Page 5: Our Lord's Beloved Power

"Within the group of Radharani's servitors, we aspire to be rupanugas, followers of Sri Rupa. And the followers of Sri Rupa will have great earnestness to look after the order of Sri Rupa, as he does towards Lalita. In this way, through Rupa Goswami, our devotional service is going to the highest plane. And our highest gain is only there. Not even our connection with Radharani or Lalitadevi is the highest goal of life, but our highest aspiration is to serve in the Rupanuga Sampradaya; that means that our highest attainment is in Sri Rupa's connection.

Radha-dasyam has been said to be the highest attainment. Why? The quality and quantity of rasa that Radharani can draw from Krsna can never be found anywhere else. So if you are situated just behind Radharani, you'll be allowed to taste not only the quantity, but the highest quality of rasa.

No other person can draw such high rasa from Krsna. The fullest, highest type of quality is drawn from Krsna: He gives Himself fully and wholly and deeply. So if you are in Sri Rupa's group, then you can have a taste of that sort of rasa."

~Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Loving Search for the Lost Servant, Chapter Nine

On this Radhastami Day, Srila Guru Maharaj has given us the opportunity to sing the song by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur:

radhika charana padma sakala sreyera sadma
yatane ne nahi aradhila

"I did not take care to worship the lotus feet of Sri Radhika, which are the abode of all auspiciousness." The Rupanuga Sampradaya gives some special, unique appreciation of Srimati Radharani. They feel that without the merciful connection of Srimati Radharani, they cannot approach towards Krishna at all. Only if the order is coming from Her will they move towards Him. They are extremely fanatical about Srimati Radharani, and that is their foremost qualification. In another song Bhaktivinod Thakur says:

radha-bhajane yadi mati nahi bhela
krsna bhajana tava akararane gela

If you have no intention to serve Srimati Radharani, if your intention is only service to Sri Krishna, then you are surely spoiled.

atapa rahita suraya nahi jani
radha-virahita madhava nahi mani

Just as without heat we cannot know the sun, so without Srimati Radharani there is no Krishna; the Powerful is Powerless. Kevala Madhava pujaye so ajnani - who worships Krishna without Radharani, their conception must be imperfect. Who knows the glories of the Power must first worship the Power and then the Powerful. Uma, Rama, Satya, Sachi, Chandra, Rukmini, Radha Avatara sabe amnaya vani - all the auspicious, powerful, divine women, such as Uma, Ramadevi, Laksmi, Satyabhama, Sati, Chandravali, etc., all are the expansions of Srimati Radharani.

hena radha-paricharyya yakara dhana
bhakativinoda tara magaye charana

Thus Bhaktivinod Thakur says in conclusion that who worships the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, he worships their lotus feet.

Srimati Radha Thakurani, ki jaya. May all glory be unto Her, the Power of powers and the Queen of Sri Krishna's heart.

Related Links:

'The Line of Sri Rupa,' Chapter Fifteen of Sri Guru and His Grace, by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

'In this verse, govinda-vallabhe radhe, there is a sudden turn. Krishna says to His devotee, "Oh, do you want an intimate relationship with Me? It is not to be found within My department. You will have to go to another department. Go then to the department of Radhika." Then at once the devotee's thought is transferred towards that side. All his energy is monopolized there. It is Her monopoly. "Your inner quest is not to be found within My department," Krishna says. "You'll have to go elsewhere and file a petition there."

And, with this inspiration, at once the devotee puts his petition to Radharani. Govinda-vallabhe radhe: "O, Sri Radhe, Your master and sustainer is Govinda. He is the Lord of Your heart." Govinda means, "He who can give fulfilment to all our senses.” With our senses we can feel perception as well as knowledge. Govinda is the master who gives fulfilment to all our channels of perception. "Govinda is Your Lord. But just the opposite is also true. You are mistress of the heart of Govinda, the Supreme Master. Is it not? You are queen of the heart of Govinda. I have been directed to come to You with my petition. Please enlist my name in Your department and admit me as a servitor in Your group." '

'Brahma-gayatri – the Ultimate Presentation,' an article by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

'Radha-dasyam, the service of Srimati Radharani is the ultimate meaning to be extracted from the gayatri-mantra. That is the supreme end of our life. It cannot but be so. Srimad Bhagavatam is the ultimate, or full-fledged, theism to be extracted from the Vedas, Upanishads, and so many other scriptures. All the revealed truth rises to its acme, to its highest position, in the conception given by Srimad Bhagavatam. And Srimad Bhagavatam teaches us that that highest realization, self-determination, is to be found in the service of Srimati Radharani, that under Her guidance we may serve Sri Krishna. We must directly put all our energy at Her disposal and devote ourselves to Her service. She actually knows how to serve Krishna. We aspire for a direct connection with Her service.'

'Sweet Service, Service, Service,' Chapter Six of Divine Guidance, by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda-Dev Goswami Maharaj:

'We are of the Rupanuga Sampradaya: we are followers of Rupa Goswami. Actually we do not consider ourselves to be following properly, but we are trying to be followers. The only destination we can see is in the direction of the lotus feet of Radharani. Radharani is so merciful and She can manifest Herself in many ways, so She can also come in front of me - in the form of Gurudev. What She wants to see is our mood of service.'