. Srimati Radharani is Sri Krishna’s beloved. On moonlit nights, beckoned by the music of His flute, Radharani would leave her house, ignore tradition and danger to be by Sri Krishna’s side. To nature’s envy, they would sing and dance in the midst of flowery meadows. There their souls merge as they are in perfect yoga. She is the chief of the gopis and extreme devotee of Sri Krishna, and Supreme Goddess. Her name means that She is the most excellent bhakta of Lord Krishna. However, She is also an expansion of the Lord's energy. She is also an extension of Krishna, His pleasure potency and the feminine aspect of God.
Radharani is also known as Sarva-kanti, which indicates that all beauty and luster rest in Her body. All the Lakshmis derive their beauty from Her. Sarva-kanti also means that all the desires of Lord Krishna rest in Radha. As Lord Krishna enchants the world with His beauty and charm, Sri Radha, on the other hand, enchants Him. If He is the mesmeriser, Madana Mohana, then She is Madana Mohana Mohini; the mesmeriser of the mesmeriser. Sri Radha is the full power, and Lord Krishna is the possessor of full power. Thus, the two are non-different, as the sunshine is non-different from the sun, or as the energy is non-different from the energetic or source of energy.
In this way, without Radharani there is no meaning to Krishna and without Krishna there is no meaning to Radharani. Because of this, one always pay respects first to the Lord's internal energy in the form of Radharani, and then to the Lord. She is the mediator without whom access to Krishna is not possible. Thus They are referred to as Radha-Krishna. In this way, Radha and Krishna are one, but when Lord Krishna wants to enjoy, He manifests Himself as Radharani. Otherwise, there is no energy in which Krishna can attain pleasure outside Himself.
SRIMATI RADHARANI ASHTOTHRARA NAMAVALI
1] Radha
2] Gandharvika
Gandharvika, she who is expert in singing and dancing
3] Gosthayuva-rajaika-kamita
The only girl desired by the prince of Vraja,
4] Gandharva radhika
Who is worshipped by the Gandharva-angels,
5] Candrakantir
Whose luster is like the moon,
6] Madhava-sangini
Who accompanies Madhava.
7] Damodaradvaita-sakhi
Damodar's unrivalled girlfriend,
8] Kartikotkirtidesvari
he queen who bestows fame on the Kartika month,
9] Mukunda dayita-vrnda dhammilla mani-manjari
The crest jewel of Mukunda's ladyfriends.
10] Bhaskaropasika
Who worships the sun,
11] Varsabhanavi
Who belongs to King Vrsabhanu.
12] Vrsabhanuja
Who is born from King Vrsabhanu,
13] Ananga manjari
Ananga Manjari's older sister,
14] Jestha sridama
Sridama's younger sister,
15]Varajottama
The greatest (fem.)
16] Kirtida-kanyaka
Kirtida's daughter,
17] Matr-sneha-piyusa-putrika
Who is the nectarean object of Her mother's affection,
18] Visakha-savayah
Who is of the same age as Visakha,
19] Prestha visakha
jivitadhika = Who is dearer than life to Visakha.
20] Pranadvitiya lalita
Who is none other than Lalita's very life,
21] Vrndavana viharini
Enjoys in Vrndavana
22] Lalita prana-laksaika-raksa
Who saves Lalita's life lakhs of times,
23] Vrndavanesvari
Queen of Vrndavana.
24] Vrajendra-grhini krsna-praya-sneha-niketanam
Who is as dear to Mother Yasoda as Krsna,
25] Vraja go-gopa-gopali jiva-matraika-jivanam
Who is the only life of the life of the cows, cowherdsmen and cowherdgirls of Vraja.
26] Snehalabhira-rajendra
Who is the object of King Nanda's affection,
27] Vatsalacyuta-purva-ja
Who gets parental affection from Balaram,
28] Govinda pranayadhara surabhi sevanotsuka
Who is the object of Govinda's love (Govinda is eager to serve His surabhi cows).
29] Dhrta nandisvara-ksema gamanotkanthi-manasa
Who is very eager to go to Nandisvara forserving Krsna
30] Sva-dehadvaitata drsta dhanistha dhyeya-darsana
Who is regarded as non-different from her by Dhanistha and seen in her meditations, (Dhanistha is Yasoda's maidservant).
31] Gopendra-mahisi paka-sala-vedi prakasika
Who is seen in Mother Yadosa's kitchen.
32] Ayur-varddha-karaddhana
Whose cooked grains increase Krsna's life,
33] Rohini ghrata-mastaka
Whose head is smelt by Rohini.
