Radha and Krishna Meet

Posted by Harsh Nevatia Sep 1, 2008

The Brahmavaivarta Purana describes how Radha emerges from the aspect of Krishna in Rasamandala. There Krishna and Radha weave a magic that humans cannot even imagine. Then during Krishna avatar both Radha and Krishna descend to earth. Poets, artists and devotees have tried to imagine what their first meeting on earth would have been like.

According to folklore Radha was born just months ahead of Krishna to Vrishbhan and Kalavati in Barsana. She did not open her eyes since her birth. Then Nand and Yashoda with the infant Krishna came to visit them from Gokul. Radha sensed Krishna’s presence and opened her eyes so that the first thing she saw on earth was Krishna’s face.

K.M.Munshi, writer, educationist and administrator, rewrote Krishna’s story according to his perception. He imagined the first meeting of Krishna and Radha when they were much older. Radha had come to Gokul and she encountered Krishna tied to a mortar as punishment. Then followed a conversation that was poignant and saucy, something that can take place only between an innocent seven year boy and a girl of twelve who had just stepped over the threshold of maidenhood.

The Krishna and Radha of the television series “Kahani Humari Mahabharat Ki” are even older. Krishna is outside a temple when his peacock feather slips from his hand and is carried by the wind to Radha who is coming to the temple. The wind holds the peacock feather against Radha’s face for an eternity. It is a moment of magic - the first touch of first love; a reunion on earth after separation in Rasamandala; an anticipation of the divine love to follow. Unfortunately the moment in the television series could not capture any of the above despite the power of the medium.