Krishna and Radha
By Kim Graae Munch.

Radha-Krishna

Krishna and Radha stands before Kali Yuga and gives the guidelines for how humanity should live under Kali Yuga. These two are the main powers behind the development on earth, the second and third logos. He is the sun god and she is the moon goddess, and they are both one and two. They work on earth through incarnations and through avatars. Steiner describes how a sun god moves from the Sun to the Moon.

I lacked knowledge on Radha, so I have searched in Indian sources to get a better idea about who this remarkable being is.

From Wikipedia: Radha Krishna

Radha-Krishna are collectively known within Hinduism as the combined forms of feminine as well as the masculine realities of God. Radha and Krishna are the primeval forms of God and his pleasure potency (Hladini Shakti) respectively in the Gaudiya Vaishnava school of thought.

It is believed that Krishna enchants the world, but Radha enchants even him. Therefore, she is the supreme goddess of all and together they are called as RadhaKrishna.

Vigneshwara cannot be broken into two – Krishna, the eighth incarnation (Avatar) of Vishnu, and his shakti Radha such was the love of Radha towards Krishna that they are one.

Shakti and Shaktiman

The common derivation of shakti and shaktiman, i.e. female and male principle in a god implies that shakti and shaktiman are the same.

Each and every god has its partner, 'betterhalf' or Shakti and without this Shakti, is sometimes viewed being without essential power.

It is a not uncommon feature of Hinduism when worship of a pair rather than one personality constitutes worship of God, such is worship of Radha Krishna. Traditions worshiping Krishna, as svayam bhagavan, who is male, include reference and veneration to his Radha, who is worshiped as supreme.

A view that exists of orthodox Krishnaism, the sect of the worship of Krishna, is that Radha is shakti and Krishna is shaktiman and are always found without any tinge of materialistic attributes or cause.

Radha

From Wikipedia: Radha

Radha, also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and a consort of the god Krishna. She is worshipped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion. She is described as the chief of gopis (milkmaids). During Krishna's youth, she appears as his lover and companion, though he is not married to her.

In contrast, some traditions accord Radha the status of the primary consort and wife of Krishna. Radha, as a supreme goddess in these traditions, is considered as the eternal female counterpart and the internal potency (hladini shakti) of Krishna, who resides with him in their abode Goloka.

Radha is sometimes considered as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi as in the Nimbarka Sampradaya and by some, as the feminine form of Krishna himself. Radha's birthday is celebrated annually as Radhashtami.

Radha is considered as a metaphor for the human spirit (atma), her love and longing for Krishna is theologically viewed as symbolic of the human quest for spiritual growth and union with the divine (brahman). She has inspired numerous literary works, and her Rasa lila dance with Krishna has inspired many types of performance arts.

She also appears in Hindu arts as Ardha Nari with Krishna, that is an iconography where half of the image is Radha and the other half is Krishna. This is found in sculpture such as those discovered in Maharashtra, and in texts such as Shiva Purana and Brahmavaivarta Purana. In these texts, this Ardha Nari is sometimes referred to as Ardharadhavenudhara murti, and it symbolizes the complete union and inseparability of Radha and Krishna.

The Radha-Krishna and Sita-Rama pairs represent two different personality sets, two perspectives on dharma and lifestyles, both cherished in the way of life called Hinduism.

Sita is traditionally wedded: the dedicated and virtuous wife of Rama, an introspective temperate paragon of a serious, virtuous man. Radha is a power potency of Krishna, who is a playful adventurer.

Radha and Sita offer two templates within the Hindu tradition. If "Sita is a queen, aware of her social responsibilities", states Pauwels, then "Radha is exclusively focused on her romantic relationship with her lover", giving two contrasting role models from two ends of the moral universe.

Yet they share common elements as well. Both face life challenges and are committed to their true love. They are both influential, adored and beloved goddesses in the Hindu culture.

Lakshmi

From Wikipedia: Lakshmi

Lakshmi (Lakṣmī, lit. 'she who leads to one's goal'), also known as Sri (Śrī, lit. 'Noble'), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, love, beauty, joy and prosperity, and associated with Maya ("Illusion"). Along with Parvati and Saraswati, she forms the trinity of Hindu goddesses (Tridevi).

