Radha Ashtami 2020 was celebrated at and broadcast virtually by JKYog Worldwide Headquarters, the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas on Aug 29-30, 2020! Devotees welcomed with great alacrity the Divine Mother, savior of the fallen, and the most compassionate Radha Rani in Her divine childhood form.
Volunteers from around the country took time to prepare special online cultural presentations with heartfelt devotion - bhajans, skits, Indian classical and folk dance performances, and glimpses of home festivities. Of special note were the segments “Trip to Barsana”, transporting devotees back 5000 years to the divine atmosphere surrounding the birth of Shri Radha Rani, and a play depicting the amazing revelation of Radharani’s nature as Shree Krishna’s “Swamini” or the one He worships, to a Muslim devotee of Shree Krishna - Raskhaan. A wonderful Charan Poojan of Radharani's deity was performed by Swamiji.
Radha Ashtami 2020: Transporting Devotees to Barsana
The nectarine kirtans of Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj, overflowing with the bliss of divine love, and sung with great devotion by JKYog singers including the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas Kirtan group, filled the hearts of viewers with devotion for Radharani.
Devotees of the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area presented the divine birth pastime of Radhaji - with blissful acting, kirtans and wonderful narration that vividly brought to life the divine celebrations in Barsana!
“Prakati Kirti Kumari, Kirti Ghara”
King Vrishbhanu of Barsana, finds a little baby girl glowing brighter than a thousand suns on a lotus floating in the river. Instantly drawn to her divine beauty and melting at her adorable, tiny form, he takes her home to mother Kirti, who is overcome with maternal love for this little girl, who is Yogmaya - the divine energy of God, the supreme divine love power or Hladini Shakti, Herself! How fortunate is Kirti Maiya!
“Bhanubhoopa Ghara Bajata Badhai”
Radharani’s parents planned a divine celebration! The joy of the residents of Barsana knows no bounds as they shower the little daughter of King Vrishbhanu with the choicest gifts! Some bring little anklets and tiny bangles, others dresses, and still others bring vessels of silver. The princess of Barsana, little Radhey ju is being swung lovingly by Kirti Maiya.
“Ratnaare Dou Naina Kishori Ju ke”
However she doesn’t open her eyes until ….she meets Her beloved Shree Krishna! People of Braj are overcome with the nectar of divine love showering from her lovely eyes that shine like gems. Little Shree Krishna is overjoyed to meet His very soul. Shree Radha and Shree Krishna are the energy, and the energetic, respectively. Just as milk and its whiteness cannot be separated, so also Shree Radha and Shree Krishna are actually the One Supreme God! The merciful divine couple have incarnated in two forms, to shower divine bliss on all the souls and provide a basis of devotion through their exceedingly sweet pastimes, for all of us that we benefit from even today!
“Shyama Maa Jo Teri Pad Raja Hi Mil Jaaye, Sansaara ki Kaun Kahe Mana Muktihun Thukraye”
A Bharatanatyam dance was presented based on this bhajan of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, by Manogna Tatapudi of the Bay Area, beautifully depicting through her sublime expressions, the sentiments of a humble devotee of Shree Radha desperate for Radha ji’s foot dust.
Satsang centers around the country sponsored gifts for the deity of Shree Radha such as a diamond necklace, anklets, and garments!
All glories to the Divine Mother Radharani!
Radha Ashtami 2020: The Greatness of Shree Radha Revealed to Raskhaan
Devotees of the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area presented a beautiful Leela or divine pastime!
Raskhaan was a Muslim and a staunch devotee of Shree Krishna. He had a doubt: in the Hindu religion women were always serving their husbands at the time, but why did people say that Shree Krishna serves Radharani?
However, such was his good fortune that when he was graced with the darshan of Shree Radha Krishna, he actually saw - Shree Radha was seated on a throne and Shree Krishna was pressing Her feet, lost in utter devotion.
He thus wrote the famous lines,
”Dekhyo Duryo Mahan, Kunja Kuti Mahan, Baithyo Palotata Radhika Paya”
Watch the full cultural presentation and kirtan performances here.
Radha Ashtami 2020: Special, Sweet Bal Radha Pad Vyakhya by Swamiji
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj has beautifully depicted the greatness of Shree Radha’s personality by a divine Leela in one of his kirtan compositions.
“Kunvari Kahata Tutaraya, Maya Te”
Little Radha is playing outside in the field with Her friends, Lalita etc and Narad Muni visits Her. Being a Rasik saint - a devotee of Shree Radha Krishna - Narad ji is overcome with divine Bhava at the darshan of the divine energy Yogmaya Herself in Her childhood form - he surrenders himself to Her, circumambulates Her and eats Her footdust. She asks the saint his name and he just laughs loudly and runs away! Little Radha, unable to comprehend what is going on, thinks he is mad - she runs into the house informing her mother immediately who realizes that Narad ji himself had come for the darshan of Radharani!
Swami Mukundananda sang and narrated this sweet pastime that drowned everyone in the bliss of loving devotion for Shree Radha!
Watch the Pad Vyakhya by Swamiji here.
Radha Ashtami 2020: Special Rare Charan Darshan/Poojan, Cake Cutting, Jhulan, Aarti
There are very few times that one gets a divine glimpse of the feet of Radharani’s deity.
Devotees got this supreme rare opportunity on Radhashtami! A special Charan Poojan or worship of the feet of Radharani with flowers, was performed by Swamiji.
“Jhulati Bhanudulara Palane”
Baby Radha was placed in a giant lotus. She was swung by Swamiji in tandem with the beautiful strains of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj’s kirtan “Jhulati Bhanudulara Palane” - Lali ju (little Radha), the apple of the eyes of King Vrishbhanu, is being lovingly swung by Kirti Maiya. The cord of the cradle is silken. Baby Radha is wearing blue garments and lying in the cradle looking adorable. She gurgles with joy as babies do, kicking away in the cradle, her lovely eyes darting everywhere. Kirti Maiya is lost in maternal affection looking at her.
The atmosphere became jubilant and devotees danced joyously with great energy to the beats of the dhol and the chants of “Aaja meri Radhey Aake Na Ja Meri Radhey”. Swamiji cut the birthday cake and offered it to Baby Radha.
Finally a blissful and devotional Aarti of Bal Radha was performed. People were overcome at the shower of divine grace and the compassion of Radharani.
“Aarti Kirti Kunwari ki Kijai,
Jai Jai Bhanunandini ki Jai!”
Swamiji’s ecstatic “Jaighosh” or glorifying of the divine Mother, God and Guru, touched the hearts of devotees.
The event concluded with a cultural performance - beautiful bhajans by professional singer Mayuri Ray, and a Kathak classical dance depicting the pastimes and exceeding beauty of Shree Radha as in the kirtans of Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj, by Vandita Parikh of the Nrityashakti Dance Academy.
The two day virtual celebration coordinated by the hardworking volunteers of JKYog behind the scenes, greatly increased the devotional sentiments of all who were fortunate to be a part of it.
Watch the Charan Poojan, cake cutting, Jhoolan, Aarti and cultural program here.
Jai Jai Shree Radhey! Jai Jai Shree Radhey! Jai Jai Shree Radhey!
