Srimati Radharani: Most Beloved Worshipable Diety of Gaudiya Vaishnavas

By: Nandgopal Jivan das

(Narender Nolakha)

durad apasya svajanam sukham-artha-kotim
sarveshu sadhana-varesu ciram nirasah
varsantam eva sahajadbhuta-saukhya-dharam
sri radhika carana renu aham bhajami

“Abandoning Family and Friends, Material Pleasures, Wealth and all other Spiritual paths, finding them distasteful. I take on my head and worship the Dust of the Lotus Feet of Sri Radhika, which is shower of Wonderful Transcendental Bliss!!”

Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is stated in the Svetasvatara Upanishad (6.8) "The Supreme Lord has multipotencies, which act so perfectly that all consciousness, strength and activity are being directed solely by His will". The material world, where we are now living, is called bahir-anga-sakti, the external energy of Krishna. Apart from the material, external energy, there is another energy - the internal energy. As the material world is manipulated under the external energy, the spiritual world is conducted by the internal potency. That internal potency, called the Hladini Sakti, is Srimati Radharani.

In CC Adi-lila 1.5 it is said "The loving affairs of Sri Radha and Krishna are transcendental manifestations of the Lord's internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Radha and Krishna are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally". Srimati Radharani, as the highest devotee of Sri Krishna, derives the greatest pleasure in serving Him.

The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is in fact a prayer to Srimati Radharani. The word 'Hare' is derived from 'Hara' which denotes the internal energy or Hladini Sakti of Krishna. This is none other that Srimati Radharani. When one is chanting the maha-mantra, one is saying: "O Krishna ! O Radha !! Please engage me in your devotional service". Krishna is difficult to approach directly, but He is bhakta-vatsala, always eager to please His devotees. Thus the mood of a devotee is to invoke the compassion of Srimati Radharani Who then recommends the devotee to Sri Krishna. Since Krishna is easily pleased by Srimati Radharani, He then readily accepts the devotee in His service.

Lord Krishna appeared on this planet on the Astami of bhadra month in Dvapura-Yuga, in the 28th millennium of Vaivasavat Manvantra. After 15 days Srimati Radharani appears on the Astami Day which is known as Radha Astami. Radharani is not an ordinary girl or woman. She is fully transcendental in nature. Lord Krishna is the energetic and Radharani is the energy. They cannot be separated just like the sun and sunlight.

Understanding the mellows of the relationship between Krishna and Radha is impossible from the mundane perspective. Understanding madhurya-rasa (devotion at the platform of intimacy), which is the highest level of relationship of a devotee with Krishna, is only possible in the most elevated stages of bhakti where there is not even a tinge of material contamination. Therefore Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has written: "The loving affairs of Radha and Krishna are not ordinary, material loving affairs, although they appear like that. Rascals and fools misunderstand Krishna to be an ordinary man. They do not know Krishna's transcendental nature. They try to imitate Krishna's rasa-lila, His dancing with the Gopis". There is no offense greater than this. Devotees starting on the path of bhakti must carefully avoid such offenses. They must simply pray to Srimati Radharani, as their most compassionate Mother, for mercy, for bhakti and for an opportunity to serve Sri Krishna.

One has to be regulated in spiritual practices and become free from material contamination to understand Radha and Krishna. Krishna is the enjoyer and He wants to enjoy. Just try to understand. Krishna hasn’t got to seek external things for His pleasure. Radharani is the expansionof His pleasure potency. Millions of Devotees are trying to achieve that Brahman pleasure and in order to achieve that Brahman pleasure they are neglecting and kicking off all this material pleasure. Do you think that Brahman pleasure is ordinary? So if, for tasting a little Brahman pleasure, all materialistic pleasures are to be given up, do you think that the Supreme Brahman, Lord Sri Krishna, is enjoying this material pleasure?? Hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune (gopis) are engaged in His service. Do you think that these lakshmis are material women? How Krishna can take pleasure in the material women? No. …Don’t take that Radharani is an ordinary women like we have our wife or sister or mother. No. She is the pleasure potency of Krishna. And the birth of Radharani was not from the womb of any human being. Her father found Her in a field. So, Radharani is an expansion of Krishna.

