Category: Radha Krishna

The eight principal Gopis of Vrindavan are Lalita, Visakha, Citra, Champakalata, Tungavidya, Indulekha, Rangadevi and Sudevi. They are also known as ‘Ashta sakhi’ or ‘Parama Prestha Sakhis’ as they are the dearmost friends of Sri Radha. These most exalted Gopis of Vrindavan are celebrated as the most intimate associates of Sri Radha-Krishna and they are always engaged in assisting the divine couple manifest their loving pastimes. The love these Gopis hold for Sri Radha and Krishna is unique and unmatched. They are endowed with beautiful forms, transcendental qualities, and sweet features. A brief sketch of their families, moods, and the services they render is presented below.

#1 Lalita

Among the eight Gopis of Vrindavan, Sri Lalita devi is the chief. She is twenty-seven days older than Sri Radha. Another of her names is ‘Anuradha’. Her body possesses a yellowish tone resembling that of cow’s urine and her attire mirrors the hue of a peacock feather. Visoka is her father and Sarada is her mother. She is endowed with the quality of harshness which adds a special flavor to her relationship with Krishna. Bhairava, her husband, also a friend of the cowherd boy Govardhana.

There are countless cowherd boys of Vrindavan who are greatly attached to Krishna and assist in His pastimes in various ways. Some of them are fond of joking, some are always eager to give their counsel, some are very talkative and engage in arguments with Krishna, some of them are very gentle and give pleasure to Krishna by their sweet words. etc. All of these friends are very intimate with Krishna, and they exhibit expertise in their different activities, their purpose always being to please Krishna. Among the contemporaries of Sri Krishna, Sri Baladeva is the foremost. He is the elder brother of Krishna and is the killer of the demon Pralamba. Krishna’s friends can be grouped into four categories depending upon the closeness of their relationship with Krishna. They are described as below :

Srila Rupa Goswami had recorded the names of Krishna’s articles, accessories, and ornaments in his book Sri Radha Krishna Ganoddesa Dipika. Below is the brief summary of his presentation.

Names of Krishna’s Articles and Accessories

#1 The name of Krishna’s mirror is Saradindu

#2 Krishna’s camara is called Madhu-maruta. It always produces fresh air during the spring season.

#3 Krishna’s favorite lotus flower is named Sadasmera

#4 Krishna’s toy ball is named Citrakoraka

#5 Krishna’s golden bow is named Vilasakarmmana

Lord Krishna – the all attractive

#1 The nectarean bodily luster of Krishna is as smooth as an ointment.

#2 His bodily hue resembles the tone of a blue sapphire or a blue lotus flower.

#3 His form is as enchanting as a young fresh Tamala tree or a dense cloud.

#4 He beams as brightly as an emerald.

#5 Lord Krishna is dressed in yellow garments. His body is decorated with garlands of forest flowers and jewelled ornaments. He is the source of all kinds of ecstatic pastimes.

#6 His long curly hair is fragrant with various sweet aromas. His crown is adorned with different kinds of flower garlands.

The cowherd girls of Vrindavan, the companions of Sri Radha (Astha Sakhi – eight principal cowherd girls) and Krishna are commonly referred to as the Gopis of Vrindavan. According to authorities, these gopis can be broadly divided into three groups – Samaja, Mandala, and Gana. Samaja can be further subdivided into two – Varistha and Vara. These most exalted Gopis of Vrindavan are celebrated as the most intimate associates of Sri Radha-Krishna and they are always engaged in assisting the divine couple manifest their loving pastimes. The love that these Gopis hold for Sri Radha and Krishna is unique and unmatched. They are endowed with beautiful forms, transcendental qualities, and sweet features.

Among all the gopis of Vrindavan, Sri Radha and Chandravali are the topmost. They are leaders of other gopis and their groups in turn comprise millions of other gopis. Between these two, Sri Radha is considered to be the more exalted. She is the ultimate source of all the transcendental qualities. Radha is the most loveable object of Sri Krishna. The eight principal gopis of Vrindavan (as described below) are all expansions of Sri Radha, who is the queen of Vrindavan.

Radhika Charana Renu – The dust of Srimati Radharani’s lotus feet
(Sri Prema Bhakti Chandrika)
– by Narottam das Thakur

Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the Supreme enjoyer and the master of all. He is ‘Isvara’ and the cause of all causes (sarva karana karanam). Srimati Radha rani is the manifestation of His Hladini shakti (internal potency). Sri Radhika is the most excellent of all His devotees and the most confidential servant of the Supreme Lord. Though Krishna is the supreme enjoyer, Radha rani experiences a greater degree of ecstasy by serving Sri Krishna. This is something that puzzles even the Supreme Lord and He hankers to experience Her ecstasy first hand, to properly appreciate Srimati Radharani’s position. Hence taking up the mood (bhava) and the golden bodily complexion (kanti) of Srimati Radha rani, Sri Krishna descended as Lord Chaitanya in the age of Kali. Sri Chaitanya’s heart was an image of Srimati Radhika’s emotions – greatly turbulent with the feelings of union (sambhoga) and separation (vipralambha) from Krishna. Hence, it is stated that there is no difference between Lord Chaitanya and the unification of Radha and Krishna (Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Radha Krishna Nahe anya). Sri Radhika loves and worships Krishna as a simple cowherd boy of Vrindavana. Her love does not recognize Her beloved as the mighty king of the Yadus or the majestic Supreme Personality of Godhead. She is maddened by Krishna’s sweetness (madhurya) and is willing to sacrifice anything, even Her existence, to please Her beloved. Her love for Krishna defies the boundaries of conventional logic, the frontiers of sacrifice, and the abysses of emotional turbulence.