"In later Puranas, one Gopi in particular is the lover of Krishna: Radha, who is virtually unknown to the Sanskrit mythology of Krishna until the seventh century and does not become important to the devotional community until the sixteenth century,18 when bhakti has feminized sectarianism and made women more important. The story of Krishna and Radha inspired the Sanskrit Gita Govinda, “The Song of [Krishna] the Cowherd,” by Jayadeva, the court poet of the Bengali King Laksmanasena (c. 1179-1209), an important text for Vaishnava worshipers. Jayadeva’s Radha is powerful; Krishna bends down before her and puts her feet on his head. The romance of the two adulterous lovers may owe something to the Persian romances that were becoming known in India through the Muslim presence at this time, in some Sufi sects.19"
Oh dear lord! I was going to comment on Dark Krishna-Fair Radha but decided against it not wanting to seem like a jerk but then I find this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi
"In Braj region of India, where Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days (until Rangpanchmi) in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna, a Hindu God. The festivities officially usher in spring, with Holi celebrated as festival of love.[13] There is a symbolic myth behind commemorating Krishna as well. Baby Krishna transitioned into his characteristic dark blue skin colour because a she demon Putana poisoned him with her breast milk.[14] In his youth, Krishna despairs whether fair skinned Radha and other Gopikas (girls) will like him because of his skin colour. His mother, tired of the desperation, asks him to approach Radha and colour her face in any colour he wanted. This he does, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. The playful colouring of the face of Radha has henceforth been commemorated as Holi.[15][16]"
Krishna-Radha may have a Persian connection:
ReplyDelete"In later Puranas, one Gopi in particular is the lover of Krishna: Radha, who is virtually
unknown to the Sanskrit mythology of Krishna until the seventh century and does not become
important to the devotional community until the sixteenth century,18 when bhakti has feminized
sectarianism and made women more important. The story of Krishna and Radha inspired the
Sanskrit Gita Govinda, “The Song of [Krishna] the Cowherd,” by Jayadeva, the court poet of the
Bengali King Laksmanasena (c. 1179-1209), an important text for Vaishnava worshipers.
Jayadeva’s Radha is powerful; Krishna bends down before her and puts her feet on his head. The
romance of the two adulterous lovers may owe something to the Persian romances that were
becoming known in India through the Muslim presence at this time, in some Sufi sects.19"
-The Hindus- An Alternative History
Oh dear lord! I was going to comment on Dark Krishna-Fair Radha but decided against it not wanting to seem like a jerk but then I find this:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi
"In Braj region of India, where Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days (until Rangpanchmi) in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna, a Hindu God. The festivities officially usher in spring, with Holi celebrated as festival of love.[13] There is a symbolic myth behind commemorating Krishna as well. Baby Krishna transitioned into his characteristic dark blue skin colour because a she demon Putana poisoned him with her breast milk.[14] In his youth, Krishna despairs whether fair skinned Radha and other Gopikas (girls) will like him because of his skin colour. His mother, tired of the desperation, asks him to approach Radha and colour her face in any colour he wanted. This he does, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. The playful colouring of the face of Radha has henceforth been commemorated as Holi.[15][16]"