««    back     ||    next      »»

 

Lord Krishna - Dressed as Radha

 

xkrishna3Many traditional Hindu paintings portray Radha wearing her divine lover's peacock-feather crown and saffron-colored dhoti, holding his treasured flute. Blue-complexioned Krishna, in turn, is shown wearing Radha's skirt, blouse, jewelry, and shawl. Holding hands, the two gaze into one another's eyes.

 

This unique visual motif of the clothing exchange serves as a metaphor for Radha and Krishna's shared essence. Radha's and Krishna's donning of each other's garments signifies that the two are identical, as is suggested in this verse by an unknown poet.

 

She wears his peacock feather,

  he dons her lovely, delicate crown;
She sports his yellow garment,

  he wraps himself in her beautiful sari.
How charming the very sight of it. . .
  The daughter of Vrsabhanu [Radha]

  turns [into] Nanda's son [Krishna],

  and Nanda's son, Vrsabhanu's girl.

 (Srivasta Goswami, translator, The Divine Consort)

 

xkrishna6Such portrayals are based on traditional Vaishnava stories, often in Bengali, depicting playful activities of the divine couple, Radha and Krishna.  Reading such stories help devotees develop deep emotional connections to Lord Krishna's life, strengthening their devotion.  In this way, these stories are serve the same purpose as the Christian passion plays about the life of Jesus.

  

Rupa Goswami, one of the greatest followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, narrated this playful incident in The Nectar of Devotion -

Krishna once dressed Himself up exactly like Srimati Radharani, just to create fun among His friends. By seeing this dress, Krishna's friend Subala became very astonished.   xkrishna2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another text provides this story -

In order to get close to Srimati Radharani who is upset with Him, Damodara [Krishna] has dressed as a heavenly Kinnari goddess, holding a beautiful gold and silver vina. The sakhis then ask the Kinnari goddess what is her name and if she can sing a song to cheer up Srimati Radhika. "She" says Her name is Shyam Sakhi, since "She's" blackish and sings a song that plunges the gopis into ecstatic bliss. To reward Shyam Sakhi, Radharani is about to give her the jewel locket from Her own neck. Lalita notices that this "sakhi" is bent in three ways and points it out to Sri Radha. But seeing her beloved dressed up this funny way, She can no longer maintain her anger." xkrishna4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

««    back     ||    next     »»