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10 versionsKṛṣṇa is the lover of Rādhā. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves of Vṛndāvana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, the holder of the great hill named Govardhana, the beloved son of Mother Yaśodā, and the delighter of the inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River Yamunā.
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About Jaya Radha Madhava
Jaya Radha Madhava is one of the shortest songs on this site, a single verse, and one of the most sung. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura published it in 1893 as part of his collection Gitavali, under the formal title Jaya Radha-Krsna Giti. In just a few lines it names almost everything that defines Vrindavana at once: Krsna and Radha together, Govardhana Hill, the Yamuna, mother Yasoda, and the cowherd community of Vraja. That completeness is likely why Srila Prabhupada, founder-acarya of ISKCON, made a habit of singing this exact verse before beginning almost every one of his classes, a practice his students continued long after, so that for many devotees today it functions as the standard invocation before philosophical instruction begins. Prabhupada once described it simply as a picture of Vrindavana: Krsna is there, Radha is there, the gopis, the Yamuna, Yasoda, everything is there in one breath. With recordings on this page by many different singers, it remains one of the most widely performed of Bhaktivinoda's songs.
Srila Prabhupada on this song
In a class given in New York on July 20, 1971, Srila Prabhupada spoke on this song:
“As the Gopi-jana-vallabha, His only business is how to protect gopi-jana. So our Krsna consciousness movement is how to become one of the gopi-jana. Then Krsna will save us from any danger”
In a class given in Gorakhpur on February 14, 1971, Srila Prabhupada spoke on this song:
“His business is to please the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. That's all.”
Excerpted from Srila Prabhupada's recorded classes, © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Read the complete purport at the Vanisource link above.
Frequently asked
Who wrote Jaya Radha Madhava?
Jaya Radha Madhava was composed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. It appears in Songs of Vaishnava Acaryas.
What is the meaning of Jaya Radha Madhava?
Kṛṣṇa is the lover of Rādhā. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves of Vṛndāvana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, the holder of the great hill named Govardhana, the beloved son of Mother Yaśodā, and the delighter of the inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River Yamunā.
Where can I listen to Jaya Radha Madhava?
You can listen to 10 recordings of Jaya Radha Madhava on this page, including versions sung by Srila Prabhupada, HG Gauranga Prabhu, HG Vaiyasaki Prabhu, HG Swarupa Damodar Prabhu.
How many verses does Jaya Radha Madhava have?
Jaya Radha Madhava has 1 verse.
Can I download Jaya Radha Madhava as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Jaya Radha Madhava — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.
Audio courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree, ISKCON Devotees. All glories to the devotee singers.