Visiting Radha and Shyama Kundas
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
| Table of contents |
Overview
Within the holy dhama of Vrindavana are twelve sacred forests where Lord Sri Krsna performed many of His wonderful activities. Of these twelve, the forest of Vrindavana is not only the largest, but also the most sacred because the rasa-lila was performed here. In the middle of this Vrindavana forest is the transcendental mountain Govardhana Hill, and situated at the northern most point of this great mountain is the sacred lake called Radha kunda, where the most intimate of all the Lord's transcendental loving pastimes took place.
In Upadesamrta (Nectar of Instructions), Rupa Goswami says: The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared here. Superior to Mathurapuri is the transcendental forest of Vrindavana because of Krsna's rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krsna and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the super excellent Sri Radha kunda stands supreme, for it is over flooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna. Where, then is that unintelligent person unwilling to serve this divine Radha kunda which is situated at the foot of the Govardhana hill?
Within all the three worlds and beyond to the spiritual realm, there is no place more sacred and holy than Radha kunda. This has been confirmed in all Vedic literature's such as the Puranas and Ithias as well as by all the great sages of yore. Five hundred years ago the six Goswamis of Vrindavana also revealed through their teachings that of all the holy places within the universe, Radha kunda should be considered the holiest of all.
The reason that Radha kunda is considered to be the most holy place is because it is the personal bathing place of Srimati Radharani. When the Supreme Lord desires to enjoy transcendental mellows of divine love, Srimati Radharani manifest from the Lord's internal potency (hladini shakti) and perfectly reciprocates those loving feelings. At Radha kunda, some of the most intimate exchange of transcendental love between Radha and Krsna took place, and for this reason Radha kunda is very dear to Srimati Radharani.
The appearance of Radha kunda is transcendentally related to the pastimes of Sri Krsna. One day during the month of Kartika, King Kamsa, the evil uncle of Krsna, received news that Krsna was grazing His cows near Govardhana hill. Kamsa immediately dispatched his most powerful demon, Aristasura to kill Krsna. The demon assuming the form of a gigantic bull charged to attack Sri Krsna. When the demon came close enough, Krsna caught him by the horns and repeatedly threw him with such force that the demon gave up his life. Even though the inhabitants of Vraja were happy at the killing of the demon, Srimati Radharani and Her gopi friends were upset at the killing of a cow.
Despite all explanations from Sri Krsna, Radharani informed Him that to wash away the sins of killing a cow, He would have to purify Himself by bathing in all the holy places of the universe. Instead of taking the trouble to visit all the holy places, Sri Krsna summoned them and requested them to reside in a large hole He made by striking His heel on the ground. In this way the Shyama kunda was filled by each and every holy place in the universe and then Krsna Himself took bath in it to purify Himself. Krsna then began teasing Radharani about the glories of His kunda.
Srimati Radharani, displaying transcendental anger, broke one of her bangles and began to dig into one of the hollows created by the hoof print of Aristasura. The other Gopis also broke their bangles and began digging with Radharani and soon they had dug a huge kunda. Amazed by this Sri Krsna offered to fill the kunda with the water from His kunda, but Srimati Radharani flatly refused. However all the holy places personified prayed to Srimati Radharani to let them reside in Her kunda,and when She finally agreed, they joyfully broke the banks of Shyama kunda and flowed into Radha kunda. Sri Krsna then immediately took a bath in Radha kunda and declared that henceforth any one bathing offenselessly in the kunda will achieve the same ecstatic love for Krsna that Srimati Radharani has.
After Sri Krsna returned to His spiritual abode, King Yudhisthira established Parikshit as the king of Hastinapura, and Lord Krsna's great grandson, Vajranabha, as the kind of Mathura. King Vajranabha re-established many holy places linked with the pastimes of Sri Krsna. He installed many important deities and also excavated the Shyama and Radha kunda. Almost five thousand years later Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavana and once again re-discovered these transcendental kunda which had been forgotten over the passage of time.
