from Spiritual Guides

10-17-2006, 09:50 AM

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Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda

This is a very tranquil and peaceful place. It is considered by Gaudiya
Vaishnavas to be the most holy place in the Braja area. It is a very important
place to visit. There are two holy tanks here, right next to each other. The
town
here is also known as Aristavan. In this village, the demon Aristasura was
killed by Krishna. Radha Kunda is 26 km (16 miles) west of Mathura.
For years Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda were lost and no one knew exactly where
they were located. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavana in 1515,
He rediscovered these two important kundas.
Part of the parikrama of Govardhana Hill is going around Radha and Syama
Kunda. Radharani and Krishna have their midday pastimes at Radha Kunda.
When Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami first stayed at Radha Kunda, Radha Kunda and
Syama Kunda were only 4m (12 ft) by 4m (12 ft) in size. At that time one rich
man
named Sampanna went to Badrinath to offer Lord Narayana a large donation. In
a dream, Lord Krishna told him to go to Radha Kunda and give the money to
Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami to renovate the kundas, which he did. Raghunatha Dasa
Gosvami and Jiva Gosvami supervised the expansion of the kundas around 1554.
In the center of Radha Kunda is a small walled-in area called Kancana Kunda.
This kunda is said to mark the location of the original kunda that Srimati
Radharani and the gopis dug with their bangles. It is said that Vajranabha
built
a bathing tank at Syama Kunda to commemorate the place where Krishna killed
Aristasura. When there is water in Syama Kunda this kunda cannot be seen. When
Syama Kunda is empty, you can see a wall encircling a small deep kunda in the
center of Syama Kunda. This kunda is called Vajranatha Kunda. Syama Kunda is
also known as Arista Kunda or Krishna Kunda.
In the eight directions surrounding Radha Kunda are the kunjas (garden
groves) of Sri Radha’s asta-sakhis (eight main gopis). They are the kunjas of
Lalita
Devi, Vishakha Devi, Citra Devi, Indulekha Devi, Campakalata Devi, Ranga
Devi, Tungavidya Devi, and Sudevi. Sri Ananga Manjari’s kunja is in the center
of
Radha Kunda.
Radha Kunda appeared at 12 midnight on Bahulastami, the eighth day (astami)
of the waning moon, in the month of Kartika (Oct-Nov). On that day, thousands
of people come and bathe at 12 midnight in Radha Kunda. It is an ecstatic and
exciting event
“Mathura is superior to Vaikuntha because Lord Krishna appeared there.
Vrindavana is superior to Mathura because Krishna performed His rasa-lila
there.
Govardhana Hill is superior to Vrindavana because Krishna lifted it and enacted

many blissful pastimes there. But the superexcellent Radha Kunda stands supreme

above all for it is overflowing with the ambrosial nectarean prema of Radha
and Krishna. (Sri Upadesamrita, verse 9)
“Great sages say that Radha Kunda is as dear to Krishna as Radha Herself.
Indeed, Krishna’s love for Radha Kunda and Srimati Radharani is the same in all

respects.” (Sri Upadesamrita verse 11 purport)
In the Adi Varaha Purana it is said that by bathing in Radha Kunda the sin of
killing a cow, man or a brahmana is immediately removed. According to the Adi
Varaha Purana, by bathing in Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda one attains the
result of performing a rajasuya and asvamedha yajna.
“The bathing tank called Radha Kunda is as profoundly dear to Krishna as
Radha Herself, who is the dearest gopi. Who then will not reside at Radha Kunda

and, surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings, render loving service to the

divine couple Sri Sri Radha Govinda. Those who execute devotional service on
the banks of Radha Kunda are the most fortunate people in the universe.”
(Upadesamrita, verse 10)

