Yearning, thy name is Radha

The historicity of Lord Krishna is a subject of active mainstream scholarship. That an amazing, unparalleled, magical being once walked on this earth a little over 5000 years ago, that there was in our midst an divine person who changed and directed the course of history and philosophy in his time and has inspired humanity as no one ever has since his advent  is no longer a question or matter that is doubt. The current human endeavour seems to be directed towards understanding and knowing this Supreme Hari better and finding his presence through scientific as well as spiritual means. Please see the reference section for a few excellent links on this topic.

However a question is that is sometimes asked is who is Radha, Krishna's eternal consort. Who is this devotee numero uno, only by whose graces may the Lord be attained. While the purans seem to attest Lady Satyabhama and Lady Rulmini as the principal wives of Lord Krishna, beyond his divine pasttime in the enchanted Vrindavan, why is it that Sri Radha, who the Lord is always pictured with in modern iconography, never mentioned?

Sri Radha, I believe is more than just one historical person who existed. She has become the personification of the yearning for the Lord that resides in heart and consciousness  of the devotee. As a historical person one may yet discover her in the magical forests of Vrindaban and one hopes that such a day dawns soon. But there is no doubt that a true devotee can feel her blessed presence in their hearts lighting up the path of para bhakti. She appears as guide, as a friend, as a mother who takes her children by their hands and guides them to their eternal destination - The Lotus feet of Lord Krishna, She is that cocoon of light and warmth that envelops the devotee in a motherly embrace when he looses his consciousness and identity into the infinite-ness of Hari naam, of Krishna naam.

But, most importantly and most often, she appears as a boundless yearning for Krishna, that sometimes breaches the embankments of the eye lids and flow out as streams of tears.

Recently an animated movie depicted the Radha bhava or Radha conciousness in a beautiful way. It showed the Lord as a child enchanting the whole of Vrindaban in his divine flute play, but when the music stopped it was only Radha who kept swaying as if to the tune of some unheard music. The Krishna music that she was dancing to came not from without, but from within which manifests as an unceasing stream of melody.  That truly is Radha's love and Radha's devotion.

No doubt Radha's name preceeds Krishna's when they are remembered together. It is always Radha-Krishna, Radha-Madhava, for Radha is indeed the true yearning for Krishna that leads a devotee to him.

Radhe, Radhe,

References:

http://decodehindumythology.blogspot.in/2012/02/krishna-history-behind.html
http://www.indianweekender.co.nz/Pages/ArticleDetails/51/1421/Comment/How-science-discovered-the-historical-Krishna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dalNJ4luBws