Today Special Gopastami Darshan of Radharani’s Lotus Feet!

WHY DOES SRIMATI RADHARANI GIVE US DARSAN OF HER DIVINE LOTUS FEET ON GOPASTAMI?

image source: Urban Devi 

On this day, many temples in Vrindavana, and now throughout the world, show the Deity form of Srimati Radharani with her lotus feet visible. On all other days of the year, Radharani, the supremely chaste Goddess of devotion to Krishna, keeps her feet covered. So how is it that she shows her lotus feet on this one day of the year? She does so almost inadvertently, by indirection, disguised as Krishna’s bosom friend Subala.

image source: ISKCON Kuala Lumpur

Among all of Krishna’s friends, Subala is perhaps the most intimate. He is the leader of the priyanarma sakhas, who act as accomplices in Krishna’s loving dealings with Radharani and the other cowherd girls of Vraja. Subala has a very fair complexion, like Radharani’s; in fact, his countenance very closely resembles Radharani’s.

One day Krishna felt so deeply the pangs of love for Radha that he was inconsolable in his separation from her. He called his dear friend Subala and said, “I can’t stand being away from Radha. You have to get her and bring her here to me!”

Subala, perplexed, replied, “How can I bring her out to the forest in broad daylight?” Radharani was kept from meeting with Krishna by vigilant elders, especially Jatila, the mother of her so-called husband. Jatila kept a close watch on Radharani day and night, and Subala worried about how he would be able to manage to spirit her away from her home.

Krishna was insistent: “You’ll figure it out. You have to manage it somehow or other!” Determined to satisfy his friend, Subala hatched a plan. He approached Radha’s home with one of his calves under his arm. As he got near the house, he set the calf down on the ground and gave its tail a quick twist, so it would run off. Then he approached Radha’s home.

Ever watchful and ever suspicious, Jatila called to Subala: “Say, what are you doing here? You’re that boy who is always hanging out with that rascal Krishna. You boys are undoubtedly up to no good. You get out of here right now!”

“No, no—you’re mistaken, dear mother,” Subala protested. “I’ve lost one of my calves. His mother is causing quite a stir, moaning in separation from her baby, and I just want to bring him back, like a good cowherd.”

Jatila, despite her suspicion, was persuaded. “Well, I don’t see you your calf could find its way all the way here from Nandagram, but have a look anyway. You’ll see that he’s not here.”

Subala took advantage of the situation, went into Radharani’s home, and told her the situation. They exchanged clothes, and, while Subala remained in Radha’s room disguised as her, she, dressed in Subala’s clothes, took the small calf in her arms and headed for the forest, nodding farewell to the unsuspecting Jatila and smiling to herself in anticipation of meting Krishna.

She approached Krishna at the appointed rendezvous. She looked so much like Subala that Krishna didn’t recognize her and feared that Subala had failed in his mission.

At last, when Radharani saw Krishna, She approached Him in the garb of Subala. Krishna was mad. He could not detect that Radharani had come, but mistook Her for Subala. He said, “Oh, Subala, you have come back without Radharani! Couldn’t you bring Her?”

Radharani began cutting jokes: “No”, She said, “lt was impossible for me to bring Her in the daytime.”

Krishna said, “Then what am I to do? I can’t tolerate My life any longer.”

Radharani said, “If You say so, I can go to Candravali and bring her.”

“No, no,” Krishna said, “Curd cannot satisfy the thirst for milk. It is not possible!” Krishna was faint with disappointment.

Then Radharani embraced Him, saying, “My Lord, can’t You recognize Your maidservant? You failed to recognize Me!” Then Krishna was again full of joy.