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Radha: The Princess of Barsana
About the Book
Night after night, I longed to hear the notes of his flute. To be held by him, dance with him, feel myself vaporise in his embrace …
Radha, the princess of Barsana, is married to Chote Mukhiya Ayan Gopa, head of the Gopa clan. But she is restless, for he is not the dark playmate of her dreams.
When she first cradles the infant Krishna, Radha can feel the surreal bond they share course through her veins. And as Krishna grows up, he reveals a similar and compelling longing for her. She knows that theirs is a relationship that has transcended many lifetimes. But that is not how Ayan Gopa sees it—to him, Radha is a vile adulteress who has destroyed the honour of the Gopa clan by giving herself to another man.
Radha finds herself facing the village panchayat, charged with an illicit and scandalous affair with a man thirteen years younger than her. But how can her love for Krishna, her blue-necked deity, be illicit?
In The Princess of Barsana, Neelima Dalmia Adhar tells the eternal love story of Radha and Krishna in all its glory. Complex and exhilarating, erotic and heartbreaking, there is no grander story than theirs.
About the Author
Neelima Dalmia Adhar is the bestselling author of Father The Life and Times of R.K. Dalmia, The Merchants of Death and The Secret Diary of Kasturba. She lives in Delhi with her husband, children and two grandchildren.
Night after night, I longed to hear the notes of his flute. To be held by him, dance with him, feel myself vaporise in his embrace …
Radha, the princess of Barsana, is married to Chote Mukhiya Ayan Gopa, head of the Gopa clan. But she is restless, for he is not the dark playmate of her dreams.
When she first cradles the infant Krishna, Radha can feel the surreal bond they share course through her veins. And as Krishna grows up, he reveals a similar and compelling longing for her. She knows that theirs is a relationship that has transcended many lifetimes. But that is not how Ayan Gopa sees it—to him, Radha is a vile adulteress who has destroyed the honour of the Gopa clan by giving herself to another man.
Radha finds herself facing the village panchayat, charged with an illicit and scandalous affair with a man thirteen years younger than her. But how can her love for Krishna, her blue-necked deity, be illicit?
In The Princess of Barsana, Neelima Dalmia Adhar tells the eternal love story of Radha and Krishna in all its glory. Complex and exhilarating, erotic and heartbreaking, there is no grander story than theirs.
About the Author
Neelima Dalmia Adhar is the bestselling author of Father The Life and Times of R.K. Dalmia, The Merchants of Death and The Secret Diary of Kasturba. She lives in Delhi with her husband, children and two grandchildren.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 6, 2025
Radhe Radhe. I remember when I was 4 years old I used to sing krishna bhajans and once my teachers sat in a circle all around me just to listen to me sing the song of sweetest god. 2 decades later this book felt closer to that pure essence of pilgrimage. I have always wanted to know Radha’s story. And maybe just maybe it wasn’t revealed to me so far because I had to be in her shoes before it happened. It wouldn’t be the same if I hadn't known yearning the way she felt; if I hadn't felt the fragrance and touch of divinity in my dreams like her; If I hadn’t begun to adore my body and look at it like a sacred temple as she did; if i hadn’t felt safe with my sisters like she did when with the Gopis, and if I wasn’t as savage as her when it came to love and companionship. Aah yes, our ever so soft Radha Rani was a scandalous savage daughter in law.
In the book the author portrays ‘her’ Radha. And maybe this version of Radha wouldn’t be digestible for many but I love her. It's like the very core of me can relate to her dreams, trials and feelings. I loved that this was mostly about Radha than Krishna's victories. It touched his Leela’s and wars yes but centre was Radha- as she was to Krishna, his desires and his omnipotent soul. Raas Leela was epic to read,essentially the divine union of source and we all witnessed it, the gopis and me. Followed by a divine separation towards the end that had me sobbing like I was Radha and she was me.
The book is divinely beautiful, the chapters strung like pearls, dialogues like the fragrant mogra and roses, imagery like peacock feathers and magical realism infused like Krishna's essence in musk incense sticks. It was poetry. It was a prayer in motion. Must read for Krishna Bhakt Girlies out there. I have already personally recommended a few of my closest sakhis I knew would love this. This review goes out as a love letter to the rest of you.But If you can’t see the darkness and light of Gods in a dance together, please stay away from this one.
