Advice on Radha

[Guest guest]

Jai Shri Krishna

 

Dear Bhagavathas, the topic Radha has come up before in these

discussions certainly the old Ramanuja discussion pasges have a lot

of debate on this issue.  I dont won't to start up unnecassary

debate on this topic, but reading these old posts i was left rather

confused on the standpoint Srivaishnavas give to Radha.  The reason

i ask this questions is that growing up in a Gujarati family Radha-

Krishna worship is very popular, Rukmini-Satyabhama sameeta Krishna

is less.  So in temples, home shrine, bhajans etc.. it is difficult

to avoid the issue of Radha, who is not hardley mentioned in

Vishistadvaita works.  From trawling through the old posts it

becomes clear that

 

1) The statvika Puranas do not mention Radha fully.  I have heard

that Padma Purana mentions her name.  It is only the Rajasika,

tamasika and Upa Puranas (Brahmavaivarta, Devibhagavatam etc..) 

that go into detail on Radha and these should not be taken as

authority. 

 

2)  The Gaudiya, Nimbarka and othe sampradaya beliefs in the status

of Radha as supreme shakthi thus cannot be taken by Srivaishnavas as

suhc beliefs are based on these non-statvika puranas.

 

3)  Some have argued that radha is a ficticious character.  But

Bhagavatham does mentions a gopi who Krishna was most fond of (even

though her name is left undisclosed)..And Swami Desika is said to

have mentioned Radha in the Yaadhavabhudhyam...

 

4)  However It is unclear whether Radha is to be regarded as Amsa of

Sri or if we regard her as Jiva..

 

I know this topic has been argued time and time over, but i need

adivce on my religious practices.  So before accepting Ramanuja

philosophy i have images of Radha-Krishna which i see as Lakshmi

Narayana, but if Radha is not Sri how do i worship these forms of

Krishna... Likewise some of my favourite Bhajans are on radha-

krishna yugala such as Govinda Jai Jai..Radha Raman Hari etc....do i

stop singing these bhajans or if i do continue how shall i hold the

name of Radha in them (sri amsa or Jiva)?????????

 

Thanks for your time