The wonderful childhood Marriage Ceremony of Srimati Radha and Krsna happened when they were both only about two or three years old.

Srimati Radharani and Krsna’s marriage.

The forest of Bhandiravana is most famous because it was at this place under the celebrated banyana tree known as Bhandira Vata, that Radha and Krsna were married.

The wonderful story of this pastime was spoken by Srila Narada Muni and has been recorded in the Garga Samita as follows-

One day, Nanda Maharaja came to Bhandiravana from Gokula to graze his cows near the banks of the Yamuna, and was carrying his little boy Krsna in his arms.

By the will of yogamaya, a strong wind suddenly began to blow causing all the leaves on the trees to fall and ripples to appear over the surface of the Yamuna. 

The sky immediately became dark and overcast as blackish rain clouds assembled threateningly overhead.

When the clouds loudly thundered, Krsna became frightened and started to cry, forcing Nanda Maharaja to cuddle Him closer to his chest. The day seemed to turn into night as darkness spread in all directions.

Just then, a shining light as brilliant as ten million suns appeared from nowhere. 

From within that shining light, Nanda Maharaja could see standing before him, the youthful, charming, and exquisitely beautiful form of Srimati Radharani, the daughter of his friend Vrishabhanu.

She bore the luster of a thousand moons and was wearing a deep blue sari and Her pinkish lotus feet were decorated with golden anklets that jingled sweetly.

She was adorned with a golden waistband, a necklace, armlets, and bangles, and She wore a pearl in Her nose that appeared like a small moon orbiting Her full moon-like face. 

She had a golden Sri-kanta around Her neck, glittering golden earrings, and a glittering jewel-studded diadem situated on Her head.

Nanda Maharaja was struck with wonder at Her effulgence which appeared to light up the entire world. 

He immediately bowed his head and offered his heartfelt respects to Radharani saying-

“See this child in my arms, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and I know that You are His eternal consort. 

Oh Radhe! I have heard this great secret from Gargamuni, therefore take this child, Your Lord, from my arms, He has become frightened due to the thundering of the clouds.”

Srimati Radharani then took Krsna in Her arms and as Nanda Maharaja offered his humble obeisances, She entered the Bhandiravana forest holding Krsna tightly in Her embrace.

At that very moment, the holy land of Vrindavana assumed a divine form, the dark rain-clouds scattered and the wind subsided into a gentle breeze. 

Bhumi Devi, the mother earth and consort of Lord Visnu, appeared there in her eternal form causing the earth to flourish as if it was spring-time.

The gopis headed by Vrinda Devi, also appeared there along with the cowherd boys to witness this wonderful special occasion. 

The crystal clear waters of the Yamuna glistened and became beautified by jeweled staircases and golden terraces. 

In the distance, the rocks on Govardhana Hill appeared like great jewels and its peaks shone like gold. With its cascading waterfalls and deep caverns, its huge body appeared like the king of elephants. 

The sweet smelling lotus flowers in the lakes around Vrindavana began to bloom simultaneously, causing the bumblebees to become madly intoxicated by the delicate aroma that emanated from them.

The peacocks, cuckoos, pigeons, and other song-birds began to resound, creating a celestial chorus that permeated the entire forest of Bhandiravana. In each of the nikunjavans, multicolored banners flapped joyously in the breeze announcing a very special event.

Then the Lord of creation, who was being carried in the arms of Radha, suddenly assumed His eternal youthful form of Govinda, that defeated millions upon millions of Cupids, and clasping the hand of His beloved Radha, They both gracefully entered the nuptial arena that was decorated with all the paraphernalia for a wedding ceremony.

Then as the "Divine Couple" Radha and Krsna sat down beneath the Bhandira Vata on a golden throne, Lord Brahma, who was to officiate as the head priest, arrived there with the host of demigods through the celestial airways. 

After offering His humble obeisance’s by bowing down, He began to speak brilliant words in glorification saying,

“Anyone who speaks about Your divine transcendental attributes and sings Your praises automatically achieves complete beauty, wealth and perfection, even in this life! Even though you are equal to each other, nevertheless, for the sake of fulfilling local customs, I am going to perform Your marriage ceremony.”

Lord Brahma then kindled the sacrificial fire and after offering oblations into it, then asked Radha and Krsna to accept each other’s hands.

After chanting the sacred Vedic mantras, and seeing that the corners of Their clothing was tied together, Brahma requested the "Divine Lovers" to circumambulate the sacrificial fire seven times according to the Vedic system.

After this, Lord Brahma had Radha place Her hand on Krsna’s chest and Krsna’s hand on Radha’s back, after which They recited their wedding vows and offered garlands to each other.

At that moment, the demigods showered flowers from the sky, and while playing on various musical instruments and beating on hundreds of celestial drums; they began dancing along with their beautiful wives in great transcendental ecstasy.

Philosophical Considerations Regarding the Marriage of Radha and Krsna. 

This incident of the marriage ceremony between Radha and Krsna was enacted for the specific pleasure of Lord Brahma and the demigods. This pastime fulfilled their desire to see Radha and Krsna married together in a wedding ceremony in accordance with the standard social customs of Vedic culture.

