The Ashta Sakhis are eight prominent gopis, or companions, of Radha, Krishna's chief consort.
The Sanskrit term asta-sakhi refers to these eight dearest companions.
The Ashta Sakhis are considered to be an extension of Radha and are known for their unmatched love and care for Radha and Krishna.
The names of the Ashta Sakhis are:
Lalita, Visakha, Champakalata, Chitra, Tungavidya, Indulekha, Rangadevi, and Sudevi.
According to scriptures, Lalita's role was to arrange Radha and Krishna's meetings and pastimes in Dvapara Yuga.
In the spiritual realm, the Gopis of Braj enjoy a position higher than that of the creator Brahma, the protector Vishnu and the destroyer Shankar. Brahma, Vishnu, Shankar, together referred to as Tridev are Swansh of Shri Krishna Himself and are the all powerful Governors of this Brahmand. Yet, such is the glory of the Gopis that Creator Lord Brahma was unable to even attain their footdust, despite performing severe penance for 60,000 years.
There are 5 main characteristics of the Gopis:They possess intimate knowledge of the divinity of Shri Krishna yet, they do not reveal it.They adore Shri Krishna as Their beloved.They have surrendered everything including their own self unto Him.They have completely rejected the notion of self-happiness.Every thought and action of theirs is solely aimed towards the happiness of Shri Krishn.
Shri Krishna says to the Gopis –
न पारयेऽहं निरवद्यसंयुजां स्वसाधुकृत्यं विबुधायुषापि व: ।
na pāraye ’haṁ niravadya-saṁyujāṁ sva-sādhu-kṛtyaṁ vibudhāyuṣāpi vaḥ
या माभजन् दुर्जरगेह श्रृंखला: संवृश्च्य तद् व: प्रतियातु साधुना ॥
yā mābhajan durjara-geha-śṛṅkhalāḥ saṁvṛścya tad vaḥ pratiyātu sādhunā ॥
“O Gopis! You have abandoned all social and spiritual norms in my exclusive service. I am so indebted to you that even if I were to strive for 1000 celestial years to absolve myself from your debt, I’d be unable to do so”.
The gopis of Braj are endowed with the same beauty and virtues as Nitya Priya gopis - Shri Radha and Chandravali. The Ujjval Neelmani depicts:
हरैः साधारणगुणैरुपेतास्तस्य वल्लभाः ।
haraiḥ sādhāraṇaguṇairupetāstasya vallabhāḥ ।
पृथुप्रेम्णा सुमाधुर्य सम्पदाञ्चाग्रिमाश्रयाः ॥
pṛthupremṇā sumādhurya sampadāñcāgrimāśrayāḥ ॥
“The gopis are endowed with the same attributes, beauty and skills as Shri Krishna Himself. They are the epitome of sweetness and expertise”.
राधाचन्द्रावलीमुख्याः प्रोक्ता नित्यप्रिया ब्रजे ।
rādhācandrāvalīmukhyāḥ proktā nityapriyā braje ।
कृष्णवन्नित्यसौंदर्यवैदग्ध्यादिगुणाश्रयाः ॥
kṛṣṇavannityasauṃdaryavaidagdhyādiguṇāśrayāḥ ॥
“When Shri Krishna Himself manifests on this earth, as premavatar (descension with the sole aim of distributing divine love to deserving souls), the eternal gopis also take birth as the sakhis of Nitya Priya gopis. The parents of these eternal gopis are also divine personalities. Shri Radha and Chandravali are the foremost Nitya Priya gopis. The Nitya Priya gopis are the leaders of thousands of maidens of Braj who in turn are leaders of their own groups of millions of maidens of Braj”. But -
तयोरुभयोर्मध्ये राधिका सर्वथाधिका ।
tayorubhayormadhye rādhikā sarvathādhikā ।
महाभावस्वरूपेयं गुणैरतिवरियसी ॥
mahābhāvasvarūpeyaṃ guṇairativariyasī ॥
“In comparing Shri Radha and Chandravali, Shri Radha stands on the higher platform since She is the essence of Hladini Shakti and the personified form of Madan Mahabhav. She is also the Supreme reservoir of incomparable beauty, attributes and expertise."
Hence, Brahm Gautamiya tantra says -
राधा कृष्णमयी प्रोक्ता राधिका परदेवता ।
rādhā kṛṣṇamayī proktā rādhikā paradevatā ।
सर्व लक्ष्मीमयी सर्वकान्ति सम्मोहिनी परा ॥
sarva lakṣmīmayī sarvakānti sammohinī parā ॥
Shri Krishna with Chandravali
“Shri Radha is the personification of Shri Krishna. Infinite Goddess Lakshmis emanate from Shri Radha. The combined beauty of all Goddess Lakshmis can be compared to a drop of Shri Radha Rani’s beauty”.
