Editing Radha (section)

{{Short description|Hindu goddess of love and chief consort of the god Krishna}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox deity <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hinduism-->
| type = Hindu
| name = Radha
| other_names = <!--Only add significant names--> Madhavi, Keshavi, Shreeji, Shyama, Kishori, Radharani
| deity_of = [[Prakṛti|Mūlaprakriti]] - Primordial goddess<ref name="Diana Dimitrova 2018">{{cite book|title=Divinizing in South Asian Traditions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4HHbtAEACAAJ |author=Diana Dimitrova|publisher=Routledge |year=2018|isbn=978-0-8153-5781-0|quote=Radha is mentioned as the personification of the Mūlaprakriti, the 'Root nature, that original seed from which all material forms evolved}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Vemsani|2016|p=222}}: "The Devibhagvata purana and Padma purana describe Radha's cosmological role as Prakriti and Shakti"</ref> <br /> Mother Goddess<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Goddesses |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgTOZEyrVtIC |author=David R. Kinsley|publisher=Motilala Banarsidass |year=1986|pages=91|isbn=978-81-208-0394-7 |quote= "Radha is called mother of the world and Krishna father of the world"}}</ref><br /> Hladini shakti ("blissful energy")<ref>{{cite book|author=Wendy Doniger|title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440|url-access=registration|year=1999|publisher=Merriam-Webster|isbn=978-0-87779-044-0|page=900}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title= Mask and Creative Symbolisation in Contemporary Oriya Literature: Krishna, Radha and Ahalya|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23341400|author=Prafulla Kumar Mohanty|journal=Indian Literature |year=2003|volume=2 |issue=214 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi|pages=182|jstor=23341400 |quote=Radha is the power of joy, the Hladini shakti of Krishna}}</ref><br />
Goddess of Love, Compassion and Devotion<ref>{{cite book|title=Alternative Krishnas: Regional and Vernacular Variations on a Hindu Deity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0SJ73GHSCF8C&pg=PA65 |author=Guy Beck|publisher=SUNY Press|year=2005|pages=64–81|isbn=978-0-7914-6415-1 |quote=Radha is goddess of love to Krishna}}</ref><br>Supreme Goddess in [[Krishnaism]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Krishna: A Sourcebook|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=HVDqCkW1WpUC|author=Edwin Francis Bryant|publisher=SUNY Press|year=2007|pages=443| isbn=978-0-19-803400-1 |quote=Significant manifestation of the feminine in Vaishnavism...the supreme goddess Radha, the favorite ''gopi'' of Krishna}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title= Religion in India|url=https://academic.oup.com/jaar/article-abstract/XLIV/2/366-a/680648?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false |author= Roy C Amore|journal= Journal of the American Academy of Religion|year=1976|volume= 14|issue= 2|page= 366|quote=Radha as Prakriti comes to supreme prominence, assuming epithets of transcendence - Brahmasvarupa, Nirguna... }}</ref>
| image = Radharani 10.JPG
| caption = Idol of Radha at [[ISKCON Temple, Pune]]
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Rādhā
| Devanagari = राधा
| affiliation = {{bulleted list|[[Radha Krishna]]|[[Devi]]|Hladini [[shakti]] of [[Krishna]]|[[Avatar]] of [[Lakshmi]]}}
| abode = {{hlist|[[Goloka]]|[[Vrindavan]]|[[Barsana]]|[[Vaikuntha]]}}
| texts = [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]], [[Naradiya Purana]], [[Padma Purana]], [[Skanda Purana]], [[Shiva Purana]], [[Gita Govinda]], [[Gopala Tapani Upanishad]], [[Garga Samhita (Vaishnavite text)|Garga Samhita]], [[Brahma Samhita]], [[Chaitanya Charitamrita]]
| birth_place = 
| parents = {{ubl|[[Vrishabhanu]] (father)|Kirtida (mother){{sfn|Menzies|2006|p=54}}}}
| symbol = Golden Lotus
| consort = [[Krishna]]
| festivals = {{hlist|[[Radhashtami]]|[[Holi]]|[[Sharad Purnima]]|[[Kartik Purnima]]|[[Gopashtami]]|[[Lathmar Holi]]|[[Jhulan Purnima]]}}
| mantra = {{bulleted list|''Om hreem Radhikaye namah''|'' Om Radhaye svaha''|'' Om hreem shreem Radhikaye svaha''}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Brahma Vaivarta Purana|url=https://archive.org/details/brahma-vaivarta-purana-gitapress-hindi/page/n305/mode/1up|author= Ved Vyaas|publisher=Gita Press, Gorakhpur|pages=297}}</ref>
| gender = Female
| dynasty = [[Yadu dynasty|Yaduvamsha]]-[[Chandravamsha]]
| member_of = [[Prakṛti|Panch Prakriti]]<ref>{{cite journal|title= The Purāṇas (A History of Indian Literature|url= https://www.academia.edu/26399308|author= Ludo Rocher|journal= Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies|year=1988|volume= 51|issue= 2|page= 355}}</ref>
| venerated_in = [[Radha Vallabh Sampradaya]], [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]], [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]], [[Pushtimarg]], [[Mahanam Sampradaya]], [[Manipuri Vaishnavism]], [[Swaminarayan Sampradaya]], [[Vaishnava-Sahajiya]], Haridasi Sampradaya{{sfn|Vemsani|2016|pp=222–223}}
| avatar_birth = Raval, [[Barsana]] (present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]])
| day = [[Friday]]
}}
{{Hinduism}}
{{Vaishnavism}}