Following the instructions of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami established his bhajan kutir (place of worship) next to Radha kunda. Fulfilling his intense desire to develop the kunda and make them accessible to many devotees, the Lord motivated a rich merchant to make a generous donation to Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. The Radha and Shyama kunda under the supervision of Jiva and Raghunatha Dasa Goswami was developed with wide boundaries and steps around it. It has since then been very nicely maintained by pious kings and religious people.
Bathing in the Radha kunda offenselessly gives one the highest form of Krsna prema. However, a devotee has to be extremely cautious of committing offenses at this holiest of the holy places. Srila Prabhupada once said that it is very easy to go to hell by committing offenses at Radha kunda. Living on the banks or bathing in the kunda is meant for the very advanced devotees like Raghunatha Dasa Goswami who are beyond the bodily concept of life. However, taking three drops of water from the kunda and sprinkling over one's head gives one all the benefit of bathing in the kunda without the dangers of any of the offenses.
Appearance of Radha Kunda
When the inhabitants of Vrindavana heard that Krsna had killed the terrible Aristasura demon (who appeared in the shape of a bull) they all rushed to the spot in a jubilant mood. Srimati Radharani and Her girlfriends also arrived at the scene and upon hearing that Krishna had killed a bull, became very upset and refused to associate with Him. Krsna pleaded with Radharani that since Aristasura was actually a demon in the disguise of a bull, there was no sin in killing him. Radharani informed Her beloved Syamasundara that in order to purify Himself from cow-killing, He would have to take His bath in all the holy places of the universe and then only would She associate with Him again. Krsna agreed to Radharani’s proposal, but instead of taking the trouble of traveling to all the holy places in the universe to take bath, Krishna informed Her that He would instead call all the holy places in the universe to Vrindavana. Striking His heel into the ground, Krsna made a very large impression and then called all the holy places of the universe to pour their sacred waters in to the newly-made kunda.
One by one all the holy places arrived in their personified forms. Offering their prayers to Krsna they all poured their waters into the kunda and filled it up. Just to please Radharani, Krsna took His bath in the newly formed kunda that then became celebrated as Syama-kunda.
Exhibiting transcendental arrogance in having created such a beautiful pond, filled with the sacred waters of all the holy places in the universe, Krsna began teasing Radharani and the gopis. He said that because they were only simple village girls they must have never performed any religious duties in this world for the pleasure of the demigods. Krsna also informed them that because they sided with the demon Aristasura, in the form of a bull, they would have to share the sin of cow-killing, and must also take bath to purify themselves.
Feeling the pinch of Krsna’s joking words, Radharani suddenly exhibited Her transcendental anger and seeing a deep impression of Aristasura’s hoof print nearby, broke one of Her bangles and using it as a digging instrument, started to dig in the soft earth. Upon seeing this, the gopis also broke their bangles and started digging. Within a short time a large kunda had been created right next to Syama-kunda.
Krsna was amazed to see the large pond that Radharani and the gopis had created and made an offer to Radharani that the sacred waters from His kunda could also fill Hers. Radharani flatly refused Krsna’s offer, saying that the waters of Syama-kunda were now contaminated due to the sin of cow-killing. She further said that Her many girlfriends would form a line and bring pure waters of the Manasi-ganga in golden pots to fill her kunda.
Upon hearing the words of Srimati Radharani, the holy places personified approached Her with folded hands and while chanting beautiful prayers in glorification, humbly asked Her to grant them a boon. Radharani inquired what kind of boon they desired. The holy places personified informed Her that their lives could only be successful if they were allowed to pour their sacred waters into Her kunda also. Being ever compassionate to all those who sincerely approach Her, Radharani while glancing at Syamasundara through the corners of Her eyes, happily agreed to their proposal. In a joyous mood the holy places personified forcibly broke through the banks of Syama-kunda and poured their sacred waters into Radha-kunda.