I have the perfect playlist to go with this book, the nights I spent reading it are nothing short of the purest form of pleasure. Pleasure, love, flowers,art, fragrance, touch,eye contact, melodies, colors, why was all of this in so much detail? And sexuality? Why do women and their POV indulge in so much detail to sensuality as a song? Because that’s femininity. That's the flow we weren’t taught in common versions of Indian mythology sagas. But this femininity is what kept everything flowing so smoothly. The great losses, the epic changes of eras, the foundation of new and old traditions- all of it moved because women moved this energy along.
I am deeply grateful from the bottom of my heart, or maybe my sacral chakra for women like Koral, Neelima, Ira and Chitra to write about it. This is what gives me grounding and grandiosity in sagas all alike. The feminine point of view.
Coming back to the book, it flows well with a beautiful narrative covering a lot of aspects of Radha’s life. Her loveless marriage, transition from childhood to adulthood, pains, pleasures, pedestalization by few, demonisation by more, and some side stories apart from Krishna that makes it a gripping tale. Must read if i haven’t stressed on it already. Anyways you will read this with her will and invitation, till then- Radhe Radhe.
In the book the author portrays ‘her’ Radha. And maybe this version of Radha wouldn’t be digestible for many but I love her. It's like the very core of me can relate to her dreams, trials and feelings. I loved that this was mostly about Radha than Krishna's victories. It touched his Leela’s and wars yes but centre was Radha- as she was to Krishna, his desires and his omnipotent soul. Raas Leela was epic to read,essentially the divine union of source and we all witnessed it, the gopis and me. Followed by a divine separation towards the end that had me sobbing like I was Radha and she was me.
The book is divinely beautiful, the chapters strung like pearls, dialogues like the fragrant mogra and roses, imagery like peacock feathers and magical realism infused like Krishna's essence in musk incense sticks. It was poetry. It was a prayer in motion. Must read for Krishna Bhakt Girlies out there. I have already personally recommended a few of my closest sakhis I knew would love this. This review goes out as a love letter to the rest of you.But If you can’t see the darkness and light of Gods in a dance together, please stay away from this one.
I have the perfect playlist to go with this book, the nights I spent reading it are nothing short of the purest form of pleasure. Pleasure, love, flowers,art, fragrance, touch,eye contact, melodies, colors, why was all of this in so much detail? And sexuality? Why do women and their POV indulge in so much detail to sensuality as a song? Because that’s femininity. That's the flow we weren’t taught in common versions of Indian mythology sagas. But this femininity is what kept everything flowing so smoothly. The great losses, the epic changes of eras, the foundation of new and old traditions- all of it moved because women moved this energy along.
I am deeply grateful from the bottom of my heart, or maybe my sacral chakra for women like Koral, Neelima, Ira and Chitra to write about it. This is what gives me grounding and grandiosity in sagas all alike. The feminine point of view.
Coming back to the book, it flows well with a beautiful narrative covering a lot of aspects of Radha’s life. Her loveless marriage, transition from childhood to adulthood, pains, pleasures, pedestalization by few, demonisation by more, and some side stories apart from Krishna that makes it a gripping tale. Must read if i haven’t stressed on it already. Anyways you will read this with her will and invitation, till then- Radhe Radhe.
August 9, 2024
Neelima Dalmia Adhar's "Radha: The Princess of Barsana" is a literary masterpiece attempting the romanticism of the divine love of Radha(rani) & Krishna, multicultural & multihued Indian fervour. In this book, she painted a rather beautiful picture of a love that transcends time & cultures; she makes the reader contemplate on the issue of divine love.
The story reveals the main protagonist, Radha(rani) as a very complex & much deeper character than portrayed in a simple understanding. Trapped in a loveless marriage to Chote Mukhiya Ayan Gopa, the head of the Gopa clan, she is depicted as a woman torn between her earthly obligations & her celestial connection with Krishna, her eternal playmate. It witnesses the inner struggle of Radha(rani) with impressive vividness & blunt directness, which underlines the beauty of the character. Radha’s(rani) love for Krishna cannot be treated as a simple romance between two lovers as the deep yearning for union with the god is depicted as a search for the soul.
