A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

R
Rädhä, also Rädhikä
The favourite GOPÏ of Kø•æa, wife of
Ayana Gho•a, a cowherd of Vøndävana.
Rädhä is seen as the earthly appearance
of LAKÆMÏ. She is the focus of attention
in GAU¥IYA VAIÆŒAVISM, at one and the
same time mediatrix and role model for
devotees. A large literature has developed
around her and her worship even
outshines that of Kø•æa among the
Rädhä-Vallabhis. She is the epitome of
passionate devotion. (See also CAITANYA.)
Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli
(1888–1975)
Born in Tirutani, Tamilnäõü and educated
in Christian schools and colleges,
he rose not only to the highest office in
the Republic of India (vice-president
1952–62; president 1962–67) but also
became the most prominent and bestknown
exponent of Hinduism in the
modern world. Beginning with an MA
thesis on ‘The Ethics of Vedänta’, he
systematially explored and explained
Hinduism in a large number of English
publications, such as History of Indian
Philosophy, The Hindu View of Life
and Eastern Religions and Western
Thought. He had a distinguished academic
career in India as professor of philosophy
at the universities of Mysore
and Calcutta, as vice-chancellor of
Andhra University and Benares Hindu
University, and was Spalding Professor
of Eastern Religions at Oxford
(1931–36). He also served as India’s
representative at UNESCO (1946–52),
where he took a leading role in organizing
important conferences. He was
among the first to plead for dialogue
among religions.
Radhasoami Satsang
Sect founded by Siv Dayal Singh in the
mid-19th century, who declared Radhasoami,
‘Lord of the Soul’, to be the only
appropriate name of God. Its teaching
consists in guiding the aspirant through
the lower reaches of the cosmos into
higher realms of reality. Several branches
split off from the original foundation,
which adds the name ‘Beas’ to identify
itself.
räga
Musical mode, personified as male,
with rägiæï as consort, often illustrated
in miniatures (Rägamälä).
rägänuga bhakti
(‘passionate devotion’)
A highly emotional form of BHAKTI
developed by the CAITANYA school of
GAU¥ÏYA VAIÆŒAVISM, in which the
passionate absorption in Kø•æa of the
GOPÏS of Vøndävana provides the model.