Srimati Radharani is known as the Queen of Vrindavan, Vrindavaneshvari. Everyone chants her name in Vrindavan. Devotees beg Her for mercy. Sri Radha is the original form of Ganges River. She is the original form of the holy Tulasi plant. She is the original form of Yamuna River. She is the original form of Saraswati River. She is the original form of the Bhogwati river (the Ganges flowing in the Patal region.). She is the absolute manifestation of total beauty. She is humbly bowed to by all the Lord Brahmas and Lord Sivas in the countless millions of universes created by Lord Vishnu. Her toe nails glow with the radiance of boundless mystic perfection and opulent prosperities.

She is the Goddess of Vedic sacrifices, all pious activities, all that is natural and spontaneous, of all the demigods and goddesses, of all the knowledge of three Vedas, of the enforcement of universal law, of fortune, of forgiveness, of the most pleasurable forest of Vrindavan. She is situated at the topmost level of ecstatic love. The above transcendental qualities attract Krishna fully. Her spiritual body is molten gold complexion. Laxmi and Durga are Her expansions. Brhad-gautamiya-tantra also says (as quoted in CC, Adi-lila 4.83): “The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”

Thus sings Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati:

“Essence of Beauty and Relationship, Quintessence of Bliss and Compassion, Embodiment of Sweetness and Brilliance, Epitome of artfulness, Graceful in Love: May my mind take refuge in Radharani, Quintessence of all essences.”

As explained in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (Nectar of Devotion), Krishna possesses sixty-four transcendental qualities. Srimati Radharani has twenty-five transcendental qualities, but She can control even Krishna by them. Her transcendental qualities are as follows: (1) She is sweetness personified; (2) She is a fresh young girl; (3) Her eyes are always moving; (4) She is always brightly smiling; (5) She possesses all auspicious marks on Her body; (6) She can agitate Krishna by the flavor of Her person; (7) She is expert in the art of singing; (8) She can speak very nicely and sweetly; (9) She is expert in presenting feminine attractions; (10) She is modest and gentle; (11) She is always very merciful; (12) She is transcendentally cunning; (13) She knows how to dress nicely; (14) She is always shy; (15) She is always respectful; (16) She is always patient; (17) She is very grave; (18) She is enjoyed by Krishna; (19) She is always situated on the highest devotional platform; (20) She is the abode of love of the residents of Gokula; (21) She can give shelter to all kinds of devotees; (22) She is always affectionate to superiors and inferiors; (23) She is always obliged by the dealings of Her associates, (24) She is the greatest amongst Krishna's girl friends; (25) She always keeps Krishna under Her control.

Krishna means 'all attractive', since He attracts every one to Him. But Srimati Radharani attracts even Krishna. Although Krishna says vedaham samatitani - "I know everything" - He fails to understand Radharani. Krishna is acyuta (inconceivable), but for Him Radharani is inconceivable. Radharani is so great. Krishna thought, "I am full. I am complete in every respect, but still I want to understand Radharani." This question obliged Krishna to accept the propensities of Radharani to understand Himself. So five hundred years ago Krishna appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the mood of Srimati Radharani and with Her golden complexion, as His own greatest devotee. Krishna did this to understand the depth of devotion of Srimati Radharani.

The mahabhava (ecstasy of love) experienced by the other gopis cannot be compared to that of Sri Radha. Radharani is the very form of ecstatic love for Sri Krsna who says: “The happiness I feel when meeting Radharani is a hundred times greater than the happiness I get from meeting others”. (CC Adi 4.258) “Srimati Radharani is the beloved consort of Krsna, and She is the wealth of Krsna’s life.” (CC Adi 4.214)

Srimati Radharani is the ideal maha-bhagvat. As the greatest devotee, She is also the most compassionate. She is unable to bear the suffering of the souls trapped in the material world. The word "aradhaya" (prayers) is derived from "Radha" and means "worshippable". Similarly the word "aparadha" (offenses) means "against Radha". When one performs devotional service, one is pleasing Srimati Radharani and when commits Vaishnava aparadha against Krishna or His devotees, one is offending Radharani. Srimati Radharani is the guardian, the mentor and the benefactor of all aspiring devotees. When a soul starts to inquire about Krishna, Srimati Radharani is most pleased and takes charge of his devotional advancements. As one makes progress, one continues to invoke the mercy of Srimati Radharani and when She is pleased, Krishna is automatically pleased.

Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode Thakur Sings:

atapa-rahita suraja nahi jani
radha-virahita krsna nahi mani

"Just as there is no such thing as sun without heat or light, i do not accept a krsna who is without Sri Radha!!"

So, We should always pray for Her mercy for without Her Merciful glance over all of us, its impossible for us to attain the goal of our life- Krishna prema! We must pray to Her:

"O Radharani, I have fallen into the horrible ocean of birth and death and am frightened, but I am seeking Your shelter. O queen of the demigods, please free me from all fears."

"O Radhike, please give me transcendental devotional service to Your lotus feet, which are worshiped by Lord Brahma and Lakshmi, and which are served even by Lord Krishna."

"O Srimati Radharani, You are the exalted form of mahabhava, therefore You are the most dear to Krishna. O Goddess, You alone are able to bestow pure love for the Supreme Lord; therefore I offer my humble obeisances unto You."

Srimati Radharani is so glorious that Lord Siva also sings Her glories in the Urdhvamnaya-tantra as follows:


Before whom Laksmi, the goddess of millions of unlimited Vaikunthas, stoops to bow with all humility; from whom Sati, Saci and Sarasvati receive favours; endless riches, supernatural powers, perfection and liberation are attained within the light of Her small toenail. O when will She shower upon me Her sidelong glance of over flowing grace?

O Goddess Supreme, who presides over all sacrifices, rites and oblations and over the hosts of demigods and saintly persons. O Goddess Supreme, who provides the force to the Vedic utterances and to all arguments of law and logic; O Supreme Mistress of Laksmi and Bhu; O Queen of the celestial gardens of delight; Queen of Vraja, O Sovereign Mistress of Vrndavana, Srimati Radhika, I prostrate before Thee!

May the Daughter of King Vrsabhanu, thus, on hearing this wonderful hymn of Her glories, be pleased to always shower on Me Her sidelong glance of over-flowing grace. Then may the threefold forms of karma, accumulated over many births, be immediately annihilated and may I be granted entrance into the eternal realm of King Nanda's divine son.

All glories to Srimati Radharani !!

Janmastami: When Unborn Was Born!!

By: Nandagopal Jivan das
(Narender Nolakha)


About 5,000 years ago, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Cause of all Causes, Adi Purusa Lord Sri Krsna Chandra made His divine appearance on this planet earth on the eighth day of the waning moon in the month of Hrsikesa or Bhadra-pad (this day varies between months of July- September). Since then it is being celebrated as Janmastami throughout the country and now, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, in the whole world with lots of enthusiasm and millions of people visit the temples of Krsna on this auspicious day to get the special blessings of the Lord on this special day.

Janma means “birth”, but Vedic Scriptures tells us that Krsna is ajam which means one who is unborn. He is neither born nor does He die at any moment. Although, He appears and then also disappears but it is all due to His Supreme Will which no one can change. These appearances, disappearances and activities are known as Pastimes (Lila) because they are not forced on Him by any other person. Krsna is not born like us. We are conditioned souls in this material world and we are forced by our own deeds and desires to take repeated births here. But Krsna is above the workings of the material energy. He is the master of this energy and He comes and goes by His own sweet will. He only seems to be born like us.

This is just like a King visiting a jail in His Kingdom but not coming under its rules and regulations because all the rules and regulations are made by the King Himself. Similarly, all the rules and regulations of this material world are made by Krsna Himself but When He Himself visits this material world, He is not impelled to follow the rules and regulations. Although, sometimes His activities seems to be that of an ordinary person but He do this just to confuse and deceive the non-devotees. Both His Birth and Activities are divyam, transcendental (BG4.9). But reward of seeing this truth is only gained by those who are not envious of Him, like His pure devotees.

