Jahnava Devi's bathing spot
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This was the sitting place of Ma Jahnava, the consort of Lord Nityananda, who visited Radha-kunda probably somewhere around 1582, spending four days here during her tour of Vrindavana. During her visit to Vrindavana she met Jiva Goswami, Gopala Bhatta Goswami and Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami and Raghunatha dasa Goswami.
On arriving from Bengal, Ma Jahnava spent some days in Vrindavana. At that time Raghunatha dasa Goswami was in a very pitiable condition due to intense feelings of separation from Radha and Krishna. Srila Jiva Goswami requested Ma Jahnava to go to Radha-kunda and give her darsana to Raghunatha dasa, as this would in inspire him to go on living. This meeting has been recorded in Bhakti-ratnakara as follows.
“That illustrious personality, Ma Jahnava, glowed with a golden effulgence more brilliant than the sun. When Raghunatha dasa Goswami saw her coming, he went mad in ecstatic love. He cried so much that he lost sight of her. Ma Jahnava could understand the inner heart of Raghunatha dasa. Tears of divine love rushed out of their eyes like well springs. Raghunatha dasa did not know what to say, or how to please Ma Jahnava, whose heart was burning like smoldering embers in separation from her beloved Lord Nityananda”.
Ma Jahnava, while sitting here on the banks of Radha-kunda had a wonderful vision of Lord Gopinatha standing under a tamala tree playing on His flute. To commemorate this wonderful vision, the Deity of Lord Gopinatha was installed here next to Ma Jahnava’s baithaka. In Vrindavana lila, Ma Jahnava is none other than Ananga Manjari the younger sister of Srimati Radharani.
Another interesting fact is that the very spot where Jahnava mata sat is the place where in aprakata-lila, a footbridge made of pure crystal extends out into the middle of Radha-kunda, where the kunja (grove) of Ananga Manjari is situated. This kunja appears like a large lotus flower floating in the middle of Radha-kunda. Near Ma Jahnava’s sitting place there are some steps leading down to the water. This place is known as Ma Jahnava-ghata and was the private bathing place of Ma Jahnava.