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Radha Ashtami 2024 date – How to fast during Radha Ashtami Vrat?

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Sri Radha Ashtami, or Radhashtami, the birthday of Radha, is a major festival celebrated by Lord Krishna devotees. It falls on the eighth day of the Shukla Paksha (Ashtami on waxing phase of moon) in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). Radha Ashtami 2024 date is on September 11. The day celebrates the relationship between Radha and Krishna – a unique relationship between god and human (world).

It is believed that Radha appeared on earth on Bhadrapad Shukla Paksha Ashtami in Vrishabha Nupuri in the house of king Vrishabha Bhanu and his wife Kirtida. Some books indicate that Kirtida did not give birth to Radha but she appeared in a Yajna that was conducted by the couple.

Radha Ashtami 2020 date – How to fast during Radha Ashtami Vrat?
People have darshan of the holy feet of Radha Rani on the day. It is said that no living being in this world can describe the beauty of the feet of Radha.

How to fast during Radha Ashtami Vrat?

  • The puja and rituals are held at 12:00 PM noon.
  • From morning people chant bhajans of Radha Krishna or read the Harivamsa which contains stories of Radha and Krishna.
  • Puja is performed at noon.
  • An abhishek is performed
  • People then drink Charamrit.
Special prayers and pujas are held in Sri Krishna temples in North India on the day. Most important celebrations are at Mathura and Vrindavan and in ISKCON Temples around the world.

To understand the relationship between Radha and Krishna, first we have to clear the worldly impurities from our mind, which is clogging our vision. Once these impurities are removed we will understand the true meaning of Raslila – the individual soul realizing that it is part of the universal soul, which is a continuity.
It is always Radha and Krishna together or simply Radhakrishna. Radha exists with Krishna; not without Krishna. Radha represents the individual soul and Krishna the universal soul. On a lower level, we say the individual soul merges with the universal soul.
In fact, Radha on seeing Krishna realizes that there is nothing called the individual soul and that she is Krishna.

Symbolism of Radha Krishna

Radha and Krishna – the union of human soul and divine – the highest form of Bhakti. In every human being, there is a Radha waiting to merge with Krishna. Very few are lucky enough to reach that state of mind and when it takes place there is the ‘leela’ – eternal bliss.

The love of Radha and Krishna has been immortalized in verses by many poets of yesteryear and the unparalleled love continues to inspire many. To understand the love of Radha and Krishna, we need to undergo reformation. We need to realize the divine in all animate and inanimate. When that happens the individual becomes Radha and the individual sees Krishna everywhere.

The meeting of Radha and Krishna always takes place in pristine Nature. Extolling that human beings are part of Nature and the ideal way of existence is by living in harmony with Nature.

Mani Mahesh Yatra in Himachal Pradesh ends on the day.

You may also like to read
On the Love of Radha and Krishna – its symbolic meaning by Swami Chinmayananda