On the eve of Radhashtami, the appearance day of Radha Rani, let us experience the eternal love of Radha and Krishna. This blog delves into the supreme sweetness of bhakti through Radha’s divine maan and Krishna’s mischievous disguise as a veena-playing ascetic lady.
When the Lord descended on earth in His personal form, along with the Divine Mother, Radha Rani, He wove sweet pastimes to captivate His devotees’ hearts. As a child full of mischief, He kept Mother Yashoda and other cowherd maidens glued to His thoughts. We have heard of the heart-warming pastimes of Baby Krishna as the butter-thief of Braj. The Damodar Lila involves the magnificent spectacle of the Lord of the universe being tied to a mortar wheel by Mother Yashoda. The Govardhan Lila is a celebration of divine love in sakhya bhav(loving God as one’s dear friend). The pastimes of the Lord with the Braj Gopis who loved Him as their pran vallabh(soul beloved) elevate devotees to unmatched heights of spiritual ecstasy. The crown jewel among such pastimes is the maan-bhanjan lila–Krishna’s eternal pastime to pacify Radha Rani’s maan.
Maan is the play of divine pride, anger, or indignation that Radha exhibits when Krishna, in his playful nature, teases or upsets her. It leads to Radha Rani intentionally avoiding Him, often for days, to express her disappointment and to enhance their mutual love and devotion.
Who is Radha Rani?
Radha Rani is the chief of the Braj Gopis. These Braj Gopis are Eternal Associates of the Lord. They descended along with Lord Krishna to serve Him in His divine pastimes. Radha Rani is Krishna’s eternal consort and the sweetest form of the Divine Mother. Non-different from Him, She is the bliss-giving potency(hladini-shakti) of God. The quintessence of this power is para-bhakti or divine love. It is her Yogmaya Shakti that enables the Lord to manifest in His personal form and engage in sweet pastimes. The Rādhīkopaniṣad states: kṛṣṇena ārādyate iti rādhā,which translates to: “Radha is named so precisely because Lord Krishna worships her.” Hence, Rādhā is Shree Krishna’s aradhya (worshipable entity).
The contrary is also true, as Radha and Krishna are eternally one entity. Radha Rani’s boundless, selfless love makes her the foremost of Krishna’s devotees. Her devotion is in the form of the mādanākhya–mahābhāva(the highest state of divine love). It is the pinnacle of divine love, a state where Radha gives Krishna the highest pleasure through her love, surpassing all other manifestations of devotion.
Her only objective is to serve Shree Krishna by giving Him bliss. It is by her Yogmaya Shaktithat the Lord remains in eternal bliss(sat–cit–ānanda).
Radha Rani’s maan is a play of divine love that enhances Krishna’s bliss to a superlative degree. In maan(divine anger), she gives viyog(separation) to Krishna, refusing even to see His face. What seems like anger is, in truth, the highest ornament of love, intensifying the bliss of both the Lover and the beloved.
It is not ordinary love, but the eternal play of the Supreme with His very Shakti — His own essence, manifest in the form of Shrimati Radha Rani. Their union is perfect, yet their love is ever-fresh, ever-new, revealing infinite shades of sweetness.
Why did Radha do Maan?
One day, Krishna went to the kunja of Chandravali. Though Chandravali too is a gopi immersed in devotion, none can compare to Radha, the very embodiment of mahābhāv. When Radha came to know of Krishna’s visit, her heart trembled with divine pain.
She was upset not because of jealousy, but because she knew that Krishna would get more bliss if He came to her. Her maan sprang not from self-interest, but from the purity of love that desires only to enhance Krishna’s joy. Swami Mukundananda describes Her maan as a divine spice in the rasa(bliss) of prema(divine love). Just as sweet and sour flavors together delight the tongue, Radha’s gentle displeasure adds depth to the ocean of their love. And the milan (union) that ensues is infinitely more blissful.
So Radhaji, turning her face away, entered into maan. Her lips sealed in silence, her eyes glowing with majestic resolve, she refused even a glance at Krishna. The sakhis, loyal to her mood, did not intercede. They stood firm, protecting their queen in her dignified anger.
Krishna’s Longing
For Krishna, the Supreme Master of creation, the loss of Radha’s smile was unbearable. Without her glance, the Lord felt incomplete. He is worshipped by the three worlds, but here He was helpless before the love of His beloved.
Krishna’s heart ached: “How can I win her back? Without Radha, I am lifeless.” His playful mind began weaving a plan. And thus, the Supreme Lord prepared His most enchanting disguise.
Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj delineates this enchanting lila in his pad from Leela Madhuri, in Prem Ras Madira: anokhi, vīņā vārī nāri.
He says, “In an attempt to appease His beloved Radha Rani, who is in the state of 'maan', Shree Krishna approaches her putting on different disguises. This time, he is in the guise of a 'Veenavari', a lady with a lute in her hand. Shyam, in the guise of a Veenavari, is looking absolutely extraordinary.”