Within the Goddess-oriented Shaktism, Lakshmi is venerated as a principle aspect of the Mother goddess. Lakshmi is both the wife and divine energy (shakti) of the Hindu god Vishnu, the Supreme Being of Vaishnavism; she is also the Supreme Goddess in the sect and assists Vishnu to create, protect and transform the universe. Whenever Vishnu descended on the earth as an avatar, Lakshmi accompanied him as wife, for example as Sita and Radha or Rukmini as consorts of Vishnu's avatars Rama and Krishna respectively. The eight prominent manifestations of Lakshmi, the Ashtalakshmi symbolize the eight sources of wealth.

Lakshmi is depicted in Indian art as an elegantly dressed, prosperity-showering golden-coloured woman with an owl as her vehicle, signifying the importance of economic activity in maintenance of life, her ability to move, work and prevail in confusing darkness. She typically stands or sits on a lotus pedestal, while holding a lotus in her hand, symbolizing fortune, self-knowledge, and spiritual liberation. Her iconography shows her with four hands, which represent the four aspects of human life important to Hindu culture: dharma, kāma, artha, and moksha.

Archaeological discoveries and ancient coins suggest the recognition and reverence for Lakshmi existing by the 1st millennium BCE. Lakshmi's iconography and statues have also been found in Hindu temples throughout Southeast Asia, estimated to be from the second half of the 1st millennium CE. The festivals of Diwali and Sharad Purnima (Kojagiri Purnima) are celebrated in her honor.

Lakshmi in Sanskrit is derived from the root word lakṣ (लक्ष्) and lakṣa (लक्ष), meaning 'to perceive, observe, know, understand' and 'goal, aim, objective', respectively. These roots give Lakshmi the symbolism: know and understand your goal.

Her four arms are symbolic of the four goals of humanity that are considered good in Hinduism: dharma (pursuit of ethical, moral life), artha (pursuit of wealth, means of life), kama (pursuit of love, emotional fulfillment), and moksha (pursuit of self-knowledge, liberation).

In Lakshmi's iconography, she is either sitting or standing on a lotus and typically carrying a lotus in one or two hands. The lotus carries symbolic meanings in Hinduism and other Indian traditions. It symbolizes knowledge, self-realization, and liberation in the Vedic context, and represents reality, consciousness, and karma ('work, deed') in the Tantra (Sahasrara) context. The lotus, a flower that blooms in clean or dirty water, also symbolizes purity regardless of the good or bad circumstances in which it grows. It is a reminder that good and prosperity can bloom and not be affected by evil in one's surroundings.

Below, behind, or on the sides, Lakshmi is very often shown with one or two elephants, known as Gajalakshmi, and occasionally with an owl. Elephants symbolize work, activity, and strength, as well as water, rain and fertility for abundant prosperity. The owl signifies the patient striving to observe, see, and discover knowledge, particularly when surrounded by darkness. As a bird reputedly blinded by daylight, the owl also serves as a symbolic reminder to refrain from blindness and greed after knowledge and wealth have been acquired. The Gupta period sculpture used to associate lion with Lakshmi but was later attributed to Durga or a combined form of both goddesses.

Lakshmi typically wears a red dress embroidered with golden threads, which symbolizes fortune and wealth. She, goddess of wealth and prosperity, is often represented with her husband Vishnu, the god who maintains human life filled with justice and peace. This symbolism implies wealth and prosperity are coupled with the maintenance of life, justice, and peace.

In Japan, where Lakshmi is known as Kisshōten, she is commonly depicted with the Nyoihōju gem (如意宝珠) in her hand.

The Nyoihōju gem reminds of the gem of Lucifer, the Holy Grail.

Symbolism of Lakshmi

Lakshmi holds Lotus flowers in two of her arms and sits in a lotus flower. She also have a garland made of lotus buds.

White elephants are a symbol for Lakshmi. The white elephant symbolizes the Throat Chakra, Manas.

Symbol Sri is a symbol for the physical worls and Om represent the spiritual and absolute truth, both are revered by Lakshmi.

As the goddess of wealth and prosperity, she is associated with gold. She is usually portrayed with a pot with golden coins.

Lakshmi have the name Ulkavahini, meaning the one who rides an owl. The owl represents royalties, penetrating sight and intelligence. This is also the symbol of Athena.

