Meaning of Raadha

12/21/08

I happened to read an article by His Holiness Kane Maharaj of Puna and he explained the meaning of Radha in a very nice way. 

Water flows from higher to lower level and in Sanskrit, it is called Dhaara. When we reverse the letters of Dhaara written in Sanskrit or Malayalam or in several other Indiam languages,  we get Raadha. 

That stream which flows from lower level to higher level is called "raadhagathi". Radha Rani's love flows from a lower level to the highest level or Krishna level and merges with Him. Since her love or devotion is flowing upwards, she is called Radha. 

All devotees whose devotion flow upward towards Krishna and join Krishna become Radha. Bhaktha Meerabai and Aandal became Radha. All devotees are following the Radhaagathi or path of devotion and will become Raadha and join Krishna, in this life or in several lives.

Sreekrishnaarpanamasthu.

Two addendums that throw more light on this

1.

Dear All,
In fact it is how the locals at Gokulam (in U .P) address each other and visitor-devotees,
Radhey,Radhey,Whether men or women.The only Purusha is Krishna and all othres are Radheys.
Hi Radhey! Jai Sri Krishna!

Viswanathan

2.

Hari Om Savitriji, Pranaams!

Very nice indeed. 

Commenting on mantra II.1.1 kashcit dhIraH .. (A rare discriminating 
man, desiring immortality, turns his eyes away(from worldly objects) 
and sees the Self) Shri Shankaracharyaji uses the same term to denote 
the effort required as nadi-prati-srotavat meaning like reversing the 
current of a river. 

Foreseeing the possiblity of stream(of water) not being continuous 
and steady(dhAra)at all times, Bhagavan Ramana refines dhArA as 
AjyadhAraya srotasA.. meaning flowing like stream of ghee,water in 
Upadesha Sara verse 7 to denote uninterupted contemplation on the 
Lord. 

In Shri Guru Smriti,
Br. Pranipata Chaitanya