Radha Ashtami Vrat Katha in English

Radha Ashtami Vrat Katha 2024: 15 days after the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, the birthday of Goddess Radha is also celebrated, which is known as Radha Ashtami. Radha Rani's birthday is celebrated on the Ashtami date of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. On this day, devotees of Goddess Radha observe fast and worship Shri Krishna and Radha ji in homes and temples. By observing this fast on that day, one gets good fortune and finally attains Vishnulok. Therefore, those humans who wish for heaven after enjoying all the pleasures of this world. They observe this fast with great reverence and devotion.

In the scriptures, Shri Radha is described as the eternal power of Krishna and the presiding goddess of life, hence the worship of Shri Krishna is considered incomplete without the worship of Radha ji. In Shrimad Devi Bhagwat, Shri Narayan, while describing to Naradji the ancient tradition and extraordinary glory of the Shadakshar Mantra 'Shri Radhaye Swaha', has explained the necessity of Shri Radha Puja and said that if Shri Radha is not worshipped, then man does not have the right to worship Shri Krishna. Therefore, all Vaishnavas should definitely worship Bhagwati Shri Radha. Shri Radha is the presiding deity of Lord Shri Krishna's life, so the Lord remains under her. She fulfills all the desires, that is why she is called Shri Radha.

Chanting "Shri Radhaye Swaha" 108 times on the day of Radha Ashtami, you get the special blessings of Radha Rani.

By chanting this mantra, all your wishes are fulfilled and you get special fruits.

Radha Ji's birth story is as interesting as her love story with Shri Krishna, let us know in detail about the mythological story related to Radha Ashtami.

There is a story in Padmapuran that when Shri Vrishbhanu Ji was cleaning the yagya land, he found Shri Radha in the form of a daughter of the land. It is also believed that along with Vishnu, other gods also took incarnation, Lakshmi Ji in Vaikunth incarnated in the form of Radha. It is also said that Vrishbhanu Ji found a divine girl lying on a golden lotus in a beautiful cool lake. He brought her home but the girl was not ready to open her eyes. The father and mother thought that she could not see but the Lord's wishes something else, the leela was such that Radha wanted to see Shri Krishna first. When she met Shri Krishna in the child form, she opened her eyes. Whatever the story, whatever the reason, Krishna is not there without Radha. Radha is the life force of Bhagwat. Krishna is the body, Shri Radha is the soul. Krishna is the word, Radha is the meaning. Krishna is the song, Radha is the music. Krishna is the flute, Radha is the voice. God has contained all his communicative power in Radha. That is why it is said-

Where there is Krishna and Radha, there is Krishna.

They cannot be separated for a moment, tell me and understand this question.

The glory of this name is boundless. Shri Krishna himself says- Whenever I hear 'Ra' from someone's mouth, I give him my devotion and love and when the word 'Dha' is pronounced, I follow him with the desire to hear the name Radha. The devotion of Radha Krishna expanded continuously over time. Nimbarka, Vallabh, Radhavallabh, and the Sakhi community strengthened it. Shri Radha is seated with Krishna in the form of the supreme goddess. Krishna captivates the world and Radha captivates Krishna.

Radha Ashtami Story

It is a matter of ancient times when the atrocities of demons had increased on earth and religiosness was declining. At this time Lord Shri Krishna had incarnated, but the presence of Radha ji was also necessary with him, who was the perfect example of his love and devotion.

Birth of Radha Ji

Radha Ji was born in Yaduvansh. Her parents, King Vrishbhanu and Queen Kirti, were very pious and religious personalities. A unique miracle happened at the time of Radha Ji's birth. As soon as Radha Ji was born, a divine light spread around her. This divine light indicated the liberation of the earth from demons and sins.

According to the story described in Hindu Puranas, one day Goddess Radha went out of heaven. Knowing this, Lord Shri Krishna started roaming in the garden with a friend named Viraja. After some time, when Goddess Radha returned to heaven, she became angry after seeing Shri Krishna with Viraja and in anger, she insulted Viraja, after which Viraja started flowing in the form of a river. This behavior of Goddess Radha seemed inappropriate to Shri Krishna's friend Sudama and he started abusing Goddess Radha.

Goddess Radha got cursed

Radha got angry after listening to Sudama's words and she cursed Sudama to be born as a demon. Sudama trembled and said- Golokeshwari! You have brought me down with your curse. I am not sad about being born as a demon, but I am burning with the separation from Krishna. You do not have the experience of this separation, so you should also experience this pain once.

After that Sudama also cursed Goddess Radha to be born as a human being. At the time of Shri Krishna's incarnation in Dwapar, you will also be born as a Gop girl with your friends and will be separated from Shri Krishna. Seeing Sudama leaving, Shri Radha realized her mistake and became scared.

Then Leeladhari Krishna consoled her that O Goddess! This is not a curse, but a blessing. Due to this, the eternal stream of your sweet leela rasa will flow in the world, bathing in which the living beings will perform actions for eternity. In this way, the earth will be filled with sorrow. But Shri Radha was born in Dwapar.

According to the story of Shiva Purana, due to the curse of Goddess Radha, Sudama was born as Shankhachud demon, who was killed by Lord Shiva. Later, the same demon became an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. On the other hand, Radha Rani was born on earth as a daughter in the house of Vrishbhanu.

Due to the curse of Sudama, Radha Rani had to bear the separation from Lord Krishna by taking birth as a human on earth. While in some mythological stories it is told that in Dwapar Yuga when Shri Vishnu incarnated as Lord Krishna, his wife i.e. Mata Lakshmi came to earth in the form of Goddess Radha.