Krsna then immediately took bath in Radha-kunda and declared that henceforth, anyone who with firm faith took a bath on that day in Radha-kunda, would achieve the same ecstatic love that Radharani had for Him. Radharani and Her girlfriends then took bath in Syama-kunda. Radharani declared that anyone who takes bath in Syama-kunda would achieve the same ecstatic love that Krsna has for Her.
This pastime occurred at 11:45 pm on the eighth day of the waning moon in the auspicious month of Kartika. Each year on this day, thousands of devotees flock to Radha-kunda for the ardha-ratri-snana (midnight bath). First they bathe in Syama-kunda and then again in Radha-kunda. This festival, held on the appearance day of Radha-kunda is known as Bahulastami. Radha-kunda is the only place in the world where a holy bath is taken at midnight.
Described in Spiritual World
In the spiritual world Radha kunda is described as being surrounded by kadamba, campaka, asoka, mang, punnaga and bakula trees, and lavanga and vasnati creepers. The banks are decorated with different kinds of gems. Radha and Krsna swing on a gold gem-studded swing, hanging from a tree.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur gives a description of Radha kunda in his book, Gita Mala. "The banks of Radha kunda are made of desire-fulfilling touchstones. There are hundreds of beautiful transcendental gardens surrounding the lake. The trees and creepers of the gardens are made of coral and rubies and the fruits they produce are pearls and diamonds".
In the Sri Govinda-lilamrita written by Krsna dasa Kaviraja, and Sri Krsna Bhavanamirta by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti, they describe Radha kunda in the spiritual world: On the four sides of Radha kunda are jeweled stairways leading to the jeweled bathing ghatas. A jeweled bridge connects Radha kunda with Syama kunda. One either side of the ghatas are pairs of swings. There are jeweled platforms around the stairs of the ghatas, flanking gem-studded cottages.
There are many shade trees and flowering creepers. These flowering creepers have unlimited flowers. On all sides of Radha kunda are kalpa-vriksa (wish-fulfilling) trees. The bathing ghatas are surrounded by various kunjas (forests groves or gardens).
Kunjas of Eight Sakhis
Radha Kunda is surrounded by the kunjas (garden groves) of the eight main sakhis.
1. Sri Lalita Sakhi’s Kunja (north) is the largest kunja. There are platforms made of gold, sapphires, crystal and lapis lazuli. In the center of a courtyard is a golden temple called Ananga Rangambuja, which is in the shape of a 1,000-petal lotus.
2. Sri Visakha Devi’s Kunja (northeast).
3. Sri Citra Devi’s Kunja (east, multi-colored) has a wonderful variety of forms and colors. Citra means “variegated or wonderful.”
4. Sri Indulekha’s Devi’s Kunja (southeast, white). Everything is completely white in color, including the trees, thrones, cottages, etc.
5. Sri Campakalata Devi’s Kunja (south, gold).
6. Sri Ranga Devi’s Kunja (southwest, syama-blue) is Srimati Radharani’s favorite, because the dark blue color of everything reminds Her of Krishna.
7. Sri Tungavidya Devi’s Kunja (west, crimson). Everything is a crimson color in this kunja and the entire grove is inlaid with rubies.
8. Sri Sudevi Devi’s Kunja (northwest, green). Everything is green. It has emerald covered thrones.
9. Sri Ananga Manjari’s Kunja is in the center of Radha Kunda. It is connected to the north bank of Radha Kunda by a crystal bridge. The north bank is where Jahnava Devi’s sitting place is located. In the center of this kunja is a jeweled temple.
Kunjas of the Eight Sakhas
Syama Kunda is surrounded by the kunjas of the eight main sakhas (cowherd boyfriends), called priya-narma sakhas. These boys are Krishna’s most intimate cowherd boy friends and they understand and are submissive to Krishna’s dealings with the gopis. The cowherd boys gave their kunjas to different sakhis to manage.
1. Subala Kunja (northwest) is on the side of Syama Kunda where Manasa- pavana Ghata is located. It is managed by Radharani. Radharani and the rest of the sakhis bathe daily at 12 noon at Manasa-pavana Ghata.
2. Madhumangala’s Kunja (north) is managed by Lalita Devi.
3. Ujjvala’s Kunja (northwest) is managed by Visakha Devi.
4. Arjuna’s Kunja (east) is managed by Citra Devi.
5. Gandharva’s Kunja (southeast) is managed by Indulekha.
6. Vidagdha’s Kunja (south) is managed by Campakalata.
7. Kokeela’s Kunja (southwest) is managed by Ranga Devi.
8. Sanandananda’s Kunja (west) is managed by Tungavidya Devi.
Lord Caitanya Rediscovers
After having displayed His transcendental pastimes on earth for one hundred and twenty five years, Krsna returned to the spiritual world bringing the Dvapara-yuga to an end. The dark age of Kali-yuga then began and after a period of almost fifty centuries, Krishna again appeared on earth but this time in the form of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, also known as the Golden Avatar due to His golden-like complexion.
During Krsna’s appearance He spoke the Bhagavad-gita on the battle at Kurukshetra, but as time went by no-one could properly understand or even follow Krsna’s instructions. Therefore the Lord came again as Sri Chaitanya to show the world how to perfectly follow those instructions. The Lord appeared this time as a sannyasi in the renounced order of spiritual life. One of the reasons for His coming was to introduce the yuga-dharma, or religious practice for this present age of Kali, the congregational chanting of the Lords holy names, also known as the maha-mantra, or the great chant of deliverance.
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Another reason for Lord Chaitanya’s appearance was to re-discover the lost holy places in Vrindavana, where Lord Krsna had performed His transcendental pastimes five thousand years earlier. In the year 1515, on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Purnima, Lord Chaitanya arrived on pilgrimage in the holy land of Vrindavana. Accompanied by His companions, Balabhadra and the Sanodiya brahmana, the Lord visited all the sacred forests connected with Lord Krsna’s pastimes.
One day while on parikrama around Govardhana Hill, Lord Chaitanya arrived at a small village then known as Aritagram. The Lord inquired from the local people where the sacred lakes of Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda were situated, but no one knew. Over the many centuries the two sacred kundas were practically forgotten and somehow had become renamed as gauri meaning golden (the complexion of Radharani), and kari meaning blackish (the complexion of Krsna). These two kundas had been turned into paddy fields by the local farmers.
On the outskirts of the village Lord Chaitanya sat in deep contemplation underneath a beautiful tamala tree. As the Lord sat there His glance. Fell across the two nearby paddy fields that were fed by underground springs. By His divine spiritual power, the Lord could understand that these two paddy fields were non-other than Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. In great ecstasy the Lord suddenly ran into the middle of the paddy fields and in whatever water was available there, took His bath, much to the astonishment of the onlooking villagers. Lord Chaitanya then took clay from the sacred kundas and applied Vaisnava tilaka marks to His transcendental body. The Lord then danced in great ecstasy around the two kundas while chanting the holy names of Radha and Krsna. After fully satisfying Himself Lord Chaitanya offered His obeisances to the sacred kundas and continued His parikrama of the holy land of Vraja.
After completing His pilgrimage to Vrindavana where He rediscovered many important holy places, Lord Chaitanya began His return journey to Puri. On the way, the Lord stopped at Allahabad, where he met Rupa Goswami and instructed him in the science of devotional service for ten consecutive days. The Lord then ordered Rupa Goswami to proceed to Vrindavana and excavate all the lost holy places as well as write books on the science of devotional service (bhakti-yoga). Some years later Rupa Goswami wrote one of his most famous books, Sri Upadesamrta, which mentions the glories of Radha-kunda
After leaving Allahabad, Lord Chaitanya next visited Varanasi (Kasi), where He met Rupa’s elder brother Sanatana Goswami. The Lord also gave elaborate instructions on the science of devotion to Sanatana. The Lord then ordered him to join his brother Rupa in Vrindavana, where they should both write books elaborating on the Lord’s instructions, excavate the lost holy places of Krsna’s pastimes, and establish Deity worship.