It embodies Radha’s(rani) passion for Krishna but at the same time she shows equal respect to the divine lover. Thus, the kind of connection that flows between them is realistically painted, making their affection concrete & elusive at the same time. This writing uniquely combines mythical and realistic themes with elements of cultural and religious perspectives.
Radha’s(rani) characterization is also very convincing and the portrayal of the stereotypical societal pressures that she has to endure only adds to the book's depth. This portrayal of Radha(rani) as a woman who defies conventions through her courage to stand for the man she loved despite condemnable advice makes her a strong woman.
In conclusion, it is not the description of mythological love of the characters as it would appear at the first sight but an analysis of love as a concept. Her style of writing is exuberant, & her critical examination of souls make this book a touching & memorable one. For the lovers of love & the spiritual quests that are intricately woven in this story of Radha(rani) & Krishna’s relationship, this book presents a vivid & true emotional journey towards eternal love.
The story reveals the main protagonist, Radha(rani) as a very complex & much deeper character than portrayed in a simple understanding. Trapped in a loveless marriage to Chote Mukhiya Ayan Gopa, the head of the Gopa clan, she is depicted as a woman torn between her earthly obligations & her celestial connection with Krishna, her eternal playmate. It witnesses the inner struggle of Radha(rani) with impressive vividness & blunt directness, which underlines the beauty of the character. Radha’s(rani) love for Krishna cannot be treated as a simple romance between two lovers as the deep yearning for union with the god is depicted as a search for the soul.
It embodies Radha’s(rani) passion for Krishna but at the same time she shows equal respect to the divine lover. Thus, the kind of connection that flows between them is realistically painted, making their affection concrete & elusive at the same time. This writing uniquely combines mythical and realistic themes with elements of cultural and religious perspectives.
Radha’s(rani) characterization is also very convincing and the portrayal of the stereotypical societal pressures that she has to endure only adds to the book's depth. This portrayal of Radha(rani) as a woman who defies conventions through her courage to stand for the man she loved despite condemnable advice makes her a strong woman.
In conclusion, it is not the description of mythological love of the characters as it would appear at the first sight but an analysis of love as a concept. Her style of writing is exuberant, & her critical examination of souls make this book a touching & memorable one. For the lovers of love & the spiritual quests that are intricately woven in this story of Radha(rani) & Krishna’s relationship, this book presents a vivid & true emotional journey towards eternal love.
June 20, 2024
I just finished reading this book, and this is definitely the most beautiful rendition of the Radha-Krishna love story as narrated by Radha. The story is narrated in all its glory, tragedy, and beauty. It is not the watered-down, altered stories that you see in serials. It is the real story with all its tragedy, heartbreak, and grief. It is this tragedy and heartbreak that this makes it the most beautiful story ever, and the author has expressed it beautifully in words. If you love the Radha-Krishna love story, this book is a must-read.
October 6, 2024
This book made me fall in love with Radha Krishna. I mean there is definitely some pull or an invisible tie that I feel I have with these two. Whenever I am in a mandir and I see them together I somehow get goosebumps.
August 1, 2024
A sensual read that also taught me a lot about soul connections and love!!
April 18, 2025
I found the beginning of Radha: The Princess of Barsana quite confusing, but as the story progressed, I started enjoying it. However, after a while, it became rather monotonous. The extensive use of imagery and vivid descriptions, while initially captivating, felt repetitive and tiring over time.
Although the book wasn’t bad, I had hoped for a deeper perspective from Radha’s character. One part I particularly liked was when Radha explains how we’re all actors in the play of life it was thought-provoking. Overall, though, I didn’t feel a strong emotional connection to the book.
Although the book wasn’t bad, I had hoped for a deeper perspective from Radha’s character. One part I particularly liked was when Radha explains how we’re all actors in the play of life it was thought-provoking. Overall, though, I didn’t feel a strong emotional connection to the book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews