The Mystery of Rādhā’s Closed Eyes
When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was born in the house of King Vṛṣabhānu, all of Vraja was filled with joy. Her golden beauty shone brighter than the rising sun, and Her presence sanctified the entire land of Barsānā. Yet, there was one mystery that astonished everyone—Rādhārāṇī’s eyes remained closed from birth.
Days turned into weeks, and still the divine child did not open Her eyes. Queen Kīrtidā and King Vṛṣabhānu grew anxious. Learned brāhmaṇas, astrologers, and sages were invited to their home, and they all assured them that their daughter was no ordinary child but a divine personality whose reasons for such behavior were beyond human understanding.
The villagers, however, whispered among themselves, wondering if the princess of Vṛṣabhānu’s house might be blind. Yet, whenever they looked at Her face, their doubts melted away. Her serene smile, Her peaceful countenance, and the soft glow emanating from Her body convinced everyone that this was no ordinary girl.
The Arrival of Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā
In nearby Gokula, Nanda Mahārāja and Mother Yaśodā rejoiced in their own great fortune, for Kṛṣṇa had appeared as their son. One day, Nanda Mahārāja, along with Yaśodā and baby Kṛṣṇa, decided to visit their dear friends, King Vṛṣabhānu and Queen Kīrtidā, to share the happiness of their divine children.
When they arrived in Barsānā, they were warmly welcomed. Queen Kīrtidā immediately brought out baby Rādhā and placed Her in the arms of Yaśodā. Seeing Her exquisite beauty, Yaśodā’s eyes filled with tears of affection. “O Kīrtidā, your daughter is divine! But tell me, why has She not opened Her eyes?”
Kīrtidā sighed softly, “That is our sorrow, dear sister. Since Her birth, She has not seen this world. We have tried everything, yet She remains with eyes closed.”
Yaśodā looked upon Rādhā with compassion and said, “Do not worry. I will place my Kṛṣṇa before Her. Perhaps the sight of my son will awaken Her to this world.”
The Moment of Divine Recognition
With tender care, Yaśodā brought baby Kṛṣṇa near the cradle of Rādhārāṇī and placed Him beside Her. At that very moment, something wondrous happened.
As soon as Rādhā’s delicate body felt the nearness of Kṛṣṇa, a gentle smile appeared on Her lips. Slowly, Her eyelids fluttered open for the first time. Her gaze, filled with infinite love and recognition, fell upon the face of baby Kṛṣṇa.
Their eyes met—and the entire universe seemed to pause. The wind stopped blowing, the Yamunā’s waves grew still, and the birds ceased their singing. Even the demigods in the heavens looked on in awe, for this was the first time since the beginning of creation that Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa had looked upon each other in the material world.
The moment was beyond all description. Rādhārāṇī’s eyes, shaped like lotus petals and glimmering with divine tears, gazed upon Kṛṣṇa as if She had at last found what Her heart had eternally sought. Seeing Her open Her eyes, all of Barsānā rejoiced with tears, music, and dancing.
The Meaning of Rādhā’s Vision
From that day forward, it was said that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī opened Her eyes only to behold Kṛṣṇa and that Her eyes had no other purpose. Whenever She blinked, it was said that Kṛṣṇa’s absence during that fraction of a second caused Her heart pain. Such is the intensity of Her divine love—She cannot bear even a moment without His vision.
King Vṛṣabhānu and Queen Kīrtidā were overwhelmed with gratitude. They understood that their daughter was the embodiment of divine love itself, the energy that gives pleasure to Kṛṣṇa. From then on, the two families—Nanda and Vṛṣabhānu—became even more deeply united in affection.
Reflection
This sacred pastime of Rādhārāṇī opening Her eyes upon seeing Kṛṣṇa is rich with spiritual meaning. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the soul remains blind in the darkness of material existence until it beholds the Lord through devotion. Rādhā’s eyes opened only when She saw Kṛṣṇa—this teaches that true vision arises only when our hearts awaken to divine love.
Before seeing Kṛṣṇa, Rādhārāṇī kept Her eyes closed—not because She was unaware, but because there was nothing else worth seeing. Her example shows that real joy and awareness begin only when we turn our gaze toward God.
For us, this moment is a call to open our spiritual eyes. Just as Rādhā’s vision blossomed upon seeing Kṛṣṇa, our inner sight will open when we learn to see His presence everywhere—in our hearts, in others, and in every event of life.
Let us pray:
“O Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, open my eyes to behold Kṛṣṇa as You did. Remove the darkness of forgetfulness and ignorance. Let me see through the eyes of love, so that every sight, sound, and thought may remind me of His beauty. May my heart awaken in Your service, and may my life become an offering at Your lotus feet.”