34] Subala nyasta sarupya
Who has bestowed a form equal to Hers to Subala,
35] Subala priti-tosita
Who is very fond of Subala,
36] Mukhara-drk sudha-naptri
Who is nectar in Mukhara's eyes,
37] Jatila drsti-bhasita
Who is afraid to see Her mother-in-law, Jatila.
38] Madhumangala narmokti janita-smita-candrika
Who smiles like the Moonbeams after hearing Madhumangala's jokes.
39] Paurnamasi bahih khelat prana-panjara sarika
The she-parrot of Whose heart is caught in Paurnamasi's cage.
40] Sva ganadvaita jivatuh sviyahankara-vardhini
Who is the only life of Her friends,
41] Sva ganopendra padabja
Who increases the pride f Her relatives.
42] Sparsa-lambhana harsini
Who is very happy to touch Upendra's feet with Her friends.
43] Sviya vrndavanodyana paliki krta-vrndaka
Who has placed Vrnda in charge of Vrndavana's gardens,
44] Jnata vrndatavi sarva lata-taru-mrga-dvija
Who is known by all the Vines, trees, deer and birds of Vrndavana.
45] Isac candana samghrsta nava-kasmira-deha-bhah
Whose body shines with fresh vermillion ground with some sandalpaste.
46] Jjva-puspa pritha-hari patta cinarunambara
Whose silken dress shines more reddish than the java flower.
47] Caranabja-tala-jyotir arunakrta-bhutala
Whose lotus footsoles make the surface of the earth shine crimson-red,
48] Hari citta camatkari caru nupura nihsvana
Who astonishes Hari's mind with the sweet sound of Her anklebells.
49] Krsna-sranti-hara sroni pitha-valgita ghantika
The nice sounds of whose waistbells remove Krsna's fatigue,
50] Krsna sarvasva pinodyat kucancan mani-malika
The pearl necklace on whose firm, raised breasts is everything to Krsna.
51] Nana-ratnollasad sankha-cuda caru bhuja-dvaya
Whose two beautiful arms are adorned with conchshell bangles inset with various jewels.
52] Syamantaka-mani bhrajan mani-bandhati-bandhura
On Whose wrist the beautiful Syamantaka jewel shines.
53] Suvarna darpana-jyotir ullanghi mukha-mandala
The shining of Whose face defeats that of a golden mirror,
54] Pakka dadima bijabha dantakrstaghabhic chuka
Whose teeth, that shine like ripe pomegranate seeds, attract the parrot-like Aghabhit (Krsna).
55] Abja-ragadi srstabja-kalika karna-bhusana
Whose ruby earrings are shaped like lotus buds,
56] Saubhagya kajjalankakta netranandita khanjana
Whose wagtail-like eyes are anointed with beautiful eyeliner, giving great joy to the eyes.
57] Suvrtta mauktika mukta nasika tilapuspika
Whose nose, that is beautiful as a sesame flower, is adorned with a round pearl,
58]Sucaru nava-kasturi tilakancita-bhalaka
Whose forehead is adorned with beautiful tilak made of fresh musk.
59] ddivya veni vinirdhuta keki-pincha-vara-stutih
Whose divine hairbraid is worshiped by peacock feathers (being defeated in beauty),
60] Netranta-sara vidhvamsakrta canurajid dhrtih
The arrows of Whose glances destroy the patience of Krsna, Who defeated the Canura wrestler.
61] Sphurat kaisora-tarunya sandhi-bandhura-vigraha
Who is blooming teenage beauty personified.
62] Madhavollasakonmatta
Who pleases Madhava.
63] Pikoru madhura-svara
Who maddens Madhava with Her sweet, cuckoo-like voice.
64] Pranayuta-sata prestha madhavotkirti-lampata
Who is more attached to Madhava's great glories than to millions of lives,
65] Krsnapanga-tarangodyat smita-piyusa-budbuda
Whose nectarean smiles provide bubbles on the waves of Krsna's glances.
66] Punjibhuta jagallajja vaidagdhi-digdha-vigraha
Who is the very form of cleverness, embarrassing the whole world.
67] Karuna vidravad deha murtiman
Whose body melts in kindness,
68] Madhuri-ghata
Who is abundant sweetness personified.
69] Jagad-gunavati-varga giyamana gunoccaya
Whose glories are loudly sung by all the great ladies of the world.
70] Sacyadi subhaga-vrnda vandyamanoru-saubhaga
Who is incessantly praised by beautiful ladies like Saci.
71] Vina-vadana sangita rasalasya visarada
Who is expert in singing and playing vina in the rasa dance.
72] Narada pramukhodgita jagad anandi sad-yasah
Whose pure glories are sung by sages headed by Narada, giving joy to the world.
73] Govardhana-guha geha grhini
She is the housewife in the caves in Govardhana.
