Difference Between The Gopikas And The Yadavas

[Guest guest]

Difference Between The Gopikas And The Yadavas

"Understand the difference between the Yadavas and the Gopikas. The Yadavas

considered Krishna as their relative, and were proudly proclaiming Krishna as

their own kinsman. Because of their pride, they finally perished in mutual

strife, after Krishna's exit from the world. In contrast, the Gopikas

considered themselves as Krishna's worshippers, and were humble and devoted to

the Divine." Sai Baba, SS, 7/95, p. 188

'Meaning Of Radha '

"Radha does not simply mean the form of a woman. It is something far more

important. The language develops as a confluence of several letters. In the

word, RADHA, we have the letters R-A-D-H-A. When we commence with 'A' we get

'Adhar'. When we commence with 'D' we get 'Dhara' and in reverse direction, it

reads Aradh. Thus, the word 'Radha' means, one who constantly chants the name

of the Lord. Everyone who does the Aradhana (chanting) can be described as

Radha. The word does not relate to a feminine gender indicating the name of a

woman at all. Krishna's aspect demonstrates that there is no such a difference

at all in the presence of divinity. In this manner, Krshna has been spreading

the concept of pure love." Sai Baba, Summer Showers, 1978, p. 60

Radha's Total Surrender

"You set up a door to separate one place from a place outside it. If there is no

place outside, there will no need for a door. There is no place where the Divine

is not present. Where, then can the Divine come or go? Such questions are

products of confused book knowledge. The state of mind of the confused person

is described in a song of a Gopika. The doubting mind calls for closing the

door of the mind (to truth). The person with faith asks for the opening of the

door. Seeing the plight of the Gopika, who is racked by both doubt and faith,

RADHA was amused. Radha observed:' When the whole universe is the mansion of

the Lord, where is the need for a street or a door?' When the cosmic Lord is

shinning within, where is the need for a door?' (Poem). When one offers one's

entire life to the Lord and sheds tears

of bliss, that is all, which is needed. As long as there is no such complete

surrender, there will be need for doors and the like." Sai Baba, SS, 1/92, p.

13

Relationship Between Krishna And Radha

"Very close to Gokulam, there used to be a village by a name Vrishabhapura.

Radha was living in Vrishabhapura and knew from the very beginning her being an

embodiment of Prakriti and her connection with Paramatma. Since the entire

creation was only a projection of Paramatma, in the context of Radha signifying

creation and Krishna signifying Paramatma, the Creator, the relationship of

Radha between Radha and Krishna was one like the relationship between an object

and its image. Radha, in the bodily aspect, was nine years older than Krishna.

She was also a cousin sister of Nanda and thus was closely connected with

Nanda. Ever since Krishna reached the home of Nanda and Yashoda, Radha's ideas

began to take shape in the direction of wanting to move closer and closer to

Krishna. At all times, Radha was thinking

of Krishna and uttering the name of Krishna. Her daily routine was filled with

work connected with Krishna. Krishna was seven-year-old at that time. Every

day, as soon as he got up from bed, Krishna used to take milk from his mother,

walk to Vrishabhapura and come back. The mother did not know anything about

this. If the mother asked him where he went, he used to tell her that he went

in search of the cows. Hence, if we get a doubt whether Krishna had spoken

untruth, we should remember that Krishna never spoke untruth in all His life.

 

To some persons amongst us, as a result of the impurities, in our own minds of

the ill-conceived thoughts in us, it may appear to be untruth but whatever

Krishna spoke was always truth. When he said that he had gone in search of the

cow, it was the truth. We regard the earth, according to our Vedas, as the cow

since it yields all that the man needs for his sustenance. We address them as

mother earth, mother cow, mother Veda, and so on. In this respect, all human

beings are the dear children of these three mothers. Therefore, to regard

Radha, who symbolizes creation as a cow is no untruth. In this manner, ever '

since Krishna was born, the thought of Radha was imprinted on his mind." Sai

Baba, Summer Showers, 1978, p. 115