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Shri Radha Rani and Shri Krishna: Not two but one Divine Entity

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
14 September 2026
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(Adapted from a discourse delivered by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on the occasion of Radhashtami)

Shri Radha Rani and Shri Krishna are not two separate divine entities. Although They appear as two in Their divine Leela, They are one. 

Shri Radha Rani is both the worshipped Deity of Shri Krishna and the worshipper of Shri Krishna. There should be no confusion about this. Understand it in whichever way you prefer, but in siddhant roop (in principle), Shri Radha and Shri Krishna are one.

In Their divine Leela, however, They may appear differently. Sometimes Thakur Ji appears prominent, and at other times Kishori Ji appears prominent. This is part of Their divine play, for the pleasure of the devotees. In this way, all kinds of divine Leelas and pastimes take place.

The Divine Oneness of Radha and Krishna

Among the great devotees of Shri Krishna in India was Ras Khan, a Muslim poet and devotee. He became deeply immersed in Krishna bhakti and eventually made Braj his home. He is remembered for his beautiful Braj Bhasha poetry, in which he expressed his profound love for Shri Krishna and the divine pastimes of Braj. His life itself became an example of how divine love transcends worldly distinctions.

Ras Khan once had a great doubt. His understanding was that, according to the traditional social customs of the time, a wife served her husband, touched his feet, accepted his leftovers, performed his aarti and worshipped him. She observed festivals such as Karwa Chauth for her husband. So he wondered, “What is this teaching among Hindus regarding Radha? 

How is it that Thakur Ji is touching Radha Rani’s feet? This appears contrary to the dharma I have understood. In Hindu tradition, if someone were even to touch another man’s wife, it would be considered wrong.”

Then came the answer to his doubt through Divine darshan. One day, after searching everywhere for Shri Krishna and becoming exhausted in his search, Ras Khan finally received His darshan. There, in the kunj kutir, (a secluded cottage in a beautiful grove) he saw Shri Krishna seated and lovingly serving and pressing the feet of Shri Radha Rani. Ras Khan himself describes this vision in his famous verse: “Dekhyo Duryo vah kunj kutir mein, baitho palotat Radhika payan.” What an extraordinary revelation it was: the very Krishna whom he had searched for everywhere was finally found at the feet of Radhika.

The vision revealed the extraordinary position of Shri Radha Rani. She is not merely the One who worships Shri Krishna; She is also the One whom Shri Krishna Himself lovingly serves. This is the divine mystery that cannot be understood through ordinary worldly relationships. It can only be understood through the sweetness of Their divine Leela. 

Understand it in whatever way you like. But do not think of Them as two separate beings, like a husband and wife in the worldly sense. 

Lakshmi: Shri Krishna’s Divine Consort

Shri Krishna’s wife is Lakshmi, who emerged from the ocean and is also known as Rama and Kamala. She resides on His left side and in His heart. Yet, despite being His divine consort, Lakshmi did not attain the privilege of entering the Maharaas.

She is a devotee of samanjasa-rati bhakti, whereas the gopis are devotees of samartha-rati bhakti, and they are even higher than Maha Lakshmi. The place where the gopis reached, Maha Lakshmi could not reach. Maha Lakshmi performed great tapasya, yet she could not attain even the dust of the gopis’ feet. So Mahalakshmi is His wife and her incarnation is Rukmini in Dwarika.

Shri Radha Rani, however, is Shri Krishna Himself. You may accept this, or understand Shri Radha Rani as the very soul of Shri Krishna. This, too, has been stated in the Shastras and the Vedas: “Thakur Ji’s name is Atma Ram; Radha is the soul of the Supreme Soul.”

So, understand it in whichever way you prefer, but do not consider Them to be two in principle. The question of considering one higher or lower than the other should not even arise.

The Mystery of Radha Rani’s Divine Dham

Such is Radha Rani, and the place where you are sitting is Her land, Her Dham. It is the very Dham whose description you read about in the scriptures. What you see around you is the material Dham. You walk upon it and move around in it. There appears to be no difference. It is like England or America or Barsana. The earth is the same, the water is the same, the fire is the same, the sun is the same and the air is the same. There appears to be no difference.

But within this very land there is another divine Barsana Dham. It manifested from Golok 5,000 years ago. It is within this very place. In that Dham, Radha Rani performed Her divine pastimes. It is transcendental, divine and conscious. Even among mahapurushas, only a few are qualified to see it. To enter it is even more difficult and exceedingly rare.

