Cows of Shri Krishna

Nanda Maharaja had 900,000 cows. Visvanatha Cakravarti gives this description of the cows of Vrindavana. Krishna knew every cow by name. If any cow was missing Krishna would immediately chase after the missing cow and call her by name. The cows were divided into herds by color, either black, white, red, or yellow. In each color there were 25 further divisions making a total of 100 herds. There were also eight herds of cows that were spotted or speckled or had heads shaped like a mridanga or that had tilak marks on their foreheads. There was a total of 108 different herds of cows. Each of the 108 herds had a herd leader.

For cows, Krishna sits atop a tree and plays flute to keep a check on the number of 9 hundred thousand cows herding with Him. Before returning home, He calls each and every one of the cow by her name – through the sound of His flute. He calls all of them one by one – Chandrika, Dhavali, Ivali..When He playes flute for Chandrika cow, only Chandrika is able to hear her name through the sound of Krishna’s flute. She gets delighted to hear her name being called by Krishna and comes running towards Him. Then He calls Dhavli, Ivali and every other cow in the same way. Thus no cow is left behind.

"Thus when Krishna calls out, 'Hey Dhavali' (the name of a white cow) a whole group of white cows comes forward, and when Krishna calls 'Hamsi, Candani, Ganga, Mukta' and so on, the twenty-four other groups of white cows come. The reddish cows are called 'Aruni, Kunkuma, Sarasvati, etc., the blackish ones 'Shyamala, Dhumala, Yamuna, etc., and the yellowish ones are Pita, Pingala, Haritaki, etc. (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.35.19 purport)

"As described in the Brahma Samhita (surabhi apbipalayantam), Lord Krishna on His planet, Goloka Vrindavana, engages in tending the surabhi cows. These cows are the Lord's pet animals." (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.8.2 purport)

Seva Kunj of Radhe Krishna

Seva Kunj is the same place where Lord Krishna performed the Rasalila with Radharani and the Gopis. It is believed that even today Radha-Krishna visits here and performs Rasa Lila every night. The temple is strictly closed during night and no one is allowed to visit it.

Seva Kunj is also known as Nikunj Van (a little forest). It has a Mandir for Shree Radha-Krishna which is decorated for them and all necessary items are placed for the night.

This sacred place is known as Seva Kunj because it is believed that Shree Krishna did Seva for Shreemati Radharani here. This painting shows Krishna doing Seva by massaging feet of Radharani.

Krishna Enchanting Radha

This work is recreation of one of the old commercial paintings which webmaster of this website had seen in his childhood. The old painting was available on paper and was published commercially around Braj region. The original painting must have been published commercially about forty to fifty years before. Unfortunately the old painting was lost years back.

This painting is recreation based on memories and the final work is quite different from the original one. The recreation work has been adapted according to miniature style.

This painting shows Krishna enchanting Radha by playing his flute. Krishna is sitting inside a tree and almost hidden behind leaves. Radha, who has come to Panghat, is almost enchanted by divine music of the flute. Radha has dropped pitchers at the bank of the river and has lost in divine music of Krishna's flute.

Nauka Vihar of Radhe Krishna

The scene of Krishna and Radha doing Nauka Vihar at the bank of river Yamuna in the moonlight is imagined and reimagined from ages. This painting shows Krishna playing flute in a boat while full moon is visible in the background.

The overall style is miniature and the side face of both Radha and Krishna adhere to miniature style.

Applying Mahawar

Mahawar, also known as Alta, is a red dye which women apply with cotton on the border of their feet. Here Lord Krishna is doing Radha the honor of applying Mahawar at her feet.

The style is miniature which is evident from lush and verdant green landscape visible in the background. The side face of both Radha and Krishna adhere to miniature style.

Relaxing in Lap of Shri Krishna

Radha relaxing in lap of Krishna while Krishna is admiring her beauty at the bank of river Yamuna has been recreated again and again. This painting is an attempt to recreate it in miniature style.

The Miniature style is evident from lush and verdant green landscape. The side face of both Radha and Krishna adhere to miniature style.

Admiring at Panghat

Krishna teasing Radha at the bank of River Yamuna is part of the most folklore. This painting has tried to capture the moment when Krishna is admiring grace and beauty of Radha at Panghat.

The style is miniature which is evident from lush and verdant green landscape. The side face of both Radha and Krishna adhere to miniature style.