Queen Kunti, Mother of Pandavas and a great devotee of Lord Krsna, who appeared with Him around 5,000 years ago, prays to Lord Krsna (SB 1.8.32-36) as follows:

Some say that the Unborn is born for the glorification of pious kings, and others say that He is born to please King Yadu, one of Your dearest devotees. You appear in his family as sandalwood appears in the Malaya hills.

Others say that since both Vasudeva and Devaki prayed for You, You have taken Your birth as their son. Undoubtedly You are unborn, yet You take Your birth for their welfare and to kill those who are envious of the demigods.

Others say that the world, being overburdened like a boat at sea, is much aggrieved, Brahma, who is Your son, prayed for You, and so You have appeared to diminish the trouble.

And yet others say that You appeared to rejuvenate the devotional service of hearing, remembering, worshiping and so on in order that the conditioned souls suffering from material pangs might take advantage and gain liberation.

O Krsna, those who continuously hear, chant and repeat Your transcendental activities, or take pleasure in others' doing so, certainly see Your lotus feet, which alone can stop the repetition of birth and death.


So, Krsna comes here to attract the mind of the fallen and conditioned souls (i.e. we) by manifesting His divine and transcendental pastimes and giving them a chance to Go back home, Back to Godhead.

Thus sings His Divine Grace Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinode Thakura:

gopinath, tumi krpa-parabara
jivera karane, asiya prapance,
lila koile subistara

“O Gopinath, You are the ocean of mercy. Having come into this phenomenal world, You expand Your divine pastimes for the sake of the fallen souls.”

So, even if only one soul understands the transcendental and divine nature of Krsna’s appearance and pastimes by hearing it from an authorized Spiritual Master, who is coming in the line of disciplic succession starting from the Lord Himself, then Lord Krsna’s Mission or the mission of His pure devotee is fulfilled. When Sri Jesus Christ said that I and My father are one then He actually meant that His own purpose, i.e. to help the fallen souls to go back to Godhead, and the purpose of His father, i.e. God is one.

Similarly, HDG Srila Bhaktisiddantha Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada used to say that on the cost of all the Temples and Maths I have, if I am able to create just one soul a pure devotee of Krsna then my mission will be successful. Because just one pure devotee of the Lord is enough to change the face of the world and turn the most fallen souls into the pure devotees of the Lord. It is seen in the life of Srila Prabhupada-- How he single handedly went to the western countries, where He didn’t even knew whether to turn right or left, and turned the most fallen souls in so many rejected parts of the world into pure Vaishnavas. Such is the power of a pure devotee.

Lord Krsna Himself declares in Bhagavad- Gita 4.9 that:

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving this body, takes his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

So, to attain Krsna, we have to know Him in truth, and that correct understanding can be achieved only under the guidance of scriptures, as well as Krsna Himself and His pure representative. Lord Krsna appeared in a Jail which was full of darkness. Similarly, our heart is also in darkness due to its contact with the material nature from the time immemorial. If we take advantage of His message and the teachings of His Pure devotees then it will help us to attain the highest goal of life—pure love for Him. As a ISKCONIST, if we follow the teachings of Srila Prabhupada then gradually all our doubts will be cleared and our natural love for Him will shine through. So, on this most auspicious day, Janmastami, we pray to the Lord that He may remove our darkness and enter our heart, so that we may clearly see who we are?, Who is Krsna? And what is our relationship with Him? Hare Krishna!!

Naughty Nimai

By Nandagopal Jivana das
(Narender Nolakha)

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in Mayapur on the full-moon night of the month of Phalguna in the year 1407 Sakabda (18 February 1486 AD). Because he was born under a neem tree, he was named Nimai.

As Nimai grew up He became exceedingly mischievous, just as Krishna had been in His childhood. One Name of Krishna is Dusta Mohana, which means “naughty young boy.” He is dusta (naughty) but at the same time His charming behavior enchants the mind (mohana). Nimai also had this quality.

Baby Nimai would play a game with the doting neighborhood women who regularly came to see Him. Nimai would start crying and would stop only when the ladies chanted “Hari! Hari!” In this way he induced them to chant all day long, and the home of Jagannatha Misra continuously resounded with the names of Krishna.

