Why is Radha Worshipped with Krishna Instead of Rukmini?

It is a well-known fact among Hindus that Radha is the lover of Lord Krishna, while Rukmini is his wife. Radha was a gopi or cowherd maiden of Vrindavan. She was a married woman, as well.

Radha was the daughter of Vrishbhanu Gopa and Kirti Devi. Some regard her as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu.

 

Radha was from the village of Repalli, near Vrindavan. She was 5 years older than Krishna.

It is said that Radha loved Krishna from a young age. According to mythology, when they were

kids, Krishna and Radha playfully married each other. But it was only make-believe.

 

Many women loved Krishna, but Radha’s love was so divine and intense that it drew Krishna to her. They didn't marry because Krishna left Vrindavan to accomplish his divine purpose on earth.

 

The love between them has been immortalized in art and poetry. Their story finds mention in Bhagavata Purana, a sacred Hindu text, and their divine love is depicted as Ras Leela. 

 

After Krishna left Vrindavan, Radha’s life changed. Her mother forced her to marry another man called Ayan, and she even had a child by him.

 

Krishna was the avatar of Lord Vishnu. He was born for a divine mission - to restore Dharma and save humanity. His interactions with people on earth, including Radha, were meant to convey a profound truth.

 

Being a symbol of divine love and devotion, the love story of Radha and Krishna transcends a conventional union.

 

Other accounts claim that Krishna allowed Radha to marry Ayan. It was a divine Leela, and the deep spiritual connection they shared was not lost because of the marriage. 

 

Many Hindus believe that Radha and Krishna are identical beings who share one soul. Their love is divine and eternal. 

 

Though Radha is an enigmatic character, she is Krishna’s strength. She has the status of a goddess in Hinduism and is always portrayed alongside Krishna. She is also a central figure in the Vaishnava tradition, which claims that Radha is the original Goddess or Shakti.

 

Radha is always worshipped in the Nimbarka Sampradaya. The founder of this tradition, Nimbarka, declared that together, Radha and Krishna constitute the Absolute Truth.

 

Radha Chalisa says that Radha is the most important Gopi in Raas (sacred dance) with Krishna. She is also called Radhika, Radharani, and Radhe. Her importance is evident in the fact that Krishna’s flute repeats her name. When Krishna brought all his consorts to meet Radha, they declared she was the most beautiful and pure-hearted woman in the universe.

 

Radha’s birthday is celebrated as Radha Ashtami. It falls 15 days after Janmashtami (Krishna’s birthday). Radha’s birthday is on Ashtami day in Bhadrapada (August-September) month.

 

Rukmini is the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. As his consort, she also incarnates along with Vishnu. However, it is Radha who is hailed as the epitome of selfless love and devotion. Her devotion compelled Krishna to play his flute, and drove her to the Raas Leela, forgetting herself and her marital status. This intense love and devotion make Radha divine.

 

It is not as if Rukmini is not worshipped, either. There are many temples where Rukmini is worshipped with Krishna, like Rukmini-Dwarikadhish, so one cannot say that there is a bias toward Radha. The rasa (emotion) involved in each case is different. But both women represent the hladini-shakti (joy-rendering power) of  Krishna.

 

Also, Radha and Rukmini are not different. The Skanda Purana confirms this:

“Rukmini dvaravatyam tu radha vrndavane vane”

 

Meaning: Rukmini is in Dwaraka, and Radha is in the forest of Vrindavan.

 

Rukmini is the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, while Radha is the origin of Lakshmi. She is very dear to Krishna. The Padma Purana says:

“yatha radha priya visnos-tasyah kundam priyam tatha sarva gopisu saivaika visnor-atyanta-vallabha”

 

Meaning: “Just as Radha is dear to Lord Krishna, so her bathing place [Radha-kundah] is dear to Him. She alone is His most beloved of all the Gopis.” 

 

Radha’s Absence in the Vedic Scriptures

Some claim that Radha is not mentioned in the Vedic Scriptures and is a fictitious person. She is not directly mentioned, as the knowledge is confidential. However, there are some direct references, too.

 

Many Vedic scriptures describe Radha, but in Bhagavatam, Shukadeva Goswami conceals her name, nature, and pastimes and refers to her only as ‘kaacit’, meaning “a certain Gopi”. To prove that this Gopi is Radha, Srila Jiva Goswami quotes certain verses from the Agni Purana to prove that the Gopi is Radha.

 

The Brihad-gautamiya-tantra also refers to Radha as Krishna’s main consort:

“devi krsna-mayi prokta radhika para-devata sarva-laksmi-mayi sarva- kantih sammohini para”

 

Meaning: “The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”

 

The Rig-parishishta (supplement to the Rig Veda) has the following verse:

“Radhaya madhavo devo madhavenaiva radhika/ vibhrajante janeshu”

 

Meaning: “Among all persons, it is Radha in whose company Madhava is especially glorious, as she is especially glorious in His.”

 

Although Radha and Krishna are one, to enjoy the rasa or divine sports, Krishna takes 2 different forms by separating himself from his main power. Hence, it is not surprising that Radha is worshipped with Krishna, as they are essentially the same.