The question whether Sri Radha was unmarried or married, if so with whom? Has been baffling many scholars, devotees for many centuries. Ashutosh Gowariker, famous film director has inserted a dialogue in his film “Lagaan” where hero Aamir Khan says “Radha was married to Anay (Ayan, Rayan)”. To set this controversy at rest, I would suggest devotees and virtuous readers of ‘Speaking Tree’ to get a discerning picture by reading two books, one Brahmavaivarta Puran, one of the 18 puranas composed by Vedvyasa (reincarnation of Lord Krishna/Vishnu) and other famous treatise “Shri Garg Samhita” written by Sage Gargacharya, royal priest of Mathura who conducted naming ceremony of Krishna and Balrama although official Kulguru of Nand Baba was Shandilya Muni.
Who can be the arbiter ?
Incidentally , according to Swami Vivekananda (Volume 1, complete works of Vivekananda) Sadhakas must study , read and rely upon scriptural texts written by realised souls/ enlightened masters as these only are reliable, authentic and grant incredible evidence on spiritual matters. Scriptural text, realised souls or enlightened masters alone can be authority and arbiter on Thelogical/Spiritual matters and put a stop on wrong notions/misconceptions and bring out the subtle truth. The relationship between Lord Krishna and Radha, his divine potency, ecstatic power (Alahadini Shakti), primordial power (matter), manifested form “ShagunMaya” of Brahmtatwa is of divine nature and not physical or materialistic.
Krishna himself says that Radha is Krishna and Krishna is Radha. Although, their relationship is neither amorous nor clandestine but astral and pure divine love which does not require any legal stamp to tie them in matrimonial rites/knots, yet Parampita Lord Brahmaji to grant social mores/status, moral and social sanctity solemnised and organised the divine marriage between Radha and Krishna in childhood (Krishna Janam Khand, Ch 1, 3 & 15) at a divine palace in Bhandir Van in Mant taluka of Mathura distt. UP directing both Radha and Krishna to play their pastimes here in this astral palace (not visible to human eye) till MahaRaasLila begins in Vrindavan.
Said Brahma - “Radha will leave her home keeping her shadow “Chhaya Radha/Maya Radha” (her duplicate manifestation) with mother Keerti. Chhaya Radha will be married to Rayan Gopa, younger brother of Yashoda (not Anay or Ayan) but fools will mistake her for real Radha” ( who was truthfully married to Lord Krishna). I would suggest that devotees must visit Bhandir Van / Vanshi Vat in Maat Taluka of Mathura district to have a confirmation from the priest in the temple erected to commemorate the divine marriage/leela.
However, the formal engagement took place later in Saket village between Nandgaon and Barsana blessed by parents of both.
The same astral supreme subtle story, an idyll, is narrated in Goloka Khand Ch 16 in GargSamhita in a lucid dialogue between Devrishi Narada and Mithila King Janak/Bahulashv. It was due to exchange of curses between Radhaji and Sridama (in charge of sub Realm) in celestial goloka that Radha & Krishna suffered pangs of separation for 100 years and they later had a rendezvous at Siddhashram, in Kurukshetra during solar eclipse, yagna ceremony. After prolonged meeting , Yogeshwar Bhagwan took Radha accompanied by his queens and Gopis back to Dwarka where they all took part in Rajsuya Yagna ceremony organised by King Ugrasen in Pindarak area, 50 kms away from dwarka (Chapter 49, Vishwajit Khand, Shri Garg Samhita).
Thus this settles once and for all the marital status that Radha was married to Lord Krishna alone and none else. It is Chhaya Radha (shadow manifestation) who was married to Rayan Gopa. A total faith and surrender towards God, enlightened masters, holy books and scriptures is required to understand Param truth as the texts written by academicians cannot be taken as authentic or reliable. The ignorance could be bliss in worldly matters but not in spiritual field which needs rigorous study of scriptures and self-knowledge.
Jai Shri Radhe Krishna