Arranging Tresses

The art of Kangra Paintings was flourished in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The golden period of Kangra paintings was 18th and 19th century between 1750-1850 C.E. Kangra Paintings are categorized under Indian miniature paintings. These paintings are called miniature because those were done on small size papers. Such paintings were done on an average 25x30 cm size paper.

The Gita Govinda (गीत गोविन्द) is 12th century work of poet Jayadeva. It describes the relationship between Krishna and Radha in great detail. The love poems of Gita Govinda are the most popular theme of Kangra paintings. Most Kangra paintings of Radha and Krishna are based on narration of intimate love scenes between Radha and Krishna from Gita Govinda.

This painting is recreation of one of the famous Kangra painting which shows Krishna arranging the tresses of his beloved Radha.

Radhika Gori Se Brij Ki Chori Se

राधिका गोरी से ब्रिज की छोरी से
मैया करादे मेरो ब्याह ……..2
उम्र तेरी छोटी है नजर तेरी खोटी है
कैसे करा दु तेरो ब्याह …….2
जो नही ब्याह करये तेरी गैया नही चरऊ
आज के बाद मेरी मैया तेरी देहाली पर ना आऊ
आयेगा रे मजा रे मजा अब जीत हार का

राधिका गोरी से ब्रिज की छोरी से
मैया करादे मेरो ब्याह ……..2
उम्र तेरी छोटी है नजर तेरी खोटी है
कैसे करा दु तेरो ब्याह …….2

चंदन की   चोव्की पर मैया तुज को बिठाऊँ
अपनी राधा से मै चरण तेरे दबावों
भोजन  मै बनवाऊँगा, बनवाऊँगा  छप्पन  प्रकार के

राधिका गोरी से ब्रिज की छोरी से
मैया करादे मेरो ब्याह ……..2
उम्र तेरी छोटी है नजर तेरी खोटी है
कैसे करा दु तेरो ब्याह …….2

छोटी सी दुल्हनिया जब अँगना में डोलएगी
तेरे सामने मैया वो घूँघट ना खोलेगी
दउ से जा कहो जा कहो बैठेंगे द्वार पे

राधिका गोरी से ब्रिज की छोरी से
मैया करादे मेरो ब्याह ……..2
उम्र तेरी छोटी है नजर तेरी खोटी है
कैसे करा दु तेरो ब्याह …….2

सुन बातें कान्हा की मैया बैठी मुस्कयन
लेके बलिया मैया  हृदय  से अपने लगाये
नजर कहि लग जाएँ ना लग जाएँ न मेरे लाल को

राधिका गोरी से ब्रिज की छोरी से
मैया करादे मेरो ब्याह ……..2
उम्र तेरी छोटी है नजर तेरी खोटी है
कैसे करा दु तेरो  ब्याह…….2

 राधिका गोरी से ब्रिज की छोरी से
मैया करादे मेरो ब्याह ……..2
कान्हा करा दु तेरो ब्याह ……………..4

Mithe Ras Se Bharori

Mithe Ras Se Bharori, Raadha Raani Laage, Raadha Raani Laage
Mane Kaaro Kaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage

Yamunaji To Kaadi Kaadi, Raadha Gori Gori
Vrindavan Mein Dhoom Machave, Barsane Ki Chori
Vraj Dhaam Raadhajuki, Vraj Dhaani Laage, Vraj Dhaani Laage
Mane Pyaaro Pyaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage
Mithe Ras Se Bharori, Raadha Raani Laage, Raadha Raani Laage
Mane Kaaro Kaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage

Kaanha Nit Murali Me Tere, Sumire Baaram Baar
Kotin Roop Dhare Man Mohan, Kahu Na Paave Paar
Roop Rang Ki Chabili, Pata Raani Laage, Pata Raani Laage
Mane Pyaaro Pyaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage
Mithe Ras Se Bharori, Raadha Raani Laage, Raadha Raani Laage
Mane Kaaro Kaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage

Na Bhaave Maney Maakhan Misri, Ab Na Koi Mithai
Maari Jeebhariya Ne Bhaave Ab To Raadha Naama Malai
Vrasha Bhanu Ki Lali To, Guna Dhaani Laage, Guna Dhaani Laage
Mane Pyaaro Pyaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage
Mithe Ras Se Bharori, Raadha Raani Laage, Raadha Raani Laage
Mane Kaaro Kaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage

Raadha Raadha Naam Ratat Hai, Jo Nar Aatho Yaam
Jinki Baadha Dur Karat Hai, Raadha Raadha Naam
Raadha Naam Me Saphal, Zindagaani Laage, Zindagani Laage
Mane Pyaaro Pyaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage
Mithe Ras Se Bharori, Raadha Raani Laage, Raadha Raani Laage
Mane Kaaro Kaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage

