Happy Rādhāṣṭamī Greeting!

Today is a very special day – Rādhāṣṭamī – the appearance of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Who is most dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa. He is more beautiful than a thousand cupids. Everyone looks after Him, but He looks after Rādhārāṇī. He gets happiness to see Her beauty. Kṛṣṇa to expand His pastimes He made Himself into two. And His pleasure potency or Ahlādinī śakti is Rādhārāṇī. She is the embodiment of mahā-bhāva. She is able to attract the mind of the all attractive Kṛṣṇa.

And observing appearance day has so many mahatmyas that it will take hour to just to scratch the surface. A sincere and serious observance of Rādhāṣṭamī is more than observing hundred thousand ekādaśīs; is more than bathing in all the holy rivers; is more than donating mount Meru of gold; and so on and so forth. There are so many glories.

One devotee she was travelling around the world. She wasn’t necessarily very strict. She happened to go to the temple. So all the ladies they were making garlands and things. She said, “What is the festival happening?”

“You don’t know? Tomorrow is Rādhāṣṭamī! Come and help us to observe the Rādhāṣṭamī.” So, in this way she stayed for Rādhāṣṭamī and participated in the sevā; watch the abhiṣekam. It is said that she and so many of her descendant and predecessor were freed from all the sin. She went back to the spiritual world. One shouldn’t, of course think that if I observe Rādhāṣṭamī, then I don’t have to do anything else. We do everything. But Radhastmi is one of those special mercy day. Rādhārāṇī is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, observing Her appearance day gets Kṛṣṇa’s special mercy.

Thank you for observing Rādhāṣṭamī. May you have a very happy Rādhāṣṭamī! Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Your Well-wisher Always,
Jayapatākā Swami

A few lectures from enlightenment and inspiration series :
http://jpsarchives.net/record/radhastami-boston-usa-341
http://jpsarchives.net/record/19810907-srimad-bhagavatam11110-sri-radhastami-london-literal-version-416
http://jpsarchives.net/record/caitanya-caritamrita-adi-lila-7-18-19-radhastami-wiesbaden-germany-1067
http://jpsarchives.net/record/glories-srimati-radharani-747