Killing of Aristasura
Story of Radha Kunda
Description of Radha Kunda in the Spiritual World
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.
People Approaching You
There are many people who will try to guide you around the area and give you
things. If you take anything from them or talk to them, expect to pay
something. The problem I experienced sometimes was no matter how much you give
them,
it will not be enough. Do not get angry, it will not help.
Some of the guides at Radha Kund are quite good and know most of the places
there. They can quickly bring you to places and can be helpful. If possible you

should try to work out a price in advance, but most likely it will be up to
you to give a donation at the end.
If you give some charity to the children here, you may attract an immediate
crowd of twenty or thirty kids, who will not leave you alone. A good idea here
is to not talk to anyone and to not even acknowledge their existence, if
possible. People that walk up to you will usually quickly go away if you
politely
ignore them. Any donations given at temples will be politely accepted. If you
would like to give a donation to anyone else, it is advised to give as you are
leaving.
Usually people will only walk up to you when you are around Radha Kunda. When
you are around Syama Kunda, especially the far end, usually no one will come
up to you. Usually a good place to spend some time is at Sri Caitanya’s
sitting place.
Radha Kunda Pratibhu Deities
In 1670, many of the original Deities of Vrindavana were moved to Jaipur.
Their first stopping place from Vrindavana to Jaipur was Radha Kunda. Small
replica temples of the original temples in Vrindavana were built at Radha
Kunda.
Pratibhu-murtis (expanded forms, non-different from the original Deities) were
established at Radha Kunda to honor the Lord’s visit here, and the worship has
been continued for centuries. The residents of Radha Kunda can visit the seven
major temples of Vrindavana without leaving Radha Kunda.
Radha Kunda Practicalities
Many people do dandavat parikrama here. They pay obeisances, lying flat on
the ground and then move a rock to mark their spot. This takes one to two
hours.
There are fairly decent rooms at the Manoranjan Dharamshala. To get there,
you walk from where the bus or taxi lets you off near Radha Kunda. When you
first see Radha Kunda there is a road that goes straight and one that goes
right.
You take the road to the right and walk a few minutes. The dharamshala is a
yellow building on the right. During the month of Kartika this place will most
likely be full.
At Radha Kunda a taxi can be arranged through Mahesh, who has a cloth shop,
which is just opposite the Hanuman temple near Radha Kunda.
Tour of Radha Kunda
Radha Gokulananda Temple
>From where you arrive by taxi or by bus you walk down the road toward Radha
Kunda. Just past the small hospital, on the left, is the Radha Gokulananda
Temple. There is a sign above the doorway that says Radha Gokulananda Temple in

English, Hindi and Bengali.
This temple contains the pratibhu-murtis of Radha Gokulananda. The original
Deities are at the Radha Gokulananda Temple in Vrindavana. They were worshipped

by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur. The puspa samadhis of Lokanatha
Goswami and Narottama Dasa Thakur are next to this temple. There is also a cave

(gupha) where Lokanatha Goswami stayed at while at Radha Kund.
Sri Kundeswara Mahadeva Temple
As you continue walking to Radha Kunda, you come to the small white marble
roadside temple of Sri Kundeswara Mahadeva, on the left. This is just before
you
see Radha Kunda on your right. There are four Lord Siva temples in the four
directions, surrounding Radha Kunda, to protect Radha Kunda from intrusion of
unqualified persons. It is traditional to pay respects to Kundeswara Mahadeva
before beginning parikrama of Radha Kund.
Jhulan Sthali
As you continue on this road, Radha Kunda is on your right. Another 65m (200
feet) from the Sri Kundeswara Mahadeva Temple is a stone structure shaped like
an upside down U, on the right side of the path, near Radha Kunda. There is a
sacred banyan tree at this place.
The Jhulan Sthali marks the site of Radha’s and Krishna’s swing pastimes, in
Their aprakata-lila, or unmanifested pastimes. In the spiritual world there
is an incredible swing in the shape of a sixteen-petal lotus flower. On this
swing Radha and Krishna sit in the middle facing each other. Also on the swing
are the sakhis and manjaris, who sit facing Radha and Krishna. It appears to
them that Radha and Krishna are directly facing each of them. The swing is
being
pushed by an assembly of sakhis.
The ghat on this side of Radha Kund is known as Jhulan Ghat, after this
pastime.