Mithe Ras Se Bharori, Raadha Raani Laage, Raadha Raani Laage
Mane Pyaaro Pyaaro, Yamunaji-no Paani Laage

Marriage of Shri Radha Krishna

हम में से बहुत से लोग यही जानते हैं कि राधाजी श्रीकृष्ण की प्रेयसी थीं परन्तु इनका विवाह नहीं हुआ था। श्रीकृष्ण के गुरू गर्गाचार्य जी द्वारा रचित "गर्ग संहिता" में यह वर्णन है कि राधा-कृष्ण का विवाह हुआ था। एक बार नन्द बाबा कृष्ण जी को गोद में लिए हुए गाएं चरा रहे थे। गाएं चराते-चराते वे वन में काफी आगे निकल आए। अचानक बादल गरजने लगे और आंधी चलने लगी। नन्द बाबा ने देखा कि सुन्दर वस्त्र आभूषणों से सजी राधा जी प्रकट हुई। नन्द बाबा ने राधा जी को प्रणाम किया और कहा कि वे जानते हैं कि उनकी गोद मे साक्षात श्रीहरि हैं और उन्हें गर्ग जी ने यह रहस्य बता दिया था। भगवान कृष्ण को राधाजी को सौंप कर नन्द बाबा चले गए। तब भगवान कृष्ण युवा रूप में आ गए। वहां एक विवाह मण्डप बना और विवाह की सारी सामग्री सुसज्जित रूप में वहां थी। भगवान कृष्ण राधाजी के साथ उस मण्डप में सुंदर सिंहासन पर विराजमान हुए। तभी वहां ब्रम्हा जी प्रकट हुए और भगवान कृष्ण का गुणगान करने के बाद कहा कि वे ही उन दोनों का पाणिग्रहण संस्कार संपन्न कराएंगे। ब्रम्हा जी ने वेद मंत्रों के उच्चारण के साथ विवाह कराया और दक्षिणा में भगवान से उनके चरणों की भंक्ति मांगी। विवाह संपन्न कराने के बाद ब्रम्हा जी लौट गए। नवविवाहित युगल ने हंसते खेलते कुछ समय यमुना के तट पर बिताया। अचानक भगवान कृष्ण फिर से शिशु रूप में आ गए। राधाजी का मन तो नहीं भरा था पर वे जानती थीं कि श्री हरि भगवान की लीलाएं अद्भुत हैं। वे शिशु रूपधारी श्री कृष्ण को लेकर माता यशोदा के पास गई और कहा कि रास्ते में नन्द बाबा ने उन्हें बालक कृष्ण को उन्हें देने को कहा था। राधा जी उम्र में श्रीकृष्ण से बडी थीं। यदि राधा-कृष्ण की मिलन स्थली की भौगोलिक पृष्ठभूमि देखें तो नन्द गांव से बरसाना 7 किमी है तथा वह वन जहाँ ये गायें चराने जाते थे नंद गांव और बरसाना के ठीक मघ्य में है। भारतीय वाङग्मय के अघ्ययन से प्रकट होता है कि राधा प्रेम का प्रतीक थीं और कृष्ण और राधा के बीच दैहिक संबंधों की कोई भी अवधारणा शास्त्रों में नहीं है। इसलिए इस प्रेम को Aristocratic Love की श्रेणी में रखते हैं। इसलिए कृष्ण के साथ सदा राधाजी को ही प्रतिष्ठा मिली।

Sri Radha The Incarnation of Love!

The sacred land of Vrindavan hums the exotic and devotional love of Radha and Krishna. The Radhavallabh temple is the oldest and exclusive temple which depicts the superiority and the transcendental love of RadhaKrishna.

It’s believed in Vrindavan if Krishna is divine his soul is Radha. The banks of river Yamuna seems to be depict that love. Devotees around the world wander on these banks in gardens, in temples meet various saints to experience that legend which is unseen by eyes but seen by soul.

No Vedic scripture or epic can define Sri Radha thus we have tried to tell how Vrindavan feels, live and rooted to Sri Radha and Krishna and how two supreme divines are one. Explore Radha who is mysterious in words, magical in beauty, innocent in Lilas and yet reigns the heart of Krishna to whom the trinity bows.

