Radha Bhava of Sri Ramakrishna
By SEJAL K. MANDAVIA
Summary
The text details Sri Ramakrishna's spiritual journey toward achieving *Radhabhava*, the highest state of divine love (*mahabhava*), as described in the scriptures. It recounts how Sri Krishna once exchanged roles with Radha to understand her intense longing, a state Radha described as burning separation and inseparable union with the divine. Sri Ramakrishna, seeking to embody this *bhava*, practiced various devotional moods (*vatsalya, dasya, sakhya*) before fully embracing *madhura bhava* (loving the divine as a beloved). His intense devotion manifested in extraordinary physical and emotional experiences, such as bodily pain, bleeding, and unconsciousness, which his guru Bhairavi Brahmani recognized as signs of *mahabhava*. Scholars and pundits confirmed his attainment of this rare state, declaring him an incarnation of God. The text also highlights Sri Ramakrishna's influence on Swami Vivekananda, who, after a dream vision, began worshipping Radha and singing her *bhajans*. Through these experiences, Sri Ramakrishna exemplified *Radhabhava*, a state of complete surrender and oneness with the divine, transcending ordinary human limitations.
Conclusion
The Radha Bhava of Sri Ramakrishna epitomizes the transcendent power of divine love, revealing the human soul's capacity to merge with the divine through intense emotional and spiritual discipline. By embodying the seven stages of bhakti—from pure love (rati) to the ultimate absorption in mahabhava—Ramakrishna demonstrated that Radha's yearning is not merely a myth but a living, transformative force. His physical and emotional trials, witnessed by Bhairavi and others, underscored the physical and metaphysical upheavals of divine union, transcending ordinary human limitations. This Radhabhava, declared as mahabhava by scholars, signifies the culmination of spiritual evolution, accessible only to divine incarnations. Ramakrishna's life and teachings confirm that such profound love redefines existence, dissolving the boundaries between the self and the divine, and leaving an indelible mark on those who witness it.