Editing Radha (section)

==== Birth and early life ====
[[File:Bal Radha.jpg|thumb|A statue of Radha as a child in Raval temple.]]

Radha was born to [[Vrishabhanu|Vrishbhanu]], who was the [[Yadava]] ruler of [[Barsana]] and his wife Kirtida.<ref name="Saraswati2001">{{cite book|author=Prakashanand Saraswati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IhLN2I9yTTkC&q=vrishbhanu%20barsana&pg=PA666|title=The True History and the Religion of India: A Concise Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduism|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|year=2001|isbn=978-81-208-1789-0|pages=666–}}</ref><ref name="Varma2009">{{cite book|author=Pavan K. Varma|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_anlsbp56aoC&pg=PA46|title=The Book of Krishna|date=July 2009|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-306763-4|pages=46–}}</ref><ref name="Vishwananda2017">{{cite book|author=Paramahamsa Sri Swami Vishwananda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJ3JDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1472|title=Shreemad Bhagavad Gita: The Song of Love|date=12 January 2017|publisher=Bhakti Marga Publications|isbn=978-3-940381-70-5|pages=1472–}}</ref> Her birthplace is Raval which is a small town near [[Gokul]] in [[Uttar Pradesh|Uttar pradesh]], but is often said to be [[Barsana]] where she grew up.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anand |first=D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EsvSwdUgQYcC |title=Krishna: The Living God of Braj |date=1992 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-280-2 |pages=66 |language=en}}</ref> According to popular legend, Radha was discovered by Vrishbhanu on an effulgent lotus floating in [[Yamuna]] river. Radha was nine months older than Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anand |first=D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EsvSwdUgQYcC&q=radha&pg=PA61 |title=Krishna: The Living God of Braj |date=1992 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-280-2 |pages=35–36 |language=en |quote=Radha was only nine months elder to Krishna, to whom she was married.}}</ref> She didn't open her eyes until Krishna himself in his child form appeared in front of her.<ref name="Dash">{{cite book|author=Trilochan Dash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YjhTtkcwE0C&q=Brushabhanu%20Yadav%20chieftain&pg=PA192|title=Krishna Leeela in Brajamandal a Retrospect|publisher=Soudamini Dash|pages=192–|id=GGKEY:N5C1YTUK5T3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NbDWAAAAMAAJ&q=vrishabhanu+yadava|title=The Vedanta Kesari|publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math.|year=1970}}</ref><ref name="Das1990">{{cite book|author=R. K. Das|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OXXXAAAAMAAJ&q=vrishabhanu+yadav|title=Temples of Vrindaban|publisher=Sandeep Prakashan|year=1990|isbn=978-81-85067-47-6}}</ref>

"[[Ashtasakhi]]s" (translated to eight friends) are the integral part of Radha's childhood and youth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=gaudiya |date=2021-08-07 |title=Ashta Sakhi of Radha—8 Principal Gopis of Vrindavan |url=https://thegaudiyatreasuresofbengal.com/2021/08/07/ashta-sakhi-of-sri-radha-eight-gopis-of-vrindavan/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal |language=en-US}}</ref> It is believed that all the ''Ashtasakhis''  are the intimate friends of Radha Krishna and also have descended from [[Goloka]] in [[Braj]] region. Out of all the eight sakhis, [[Lalita (gopi)|Lalita]] and Vishakha are the prominent ones.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radhe.net {{!}} General Description of All The Gopis|url=http://radhe.net/radhas-friends/general-description.php|access-date=2021-05-30|website=radhe.net}}</ref> According to [[Chaitanya Charitamrita]]'s Antya lila (2:6:116), Radha also received a boon from sage [[Durvasa]] in her childhood that whatever she cooks would be better than the nectar.<ref>{{Cite web|title=gp-durvasas|url=https://www.salagram.net/gp-durvasas.htm|access-date=2021-05-30|website=www.salagram.net}}</ref>