Radhashtami..

Radhashtami which falls on the eighth day (astami) in the Hindu month of Bhadraba, marks the birth anniversary of Radha Maa, the eternal companion of Lord Vishnu's incarnations Krishna. 

I heard this beautiful shlok in Iskon temple.

Taptakanchan Gaurangi Radhe Brindabaneswari, Brishavanusute Devi Pranamami Haripriye..

तप्त कंचन गौरांगी, राधे वृंदा वनेसवरि, वृष भानु सुते देवि प्रणमामि हरी प्रिये  ॥

O Brishabhanu's daughter, sovereign of Brindaban, your fair bodily complexion is like sparkling molten gold. You are very dear to Lord Krishna, I offer respectful obeisances unto you with joint hands..

हे ब्रषभानु की बेटी, वृंदावन की देवी, आपका गौर वर्ण तपते हुए स्वर्ण की तरह है. हे कृष्णा प्रिया, दोनो हाथ जोड़के मैं आपको नमन करता हूँ..

There is a fascinating story behind the birth of Radha Rani. It is said that King Vrishnabanu came on the bank of Jamuna to bathe and found himself engulfed in a golden aura of pure love. It was emanating from a lotus, which had a baby girl standing on its whorl. Then Vrishnabanu returned to the palace with the baby. His wife Kirtida was very much happy. She observed that the baby had closed her eyes.

Krishna's mother, Yashoda, heard that her friend, Kirtida, had a baby, so she came to visit along with her husband and son. Krishna crawled up to the cradle and pulled himself up and looked in. At that moment toddler Radharani's eyes fluttered and opened wide and blossomed like lotuses.

Radhashtami Dates:

• 21st September, 2015
• 9th September, 2016

-K Himaanshu Shuklaa..