Vamsi, Advaita and Nityananda Vata
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
Vamsivata Area and Temple
The Vamsivata-Bihari Temple is located at Vamsivata. Two marble murtis have been built into the compound walls, one of Lord Brahma in his mood during the brahma-vimohana-lila, and the other of Lord Siva as Gopisvara Mahadeva--as a cowherd girl guarding the rasa dance and witnessing Krishna's pastimes with the gopis. (You can recognize Lord Siva by the snake wrapped around his neck.)
Srila Prabhupada writes in Krsna book: “In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that the rasa dance took place on the full moon night of the sarat season. Immediately upon hearing the vibration of the flute, the gopis all left their respective engagements and proceeded to the spot where Krishna was standing. While they ran very swiftly, all their earrings swung back and forth. They all rushed to the place known as Vamsivata.”
There was once a tree living here that was known as "Vamsivata"; it was alive during Lord Krishna's time, and it is said that Krishna played His flute under it. Unfortunately, it was washed away by the Yamuna about 450 years ago. Paramananda Bhattacarya (although some say it was Madhu Pandita Gosvami) managed to salvage a branch of this tree and plant it here at Vamsivata. While digging a hole for the branch, however, the Bhattacarya discovered Radha-Gopinatha Deities, which he gave to Madhu Pandita to worship.
Directions: This temple is in the Vamsivata area of Vrindavana, not far from the Gopisvara Temple. Make a right after leaving the Gopisvara Temple and walk a few minutes down the road. The road bears to the right, and this temple will be straight ahead when the road turns to the right.
Temple Schedule The temple is open in summer from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In winter it is open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Rasa Dance
“Krishna’s rasa dance should never be compared with any kind of mundane dance, such as a ball dance or a society dance. The rasa dance is a completely spiritual performance. In order to establish this fact, Krishna the supreme mystic, expanded Himself in many forms and stood beside each gopi. Placing His hands on the shoulders of the gopis on both sides of Him, He began to dance in their midst. The mystic expansions of Krishna were not perceived by the gopis because Krishna appeared alone to each of them. Each gopi thought that Krishna was dancing with her alone. Above that wonderful dance flew many airplanes carrying the denizens of the heavenly planets, who were very anxious to see the wonderful dance of Krishna and the gopis. The Gandharvas and Kinnaras began to sing, and accompanied by their respective wives, all the Gandharvas began to shower flowers on the dancers.
“As the gopis and Krishna danced together, a very blissful musical sound was produced from the tinkling of their bells, ornaments and bangles. It appeared that Krishna was a greenish sapphire locket in the midst of a golden necklace decorated with valuable stones. While Krishna and the gopis danced they displayed extraordinary bodily features. The movements of their legs, their placing their hands on one another, the movements of their eyebrows, their smiling, the movements of the breasts of the gopis and their clothes, their earrings, their cheeks, their hair with flowers, as they sang and danced these combined together to appear like clouds and thunder. The beauty of the gopis appeared to be just like lightning in the sky, and the drops of perspiration visible on their faces appeared like falling snow. In this way, both the gopis and Krishna fully engaged in dancing.
“The necks of the gopis became tinted with red due to their desire to enjoy Krishna more and more. To satisfy them, Krishna began to clap His hands in time with their singing. Actually the whole world is full of Krishna’s singing, but it is appreciated in different ways by different kinds of living entities.” (Krishna Book)