Sambhandha, Abhidheya and Prayojana

1) SAMBHANDHA- Radha Madan Mohan, 2) ABHIDHEYA- Radha Govinda 3) Prayojana- Radha Gopinatha

The Vrindāvana Deities of Madana-mohana with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Govinda with Śrīmatī Rādhārānī, and Gopīnātha with Śrīmatī Rādhārānī are the life and soul of the Gaudīya Vaisnavas.[CC Antya 142-143]

These three Deities of Vrindavan [Madana-mohana, Govinda, and Gopīnātha] have absorbed the heart and soul of the Gaudīya Vaisnavas [followers of Lord Caitanya]. I worship Their lotus feet, for They are the Lords of my heart. [CC Adi 1.19]

According to our scriptures, there are three stages of spiritual advancement, namely, sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana. Sambandha-jñāna refers to establishing one’s original relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, abhidheya refers to acting according to that constitutional relationship, and prayojana is the ultimate goal of life, which is to develop a love of Godhead

(CC Adi 7.73p)

So these three Deities of Vrindavan, each one of them represents

1. Sri Radha Madanmohan are the presiding Deity of Sambandha – This is the first stage of realization of our eternal relationship with Krishna, we are his part and parcel and he primarily attracts us in his beautiful, all-captivating form of Radha Madan Mohan and that is how our relationship is established. Srila Sanatana Goswami is the acarya of sambandha, the process of understanding our relationship with Lord Krishna. The deity for Sambandha is Madan Mohan.
   

2. Sri Radha Govinda are the presiding Deity of Abhidheya – This is the second stage where we act according to our realization of our relationship and how to act in that relationship. devotional service. Radha Govind ji’s form engages us in the action of the relationship. Srila Rupa Goswami is the acarya of abhidheya and he reveals how to execute devotional service. His Deity of Radha-Govindaji accepts service and gives inspiration for increasing surrender on the path of bhakti-yoga.
   

3. Sri Radha Gopinatha are the presiding Deity of Prayojana – The third and highest stage of our relationship and it gives us the love of Godhead. Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami is our prayojana acarya. The Gopinatha Deity is Krishna as master and proprietor of the gopis, the totally surrendered devotees. The Gopinatha Deity represents the prayojana-tattva (truth about life’s ultimate goal” pure love of Krishna. Srila Raghu­natha Dasa Gosvami accepts the lotus feet of Srila Rupa Gosvami as his highest aspiration.