The Appearance of Veenavari Nari(Lady with the Lute)
At Kusum Sarovar, beneath trees laden with blossoms, appeared a radiant lady — Veenavari, the veena-bearing maiden. Her form shone with otherworldly beauty. Draped in divine saffron attire, adorned with celestial ornaments, she strummed the veena(Indian lute) and sang melodies that melted even the stones.
Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj elaborates on Her ethereal grace in his pad:
jākī lakhi shringāra mādhuri, aganita rati balihāri
Translation: “Seeing Her exquisite beauty and adornment, countless Ratis (goddess of love) would like to sacrifice themselves upon Her”.
He further narrates: chibuka pāņi dhari kusuma sarovara, baithī vīņāvāri
Translation: With her chin resting on her palm, she is sitting at Kusum Sarovar (the famous pond of Braj).
This was none other than Krishna Himself, now disguised as a heavenly songstress. Birds fell silent, the breeze stilled, and the waters swayed in rhythm to Her music. The whole of Vrindavan seemed spellbound.
Radha’s Encounter with Veenavari
Shrimati Radharani, still immersed in maan, arrived at Kusum Sarovar with her sakhis. Her heart was heavy, her gaze downcast. Yet when she saw the luminous veena-player, she paused, struck by wonder.
Maharajji continues his narration of the lila:
pūchhati lalī, 'alī tū ko hai? kākī hai gharavāri?'
Translation: “Seeing her sitting alone, she asked, "Who are you? Whose wife are you?" she asked softly.”
Veenavari responded: haun lālī! hauń devaloka ki, aba laun ahauń kumari yaha sansāra asāra jāni hama, ura virāga liya dhari
Translation: "O Radhey! I am from the celestial abode. I am unmarried. Realizing this world to be insubstantial, my heart is detached from it."
The nature of Radha Rani’s love for Krishna is naisargikī ratiḥ sahaja, an esoteric secretexpounded by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu and further in Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi. He classifies Radha’s love as naisargikī rati — the most natural, causeless, and supreme form of divine attachment.
Hence, Radha’s divine heart, though veiled in anger, felt instantly drawn to this stranger. A wave of sweetness stirred within her, a reverence as if meeting someone destined to guide her.
Radha Finds A Guru
In childlike innocence, Radha Rani said, “Will you become my teacher? Will you guide me?”
Imagine this moment: the Goddess of infinite devotion, Radha herself, requesting Krishna — disguised as Veenavari — to be her Guru! For the Lord, who takes countless forms for His creation, this was the sweetest of all roles: to become the teacher of His own beloved!
Krishna spins further layers of bliss into the heartwarming pastime. Maharajji describes His ironic response: “hamahin lalī! lai chali saka jo mama, ādeshahin nahin țari”
Translation: "O Lali! Only that person can take me who promises not to disobey any of my orders."
Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj narrates how the innocent-hearted Radha Rani obeyed Krishna’s orders and took the trickster to her palace. Radha joyfully declared to her sakhis, “I have found a Guru!” They, too, were charmed, unaware that it was Krishna, desperate to melt Radha’s maan.
The Melting of Maan
Through gentle words and the music of the veena, Veenavari began to soothe Radha’s heart. Each note carried hidden meanings, each smile carried Krishna’s longing. Slowly, Radha’s sternness softened.
Though Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj leaves the lila at this tender juncture, Swami Mukundananda continues the narration. He relates how, ultimately, the maan dissolved, leading to a tender union of the Divine Couple. Radha’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes again met Krishna’s, and the sweetness of reunion surpassed the sweetness of union itself. Vrindavan breathed in joy once more.
Conclusion: Love Beyond Understanding
The story of Radha’s maan and Krishna’s maan-bhanjan (dissolving maan)in the veenavaridisguise is not just a tale; it is the very heart of divine love. It shows us a realm where God is not distant or majestic, but intimate, vulnerable, and ever-thirsty for His beloved’s affection.
Radha’s love is the highest peak of devotion — so pure that even her anger pleases Krishna. And Krishna’s humility reveals that the Almighty delights not in power, but in being conquered by love.
May our hearts glimpse even a drop of this prema rasa. For to taste Radha and Krishna’s divine play is to know that the essence of existence itself is love — eternal, boundless, and sweet beyond imagination.
Call to Action:
1. Subscribe and share the Swami Mukundananda YouTube channel: An Incredibly Sweet Story of Radha Krishna | Radha Krishna Leela | Swami Mukundananda
2. Meditate on the Sentiment of Divine Love on the Radha Krishna Bhakti App: (21 Days Challenge Day 5) https://youtu.be/u3r0qcHns90?si=JSgXGJIBXXi64Gna
Resources
- Mukundananda, S. (2024).Spiritual Secrets From Hinduism. Rupa Publications Pvt Ltd: New Delhi, India.
- https://www.jkyog.org/blog/krishna-leelas-divine-pastimes-and-profound-spiritual-lessons/
- The Secret About Shri Krishna’s Relationship With Radha Rani | Yogmaya, The Supreme Power of Krishna
- Radha Ashtami Satsang and Celebration with Swami Mukundananda Ji
- An Incredibly Sweet Story of Radha Krishna | Radha Krishna Leela | Swami Mukundananda
