Sunday, 31 August 2025 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India Time]
Rādhāṣṭami (Appearance Day of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī)
Fasting Till Noon
Prabhupāda: “…Rādhāṣṭami, and birth, birthday of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. This day the function is observed by fasting up to twelve noon, and then, uh, offer prasādam to the Deity, and generally in the evening we should hold meeting discussing the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa pastimes, especially the glories of Rādhārāṇī. Amongst the gopīs, her super-excellence…, that is the way of observing. Rādhārāṇī’s… Fasting is up to twelve noon and after that you can take prasādam, feasting.”
(Room Conversation on Vaisnava Calendar Description — March 11, 1972, Vrndavana)
“Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s twenty-five chief transcendental qualities are:
(1) She is very sweet.
(2) She is always freshly youthful.
(3) Her eyes are restless.
(4) She smiles brightly.
(5) She has beautiful, auspicious lines.
(6) She makes Kṛṣṇa happy with Her bodily aroma.
(7) She is very expert in singing.
(8) Her speech is charming.
(9) She is very expert in joking and speaking pleasantly.
(10) She is very humble and meek.
(11) She is always full of mercy.
(12) She is cunning.
(13) She is expert in executing Her duties.
(14) She is shy.
(15) She is always respectful.
(16) She is always calm.
(17) She is always grave.
(18) She is expert in enjoying life.
(19) She is situated at the topmost level of ecstatic love.
(20) She is the reservoir of loving affairs in Gokula.
(21) She is the most famous of submissive devotees.
(22) She is very affectionate to elderly people.
(23) She is very submissive to the love of Her friends.
(24) She is the chief gopī.
(25) She always keeps Kṛṣṇa under Her control.
In short, She possesses unlimited transcendental qualities, just as Lord Kṛṣṇa does.”
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.87-91 & Śrī Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi, Śrī-rādhā-prakaraṇa 11-15).
Śrīla Prabhupāda: “Today is Rādhāṣṭamī. So pray to Rādhārāṇī. And She is hare, harā. This hare, this word, is Rādhārāṇī. Harā, Rādhārāṇī. Rādhā or harā the same thing. So Hare Kṛṣṇa. So we are praying to Rādhārāṇī, “My Mother, Rādhārāṇī, and Kṛṣṇa.” Hare Kṛṣṇa. “O Kṛṣṇa, O the Lord.” Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, the same thing, repetition. “O Rādhārāṇī, O Kṛṣṇa.” “O Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.” “Rādhe-Kṛṣṇa” or “Hare Kṛṣṇa,” the same thing. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare. Again addressing, “O Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa, O Rādhārāṇī.” Hare Rāma. The same thing, again. Hare Rāma. Rāma is also Kṛṣṇa. Rāma is Rāma, Rāma is Balarāma. They are all Kṛṣṇa. Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. So this repetition of addressing Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa or Hare Kṛṣṇa is to pray, “My dear Lord, the, and the energy, the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service.” That’s all. “I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.”
(Lecture on Bhagavad-gītā 4.10 — Calcutta, September 23, 1974)
Śrīla Prabhupāda: “Today is birth, appearance day of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Rādhāṣṭamī. Fifteen days after Kṛṣṇa’s birth, Rādhārāṇī appeared. (pause) Rādhārāṇī is Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure potency. Rādhā-kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī-śaktiḥ.”
(Radhastami, Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day — London, August 29, 1971)
Read More:
Srila Prabhupāda Lectures on Radhastami, Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day
— Montreal, August 30, 1968: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/festival/radhastami_srimati_radharanis_appearance_day/montreal/august/30/1968
— London, August 29, 1971: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/festival/radhastami_srimati_radharanis_appearance_day/london/august/29/1971
— Bhagavad-gita 18.5 — London, September 5, 1973: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/festival/5/radhastami_srimati_radharanis_appearance_day/bhagavad-gita_18.5/september/05/1973
— Bhagavad-gītā 4.10 — Calcutta, September 23, 1974: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/bg/4/10/calcutta/september/23/1974
