Who are Radha-Madhava from Chhoti?
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Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava move from West Bengal to Odisha
The worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava (hereafter: Rādhā-Mādhava) goes back to the time of Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s physical presence1 on this planet. At that time, Krishnananda Dutta, an initiated disciple of Nityānanda Prabhu and a wealthy land-owner residing in Andul, West Bengal, worshipped Rādhā-Mādhava in his home. After renouncing his family life, Krishnananda Dutta moved together with Rādhā-Mādhava to Jagannātha Purī (Odisha) where his lifestyle was simple and pious. He would daily worship Rādhā-Mādhava, chant 300,000 names of the Lord, and observe a vow of silence.
In due course of time, Krishnananda Dutta met the king of Aul2. Impressed by his divine character, the king requested Krishnananda Dutta to reside in Chhoti3, a village belonging to his kingdom. Krishnananda Dutta accepted the king’s request and moved with Rādhā-Mādhava to Chhoti where he continued his simple and pious lifestyle.
Nine generations later: Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Rādhā-Mādhava
After Krishnananda Dutta’s physical departure, the worship of Rādhā-Mādhava was performed by his descendants, and nine generations later it came to Kedarnath Dutta. In Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism Kedarnath Dutta is better known as Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was a great saint whose contribution to Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism is unparalleled. He wrote more than one hundred books, both original works and commentaries, in English, Sanskrit, and Bengali. His numerous devotional songs, immersed in divine love born of full surrender, reveal his deep love for Lord Śri Krishna.
Song about Rādhā-Mādhava
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura composed a number of songs in which he included the name ‘Madhava’ [one of Sri Krishna’s names]. One of these songs in particular exhibits Madhava’s original nature in relation to Radha and all the other inhabitants of Vrindavana-dhama.
The name of the song is ‘Jaya Radha-Madhava’ and can be found in his songbook titled ‘Gitavali’.
(jaya) rādhā-mādhava (jaya) kuñja-bihārī
He wanders in the forests along the banks of the Yamunā River
Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Ācārya, Śrīla Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda commented on this song as follows:
“This is actual picture of Krsna, Radha-Madhava giri-vara-dhari. Original Krsna this is. Radha-Madhava giri-vara-dhari. Vraja-jana-vallabha. His business is to please the inhabitants of Vrndavana. That’s all. He has no other business. And the vraja-jana also, they have no other business than to please Krsna. That’s all. This is original Krsna.”
(February 14, 1971, Gorakhpur, India)
In the video below Dr. Fakir Mohan Dās sings the song ‘Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava’ in front of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Radha Madhava.
Footnotes
1 1486-1534 A.D.
2 A city in Odisha in Jagannātha Purī
3 Formerly Choti Mangalpur