I shall not be attracted to any other woman henceforth,” she does not relent. Even when Krishna entreats her saying, “Do not be angry, O Radha! I plead with you. Radha returns to her abode disappointed only to be met by Krishna, who pretends to be in search of her calling out her name, “Radhe…Radhe.” When Radha turns her face away in anger, Krishna tries to pacify her. When Radha, on hearing about this, comes there in anger, Krishna turns Viraja into a river and hides himself. Sri Krishna is with his wife Viraja in Goloka. The Ashtapadi was composed with these two texts as its source. The Garga Samhita, which serves as an exposition to the Purana, also deals with this story in great detail, using an engaging manner to bring out the story’s philosophical significance. In the tenth purana, the Brahmavaivarta Purana, Vyasa narrates the story of Sri Radhakrishna. He gave the world deep, precious philosophical thoughts, through the eighteen puranas. It is such a devotee who is a parama-ekanti (the highest among the enlightened), a jeevan mukta (the liberated). However, the deep esoteric significance of these lilas is enjoyed only by the most enlightened of devotees. It is this concept that appeared embodied in the form of Radhakrishna and performed several lilas in order to lead the hearts of devotees into maturity. Parashakti, the Supreme Energy, is of the form of air which is favourable to convey sound or music. The Supreme Being, the Paramatma, is of the form of music.

The art of dance is a mingling of music with the ambient air. Of these, music and dance have very intense, personal significance.

Each of these offerings helps us to invoke the Lord’s karuna or compassion on us. Both music and dance are among the sixty-four kinds of offerings made to god at the time of pooja or worship. It was composed by Jayadeva at the Jagannatha Kshetra of Puri, while his wife, Padmavati, danced to its music. It is replete with elements conducive to bhakti rasa-music and dance. The Ashtapadi is a work by Jayadeva, a great devotee of Krishna.

Download Ashtapadi Lyrics Pdf