One day Jagannatha Misra gave a slate in Visvambhara’s Hands. Visvambhara then at once wrote all the letters on it and that too without any mistake!! Everybody was astonished to se this. He learned all the letters within few days and started writing “Krishna” again and again. Day and Night, he chanted the holy names of Lord like Ram, Krishna, Murari, Mukunda, etc, loudly. To this time, sometimes Nimai would try to catch the birds flying high in the sky and after failing to do so, he would cry very loudly. Sometimes He would try to catch the Moon and stars in the sky but failing in this too, He would show his transcendental anger. Everyone would try to pacify the Lord but He would not. Only when they would start Harinaam Sankirtana, only then He would stop crying.

One day even after chanting “Hari! Hari! ” many times, Lotus-eyed Nimai didn’t stop Crying. Seeing this, everyone asked, “O Nimai, please tell us what is the reason for your crying? We’ll give you whatever you want but please don’t cry.” To this, Nimai answered, “If you want to save My life, then at once go to the House of two great devotees, Jagadish Pandita and Hiranya Pandita. Today is Ekadashi and they have prepared many delectable foodstuffs for the pleasure of Lord Visnu. Only if I get that food then I’ll be pacified and stop crying!” Hearing this impossible demand, Mother Saci became sad. She said that, “Nimai, what You are asking is not as per the Vedas and not in social principles too.” Another person said, “We’ll do whatever You says but first you stop crying.” Hiranya and Jagadish were surprised that the child could have known about their special offering, yet they happily gave Him the food thinking that Lord Visnu

is speaking through child’s mouth. But little they knew that the same child is even the source of Lord Visnu himself!!

When He was just a small child, to a pious Brahmana, He manifested His beautiful eight-arm form. Four of His arms were carrying a Lotus, a Club, Disc and a Conch. He was playing his Flute by the other two hands and was carrying butter in one hand and eating butter from another.

His form was dark like the Tamala Tree with beautiful Lotus like eyes, standing on the bank of Yamuna in front of Kadamba Trees with gopis offering him flowers and prayers for His pleasure.

His mother once found Him eating dirt. “Why are you eating dirt?” she asked. “I just gave you so many nice sweets.” Nimai replied, “What’s the difference? It’s all one. Sweets are produced from earth, so whether I eat sweets or dirt, it’s all the same.” Sacimata, being a wife of a learned Vaisnava Brahmana, could understand that Nimai was expounding Advaita-vada, the erroneous philosophy of absolute monism. Sacimata gave the example that although a clay pot is nothing but a transformation of earth, a lump of clay cannot be used as a pot; only when earth is transformed into a pot can it hold water. Similarly, even though sweets are produced from earth, crude earth cannot nourish the body as do sweets. Accepting the impracticality of monism, Visvambhara proposed, “From now on give Me sweets and I’ll no longer eat dirt.”

When the Lord was a young child, His elder brother Visvarupa had taken Sannyasa. From that point His father Jagannatha Misra declared to his Saci Devi that Nimai has too much absorbed in studying the scriptures, if He understands the scriptures properly, He’ll realize that all material efforts are useless, they are fatal and he’ll renounce this world just like his Brother Visvarupa. So, we must keep Him at home, therefore He would not be allowed to read the Scriptures

anymore. So, they gave this ultimatum to the Lord: Nimai, to this day no more studies; you can do anything else you like. So, He did!!!

He became very mischievous, exceedingly mischievous. He and his friend would go out in the day to look to see what mischief they can do at night. Sometimes they would go to people that they wanted to inconvenience and would tie the doors and windows from outside! And in those days, in Vedic Cultures, there were not bathrooms in doors, like we’ve now, they were considered very low class things. They would go outside unto the field with lotta and like that. So, the Lord would tie the doors and windows and at middle of the night when they had to respond to the calls of nature, they would try every possible thing to open the doors but to no relief. So, what would happen then??

First Nature was calling, then nature was yawing, and finally nature was screaming…aaaahhh….aaaahhh….let me out of here…. Aaaahhh!!!!!!!

You all know what it likes…..right????

Nimai and his friends would be laughing, laughing and running away!!

