In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, madhurya-rasa denotes the devotional mood of conjugal or romantic love directed toward Krishna, epitomized in the relationship of Radha and the gopis of Vraja. As one of the five primary rasas, it is regarded as the sweetest and most intimate form of relationship with the Divine, embodying a lover–beloved dynamic rather than that of servant, friend, or parent. The term “madhurya” conveys a sense of profound sweetness, while “rasa” indicates the aesthetic-emotional flavor of this spiritual relationship. Gaudiya theologians describe this rasa as the highest and most complete, since it uniquely reveals Krishna’s intimate nature and the fullness of divine sweetness.

Theologically, madhurya-rasa is characterized by passionate yet utterly selfless love, where all traces of worldly lust are transfigured into pure prema, or divine love. This love expresses itself through complete self-surrender, intense intimacy, and a deep sense of possessiveness that is purified of egoistic desire. Experiences of union (sambhoga/saṁyoga) and separation (vipralambha/viraha) form complementary poles of this rasa, with longing in separation often described as especially intense and spiritually fertile. Divine jealousy and exclusive attachment to Krishna are understood not as flaws, but as further refinements of this pure, all-absorbing devotion.

Radha stands at the apex of madhurya-rasa, as the supreme embodiment of love for Krishna and the central figure through whom this rasa is most perfectly revealed. The gopis of Vrindavan, and particularly Radha, serve as the archetypal exemplars whose inner moods are contemplated and followed by practitioners. Many devotees aspire to participate in this rasa indirectly in the mood known as mañjarī-bhāva, identifying as intimate maidservants of Radha who assist in the confidential pastimes of the divine couple. In this way, the devotee’s devotion is focused not only on Krishna, but also on serving and enhancing Radha’s love for him.

In practice, madhurya-rasa is approached through forms of bhakti such as hearing, chanting, meditation, and emotional identification with the love of Radha and the gopis, especially within the framework of raganuga-bhakti, or spontaneous devotion. The goal is not external imitation of romantic behavior, but an inner cultivation of the moods exemplified in the sacred narratives of Vraja. For many within this tradition, the ultimate spiritual attainment is to enter eternally into the intimate, confidential līlās of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan, in a relationship suffused with the sweetness and depth of madhurya-rasa.