Radharani is the Supreme Goddess and a well-known deity in Hindu Mythology. According to the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism, Radharani is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna. She is usually depicted with lord Krishna. She is considered as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. She is the feminine aspect of Lord, who is the chief associate and devotee of lord Krishna and topmost of all the Goddesses. Without Radha Rani there is no meaning of lord Krishna and without Krishna there is no meaning of Radha Rani. She is also an expansion of the Lord's energy. Lord Vishnu and Rama are expansions of the one Supreme Lord, Krishna, and similarly Lakshmi, Sita and even Durga are all expansions of this Supreme Feminine form of God, Radharani. She is also called Radhika in the Puranas. Her beauty, power and aura create the ethics of love.

Radharani was born in Vrindavana. Five thousand years ago, when lord Krishna descended in his original form, as a cowherd boy in Vrindavana, Radharani accompanied him in her original form. She appeared exactly two weeks after the appearance of lord Krishna. She was found on a lotus flower by Vrishabhanu and his wife Kirtida near the village of Barsana. It is said that Radharani first opened her eyes only when lord Krishna appeared before her.

The spiritual exchange of divine love between Radha and Krishna is very confidential and difficult to understand. No materialist can begin to understand this topic of the relationship between Radharani and Lord Krishna. In the Vaishnava devotional or bhakti traditions of Hinduism that focus on Krishna, Radha is Krishna's friend and advisor. Krishna means 'all attractive', since lord Krishna attracts every one towards him. But Radharani attracts even Krishna. She is considered to be his original Shakti, the supreme goddess in both the Nimbarka Sampradaya and following the advent of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Her worship is especially prominent in Vrindavan. Radha's love for Krishna is held within Gaudiya Vaishnavism as the most perfect primarily because of its endless and unconditional nature. In Vaishnava tradition we always pay respects first to the Lord's internal energy in the form of Radha, and then to the Lord. Thus they are referred as Radha-Krishna, Sita-Rama and Lakshmi-Narayana.

Radharani has many names according to her qualities and characteristics.

Some of the names that Radharani is known by include:

1. Govinda-anandini--She who gives pleasure to Govinda Krishna);

2. Govinda-mohini--She who mystifies Govinda;

3. Govinda-sarvasa--the all-in-all of Lord Govinda;

4. Shiromani Sarva-kanta--the crown jewel of all the Lord's consorts;

5. Krishnamayi--the one who sees Krishna both within and without.

6. Gandharvi - Expert singer

7. Radharani – Radha the queen

8. Vrshabhanu-nandini - Daughter of Vrishabanu

9. Vrindavaneshvari - Queen of Vrindavana etc.

Radharani is as spiritual as the Lord himself. Being the personification of the Hladini-Shakti, the pleasure giving energy of the Lord, She is the only source of enjoyment for Lord Krishna. She is also known as Sarva-kanti, which indicates that all beauty and luster rest in her body. Sarva-kanti also means that all the desires of Lord Krishna rest in Radharani. As Lord Krishna enchants the world with his beauty and charm, Radha enchants him. Therefore she is considered the Supreme Goddess. She is the full power, and Lord Krishna is the possessor of full power. The legends of Radha-Krishna have become immortal.

There are numerous legends and stories of Radha and Krishna depicting their true, eternal and divine love. Radha's devotion and dedication towards lord Krishna is the most sincere one. Radha and Krishna are celestial beings and their love is eternal that made them united for ever. Intense love of Radha for Krishna symbolizes each devotee's passionate longing for ultimate unification with God. With her utmost devotion towards her lord, she became the supreme devotee of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna (to whom the trinity bows) himself bows to Radha’s feet where the trinity resides.All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.