Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Radha
Krishna withdraws from the circle of cowherd women and takes Radha with him. Her delight becomes pride, and when she asks to be carried he disappears, leaving her alone and grieving in the forest. The other women find Radha and join her in the search. Krishna eventually returns and makes his appearance manifold in the dance, so that each woman experiences him as her own companion.
Also known as Rādhā
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalKrishna withdraws from the circle of cowherd women and takes Radha with him. Her delight becomes pride, and when she asks to be carried he disappears, leaving her alone and grieving in the forest.
Further detail
TraditionalThe other women find Radha and join her in the search. Krishna eventually returns and makes his appearance manifold in the dance, so that each woman experiences him as her own companion.
Context & interpretation
The entry follows Radha in the collection’s dance-of-love episode. This is one traditional narrative treatment rather than a complete account of her theology or worship. The multiple appearance and disappearance of Krishna remain attributed story elements.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
he took only Radha with him and vanishedOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 286
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0286
- Original scan leaf
- 286
- Recorded leaf number
- 286
- Current Reader position
- 277
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
He made his appearance manifoldOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 289
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0289
- Original scan leaf
- 289
- Recorded leaf number
- 289
- Current Reader position
- 280
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Ashvins
The twin divine physicians whose gift of youth earns a place in the gods’ offerings.
Same subject and traditionBalarama
Krishna’s brother, associated in the collection with the serpent Shesha.
Same subject and traditionBrahma
The creative aspect of the divine, distinct in the collection from the absolute Brahman.
Same subject and traditionGanesha
The elephant-headed figure of success, wisdom and the removal of obstacles.