Attaining God is itself considered something extraordinary, yet many mahapurushas have attained God. But those who are qualified to enter Braj are very few. Those who are the selfless devotees of Nandanandan in dasya, sakhya and madhurya bhav receive entry into Braj. Even those of Dwarika do not receive it. Those of Mathura do not receive entry into Vrindavan either. Such is the rare and wonderful glory of Braj.

You cannot reach that place right now. Understand this much: Radha and Krishna are one.

How to Meditate on Shri Radha and Shri Krishna 

If you wish, you may sometimes lovingly consider Radha Rani to be supreme and Shri Krishna to be secondary, just to tease Him and enjoy the sweetness of Their divine Leela. At another time, you may consider Thakur Ji to be supreme. This is all part of Leela, of divine play and loving enjoyment. In this way, the devotee may experience and relish different aspects of Their divine relationship. But in truth, always understand the underlying siddhant: Shri Radha and Shri Krishna are one. 

Therefore, meditate upon Radha and Krishna together, along with your Guru, in His form. Without meditation upon the form of the Guru, a relationship with Radha Rani or Shyamsundar cannot be established. The Guru is the connection. Even Uddhav was not given direct access by Bhagwan Shri Krishna. Krishna told him to go to the gopis and make them his Gurus. Our siddhant will not change for one. 

Therefore, while worshipping Hari Guru, bring Radha Rani into that worship as well. Bring also the Ashta Mahasakhis (8 principle female companions of Radha Rani) and the crores of gopis into it. Whatever leela (divine pastime) you like, you may lovingly contemplate that leela. It does not have to be limited only to the leelas that have been written.

Whatever form you like, create that form. Whatever clothes you like, make Kishori Ji wear them. If Radha Rani were to take an incarnation today, She would wear pants. Yes, girls wear them. Would She have to prove Herself to be a village girl? She belongs to a royal family. So, if She were to appear today, why would She not dress according to the times? 

In the same way, if Shri Krishna were to take an incarnation today, He too would wear pants. He would go to college. This is according to the devotee’s loving desire. A devotee may make God play in whichever way he wishes, dress Him in whichever way he wishes and serve Him in whichever way he wishes. God accepts all of this.

The only condition is that it must be done with bhav, with genuine feeling and devotion. As the Gita says, “Patram, pushpam, phalam, toyam.” God accepts even the simplest offering when it is given with devotion.

Suppose someone gives you a mango peta (leaf) and tells you to eat it. You would say, “What is this? You are not giving me roti, and you are telling me to eat mango peta? Are you mad?” 

But Thakur Ji says, “I can eat it. Give Me whatever you wish, but give it with devotion.”

Duryodhan, the Kaurava prince of the Mahabharata, offered Shri Krishna an elaborate feast of fifty six delicacies. Yet, without devotion, even the finest food is not pleasing to Bhagwan. This is what we must understand. 

Today, in many temples, food is placed before Thakur Ji, the curtain is drawn, the priests wave a fan, and after some time, the curtain is opened again and we eat it.  But did we actually look to see whether Thakur Ji had eaten anything? No, because we do not have the faith that He truly eats the food we offer Him.

Then why do we perform this ritual? We say, “The priests have been doing it. It has become a tradition, so we do it too. What else can we do? If we do not do it, people will object and say, ‘They did not even offer the food to Bhagwan before eating it!’”

The meaning of bhog is ucchiṣṭa, the remnants left after Bhagwan has eaten. To partake of Bhagwan’s ucchiṣṭa, jhuthan is the meaning of bhog.  We know this too. But we think, “Will Bhagwan eat from us in that manner? Are we gopis or sakhas to Him? We are worldly people.” This is what our worship has become today.

With such people, God has no real relationship whatsoever. We are merely acting, and God, in turn, acts along with us. He says, “Go ahead, carry on acting.” And so we continue wandering through the eighty-four lakh forms of life. This is what happens when our worship remains merely an outward performance, without the genuine devotion and relationship that God seeks. 

Therefore, we must understand this siddhant clearly: Shri Radha and Shri Krishna are one. In Their Divine Leela, They may appear as two for the loving enjoyment of Their devotees. The devotee may lovingly experience whichever form of Their Leela brings joy to the heart. Yet, beneath these divine pastimes, They remain eternally one.

In siddhant roop (in principle), Shri Radha and Shri Krishna are one Divine Entity. Their two forms in Leela are simply the beautiful expression of that one eternal Divine Reality, appearing as two for the sweetness and enjoyment of Leela.

By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education. To stay updated with all the news and events of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, visit www.jkp.org.in/jkpwhatsapp.