Chota Radha Madhava & Sri Mayapur Chandra

 

Information – The Chota Radha Madhava Deities on the altar are taken out in procession during festivals, such as Jhulana-yatra (the swing festival) and the boat festival. These deities have been worshipped in Mayapur since 1972.

Information – It was that same year, 1972, that small Radha- Madhava came to Māyāpur. “There were three sets of deities made, paid for by one of the Birlas,” Bhavananda says. “One set is in Boston, and these Deities here in Māyāpur, small Rādhā-Mādhava, were the ones Śrila Prabhupāda took on pandals. These Deities were the ones he sang Jaya Rādhā- Madhava to for the first time, then he said, ‘Keep Them here always.’ We built Them a little shed and Jananivāsa started worshipping Them.ā€
(‘Article Full of Abundant Grace’ by Braja Sevaki dasi, Mayapur Magazine 2006)

ŚrÄ«la Sanātana GosvāmÄ« has explained the various meanings of the word mādhava as follows: Mādhava normally indicates Kį¹›į¹£į¹‡a to be ā€œthe Lord, who is the consort of the goddess of fortune, Lakį¹£mÄ«.ā€ This name also implies that Lord Kį¹›į¹£į¹‡a descended in the dynasty of Madhu. Since the spring season is also known as Mādhava, it is understood that as soon as Lord Kį¹›į¹£į¹‡a entered the Vį¹›ndāvana forest, it automatically exhibited all the opulences of spring, becoming filled with flowers, breezes and a celestial atmosphere. Another reason Lord Kį¹›į¹£į¹‡a is known as Mādhava is that He enjoys His pastimes in madhu, the taste of conjugal love.
(SB 10.15.2 purport)

The beauty of Kį¹›į¹£į¹‡aā€™s smile is the sweetest feature of all. His smile is like a full moon that spreads its rays throughout the three worldsā€”Goloka Vį¹›ndāvana, the spiritual sky of the Vaikuį¹‡į¹­has, and DevÄ«-dhāma, the material world. Thus Kį¹›į¹£į¹‡aā€™s shining beauty spreads in all ten directions.
(CC Madhya 21.139)

Bhaktivinod Thakur has written this song ā€œJaya Radha Madhavaā€. The official name for this song is Jaya Radha Krsna Giti. Bhaktivinoda Thakura glories Shree Krishna and Sri Radha, Vrindavan and all the inhabitants of the Vrindavana Dham, Yamuna river, Yasoda, Govardan Hill. Hari Govinda has performed many pastimes in Vrindavava just for the pleasure of Sri Radhey and the Braj Vasis. This song is sung by Srila Prabhupada before commencing his lectures.

(1)
jaya rādhā-mādhava kuƱja-bihārī
gopī-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī
(2)
yaśodā-nandana braja-jana-raƱjana
yāmuna-tīra-vana-cārī

TRANSLATION
1) Krsna is the lover of Radha. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves of Vrndavana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, and the holder of the great hill named Govardhana.
2) He is the beloved son of mother Yasoda, the delighter of the inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River Yamuna!