Radha Ashtami Vrat Katha and Puja Vidhi

Radha Ashtami has great religious significance in Hinduism. This festival is one of the most revered festivals dedicated to Goddess Radha or beloved Radha Rani. Radha ji's birth anniversary is celebrated on this day. This festival is being celebrated on the Ashtami date of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month 11 September 2024. If you also keep the fast of Radha Ashtami, then let us know about it.

Radha Ashtami 2024 Date

According to the panchang, this year the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month will start on Tuesday, September 10 at 11:11 pm and this Tithi will end on the next day, Wednesday, September 11 at 11:46 pm. According to the Udaya Tithi, the holy festival of Radha Ashtami will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 11.

Radha Ashtami Significance

By keeping the fast of Radha Ashtami, one gets the blessings of Lord Krishna as well as Radha Rani. It is believed that by keeping the fast of Radha Ashtami, all types of sins are destroyed and virtue is attained. Also, the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled by the effect of this fast. It is believed that by keeping the fast of Radha Ashtami, married women get unbroken good fortune and children and their married life remains happy.

Radha Ashtami Vrat Vidhi

Radha Ashtami's fast can be observed either without water or fruits. People who observe Nirjala fast drink water and eat fast food after the evening puja. Talking about breaking the fast, Radha Ashtami's fast is broken the next morning.

Radhashtami Puja Vidhi

• Adorers wake up early in Brahma Muhurta and take a holy bath before starting the puja.

• Clean the house and puja room thoroughly.

• Bathe the idols of Radha Krishna with panchamrit and place them on a wooden plank.

• Dress the idols in beautiful clothes, jewelry, and fresh flowers.

• Light a lamp of desi ghee and offer bhog prasad along with fruits and sweets.

• Offer shringar items to Goddess Radha and seek her blessings.

• Recite Vedic mantras and hymns, with the Radha Gayatri Mantra being considered especially auspicious.

• Visit a Radha Krishna temple and worship Goddess Radha.

• End your fast in the evening after offering bhog prasad to the Goddess.

• Distribute bhog prasad among family, friends, and relatives.

• Organise bhajans, kirtans, and food stalls for the needy.

• Giving charity and feeding the poor on this day is considered very virtuous.

Radha Ashtami Vrat Katha

According to the story of Brahmavaivart Purana, Devarshi Narada, the incarnation of devotion to Lord Krishna, once bowed down to the feet of Lord Sadashiv and asked, O Mahatman! I am your servant. Tell me, is Shri Radha Devi Lakshmi or Devpatni? Is she Mahalakshmi or Saraswati? Is she Antarvidya or Vaishnavi Prakriti? Tell me, is she Vedkanya, Devkanya or Munikanya?

Hearing Narad ji's words, Sadashiv said - O Munivar! What else can I say with one mouth? I find myself unable to describe the beauty, attraction, and qualities of Shri Radha. I feel ashamed even in describing the glory of her beauty etc. No one in the three worlds can describe her beauty etc. The sweetness of her beauty is enough to fascinate even Shri Krishna who fascinates the world. Even if I try with infinite mouths, I cannot describe her.

Narad ji said - "O Lord! The significance of Shri Radhika ji's birth is superior in every way. O devotee-lover! I want to hear it." O Best One! Tell me about the Sri Radhastami fast, the best of all fasts. How is Sri Radhaji meditated upon? How is She worshipped or praised? Tell me all this wisely. O Sadashiv! I want to hear everything about Her daily routine, method of worship, and special prayers. Please tell me." Lord Shiva said - "King Vrishbhanu of Vrishbhanupuri was very generous. He was born into a great family and was a knower of all the scriptures.

He was endowed with eight types of siddhis like Anima-Mahima etc. He was rich, opulent, and charitable. He was self-controlled, noble, had good thoughts, and was a worshipper of Shri Krishna. His wife's name was Shrimati Shrikirtida. She was endowed with beauty and youth and was born into a great royal family. She was extremely beautiful and her form was also grand like Mahalakshmi. She was endowed with all the knowledge and qualities, was Krishnaswarupa, and was a great devotee of her husband. From her womb, on the Shukla Ashtami of Shubhda Bhadrapad, at noon, Shri Vrindavaneshwari Shri Radhika appeared.

"O Shresthi! Now listen to me about the duties of worship, rituals, etc. on the birth anniversary of Shri Radha. One should always keep a fast and worship her on the day of Shri Radha Janmashtami. In the temple, Shri Radha Krishna should be worshipped with many auspicious materials like flags, garlands, clothes, banners, festoons etc. 

After making the temple fragrant with praise and incense etc., make a pavilion with Panchvarni powder in the middle and make a lotus yantra with sixteen petals inside it. In the middle of that lotus, install a couple of Shri Radha Krishna facing west on a divine seat and worship them with meditation, water, etc., and worship them with devotion and restrained mind along with the devotees, taking worship material as per your capacity.

Conclusion

Radha ji is considered to be the form of Mahalakshmi. Radha ji was incarnated on the day of Radha Ashtami, so every year the festival of Radha Ashtami is celebrated on the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. If you are observing the fast of Radha Ashtami, then you can also strengthen your financial condition by taking some special measures. Radha ji is the form of Mahalakshmi ji, so the day of Radha Ashtami is considered special for getting wealth. If you want to know more about Radha Ashtami fast then talk to astrologers.