The Origin of Radha Kund

A bull demon named Aristasur had entered into the village of Vrndavan and began terrorizing the cows and people. He dug up the land by the river bank furiously with his horns, he pierced the bodies of the helpless cows with his horns, and made frightening advances towards the residents of Vrndavan.

Begging Krsna to help them, the brajbasis backed away as Krsna turned towards the bull-demon. Seeing Krsna, he snorted with rage and ran towards Him at full speed with his horns lowered in attacking position. Krsna grabbed the demon's horns and threw him to the ground. Tired, perspiring, with his tongue hanging out, Aristasur charged at Krsna again. Krsna once again grabbed his horns and threw him t the ground, this time, the horns breaking clean off. Krsna began kicking the demon's body and passing stool, urine, and vomiting blood the demon passed away.

Soon after the occurance of this great feat done by Krsna, he wished to engage in loving pastime with Radharani and the gopis. But they turned Him away saying that He had commited a great and terrible offense by killing a bull who is the representation of religion. He was impure and needed to be purified before they could even come near Him.

Hearing this, Krsna dug His beautiful lotus foot, heel-first into the ground, calling all the seven holy rivers to appear: Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmade, Sindhu, and Kaveri. All these 7 rivers appeared together in the kund that is now Shyam Kund.

After bathing in Shyam Kund, Krsna said that He was now pure, but the gopis were impure having sided with a demon even though he was in the form of a bull.

Hearing these words from Krsna, Radharani broker her bangle and began digging a hole which would be Radha Kund. The gopis followed her suit and broke their bangles helping her dig. However, after completing the digging, no water appeared and Krsna laughed a tinkling laugh showing His pearl-like teeth.

Radharani and the gopis then made a line reaching all the way to Manasi Ganga and passing hand to hand pots of ganga water, slowly began filling Radha Kund. But no matter how much water they put in the kund, it still would not become full.

Chuckling slightly, Krsna took His small pinky finger and dug a line between Radha Kund and Shyam Kund and the water from Shyam Kund merged with that of Radha Kund.

It is said that anyone who once takes a bath in Radha Kund is immediately pure and becomes very very dear to Krsna as well as Radharani.