(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2012, Durban, South Africa)
Excerpts from Radhastami lectures
A divine appearance
As Krsna’s appearance was not an ordinary appearance, in the same way Srimati Radharani’s appearance was also not an ordinary appearance. One day, Maharaja Vrsabhanu was approaching the Yamuna and within the waters of the Yamuna there was one extremely effulgent lotus flower. The effulgence of that lotus flower was so attractive that Maharaja Vrsabhanu felt like taking that lotus flower. So he went into the water of the Yamuna, but then, he saw that in the whorl of that lotus flower, there was the cause of that effulgence. It was not just that lotus flower itself that was so effulgent but it was a little girl, golden in complexion, lying there in that lotus! He forgot all his ideas about taking that lotus and he just picked up that little girl with great joy in his heart and brought her home. In this way, Kirtida conceived a child – somewhat unusual but a divine appearance just like Krsna’s appearance.
Most outstanding
Krsna says in Bhagavad-Gita, ye yatha mam prapadyante tama tathaiva bhajamy aham, ‘As you surrender unto Me, I will reward you accordingly.’ But with the gopis Krsna says, ‘I don’t know what to give them! With them, my promise falls short because I have nothing to give them in exchange for their service.’ If I give you something very valuable, you also have to give back something valuable. So Krsna was thinking, ‘I have nothing in my possession that can match the value of what the gopis are offering. Therefore let your own service stand as your reward and speak of your glory.’In this way, we remember how Krsna is just taken by surprise! He does not know how to deal with these gopis. They show a level of love, which goes beyond what he can comprehend. It bewilders his mind! And of all the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most outstanding!
Most compassionate
If we want some deeper understanding of the aim of life, it is possible by the mercy of Srimati Radharani, who is most compassionate. She is more compassionate than Krsna. We can easily attract that mercy by doing some service. That is the key! We should think about her service. She did everything for Krsna’s pleasure. What are we going to do today for Krsna’s pleasure? Maybe someone will put a lakh in the box! Or ten or more! Maybe someone will really try to do something extraordinary today – maybe one fortunate soul! ‘Out of many thousands of men, hardly one endeavors for perfection. Out of so many, hardly one endeavors for perfection! And out of those who endeavor for perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.’
So this Radhastami is a day of soul searching, a day for us to realize, ‘I have to rise up. It’s time that I make a real sacrifice for Krsna’s pleasure.’ That is the inner meaning of Radhastami.