'''Radha''' ({{langx|sa|राधा}}, {{IAST3|Rādhā}}), also called '''Radhika''', is a [[Hindu goddess]] and the chief consort of the god [[Krishna]]. She is the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and  devotion. In scriptures, Radha is mentioned as the [[avatar]] of [[Lakshmi]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Naamleela Free |date=2015 |title=From Gods To Gamers: The Manifestation of the Avatar Throughout Religious History and Postmodern Culture |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4mn5k202 |journal=Berkeley Undergraduate Journal |language=en |volume=28 |issue=2 |page=8 |doi=10.5070/B3282028582|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gokhale |first1=Namita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KWJ7DwAAQBAJ&dq=Finding+Radha%3A+The+Quest+for+Love&pg=PT8 |title=Finding Radha: The Quest for Love |last2=Lal |first2=Malashri |date=2018-12-10 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-361-1 |language=en |quote=Like Sita, Radha is also a manifestation of Lakshmi.}}</ref> and also as the [[Prakṛti|Mūlaprakriti]], the Supreme goddess, who is the feminine counterpart and internal potency (''hladini [[shakti]]'') of Krishna.<ref name="Diana Dimitrova 2018"/><ref name=":4"/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bryant |first=Edwin Francis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CIDawAEACAAJ |title=Krishna: A Sourcebook |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-514892-3 |pages=551 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kar |first=Nishamani |date=2001 |title=Sriradha: A Study |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23344745 |journal=Indian Literature |volume=45 |issue=2 (202) |pages=184–192 |jstor=23344745 |issn=0019-5804}}</ref><ref name=":5"/> Radha accompanies Krishna in all his incarnations.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vyasadeva |url=https://archive.org/details/NaradaPancaratraPart2/Narada%20Pancaratra%20part%202/page/n446/mode/1up |title=Narada Pancaratra Part 2 |date=2015-06-18 |pages=448 |quote=Whenever Sri Hari appears in this world, Sri Radhika appears with him}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Farquhar |first=J. N. |date=1926 |title=The Narada Pancharatra |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25221011 |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |issue=3 |pages=492–495 |jstor=25221011 |issn=0035-869X}}</ref> Radha's birthday is celebrated every year on the occasion of [[Radhashtami]].{{sfn|Vemsani|2016|p=223}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mohanty |first=Prafulla Kumar |date=2003 |title=Mask and Creative Symbolisation in Contemporary Oriya Literature: Krishna, Radha and Ahalya |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23341400 |journal=Indian Literature |volume=47 |issue=2 (214) |pages=181–189 |jstor=23341400 |issn=0019-5804}}</ref>

In relation with Krishna, Radha has dual representation—the lover consort as well as his married consort. Traditions like [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]] worship Radha as the eternal consort and wedded wife of Krishna.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Farquhar |first=J. N. |date=1926 |title=The Narada Pancharatra |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |issue=3 |pages=492–495 |issn=0035-869X |jstor=25221011}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Sunil Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SyyNIL7Ug2kC&q=chaitanya+c&pg=PA14 |title=Krishna-cult in Indian Art |date=1996 |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=978-81-7533-001-6 |pages=13 |language=en |quote=Radha is the eternal consort and wedded wife of Krishna, who lives forever with him in Goloka.}}</ref>{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=542}}{{sfn|Jones|Ryan|2007|p=341|loc=Radha}} In contrast, traditions like [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]] revere her as Krishna's lover and the divine consort.<ref name="britannica2">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Radha |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] Online |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Radha-Hindu-mythology |access-date=2020-12-13}}</ref>{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=542}} 

In [[Radha Vallabha Sampradaya]] and Haridasi Sampradaya, only Radha is worshipped as the [[Brahman|Supreme being]].{{sfnm|1a1=White|1y=1977|1p=|2a1=Snell|2y=1991|2loc=chapter1|3a1=Rosenstein|3y=1998|3p= |4a1=Beck|4y=2005|4p=|Vemsani|2016|5p=222}} Elsewhere, she is venerated with Krishna as his principal consort in Nimbarka Sampradaya, [[Pushtimarg]], [[Mahanam Sampradaya]], [[Swaminarayan Sampradaya]], [[Vaishnava-Sahajiya]], [[Manipuri Vaishnavism]], and Gaudiya Vaishnavism movements linked to [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]].{{sfnm|1a1=Hawley|1a2=Wulff|1y=1982|1pp=xiii–xviii|Dalal|2010|2pp=321–322|Hayes|2005|3pp=19–32|Vemsani|2016|4p=221}}

Radha is described as the chief of ''[[Braj]] [[Gopi]]s'' (milkmaids of Braj) and queen of [[Goloka]] and Braj including [[Vrindavan]] and [[Barsana]].{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=542}} She has inspired numerous literary works,   and her [[Raslila]] dance with Krishna has inspired many types of performance arts.{{sfn|Archer|2004}}{{sfn|Hawley|Wulff|1982|pp=xiii–xviii}}<ref name="britannica2"/>{{sfn|Pintchman|2005|pp=46–47}}