This was because Lord Brahma knew in the future that the Divine pastimes of parakiya-rasa revealed by Radha and Krsna on the earthly plain, would be severely criticized and misunderstood by mundane moralists and so-called religionists.

Lord Brahma therefore, to preempt all false criticism, personally performed Their marriage ceremony while Radha and Krsna were still in Their infancy. 

According to Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy as propounded by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, in Their original manifested forms are not married, but remain as eternal lovers in the mood of parakiya-bhava, which means a conjugal relationship as paramours.

This is because the super-excellent parakiya-bhava manifests the greatest transcendental pleasure for Radha and Krsna as well as Their eternal servitors the gopis.

Thus is therefore regarded as the most superior form of bhava or loving mood within the category of madhurya-rasa, which is itself considered the most superior amongst the five essential rasas.

Another point is that at the time of this ceremony at Bhandiravana, both Radha and Krsna were still only about two or three years old and enjoying Their kaumara-lilas, or pastimes as little children at Gokula and Ravala respectively.

This manifestation of the wedding ceremony at Bhandiravana was certainly a unique spiritual event similar to the secret manifestation of the Yoga-pitha, or the pastimes of aprakata-lila.

To win Krsna's favour you first must please Srimati Radharani.

Srila Prabhupada - "Rādhārāṇī is hari-priyā, very dear to Kṛṣṇa. So if we approach Kṛṣṇa through Rādhārāṇī, through the mercy of Rādhārāṇī, then it becomes very easy. If Rādhārāṇī recommends that "This devotee is very nice," then Kṛṣṇa immediately accepts, however fool I may be because it is recommended by Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa accepts.

Therefore in Vṛndāvana you'll find all the devotees, they're chanting more Rādhārāṇī's name than Kṛṣṇa's. Rādhārāṇī can deliver Kṛṣṇa. She is so great devotee, the emblem of mahā-bhāgavata. Even Kṛṣṇa cannot understand what is Rādhārāṇī's quality.

Even Kṛṣṇa, although He says vedāhaṁ samatītāni (BG 7.26), "I know everything," still, He fails to understand Rādhārāṇī.

In order to understand Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa accepted the position of Rādhārāṇī. When Kṛṣṇa wanted to understand Himself, He took the tendency of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and that is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalita.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, but He has accepted the propensities of Rādhārāṇī.

As Rādhārāṇī is always in feelings of separation of Kṛṣṇa, similarly, in the position of Rādhārāṇī, Lord Caitanya was feeling separation of Kṛṣṇa. That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya, feelings of separation, not meeting. 

The process of devotional service taught by Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His disciplic succession is how to feel separation from Kṛṣṇa. That is Rādhārāṇī's position, always feeling the separation.

The Gosvāmīs in Vṛndāvana never said that "I have seen Kṛṣṇa." Although they were the most perfect, they never said that "I have seen Kṛṣṇa." Their prayers were like this: he rādhe! vraja-devike! he nanda-suno! kutaḥ. He rādhe, Rādhārāṇī, he rādhe! vraja-devike! ca.

Rādhārāṇī does not remain alone. He (She) remains always with His (Her) friends, vraja-devī, Lalitā or Viśākha and other damsels of Vṛndāvana.

So the Gosvāmīns are praying, in their mature stage, when they were living at Vṛndāvana, they were praying in this way, he rādhe! vraja-devike! ca lalite! he nanda-suno! kutaḥ:

"Where is Rādhārāṇī, where are You? Where are Your associates? Where are You hiding? Nanda-suno, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa, where are you and Radharani?" They are all searching. They never said, "I have seen Kṛṣṇa dancing with the gopīs. Last night I saw." (laughter) 

This is sahajiyā mentality. This is not a mature devotee. This is called... They are called sahajiyā, they take everything very cheap—Kṛṣṇa very cheap, Rādhārāṇī very cheap—as if they can see every night. 

No, the Gosvāmīs do not teach us like that! They're searching after. He rādhe! vraja-devike! ca lalite! he nanda-suno! kutaḥ, śrī-govardhana-pādapa-tale kālindī-vanye kutaḥ: 

"Are you there under the Govardhana Hill or on the banks of the Yamunā, where are You?" 

Kālindī-vanye kutaḥ. Ghoṣantāv iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair mahā-vihvalau.

Their business was crying like this, "Where You are? Where You are, Rādhārāṇī? Where you are, Lalitā, Viśākha, the associates of Rādhārāṇī? Where are You Kṛṣṇa? Are You near Govardhana Hill or on the bank of the Yamunā?" Ghoṣantāv iti sarvato vraja-pure.

So throughout the whole tract of Vṛndāvana they were crying and searching after Them, khedair mahā-vihvalau, as if madman. 

Khedair mahā-vihvalau. Vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau." (Radhastami, Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day London, Aug 29, 1971)^

Compiled by Gauragopala Dasa Acbsp (initiated by Srila Prabhupada on July 10th 1972).