Often at midday, when local brahmanas would stand in Ganga to recite prayers and chant Gayatri, mischievous Nimai would splash them, dive underwater and catch their legs to make them lose their balance, or spit on their bodies, forcing them to bathe repeatedly. He would

throw sand on those who had finished bathing and mix up the men’s and women’s clothing on the riverbank, causing considerable embarrassment to all.

Once, a brahmana put a throne, little flowers, durva grass, Prasada and sandalwood paste on the bank of Ganga for worshiping Visnu and went to bathe in Ganges. To his Surprise when he returned, He found Nimai sitting on the throne meant for Lord Visnu with sandalwood paste all over his body. He used the flower and ate the Prasadam meant for Visnu worship. Brahmana was about to say something but Nimai said to him “Why are you so angry? If the person for whom you have done all these preparations have eaten it, what there in it to become angry?”

He would disturb the people’s meditations and claim, “On whom you are meditating? Iam Narayana, in front of you and I’ve appeared myself in Kaliyuga!”

Sometimes, the Lord would sit on the shoulders of Sadhus and would shout, “Iam Shankar, Iam Shankar!”

At other times, he would joke with young girls who would worship Lord Siva, supplicating his

benediction to get good husbands. Nimai would sit among them and demand all the nice articles and foodstuffs meant for Lord Siva. Nimai would tell them, “Worship Me, and I shall give you good husbands. Goddesses Ganga and Durga are my maidservants. What to speak of other devas, even Lord Siva is my servant.” Nimai warned the girls that if they didn’t comply, he would curse them to get old husbands who already had several wives and children.

Often, he would tell the young damsels that He wants to marry them. On this, girls would become angry and tell Him, ‘What do you think of yourself? Are you a son of any King? We’ve heard about Nanda Maharaja’s Son but you are talking in a way as if you are the son of Nanda Maharaja!!

Everybody would outwardly scold Nimai, as if angry, but actually relished his teasing them. Once when Nimai understood that the brahmanas and girls were going to complaint about Him to Jagannatha Misra and Saci Devi, He quickly jumped out of the water, got dressed, put ink on His fingers, and went home. When His parents informed Him of the peoples’ grievances, He responded, “Look father, look mother, I’ve just come from school! Just see My fingers. I’ve not been to Ganga at all. They are making false accusations.”

One day Sacidevi found Nimai sitting on a heap of discarded clay cooking pots that were used in offerings, and admonished Him for sitting in that contaminated place. She told the Lord, “Don’t you have knowledge? Don’t you’ve any discrimination? Everybody knows that sitting on these dirty pots is contaminated, you’ve to go and you’ve to take your bathe. Why are you doing this?”

Nimai politely and innocently answered, “Well, if you don’t allow Me to Study, how will I understand what is wrong and what is right?

“Besides that My mother, that this is pure and this is impure is surely a worldly sentiment with no basis in fact. You’ve cooked food for Lord Visnu within these pots and offered the food to Him. How then can these pots be untouchable? Everything in relation with Visnu is to be considered an expansion of Visnu’s energy. Visnu is eternal and uncontaminated. So why should these pots be considered pure or impure?

“Wherever Iam, that place is always supremely pure because Iam the Supreme Master of all that exists. Wherever Iam, Ganga always resides there and wherever there is Ganga, that place cannot be impure.”

When Nimai was talking like that, Sacimata could not understand anything He was speaking under the spell of Lord’s Yogamaya Sakti but nevertheless pragmatically had Him come down from the pots to bathe.

After this incidence, all the neighborhood ladies asked Sacimata, “What enemy has stopped you from giving your child the chance to study? Our children hate to study; we’ve to force them to study. Your child loves to study and still you are stopping him to study.”

Sacimata brought Him home and told Jagannatha Misra. So, Jagannatha Misra had no other way but to resume his studies and at that time he gave Him the ceremony of sacred thread. Sri Gaurasunder spent six hours in school and that time was seem to be millenniums to His parents.

Like this, Naughty Nimai would do many Lilas but being illusioned by his Maya, people could not understand who He is?

May that Naughty Nimai always remain the object of our meditation and May that Naughty Nimai make us the eternal objects in his hands.

Sri Sri Gaura Hari Arpanam Astu