Barsanewali Radha Rani

Radhe Radhe Kahat hee, sab Biyadha mitjay
koti janm kee aapada, shri Radhe kahe se kat jay

Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lordi Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord . 

She is the chief associate and devotee of Lord Krishna, and topmost of all goddesses Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess. She is most always seen with Krishna. She is the most excellent worshiper of Lord Krishna. However, She is also an expansion of the Lord's energy. Since She is also an extension of Krishna, She is the feminine aspect of God.

Radharani has many names according to Her qualities and characteristics :

GKrishnamayi
Govinda-mohini
Govinda-sarvasa
Govinda-anandini
Shiromani Sarva-kanta

Radha Rani is also known as Sarva-kanti , which indicates that all beauty and luster rest in Her body, and all the Lakshmis derive their beauty from Her. Sarva-kanti also means that all the desires of Lord Krishna rest in Srimati Radharani. As Lord Krishna enchants the world with His beauty and charm, Sri Radha enchants Him. 

Therefore She is the Supreme Goddess. 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 nondifferent from the sun, or as the energy is non-different from the energetic or source of energy.

Radhe tu bad bhagini, Kyon tapsya keen
tenn lok taran tarad ,tere hee Adheen

Without Radha Rani there is no meaning to loard Krishna and without Krishna there is no meaning to Radha Rani. Because of this, in the Vaishnava tradition we always pay respects first to the Lord's internal energy in the form of Radha Rani, and then to the Lord Krishna. 

Thus They are referred to as Radha-Krishna, or in other names as Sita-Rama, Lakshmi-Narayana, and so on. 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.

Meeting of Radha and Krishna

This is a story about Krishna and Radha. It was a moonlit night and Lord Krishna was playing on his flute most hauntingly. Radha and the other gopis were all listening. They were admiring the music of Krishna;s flute and drinking in his celestial beauty. They were in the seventh Heaven of delight.rahda_krishna

After some time, Krishna stopped playing and said, “I have transported you all to a world of purest delight. Now that you are all filled with happiness, I am going to take a walk in the forest.” Krishna saw that Radha wanted to accompany him and he said to her, “You may come.” The other gopis did not dare to join them. They had the utmost respect for Radha.

So Krishna and Radha walked and walked until they came to a particular place in the forest. Krishna turned to Radha and said, “Radha, I am in the mood to tell some stories. Would you care to listen to my stories?”

“Of course, my Lord!” exclaimed Radha. “Please tell me some stories. I am eager to hear them.”
Krishna said, “Anything that comes into my mind, I will tell.” Krishna was all ready to tell Radha some stories when, all of a sudden, a strange looking man appeared. His body was bent in eight different places. His legs were crooked, his arms were crooked; everything was unnatural. This man was known as Astabakra asta means eight, and Astabakra means crooked in eight places.
As soon as Radha saw this unfortunate human being, for some reason she began laughing and laughing.
“How can you laugh at this poor man?” asked Krishna.
“His body is bent in eight different places! I cannot refrain from laughing at such an odd spectacle,” answered Radha. Krishna scolded her: “It is not kind to laugh at others. You should not behave in this way.” But Radha kept laughing and laughing.

Astabakra had thought that Radha would be full of compassion for him because she was Krishna’s dearest disciple. He simply could not understand why she was laughing at him so heartlessly. He was standing before her with tremendous devotion and love, but her laughter was hurting him deeply.
Krishna said to Radha, “If I tell you about Astabakra, will you stop laughing at him?”

“Of course, my Lord,” came Radha’s reply.

“Then stop laughing and listen to his unhappy story.” As Krishna began to relate the story, Astabakra bowed to Krishna and Radha and silently left their presence.

This is the story that Krishna told. Astabakra was formerly a high-class Brahmin. He was married and he spent quite a few years with his wife. Then, for God knows what reason, he became disgusted with his wife. He took a vow, saying, “From now on I shall never, never mix with any woman! All women are so bad. Here is the absolute proof. My wife has proved that women are unbearable. I will have no connection, no association, with any woman whatsoever in God’s entire creation. I shall not even look at a woman.”

This was the strict vow that the Brahmin took after his sad experience with his wife. At that time his body was not crooked at all. In appearance he was very strong and handsome.
O God! A nymph in the palace of Lord Indra noticed this Brahmin and fell in love with him. The name of this nymph, or apsara, was Rambha. She was extremely beautiful. She came to the Brahmin and said to him, “I am in love with you. I want to marry you.”

The Brahmin became furious. He said, “I have taken a vow that I shall never marry again. My first wife was enough for me. She was the first and the last!”

