana and worship Lord Radhakrishna with devotion.
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Radha Ashtami Fasting Method
Below the method of Radha Ashtami fast is explained through points.
- Get up in the morning before sunrise. And take bath and become clean of body and mind. And wear clean clothes.
- After this, if you have a pavilion in your house or make a mandala in the middle of the courtyard. Keep an earthen or copper pot filled with water in the middle of the pavilion.
- Now cover the copper pot or if you have kept the clay pot, cover it with a copper plate.
- Now you place Radha Rani adorned with clothes and jewelery on it.
- To prepare all the items for Aarti. In the Aarti plate, you must keep the signs of marriage like vermilion, chuniya, kajal, bindi and etc. in the Aarti.
- Now start worshiping Radha Rani wholeheartedly with Shodashopachar.
- Start the worship of Radha Rani exactly at noon time.
- After the puja, fast for the whole day or you can eat roti at one time either in the evening or in the morning.
- It is mandatory for you to perform Aarti after the puja.
- After the aarti is over, give the prasad to yourself, your son and husband also.
- Light a lamp in front of Tulsi Mata in the evening. And remember Krishna.
- Next day, feed food to a Brahmin or a married woman and also give Dakshina.
Radha Ashtami Mantra
Chanting Radha Gayatri Mantra on the day of Radha Ashtami has special significance.
Radha Gayatri Mantra for Radha Ashtami –
Om Vrishabhanujyai Vidmahe!! , Krishnapriyaayi Dhimahi!! , Tanno Radha Prachodayat!!
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Several Unique Facts About Shri Radha Ji
- Shri Radha Rani was born in Rawal village.
- Radha ji’s father’s name was Vrishbhanu ji and mother’s name was Kirti.
- According to Brahmavaivarta Purana, Shri Radha ji was not born from her mother’s womb, rather she appeared. That is why his appearance festival is celebrated in temples.
- According to mythology, Shri Radha ji was older than Lord Shri Krishna.
- Shri Radha ji is considered to be the eternal power of Krishna.
Seek Refuge in Radha for Relationship Problems
We all know about the unbreakable love of Radha and Krishna. If you are facing any relationship related problem in your life, then you should worship Radha. Reciting Vishnu Sahasranama on Radha Ashtami can also be a way to get the blessings of Radha. Installing Shukra Yantra and worshiping it from the day of Radha Ashtami is the best way to further strengthen the relationships.
It is considered best to recite Vishnu Sahasranama along with Radha Ashtak and Krishna Ashtak from the day of Radha Ashtami.
How to Celebrate the Festival of Radha Ashtami
This day is a very auspicious day for both Lord Krishna and Radha. After morning bath, decorate Goddess Radha along with Lord Krishna with new clothes. Radha-Rani should be beautifully decorated. Decorate the temple of Radha-Krishna with flowers also. Make rangoli there. Sing Krishna devotional songs to please Radha Rani. Anoint Radha Rani and Krishna with flower juice, fruit juice, Panchamrit.
After this, decorate Shri Krishna along with Mother Radha. Keep the offering in front of God. Apart from various types of sweets made from milk, fruits and butter should also be included in the offering. Do recite Radha Ashtak on Radha Ashtami (Radha Ashtami 2022). Perform Maha Aarti in the evening by singing bhajans of Radha Rani. Many people keep fast on this day, in such a situation they should eat something after Shayan Aarti and Bhog.
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Celebration in Barsana on the Day of Radha Ashtami
Radha ashtami is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal in Braj and Barsana. On the day of Ashtami, devotees circumambulate the Gahwar forest situated on the high peak of Barsana. There is a lot of excitement around the festival in the Radha Ballabh temple of Vrindavan. After the birth of Radha, offerings are made in the temple and congratulations are sung. Apart from this, the festival is celebrated with great pomp in other temples also.
Story of Radha Ashtami | Radha Ashtami Fasting Story
First Story of Radha Ashtami
Devarshi Narad, the incarnation of devotion to Shri Krishna, once bowed at the feet of Lord Sadashiv and asked, “O Mahabhag! I am your slave. Tell me, is Shri Radha Devi Lakshmi or God’s wife? Is it Mahalakshmi or Saraswati? Are they intimate knowledge or Vaishnavi nature? Tell me, are they Vedkanyas, Devkanyas or Munnikanyas? Sadashiv said – O sage! What can we say about any other Lakshmi, millions of Mahalakshmi are considered insignificant in front of the beauty of her lotus feet.
Hey Narad ji! What more can I say with one mouth? I find myself unable to describe the form, beauty and qualities etc. of Shri Radha. Om, I am feeling shy even in praising his beauty. There is no one in the three worlds capable enough to overcome them by describing their forms. Her beauty is going to fascinate even Shri Krishna who fascinates the world. Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the capacity to describe them.
Naradji said – “O Lord, the greatness of Shri Radhikaji’s birth is the best in every way. O devotee! I want to hear it.” Hey Mahabhag! Tell me about Shri Radha ashtami, the best fast among all the fasts. How to meditate on Shri Radhaji? How is he worshiped or praised? Tell me all this. Hey Sadashiv! I am everything about their rituals, worship rituals and special prayers. Please tell me. “Want to hear”
Shivji said – “Vrishabhanu of Vrishabhanupuri was very generous. He was born in a noble family and was knowledgeable in all the scriptures. He was blessed with eight types of accomplishments like soul, glory etc., he was a gentleman, rich and generous. He was restrained, noble, and full of good thoughts and a worshiper of Shri Krishna. His wife was Mrs. Srikirtida.
– She was blessed with beauty and youth and was born in a great royal family. She was as gorgeous as Mahalakshmi and extremely beautiful. She was full of all the knowledge and virtues, had the form of Krishna and had great devotion.
A Shri Vrindavanedhari Shri Radhikaji appeared in her womb in the afternoon on Shuklashtami of Shubhada Bhadrapada. Hey Mahabhag! Now listen to me about the bhajans, worship, rituals etc. duties in Shri Radhajanma Mahotsav.
One should always keep a fast on the day of Shri Radha Janmashtami and worship him. • In the temple of Shri Radha Krishna, worship should be done as per the rituals with flags, garlands, clothes, flags, torches etc. and various types of auspicious substances.
Make a pavilion in the middle of the temple using five-coloured powder, perfume it with fragrant scent, flowers, incense sticks etc. and make a lotus plant in the shape of a lotus flower inside it. Install the couple idol of Shri Radhakrishna on Divya Asana in the middle of that lotus, facing west, do meditation and worship properly with the devotees, taking the material of worship as per their Om power and always worship Him with a balanced mind.
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Second Story of Radha Ashtami
Radha was the daughter of Vrishbhanu Gop. Radhaji’s mother’s name was Kirti. In Padma Purana, Radha has been described as the daughter of King Vrishbhanu. According to this scripture, when the king was cleaning the land for the yagya, he found Radha in the form of earth. The king considered this girl as his daughter and raised her. Legend also has it that Lord Vishnu asked other members of his family to incarnate on earth when he was born in Krishna avatar, then Vishnu’s wife Lakshmi came to earth in the form of Radha. According to Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Radha was a friend of Shri Krishna. But she was married to a man named Rapan or Rayan
Conclusion
If we fail to invoke Goddess Radha while worshiping Lord Krishna then our prayers remain incomplete. Radha Ashtami is an auspicious time to worship both Radha and Krishna to seek their divine blessings. With this, we would like to bid farewell, we wish you a very happy Radha Ashtami in advance.
