Gargacharya’s Revelation: Radha's True Identity

Gargacharya had come to Vrindavan to perform the ‘Namakarana’ - the naming ceremony - of  Krishna and Balarama. After the ceremony, Gargacharya decided to visit another very special house: the home of Vrishabhanu, the father of Radha.

When Gargacharya arrived at Vrishabhanu’s home, he was warmly welcomed. Vrishabhanu was filled with joy and respect as he greeted the sage. He knew that the visit of a saintly person like Gargacharya brought blessings, peace, and happiness. Such a visit purifies a household, and Vrishabhanu’s heart was filled with gratitude.

Vrishabhanu eagerly spoke to Gargacharya about his beloved daughter, Radha. He shared with the sage the story of Radha’s birth and asked him if he could suggest a suitable groom for her. Gargacharya smiled knowingly and asked to be taken to a quiet place near the banks of the Yamuna River, a place where he could share some important news in secret.

There, under the shade of a great tree, Gargacharya revealed a divine truth to Vrishabhanu. He told him that the Lord of the universe had taken birth on Earth. The divine being was none other than Krishna, the young boy in the house of Nandagopa. Gargacharya explained that Krishna had incarnated at the request of Lord Brahma to eliminate the evil rulers on Earth and to spread love and joy. He then shared something even more wonderful: Radha, Vrishabhanu’s daughter, was not an ordinary child. She was the divine consort of Krishna in Goloka (Krishna’s above which is even above Vaikuntha) and she had incarnated on Earth in his home.

Hearing this, Vrishabhanu was overwhelmed with emotion. He said, ‘Then I will marry my daughter only to Krishna.’ Gargacharya nodded and reassured him, saying, ‘Their marriage will be conducted by none other than Lord Brahma himself, in the beautiful Bhandeera Forest near Vrindavan.’ The sage also informed Vrishabhanu that all the cowherds (Gopas) in Vrindavan were incarnations of the Gopas from Goloka, and the young maidens (Gopikas) were incarnations of the Gopikas of Goloka. They were all part of this divine story, reunited on Earth.

Then, Gargacharya took a moment to explain the special meaning behind Radha’s name. He said, 'The name ‘Radha’ consists of four parts - र् + आ + ध् + आ -, and each syllable has a deep meaning. The first syllable, ‘र्,’ stands for ‘रमा’, which is another name for Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The second syllable, ‘आ,’ represents the Gopikas, who are part of Krishna’s playful divine activities, called ‘leelas.’ The third syllable, ‘ध्,’ stands for ‘धरा,’ which means Earth, representing stability and nurturing love. The fourth and final syllable, ‘आ,’ stands for ‘विरजा (Viraja),’ the divine river of Goloka, pure and serene. All these divine elements have come together in Radha, who is very close to Krishna’s heart.'

Gargacharya continued, 'Rama, the Gopikas, Dhara, and Viraja - they have incarnated together as your daughter, bringing all that is dear to Krishna into one form.' Vrishabhanu listened in awe, understanding for the first time the true greatness of his beloved daughter.

The sage’s words filled Vrishabhanu with devotion and wonder. He felt blessed to be a part of this divine plan, where Radha and Krishna’s love was destined to unite on Earth just as it was in the heavenly realm of Goloka. And so, the story of Radha and Krishna - the story of love, devotion, and divine unity - began to unfold in the sacred lands of Vrindavan.

Lessons -

1. Divine Purpose and Incarnation: Both Krishna and Radha have incarnated on Earth with a divine purpose. Krishna has come to eliminate evil and spread joy, while Radha embodies various divine aspects close to Krishna’s heart. 
2. Unity of Divine Elements: Radha symbolizes the coming together of four important aspects - prosperity, divine love, nurturing stability, and purity. This unity teaches that true devotion involves embracing different facets of divinity, all coming together to serve a higher purpose, much like Radha does for Krishna.

Knowledge Bank

What does Ganesha mean?

In Sanskrit, Gana (गणः) means group and Isha (ईशः) means the Lord. Ganesha means the Lord of groups. In Vedic philosophy, everything exists in groups. For example: 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas, 7 seas, 5 sensory organs, 4 Vedas, 14 worlds, etc. Ganesha is the ruler of all such groups which means that he is the Lord of everything.

Four goals of life

Four goals of life as per Hinduism are - 1. To live righteously. 2. To earn by fair means so that you can take care of the needs of those who depend on you. 3. To work towards achieving desires that do not harm others and yourself. 4. To attain liberation from the cycle of rebirths. These are called the 4 Purushathas.