Radha Rani was born in the house of Vrishbhanuji, but not from the womb of his wife Devi Kirti. Actually, when Radha Maiya and Sridama cursed each other, then Lord Krishna had said that Radha, you will have to live on earth as the daughter of Vrishbhanuji and Devi Kirti.

In human incarnation, you will marry a Vaishya. He will be one of my incarnations. In this way, you will remain mine on earth as well. But, we both will have to bear the pain of separation. After this, Lord Krishna asked Radha ji to prepare to be born as a human being.

In front of the world, Vrishbhanu ji's wife became pregnant. Just like a child comes into the world, in the same way, Devi Kirti also gave birth, but in reality Radha Mata was not born from the womb of Devi Kirti. Due to the illusion of God, her womb was filled with air. Devi Kirti gave birth to that air. During this time, she was having labor pains and there a cute girl was born in the form of Radha Mata.

Radha Maiya was born on the earth on the Ashtami of Shukla Paksha of Bhadra month. Since then, every year this day is celebrated as Radha Ashtami.

Radha Ashtami Another Vrat Katha 

King Suchandra, son of Nriga and Kalavati, daughter of ancestors, performed penance for twelve years and asked Lord Brahma for the boon of getting Radha as their daughter. As a result, in Dwapar, they were born as King Vrishbhanu and Queen Kirtida. Both became husband and wife.

Slowly, the time of Shri Radha's birth came. The news of Kirtida's pregnancy spread like a source of happiness in the whole of Vraj, everyone started waiting with eagerness. That auspicious moment came. On the Shukla Ashtami of Bhadrapada, at the time of Chandravasar midday, the sky became cloudy. Suddenly a light spread in the delivery room, it was so bright that everyone's eyes closed.

After a moment, the Gopis saw that a little girl with the radiance of hundreds of thousands of autumn moons was lying in front of Kirtida Maiyya. There was a heap of divine flowers around her. With her arrival, the flow of rivers became clean, the directions became happy, the cool slow wind started blowing spreading the fragrance from Arvind.

A special puja is performed on the day of Radha Ashtami, in which devotees sing the glory of Radha ji. According to the legend, Radha ji's life is the perfect example of perfection and devotion. Once Shri Krishna asked Radha ji what is the secret of her devotion, Radha ji replied that there is only love and dedication in her devotion.

Radha ji showed the most beautiful and great form of devotion to Lord Krishna. Her devotion made her unique and that is why the festival of Radha Ashtami is an occasion to recognize the glory of this love and devotion.

Radha Ashtami fast has great importance in Hinduism. On this day, devotees keep a fast in the name of Goddess Radha and worship Shri Krishna and Goddess Radha with pomp and show. According to the scriptures, the devotees who keep a fast for Goddess Radha on this day with true devotion never face financial problems in their life.

It is also believed that on this day Goddess Radha fulfills all the wishes of her devotees. It is said in religious scriptures that if you want to get the blessings of Shri Krishna, then you have to chant the name of Goddess Radha. Without this, you cannot cross this ocean of existence.

All the gods say about the person who performs this auspicious ritual of Shri Radha Janmashtami with devotion that 'this person is a Radha devotee on earth.' On this Ashtami, worship Shri Radha Madhav according to the rules at one time in each hour of the day and night. Remember Shri Radha Krishna again and again while singing alaap with the people who are enamoured of Shri Radha Krishna. After performing the festival in this way, being extremely happy, prostrate yourself according to the rules at the end. The man or woman who performs the Shri Radha Janmashtami with devotion towards Radha, lives in Shri Vrindavan in the proximity of Shri Radha Krishna. He becomes a resident of Vraj by being devoted to Radha. By singing the glories of Shri Radha Janma Mahotsav, a man is freed from the bondage of life. The man who says Radha-Radha and remembers the glory of the name 'Radha' and the Radha Janmashtami fast, becomes skilled in all kinds of knowledge after being blessed with the rites of all pilgrimages. The one who says Radha-Radha, worships by saying Radha-Radha, the one who has devotion towards Radha-Radha, that great fortune is the companion of Shri Radha in Shri Vrindavan. This earth is blessed in this universe, Vrindavanpuri is blessed on earth. Sati Shri Radha Ji is blessed in Vrindavan, whom great sages meditate upon. I worship the one who worships Shri Radhika Ji, who is the supreme worship of Brahma and other gods, whom the gods keep serving. O great fortune! Chant her excellent mantra and chant her name day and night saying Radha-Radha. I will not describe the greatness of the person who chants the name of Radha (Radhe Krishna) along with Krishna.

I cannot do it nor can I cross it. Remembering Radha's name never goes in vain, it gives the fruits of all pilgrimages. Shri Radhaji is the embodiment of all pilgrimages and is full of wealth. Lakshmi never turns away from the house of a devotee of Shri Radha. O Narada! Shri Krishna resides with Shri Radhaji in his house. This is the best fast for those whose Ishta Devta is Shri Radhakrishna. Shri Hari never separates from body or mind in their house. Hearing all this, the great sage Naradaji bowed down and performed Yajan-Pujan on Shri Radhashtami in the prescribed manner! The person who listens to this story of Radhajanmashtami fast in this world, becomes happy, respected, wealthy and endowed with all virtues. The person who chants the mantra of Shri Radha or remembers her name with devotion, if he is religious, he attains religion, if he is materialistic, he gets wealth, if he is lustful, he becomes completely satisfied and if he is liberated, he attains salvation. When a Vaishnav devotee of Krishna surrenders to her exclusively and attains the devotion of Shri Radha, he becomes happy, prudent and desireless.

Best wishes to all of you on this auspicious festival of Radha Ashtami!