RADHA

 (  A Dialogue  )

SABITA SAHU :  Who is Radha?  How did she come about?  We don’t meet her in the Mahabharat-

PRAFULLA MOHANTY  :  Who is Radha is a very difficult question, cannot be answered at least to my satisfaction in a few words. In Vyasa’s Mahabharat there is no Radha. In the Srimadbhagabatam too there is no Radha. Perhaps Jayadev’s Gitagobindoa is the first text which introduces Radha as a consort to Krishna-

S.S  :      Jayadev’s Gitagobinda belongs to the 12^th century’ CE, What was the need for the 

creation of Radha?

P.K.M  :  When the Purusha and Prakriti of the Samkhya system became acceptable the sages thought of a kind of cosmic energy which functions as the Prime Mover of the Purusha. Vaishnavism too had its impact. Radha is Prakriti or Yogamaya, the power of illusion that moves the visible universe. This energy is known as Devi or even as the mother of the entire reality. Radha means one who holds the universe. She is the Allhadini shakti, the joyous energy that spurs the creativity of Krishna-

S.S  :  But Radha is normally understood as a lover. In the Riti tradition of poetry in the seventheenth and eighteenth century, mostly Radha is shown as a love Goddess.

P.K.M  :  Yes, Rupa Goswami and the Brahma- Vaivarta purana as well as the Sur Sagar of SurDas made Radha both a universal mother and a human lover. In the Riti school of poetry, after chhayavad, Radha became a human lover, a Nayika. But credit must be given to Jayadev for having introduced Radha as the consort to Krishna both divine and human.  The Riti poets, however, played with Radha as a beautiful woman in love with Krishna both as woman and goddess.

S.S  :  What about the Radha of Rasa Lila, Radha Prem Lila celebrated by the common people?

P.K.M :  At the popular level the emphasis is on sexuality and carnal beauty. The dance and drama forms made Radha a sexciting Nayika .

S.S  :  Why then should we call her as the greatest lover?

P.K.M :  Because she loved Krishna with body, mind and soul. Radha combines love, devotion and creativity at a cosmic level.

S.S  :  Why then are we celebrating St. Valentine and not Radha? She should have been the ideal lover for the Indians.

P.K.M  :  Yes, I couldn’t agree more. As long as you think that the western myths are superior you will never celebrate your own myths.

S.S  :  Let’s start a movement then—

P.K.M  :  Don’t try, Let Radha be what she is in our historical memory.

S.S  :  (Smiling ) I feel like championing a Radha movement – well only in our blog. Thank you.