Nidhivana
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
Nidhivana, a small grove resembling Seva Kunja, is mentioned in both the Padma Purana and the Govinda-lilamrita as the place where Radha and Krishna rested after dancing and engaging in other pastimes. Nidhi means "the place where invaluable gems are found." The small "Sleeping Temple" in the grove is said to contain the bed where They are said to have rested.
Visakha Kunda is also located in this garden. It is said that Krishna created this kunda by piercing the ground with His flute after the rasa dance to satisfy Visakhadevi's thirst.
Haridasa Swami's samadhi is also located here, near the entrance. Haridasa Swami (1535-?) was originally from Haridaspur (Kol-Aligah), and was a contemporary of the Six Gosvamis. He took sannyasa when he was twenty-five. Later, he discovered the Banke Bihari Deity at Nidhivana.
Once, in a playful mood, Srimati Radharani took Krishna’s flute, and there is a temple at Nidhivana to commemorate this pastime, which houses a Deity of Srimati Radharani playing the flute. Lalita and Visakha stand alongside.
Tansen, Emperor Akbar's famous court musician, was one of Haridasa's favorite students. It is said that one day, while Haridasa was singing on the bank of the Yamuna, Emperor Akbar passed by in a boat and heard him. He ordered the boat stopped and he asked Haridasa to become his court musician. Haridasa refused but allowed the emperor to take his disciple, Ramtanu Mishra, to Delhi. Ramtanu later became famous as Mian Tansen.
In 1573, Emperor Akbar came to visit the Vrindavana Gosvamis at Nidhivana, and it is believed that he met Jiva Gosvami at that time. The Gosvamis chose Nidhivana for the meeting so that Akbar would see the sanctity of the place. During the days of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, the area of Vrindavana that included Nidhivana, Seva Kunja, and Nikunjavana was one large forest. There was no town here like there is today.
The monkeys in this area can be aggressive, so it is a good idea to purchase a few packages of dry chickpeas (chana) for them so that they will leave you alone.
Getting Around: When you enter Nidhivana, the large building in front and to the right of you is Haridasa Swami's samadhi. Next to the samadhi is the Rasa-sthali. From Nidhivana's entrance, the Sleeping Temple is in the far left-hand corner.
Visakha Kunda is located between the entrance of Nidhivana and the Sleeping Temple. The kunda is fairly large, but you will not see it until you are next to it. The kunda is deep, and there are steps leading down to the water. An elevated path circles Nidhivana.
How To Get There
The entrance to Nidhivana is close to the Shahji (Sahaji) Temple, between the Shahji Temple and Loi Bazaar. You are walking past the large walls around Nidhivana when you go to the Radha-Raman temple. If you are at the bottom end of Loi Bazaar, near Ganga Prasad Cloth Shop, make a left and walk for about thirty seconds. The entrance to Nidhivana is on the right side, down a small alley about 50 m (150 ft) from the main road. The entrance is almost directly across from the entrance to the Shahji temple.
Times
Nidhivana is open from 7:30 a.m. until 12 p.m., and from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. in summer, and 8:30 a.m. until noon, and 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in winter.