Rambha began pleading with him. She said, “You have to marry me, since I have declared my love for you.”

“Never!” insisted the Brahmin. “I will not mix with any woman in this life.”

When Rambha saw that the Brahmin would not change his mind, she became very angry and upset. “You have such a foul tongue! How dare you talk to me like this! I am a dancer in the palace of Lord Indra himself. I curse you for refusing my love. Your body will become crooked in eight different places. You will be so ugly that no woman will ever want to look at you again.”

After cursing the Brahmin, Rambha vanished. The poor Brahmin! His body immediately be came twisted and bent. Each of his limbs went in a different direction. He could move only with the greatest difficulty.

In despair, the Brahmin said, “What is the use of keeping this life? Rambha has cursed me and this is what has happened. Why should I remain on earth any longer? I will immolate this body of mine.”
Suddenly, Lord Vishnu appeared before him and said, “It is not good to kill yourself. Pray and pray and pray. After some time, I will come to you again and you will be cured. Then you will be happy on earth with your physical body as before. You say that you do not want to look at women. No harm! You will be able to keep your vow. Now start praying and I will soon appear before you.”

The Brahmin listened to Lord Vishnu and began praying most sincerely.
“When will Lord Vishnu come and cure the Brahmin?” asked Radha when Krishna had reached this point in his story.

Krishna smiled sweetly. “Vishnu has already come,” he said, and began walking home. Krishna was an emanation of Lord Vishnu. They were and they are one and the same. So this was how Krishna cured Astabakra.

Radhe Radhe

Birth of Lord Krishna

Mother Earth, unable to bear the burden of sins committed by evil kings and rulers, appealed to Brahma, the Creator for help. Brahma prayed to the Supreme Lord Vishnu, who assured him that he would soon be born on earth to annihilate tyrannical forces.

One such evil force was Kamsa, the ruler of Mathura (in northern India) and his people were utterly terrified of him. On the day Kamsa's sister Devaki was married off to Vasudeva, an akashvani or voice from the sky was heard prophesying that Devaki's 8th son would be the destroyer of Kamsa. The frightened Kamsa immediately unsheathed his sword to kill his sister but Vasudeva intervened and implored Kamsa to spare his bride, and promised to hand over every new born child to him. Kamsa relented but imprisoned both Devaki and her husband Vasudeva.

When Devaki gave birth to her first child, Kamsa came to the prison cell and slaughtered the newborn. In this way, he killed the first six sons of Devaki. Even before her 8th child was born, Devaki and Vasudeva started lamenting its fate and theirs. Then suddenly Lord Vishnu appeared before them and said he himself was coming to rescue them and the people of Mathura. He asked Vasudeva to carry him to the house of his friend, the cowherd chief Nanda in Gokula right after his birth, where Nanda's wife Yashoda had given birth to a daughter.

He was to exchange his boy and bring Yashoda's baby daughter back to the prison. Vishnu assured them that "nothing shall bar your path".

At midnight on ashtami, the divine baby was born in Kamsa's prison. Remembering the divine instructions, Vasudeva clasped the child to his bosom and started for Gokula, but found that his legs were in chains. He jerked his legs and was unfettered! The massive iron-barred doors unlocked and opened up.
While crossing river Yamuna, Vasudeva held his baby high over his head. The rain fell in torrents and the river was in spate. But the water made way for Vasudeva and miraculously a five-mouthed snake followed him from behind and provided shelter over the baby.

When Vasudeva reached Gokula, he found the door of Nanda's house open. He exchanged the babies and hurried back to the prison of Kamsa with the baby girl. Early in the morning, all the people at Gokula rejoiced the birth of Nanda's beautiful male child. Vasudeva came back to Mathura and as he entered, the doors of the prison closed themselves.

When Kamsa came to know about the birth, he rushed inside the prison and tried to kill the baby. But this time it skipped from his hand and reaching the sky. She was transformed into the goddess Yogamaya, who told Kamsa: "O foolish! What will you get by killing me? Your nemesis is already born somewhere else."

About Shri Krishna

Shri Krishna, "the all-attractive one," means the original, unique Supreme Person, the source of all that exists. God has many names, and each describes a different aspect of His personality. Allah, Vishnu, Jehovah, and God refer to His roles as creator, maintainer of the universe, and Lord of all. The name Krishna suggests the most charming and beautiful qualities of the Supreme Person, as He is, and as He appears to His most dear devotees.