All powers of Shri Krishna have a personified form. Hladini Shakti is the presiding power over all other powers. The essence of Hladini Shakti is Madan Mahabhav and its personified form is Shri Radha. The Tantra Samhita asserts,
ह्लादिनी या महाशक्तिः सर्वशक्तिवरीयसी ।
hlādinī yā mahāśaktiḥ sarvaśaktivarīyasī ।
तत्सारभूतरूपेयमिति तन्त्र प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
tatsārabhūtarūpeyamiti tantra pratiṣṭhitā ॥
“Hladini is the greatest power of Supreme Brahm Shri Krishna, the gist of Hladini is Madan Mahabhav. Shri Radha is the personified form of Madan Mahabhav”.
There are 8 most intimate eternal friends of Shri Radha. They are collectively referred to as Asht Maha Sakhi and are eternal associates of Shri Radha Krishna. They too are Swansh and are the governors of the power of Yogmaya.
They are the head of groups of millions of maidens of Braj (Yootheshwari), and due to Their insatiable desire for the constant association of Shri Radha Rani they serve Her. Their love for Shri Radha is exceptional and they willingly choose to be Her companions. The very life of these gopis is to serve the Divine Couple. Under the supervision of these Ashta Maha Sakhi, all gopis in their troupe get an opportunity to serve Yugal Sarkar.
These Ashta Maha Sakhi are so focused on the happiness of the Divine couple that They can also feel the desires of the Divine Couple. That’s why it’s said they dwell in the mind of the Divine Couple. The ideology of the love of Shri Radha is incomprehensible. The closest we can get to understanding it is by watching the actions of these gopis. Therefore, they are also called the body of Shri Radha (कायव्यूह स्वरूपा).
Under the leadership of these Ashta Maha Sakhi are millions of gopis who serve the Couple in many different ways. Although they don't have meetings to discuss and decide every detail, nevertheless there is perfect synchronization and harmony in everything they do. For example, Their clothes are prepared by one group of gopis and their jewelry by another, yet everything matches perfectly. All songs, musical instruments and dances are in perfect harmony with no practice.
In conclusion
Right from the stage of Sadhana Bhakti, we need to take a cue from the selfless love of gopis and aim to love Shri Krishna as our beloved and Shri Radha as our swamini. We should love Radha Krishna - The Divine Couple selflessly; letting not even a trace of self happiness harbor in our hearts. Initially, it may not be possible to fully implement this sentiment, yet the intent must be right. It’s because God accepts our intention over our actions. Eventually, as the mind gets purified, by the grace of Hari-Guru our love for God will become selfless. One fortunate day, when all our material afflictions are cleansed, by the grace of a Rasik Saint like Shri Maharaj Ji we too can reach the highest stature of bhakti and become a gopi and serve the divine couple under the guidance of these Ashta Maha Sakhis.
चंद्रावली आदि गोविंद राधे। घृत प्रेम की उदाहरण बता दे ॥ 5730
caṃdrāvalī ādi goviṃda rādhe। ghṛta prema kī udāharaṇa batā de ॥ 5730
सर्वश्रेष्ठ मधु प्रेम गोविंद राधे। स्वाभाविक निरपेक्ष बता दे ॥ 5731
sarvaśreṣṭha madhu prema goviṃda rādhe। svābhāvika nirapekṣa batā de ॥ 5731
- राधा गोविंद गीत
जगद्गुरूत्तम स्वामी श्री कृपालु जी महाराज
Prem is classified as Ghrit Prem and Madhu Prem. The word ghrit signifies ghee or clarified butter. Its consistency varies greatly with differences in temperature for instance, it melts when heated and solidifies when cooled. The word madhu means "honey". Honey is known to always retain its consistency. Its character remains unblemished by seasonal fluctuations, such as winter, summer, rain and so on.
So Chandravali's and others' love is like ghrit prem. It increases when she gets love and attention of the beloved Shri Krishna. But Shri Radha's love or madhu prem is ever-increasing, ever-new and limitless. It does not demand anything in return and that is why it is of utmost superiority.
In Vrindavan very near to Shri Bihariji temple, is the temple called Ashta Sakhi temple or Shri Radha Ras Bihari temple. The temple is centuries old and is dedicated to the divine couple and their Ashta Sakhi’s - the eight “friends” of Shri Radha who were intimately involved in her intimate pastimes. The temple is called – Shree Radha Ras Behari Ashta Sakhi Mandir and it is home to the divine Ras Leela of Lord Krishna and Radharani. It is located in close proximity to the Banke Behari mandir. The temple has been recently restored and modernized with exemplary attention to detail. Of the eight sakhis, two – i.e Lalita and Vishaka are considered to be the leaders. All the sakhis have a single mission – to serve Radha Krishn and they are her foremost friends and companions. The eight sakhis are: Lalita, Vishakha, Champaklata, Chitra, Tungvidya, Indulekha, Rangdevi, Sudevi.
