Radha the Eternal Beauty of Indian Literature

by Shila Purkayastha

The present book entitled "Radha the Eternal Beauty of Indian Literature" is a detailed study of the Radha-legend and Radha-cult which remain extensively scattered over written and oral literature of India covering both Sanskrit, Prakrta and regional languages of the country. It deals with the colourful character of the most popular and famous lady of Indian tradition.

The present work is presented in eleven chapters in which the Radha-legend with a special emphasis on the character of the legendary lady- who is partly human and partly divine- as reflected in different lyrics, poeties, Puranas, Dramas, Campu-Kavyas, Pancaratra, Upanisadic and Tantric texts is dealt with.

• The first chapter is a general introduction to the Radha episode. In this chapter, the meaning of the name of Radha and the Radha legend found in different sources is discussed generally.
• The second chapter entitled "The origin and development of the character of Radha in secular and religious literature : a study" presents a detailed discussion on the origin and the evolution of the Radha legend with the help of Prakrta and Sanskrit sources which embrace both religious and secular literature including lyrical poems, dramas, Puranas, Tantra, Pancaratra and Upanisadic texts.
• The third chapter is exclusively dedicated to the Radha legend found in the lyrical poems. Prominent lyrical poems in the Stotra-literature dedicated to Radha legend have also been discussed in this chapter.
• Chapter four deals with Radha as the supreme Sakti of Lord Visnu or Krsna.
• Chapter five pays a glowing tribute to Radha as a Goddess as it is confined to the study of the character of Radha as a Goddess described in the Purana literature.
• In chapter six, Radha-story delineated in the Campu-Kavyas is critically discussed.
• Chapter seven deals with the Radha-story delineated in the Sanskrit dramas.
• Chapter eight of this book is devoted to the main poetic works of Rupa Goswami.
• Chapter nine deals in detail with the Radha-cult propagated in the Radhatantra, the only Tantric text on Radha.
• Chapter ten discusses in detail the Naradapancaratra and the Radha philosophy. Naradapancaratra is the only "Pancaratra" - text of the Vaisnavas which extensively deals with the divine character of Radha.
• Chapter eleven is a the concluding chapter and an endeavour is made to estimate the character of Radha reflected in different works in Sanskrit, Prakrta and regional languages of the country. She enjoys a very wide popularity as it can be imagined from the Radha-cult which have spread even into the secular literature of the different regions of India. Radha exerts a deep influence in Indian mind through her multi-coloured character. She has occupied an exalted position in both secular and religious texts.

The author has utilised rare works like the Radhatantra in order to make the study on the legendary character of Radha a comprehensive one. Thus, the author has made a successful attempt in bringing to the light of common readers and learned academy the multi-colour character of this "wonder lady".