74] Kunja-mandana
She decorates the kunja,
75] Candamsu-nandini baddha bhagini-bhava-vibhrama
She has a sisterly relationship with Yamuna, (Yamuna is the daughter of the sun and Radha is the daughter of Vrsabhanu, the sun in Taurus).
76] Divya kundalata narma sakhya-dama-vibhusita
She is adorned with the wreath of divine Kundalata's friendship.
77] Govardhanadharahladi srngara-rasa-pandita
She is the professor in amorous rapture, giving joy to the holder of Govardhana.
78]Girindra-dhara vaksah
She is Laksmi on the chest of the holder of Govardhan,
79] Srih sankhacudari-jivanam
She is the life of the enemy of Sankhacuda,
80] Gokulendra-suta-prema kama-bhupendra-pattanam
She is the settlement of Cupid for the love of the son of Gokulendra.
81] Vrsa-vidhvamsa narmokti sva-nirmita sarovara
Who made Her own pond after the killer of Arista mocked Her.
82] Nija kunda-jala-krida jita sankarsananuja
Who defeats Sankarsana's younger brother in sports in Her own pond.
83] Mura-mardana mattebha vihara-mrta-dirghika
She is the ambrosial pond of enjoyment for the intoxicated elephant who defeated Mura,
84] Girindra-dhara-parindra rati-yuddhoru simhika
She is a powerful lioness fighting amorous sports with the king of lions, the holder of the best of mountains.
85] Sva tanu-saurabhonmatti krta mohana madhava
Who enchants Madhava with Her intoxicating bodily fragrance,
86] Dor-muloccalana krida vyakuli-krta kesava
Who agitates Kesava by playfully showing Her armpit.
87] Nija kunda-tati kunja klrpta keli kalodyama
Who expands Her artful plays in the kunja on the bank of Her own pond, BR>
88] Divya malli-kulollasi sayyakalpita vigraha
Who makes a bed of divine jasmine flowers there with joy.
89] Krsna vama-bhuja nyasta caru daksina gandaka
Who places Her beautiful right cheek on Krsna's left arm,
90] Savya bahu-lata baddha krsna daksina sad-bhuja
Who holds Krsna's right arm with Her left vine-like arm.
91] Krsna daksina caruru slista vamoru-rambhika
Whose beautiful, broad, banana-like left hip touches Krsna's right hip.
92] Girindra-dhara drg-vaksor mardi-sustana-parvata
Whose nice, mountain-like breasts are being massaged by the Holder of Govardhana.
93] Govindadhara piyusa vasitadhara-pallava
Whose leaf-like lips are scented by the nectar of Govinda's lips.
94] Sudha-sancaya carukti sitali-krta madhava
Whose beautiful words distribute nectar, cooling Madhava off.
95] Govindodgirna tambula raga rajyat kapolika
Whose cheeks are colored by the pan from Govinda's lips,
96] Krsna sambhoga saphali-krta manmatha sambhava
Who realizes Krsna's fancies of amorous enjoyments.
97] Govinda marjitoddama rati-prasvinna sanmukha
The profuse perspiration from whose face is wiped off by Govinda.
98] Visakha vijita krida-santi nidralu-vigraha
Who is being fanned by Visakha when She falls asleep after playing with Krsna.
99] Govinda-carana-nyasta kaya-manasa jivana
Who has placed Her life, body and mind at Govinda's lotus feet.
100] Svapranarbuda nirmanchya hari pada-rajah kana
Who worships the dust of Hari's lotus feet with billions of hearts.
101] Anumatracyutadarsa sayyamanatma locana
Who curses Her eyes for every second that they do not see Acyuta.
102] Nitya-nutana govinda vaktra-subhramsu-darsana
Who beholds Govinda's ever-fresh moonlike face.
103] Nihsima hari-madhurya saundaryadyeka-bhogini
Who is the only enjoyer of Hari's endless sweetness and beauty.
104] Sapatnya dhama murali-matra bhagya kataksini
Who can only blink at the fortune of Her co-wife, the Murali flute.
105] Gadha buddhi-bala krida jita vamsi-vikarsini
Who takes Krsna's flute after defeating Him in a gambling match.
106] Narmokti candrikotphulla krsna kamabdi-vardhini
Who increases the ocean of Krsna's desires by the full moonbeams of Her joking words.
107] Vraja-candrendriya-grama visrama-vidhu-salika
Who is the moonlike resting place for all the senses of the moon of Vraja (Sri Krsna),
108] krsna sarvendriyonmadi radhetyaksara-yugmaka
The two syllables of Whose name Ra-dha madden all of Krsna's senses.
Yogi Ananda Saraswathi