Asta SakhisThe sakhis are of five kinds: they are known as sakhis, nitya-sakhis, prana-sakhis priya-sakhis and parama-prestha-sakhis. Among them, some are equally affectionate towards Radha and Krsna, while some are crookedly affectionate towards Them. Kusumita, Vindhya, Kunda lata, and Dhanistha are known as sakhis. They are more affectionate towards Sri Krsna. Kasturi, Mani-manjari, etc., are nitya-sakhis, and they are more affectionate towards Sri Radhika. Therefore, they are counted among the crookedly affectionate sakhis. Sasti-manjari, Vasanti, Lasika etc., are called prana-sakhis. Sumadhya, Madana-lasa, etc., are called priya-sakhis. The eight sakhis such as Lalita, Visakha etc., are called param-prestha sakhis. Although these eight sakhis are equally affectionate towards Radha and Krsna, still sometimes they are more affectionate towards Sri Radhika.Descriptions of the Colors and Dresses of the Sakhis:Lalita: (Svarupa Damodara in gaura-lila); her other name is Anuradha. Her complexion is beautiful bright yellow (gorocana). Her dress is the color of peacock feathers. Her mother's name is Saradi. Her father's name is Bisoka. Her so-called husband is Bhairava. She is of a sharp and contrary nature. She is twenty-seven days older than Radhika. Her services include offering betel nuts and camphor. She resides in Lalitananda Kunja, which resembles the colour of lightning. Her residence is situated on the northern-side of the lotus shaped Yogapitha consisting of eight petals. Ratnaprabha, Ratikeli, Subhadra, Bhadrarekhika, Sumukhi, Dhanistha, Kalahamsi and Kalapini belong to her group.Visakha: (Raya Ramananda in gaura-lila); her complexion is cream-colored with a tinge of red. Her dress is bedecked with stars. She is a niece of Jatila. Her mother's name is Daksina. Her father's name is Pawan. Her so-called husband is Bahika. Her nature is marginal. She was born the same time as Radhika. Her service is to decorate Radha and Krsna with cloths and ornaments. She resides in cloud-colored Visakhananda Kunja on the northern side of Yogapitha. Madhavi, Malati, Chandralekha, Kunjari, Harini, Chapala, Surabi, and Subanana belong to her group.Chitra: (Govindananda in gaura-lila); she has a beautiful saffron complexion. Her dress is crystalline in color. Her mother's name is Charbika. Her father's name is Chatura, who is the cousin of King Vrsabhanu. Her so-called husband is Pithra. She has a gentle nature. She is twenty-six days younger than Radharani. Her service is to offer garlands of cloves to Radha and Krsna. She resides in wonderful Chitrananda Kunja, situated on the eastern part of the Yogapitha. Rasalika, Tilakini, Souraseni, Sugandhika, Ramila, Kamanagari, Nagari, and Nagabelika belong to her group.Indurekha: (Basu Ramananda in gaura-lila); her complexion is of greenish yellow, her dress is like pomegranate flowers. Her mother's name is Bela, her father's name is Sagar. Her so-called husband is Durbala. She has a contrary nature. She is three days younger than Radharani. Her service is to offer honey. She resides in golden-colored Purnedra Kunja on the south-eastern petal of the Yogapitha. Tungabhadra, Rasatunga, Rangawati, Sumangala, Chitralekha, Vichitrangi, Modani, and Madanalasa are the sakhis that belong to her group.Champakalata: (Sivananda Sen in gaura-lila); her complexion is like the champaka flower. Her dress is like the Casa bird. Her mother's name is Vatika, her father's name is Arama. Her so-called husband is Chandaksa. Her nature is mild and gentle. She is one day younger than Radharani. Her service is offering jewels and the camara. She resides in Kamalata Kunja situated on the southern petal of the Yogapitha. In her group are: Kurungaksi, Sucharita, Manjali, Manikundala, Chandrika, Chandralatika, Kandukaksi, and Sumandira.Rangadevi: (Govinda Gosh in gaura-lila); her complexion is like that of a lotus flower. Her dress is the color of hibiscus flower. Her mother's name is Karuna, her father's name is Ranga-sara. Her so-called husband is Vakreksana. Her nature is medium-contrary. She is seventeen days younger than Radharani. Her service is offering sandalwood pulp. She resides in bluish Rangadevi-kunja situated on the south-western petal of the Yogapitha. The following sakhis belong to her group: Kalakanthi, Sasikala, Kamala, Madhura, Indira, Kandarpa Sundari, Kamalatika and Prema-manjari.Tungavidya: (Vakresvara Pandita in gaura-lila); her complexion is like kumkum mixed with camphor and sandalwood. She dresses in yellow garments. Her mother's name is Medha. Her father's name is Pauskara. Her so-called husband is Valish. Her nature is most liberal. She is five days younger than Radharani. Her service is singing and dancing. She resides in orange colored Tungavidya-kunja situated on the western petal of Yogapitha. Manjumedha, Sumadhura, Sumadhya, Madhureksana, Tanumadhya, Madhusyanda, Gunachuda, and Barangada sakhis belong to her group.Sudevi: (Vasudeva Ghosh in gaura-lila); the twin sister of Rangadevi. Her complexion and dress is the same as Rangadevi. Her so-called husband is the younger brother of Vakreksana. She has a sharp, contrary nature. Her service is offering water. She resides in yellow-colored Sudevi-kunja situated on the north-western petals of the Yogapitha. Kaveri, Charukabara, Sukesi, Manjukuhi, Harahira, Mahahira, Hara-kanti, and Manohara sakhis belong to her group.Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare IHare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare II
