The Rādhā Cycle
From Līlā to Bhakti
Keywords:
Rādhā, Krishna, Bhakti, Vaishnava, Gītagovinda, Aesthetic theory, Līlā, Devotional poetry, Divine feminine, Rāsa LīlāAbstract
The article "The Rādhā Cycle: From Līlā to Bhakti" by Yarina Liston explores the theological and aesthetic evolution of Rādhā within Vaishnava literature. Beginning with her subtle presence in sacred texts and culminating in her divine stature, the article examines how literary depictions of Rādhā’s love for Krishna mirror the shifting dynamics of bhakti. Through phases of playful līlā, passionate longing, and theological glorification, Liston reveals Rādhā as both a poetic device and a divine embodiment of devotional idealism.