Śrī Rādhā Govinda
History
Shown here is a photograph of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Govinda, the first Deities worshiped by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda. They were lovingly given to him during his childhood by his father, Śrī Gour Mohan De, when Śrīla Prabhupāda was known as Abhay Charan De.
Śrīla Prabhupāda deeply cherished these Deities throughout his life and would often carry Them with him during his travels. For many years, They remained in the care of his sister, affectionately known as Piśimā. According to Śrutirūpā Devī Dāsī (ACBSP), Piśimā later entrusted these Deities to ISKCON Śrī Māyāpur, where They were worshiped with devotion.
According to Śyāmasundara Dāsa, on 25 March 1982, the original Deities, along with Śālagrāma Gadādhara, were tragically stolen by dacoits and have never been recovered. To preserve the memory of these beloved Deities and Their intimate connection with Śrīla Prabhupāda, a photograph of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Govinda is respectfully displayed on the altar of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava in ISKCON Śrī Māyāpur, serving as a lasting reminder of Their cherished place in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s life and devotional service.
In remembrance of these cherished childhood Deities and his lifelong devotion to Them, Śrīla Prabhupāda also named the presiding Deities of ISKCON Kolkata—his hometown—Śrī Śrī Rādhā Govinda, who continue to be worshiped in the ISKCON Kolkata temple today.
Prabhupāda: A child naturally wants to play, so he can play with Kṛṣṇa Deity. We had the opportunity of doing that. My father was worshiping Kṛṣṇa Deity. So I wanted to imitate him, and he gave me small Deity. That still, that Deity is still worshiped. My sister and myself, whatever we were eating, we were offering exactly the same arcana. And father used to encourage. This Ratha-yātrā and Rādhā-Go . . . Kṛṣṇa temple which we are propagating, it was, from the very beginning of our life, was initiated by our parents. So anyone can initiate his child to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness understanding from the very beginning, without any education, without any knowledge.
(720601 – Lecture SB 02.03.15 – Los Angeles)
Prabhupāda: And that is the inspiration of my devotional life. Then I asked my father that, “Give me Rādhā-Govinda Deity, I shall worship.” So my father was also Vaiṣṇava. He gave me small Rādhā-Govinda Deity. I was worshiping in my house. Whatever I was eating, I was offering, and I was following the ceremonies of this Rādhā-Govinda with my small Deity. That Deity is still existing. I have given to my sister.
(760324 – Conversation – Calcutta – Radha-Govinda Mandir)
These children in Gurukula are the most fortunate children in the world, because right from the beginning they are having the association of Radha and Krishna. This was the case in my childhood also. My father was pure Vaisnava and he gave me and my sister the Radha Krishna Deities to worship and in this way we were trained. And still to this very day my sister is worshiping these very same Deities in Calcutta. So like this the children must be trained.
(730218 – Letter to Bhaktin Toni written from Sydney)
Prabhupāda: A child naturally wants to play, so he can play with Kṛṣṇa Deity. We had the opportunity of doing that. My father was worshiping Kṛṣṇa Deity. So I wanted to imitate him, and he gave me small Deity. That still, that Deity is still worshiped. My sister and myself, whatever we were eating, we were offering exactly the same arcana. And father used to encourage. This Ratha-yātrā and Rādhā-Go . . . Kṛṣṇa temple which we are propagating, it was, from the very beginning of our life, was initiated by our parents. So anyone can initiate his child to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness understanding from the very beginning, without any education, without any knowledge.
(720601 – Lecture SB 02.03.15 – Los Angeles)
In my childhood, Radha-Govindaji were the source of my enjoyment. I asked my father to give me Radha-Govinda deities and he gave me and I worshiped. And I also asked him to give me ratha, and the ratha was going from my home by the side of Syamasundara.’s house.
(720509 – Letter to Bhavananda written from Honolulu)
