One day, during a conversation, our Guru Maharaj HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji remarked that devotees who visit Madhurapuri Ashram often report of getting the darshan of Radha Devi. Even recently Radha Devi appeared in the dreams an Ashram resident. When asked Him as to why the devotees get Radha Devi’s darshan and not Thakurji’s (Lord Krishna’s) in spite of Thakurji’s divine presence and regular Mahamantra chanting, Sri Swamiji quoted from Brahmanda Purana, the birth of Radha Devi.
Vrishabhanu Maharaj, the father of Radha Rani, did not have progeny for a long time. He performed penance on the Divine Mother, Saraswathi Devi. Saraswathi Devi appeared and asked him to get a mantra from his Guru and perform japa. Thus Maharishi Krithu gave Vrishabhanu Maharaj the Mahamantra
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
Vrishabhanu Maharaj performed japa with utmost sincerity. A few days later Kaathyayini Devi, who is verily Durga Devi appeared in front of him and offered a boon. Since he did not pray for Durga Devi to appear, he did not ask for any boon but humbly prostrated. The Goddess could read the mind of Vrishabhanu and his longing for a child. So she offered a box to Vrishabhanu and asked him to continue his mantra japa.
Vrishabhanu continued his japa with even more shradda from this point on. A few days later Radha Devi as a baby came out of the box given to Vrishabhanu Maharaj. This charitra has been depicted in the Uttara Kanda of Bhramanda Purana.
Shri Swamiji continued that this is the reason why even though Mahamantra is continuously chanted in our Ashram, the devotees are blessed with the darshan of Radha Devi.
Extracted from ‘Madhuramana Mahaniyar’ , article by Dr Bhagyanathanji from Madhuramurali magazine Dec 2010