Bathing in Kundas
Srila Prabhupada has said in his purport to Srila Rupa Goswami’s Upadesamrta, verse eleven, “A devotee will at once develop pure love of Krsna in the wake of the gopis, if he once takes bath in Radha-kunda.” In his Radha-kundastakam, Raghunatha dasa Goswami also says that “One can immediately attain pure love of God by once bathing in Radha-kunda.” And in Chaitanya-Caritamrita, Krsnadasa Kaviraja also says that “Sri Krsna gives ecstatic love like that of Radharani to whoever bathes in Radha-kunda.”
We can therefore understand from these references the great spiritual fortune of one who offenselessly, and with full faith in the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna, bathes in the sacred waters of Radha-kunda. Nevertheless, Srila Prabhupada gave adequate warning about committing offenses at Radha-kunda. Once in 1975, when some devotees were reported to have been swimming and sporting frivolously in Radha-kunda, Srila Prabhupada became very grave and informed all the devotees gathered for the Gaura-Purnima festival that from now on, no one should take bath in Radha-kunda. Rather the devotees should simply sprinkle three drops of water on their heads, as this would have the same benefit as taking a full bath, but at the same time help avoid offenses to Radha-kunda.
Srila Prabhupada further said, “There is no difference between Radha-kunda and Radharani. So how can you jump over Radharani? How can you enjoy Radha-kunda by swimming? You cannot touch with your feet even to Radha-kunda. You can take a little water on your head. This is respectful to Radha-kunda.”
Here we can see the special benediction of the bona-fide spiritual master. That simply by sprinkling three drops of water on one’s head, the same effect will be achieved without any offense to Radha-kunda. There is no doubt whatsoever that Srimati Radharani will fulfill such a benediction given by Her pure devotee.
In 1935 when Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati performed the Vraja-mandala parikrama with thousands of his followers, out of reverence for the extreme sanctity of Radha-kunda, they did not enter the waters, but instead sprinkled three drops on their heads out of respect. Committing offenses at Radha-kunda is certainly the fastest way of going to hell.
It can be easily understood, that even if one lives on the sacred banks of Radha-kunda and takes bath regularly, if one commits offenses one can very easily glide down to hell. Srila Prabhupada once said, “Don’t go to Radha-kunda simply to become monkey in your next life. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati has also said that many Babajis come to Radha-kunda to live, but in actual fact, because of their grievous offences, they are not living at Radha-kunda at all, but at Naraka-kunda (hell).
Living on the banks of Radha-kunda and regularly bathing in Her sacred waters is meant for the most advanced devotees like Raghunatha dasa Goswami who are beyond the bodily concept of life. It is not for the neophytes who are only practicing devotional service (vaidhi-bhakti), and who are still struggling to control their mind and senses.
To be able to reside on the banks of Radha-kunda and bathe in the sacred waters of Radharani’s own personal bathing place are not ordinary activities, Even Narada, Sanaka Rsi, Lord Brahma, Sukadeva Goswami, and Lord Siva, do not get this chance. This is because they are in the consciousness of being male devotees. In order to actually enter into Radha-kunda, one must be above the bodily concept and completely free from all offences. Many of the local Vaisnavas show great caution when bathing in the sacred kundas, they can be seen standing on the side of the ghatas, dipping their kamandalus into the water and pouring water over their heads, not daring to touch their feet to Radha-kunda. While visiting Radha-kunda, devotees should carefully take shelter of the bona-fide spiritual master’s instructions, strictly avoid committing offenses and remember that “fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
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