Ashta Maha Sakhi

Radha Rani seated in a grove with Ashta Maha Sakhis

Shri Radha Rani has 8 most intimate eternal friends. They are not part of jeev shakti instead they are swansh (1) of Shri Radha and are governors of swaroop shakti (internal power of God). Each of these friends serves the Divine Couple (2) in their own unique way.

Here is the brief introduction of these Ashta Maha Sakhis-

Ashta Maha Sakhi

1.   Lalita: She is chief of all the 8 Maha Sakhis. Lalita Sakhi astutely speculates the amorous feelings of Shri Radha Madhav and ingeniously catalyzes them to act accordingly for each other. Her complexion is yellowish-white similar to the sandalwood-paste. Her favorite color of outfits is peacock -feather. Her main service (Seva) is to feed seasoned and beautifully folded betel-leaves to Shyama Shyam.

2.   Vishakha: She is most-treasured by the entire group of sakhis. Her complexion is fair and bright like the lightening. She likes to wear the garments, which remit the beauty of stars. She dresses up the divine couple in beautiful clothes of various colors. She is well versed in all kinds of arts of love-pastimes. She adores Shri Radha Rani extremely.

3.   Chittra: Her complexion is pink and her beauty shuns the beauty of millions of cupids. She likes to wear golden color clothes. She is an expert in offering a variety of most delicious juices with fragrances Priya-Priyatam would love and enjoy. Chittra Sakhi is very jovial and knows how to please Yugal Sarkar with her witticisms.

4.   Champaklata: Complexion of Champaklata is beautiful like the champak flower. She wears the most fascinating clothes of the color of sky. She is expert in preparing ever new varieties of scrumptious food for Shri Radha Krishna. She is well versed in pranks of love. Hence she talks to them correspondingly to make them happy.

5.   Rangdevi: The body of Sakhi Rangdevi is endowed with the fragrance and color of Lotus. Her beautiful red complexion is as charming as the flower Japakusum. She adorns the clothes of extremely beautiful color like that of and indravadhuti (a scarlet-red velvety insect). She adorns the divine couple with various ornaments. She is exceptional in adorning Priya Priyatam. She is always with Radha Rani like a shadow.

6.   Sudevi: Complexion of Sakhi Sudevi is bright like lightening, which pilfers the heart of cupid. Her outfit of green / saffron color enhances her beauty so much, as she is the essence of beauty. Her expertise at braiding hair fascinates Yugal Sarkar. She also puts collyrium artistically filling the cores of Their eyes exquisitely. She is favorite of both Radha and Krishna.

7.   Tungvidya: Her infinite beauty and fair complexion puts to shame even the personified Beauty. She looks beautiful in yellow silken clothes. She entertains Priya Priyatam by singing various ragas along with their respective alaap and taan playing on various instruments. She is mostly found in the coterie of Shri Radha Krishna.

8.   Indulekha: She is very popular amongst all the sakhis. Her complexion is dark yellow like turmeric. She wears red clothes. She teaches the esoteric secrets of divine love to the divine couple Shri Radha - Krishna. She is expert in many arts of hypnotism and mesmerism as well, which immensely entertains the Divine couple.