Jaya Radhe!

In the streets of Vrindavan - Krishna's birthplace - people commonly greet each other "Jaya Radhe! Jaya Radhe!" - Glory be to Sri Radha! They know Radharani as their dearest friend!

Srimati Radharani represents the feminine principle of God; together She and Krishna comprise the Absolute Truth. Radhika is Krishna's eternal consort. Her special qualification is that She is His best devotee and Her only pleasure is to give Him pleasure. Krishna therefore loves Her the most. On Her festival day, we especially ask Her to re-awaken our dormant love for Krishna, and to show us how to serve Him.

In our chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra - we call on Radharani in the word "Hare". Hara is another name for Sri Radha and Hare means "Oh, Radha! O energy of the Lord!" We chant Her name first in the mantra, as She is so dear to Krishna that this is an easy way to get His attention!

"Radharani is a tenderhearted, feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore the mercy of Radharani is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Krishna, the Lord at once accepts the devotee's admittance into His association".—Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavatam 2.3.23

Painting by Jadurani devi dasi. Her website is here: http://www.bhaktiart.net/?page=index&action=products&ctg_id=14