Goddess Lakshmi dwells in light and avoids dark places and lamps are also a symbol of Lakshmi.

The Swastika symbol is also connected to Lakshmi.

Yellow Cowrie is very much loved by Goddess Lakshmi. A simpler symbol of a container?

Ekakshi Nariyal is a single dot coconut. Such Nariyal is believed to be the representation of Goddess Lakshmi herself. Container of water?

The Dhanya (cereals) is a symbol for wealth. Dhanya is also the Sanskrit word for gratitude

Shri Yantra is the greatest among all Yantra(s). It is the manifestation of Tripura Sundari Sri Mahalakshmi herself. Mahalakshmi herself resides in it and it is the embodiment of all of Her energy and power.

Kisshōten

From Wikipedia: Kisshōten

Kisshōten (吉祥天, lit. "Auspicious Heavens"), also known as Kichijōten, Kisshoutennyo (吉祥天女), Kudokuten (功徳天) is a Japanese female deity. Adapted via Buddhism from the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.

Kisshoutennyo is sometimes named as one of the Seven Gods of Fortune (fukujin), replacing either Jurōjin or Fukurokuju. For example, in the 1783 edition of the Butsuzōzui compendium, Kichijōten replaces Fukurokuju as one of the seven fukujin.

She is considered to be the goddess of happiness, fertility, and beauty.

Kisshoutennyo's iconography is distinguished by the Nyoihōju gem (如意宝珠) in her hand, Kisshōten and the Nyoihōju gem are both represented by the symbol of the kagome.

When Kisshoutennyo is counted among the seven fukujin and fellow Fukujin Daikoku is regarded in feminine form, all three of the Hindu Tridevi goddesses are represented in the Fukujin, with Daikoku representing Parvati and Benzaiten representing Saraswati.

Star of Lakshmi

From Wikipedia: The Star of Lakshmi

The Star of Lakshmi is a special octagram, a regular compound polygon, represented by Schläfli symbol {8/2} or 2{4}, made from two congruent squares with the same center at 45° angles, and figures in Hinduism, commonly attributed to Ashtalakshmi (Sanskrit: अष्टलक्ष्मी, Aṣṭalakṣmi, lit. Eightfold Lakshmi), the eight forms, or "kinds of wealth", of the goddess Lakshmi.

The figure was popularized by The Return of the Pink Panther where it is featured with the same name in the Lugash national museum portrayed in the movie.

Lakshmi is a major goddess in Puranas and Itihasa of Hinduism. In ancient scriptures of India, all women are declared to be embodiments of Lakshmi. For example:

Every woman is an embodiment of you.
You exist as little girls in their childhood,
As young women in their youth
And as elderly women in their old age.
— Sri Kamala Stotram

Every woman is an emanation of you.
— Sri Daivakrta Laksmi Stotram

Lakshmi features prominently in Puranas of Hinduism. Vishnu Purana, in particular, dedicates many sections to her and also refers to her as Sri. J. A. B. van Buitenen translates passages describing Lakshmi in Vishnu Purana:

Sri, loyal to Vishnu, is the mother of the world. Vishnu is the meaning, Sri is the speech. She is the conduct, he the behavior. Vishnu is knowledge, she the insight. He is dharma, she the virtuous action. She is the earth, the earth's upholder. She is contentment, he the satisfaction. She wishes, he is the desire. Sri is the sky, Vishnu the Self of everything. He is the moon, she the light of the moon. He is the ocean, she is the shore.

Inanna and Ishtar

The female goddesses are often connected through a little bird. Inanna, Ishtar (Sumerian ninna meaning owl can also be translated as the Akkadian kilili, which is also a name or epithet for Ishtar), Athene, and Lakshmi all have the wise owl as a symbol. Zipporah, the wife of Moses, means little bird, and she symbolizes Manas, wisdom, Sophia, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Star of Athena, Inanna and Ishtar

From Wikipedia: Star of Ishtar

The Star of Ishtar or Star of Inanna is a symbol of the ancient Sumerian goddess Inanna and her East Semitic counterpart Ishtar. Alongside the lion, it was one of Ishtar's primary symbols. It’s also a symbol for Athena.

Because Ishtar was associated with the planet Venus, the star is also known as the Star of Venus.