Nectar from Bhakti Ratnakara

Excerpts from Bhakti Ratnakara, written by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur


The Glories of Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda

Syama-kunda is also known as Arista-kunda. Whoever bathes in Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda gets the same results one achieves by the performance of a rajasuya and asvamedha-yajna. This is confirmed in Adi-varaha Purana.

Raghava Pandita said that according to the Puranas there is no limit to the glories of Radha-kunda. In the Adi-varaha Purana, Mathura-khanda, it is stated that if a devotee of Visnu offers a lamp to Radha-kunda during the month of Kartika, he will be able to see the entire universe.
In Padma Purana, Kartika Mahatmya, it is stated: “Radha-kunda is very dear to Sri Hari and is situated near Govardhana Hill. By taking bath in Radha-kunda on the eighth day of the waning moon in the month of Kartika [Bahulastami], one can greatly please Lord Hari, who enjoys His pastimes there. This kunda is as dear to Krsna as Radha Herself. Amongst all the gopis, She is the most dear to Krsna. It is the duty of the devotees to bathe in the Radha-kunda during the month of Kartika and thereafter worship Lord Janardana. This simple worship pleases Krsna as much as one does by worshiping Janardana on the day of Uthana-ekadasi.”


Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Discovers Sri Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda

“See these two kundas, Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda, which are surrounded by beautiful forests and which enchant the sages and demigods. After visiting the other forests of Vrndavana, Caitanya Mahäprabhu came here and sat under this tamala tree. He asked the residents of Arista-grama where the two kundas were, but no one could answer. The brahmana accompanying Him from Mathurä also did not know.

“Being the omniscient Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya, carefully searched and discovered the two kundas in two paddy fields. He joyfully took a bath in whatever little water was there and glorified the kundas in various ways. Then He marked His forehead with mud from the kundas.

“The villagers were greatly startled by His behavior. One of them inquired, ‘From where has this sannyasi suddenly come?' Someone said, ‘O brother, by seeing Him I cannot understand what is happening in my body.' Another person said, ‘He cannot be a mortal sannyasi. Seeing Him I cannot explain what is happening in my mind.'

“Someone else said, ‘Who says He is a sannyasi? He is Krsna Himself appearing in this dress and form. Just see the proof. Different birds are all coming for His darsana. The cuckoos and parrots are happily addressing Him as Krsna, and the peacocks are dancing in jubilation. The different sounds of the birds is very pleasing to the ears. And see the wonderful blooming of the trees! O brother, just see the creepers showering flowers on this person, who is disguised as a sannyasi. The deer are coming near Him and staring undivertedly towards His face. All the cows are coming running from all sides with raised tails, and they also look at His face. By the tears of ecstasy falling from the eyes of these creatures we can understand that they are meeting Him after a long period of time.'

“‘O brother, I repeatedly glorify the good fortune of these creatures, who are seeing Krsna in this form and dress. Dear brothers, let us offer obeisances unto the feet of the Lord, who has incarnated to distribute knowledge to the people. By His mercy we can now understand that these two paddy fields known as Kali and Gauri are actually holy kundas.' Speaking like this amongst themselves, they all became maddened by the nectarean sight of Mahaprabhu at this most holy site. Even Lord Brahma cannot describe a fragment of Mahaprabhu's ecstatic expression when He discovered these kundas.”

The Fulfillment of Srila Dasa Gosvami's Desire

“O Srinivasa, presently these paddy fields are seen as two kundas full of water. Please listen while I briefly describe the transformation of the two paddy fields into beautiful kundas.

“One day Raghunatha dasa Gosvami suddenly considered to himself that if these kundas were filled with water it would be very good. Considering that for this purpose money would be needed, Raghunatha dasa remained silent. He scolded himself again and again, thinking why he had desired such a thing. Solacing himself, he decided to stay alone and behave cautiously for sometime. However, when a devotee desires something, that cannot be denied, for Krsna always fulfills His devotees' desires.

“Meanwhile, one rich person had gone to Badarikasrama to get the Lord's darsana. He offered Lord Narayana a large sum of money. That night in a dream the Lord ordered the man, ‘Take this money to Arista-grama in Vraja. There you will find the best of the Vaisnavas, Raghunatha dasa. Give the money to him in My name. If Raghunatha does not agree to take the money, you should remind him about his desire to clean the two kundas for bathing and drinking water.'

“Speaking these words, the Lord disappeared, and that sincere devotee happily came here to Arista-grama. Going before Raghunatha dasa he fell to the ground, offered his obeisances, and then gave the money to Raghunatha. He explained the instruction given to him by the Lord in his dream. Raghunatha became stunned for some time. After some time he repeatedly praised his fortune and requested the rich man to excavate the two kundas without delay. Hearing this, that fortunate man was filled with ecstasy and proceeded to engage many people for the work. Very soon the kundas were dug out. Now hear why Syama-kunda was dug in an irregular shape.

“Everyone decided that the following day a few old trees on the bank of Syama-kunda should be cut. That night Raghunatha had a dream in which King Yudhisthira told him, ‘My brothers and I are living within those trees. Tomorrow morning go to Manasa-pavana-ghata, identify those five trees, and protect them from being cut.' After the dream, Raghunatha went early the next morning to identify the trees and order the people not to cut them. For that reason they could not make Syama-kunda square. The two kundas were then filled with clear water and Sri Raghunatha became very satisfied.

Radha Kund Prakat Mahotsava

vaikunthaj janito vara madhu-puri tatrapi rasotsavad
vrndaranyam udara-pani-ramanat tratrapi govardhanah
radha-kundam ihapi gokula-pateh premamrtaplavanat
kuryad asya virajato giri-tate sevam viveki na kah

"The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrndavana because of Krsna's rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrndavana 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 superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krsna. Where, then, is that intelligent person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?"
(Rupa Gosvami, Upadesamrta 9)

On this most auspicious day of Bahulastami, and the appearance of Sri Radha Kund, I humbly beg for the shelter of Sri Radha Kund, at Sri Vrndavan Dham, which is most dear to Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara. Though I am most unworthy, I know that Srimati Radharani, the Queen of Vrndavana, is most merciful. She is compassion personified! Her sweetness and glory is beyond words...



O Mother! Please be merciful to us! Accept us under Your cooling shelter! Bless us with pure Krsna Prema. Bless our attempts this Kartika. Let us please You! Let our Vratas be successful.

Below: Rare darsan of the sacred Kankan Kund, the actual kund dug by Srimati Radharani and her Sakhis, during a Maha Radha Kund clean up earlier this year.







Photos courtesy of ISKCON Mauritus: Sacred Kundas Renovated (Picasa Web Album)

Sri Radha-Kundastakam (Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami)

"After the killig of Aristasura, Srimati Radhika and Her sakhis exchanged many joking words with Sri Krsna concerning the necessary atonement for one who has committed the offence of killing a bull. As a result, the Queen of Vrndavana, Srimati Radhika, and Her sakhis joyfully excavated and filled Sri Radha-kunda with their own hands. May that immensely fragrant Radha-kunda be my shelter.

"In the land of the hearts of those who bathe in Radha-kunda, a desire tree of the superlative prema, which is not attainable even for Krsna's principal queens in Dvaraka, will arise. May that supremely charming Radha-kunda be my shelter.

"For the pleasure of Srimati Radhika, even Sri Krsna Himself, yearning to attain Her merciful sidelong glance, regularly bathes in Radha-kunda, carefully observing all the appropriate rituals. May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda be my shelter.

"May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda, which the moon of Vraja, Sri Krsna, loves as much as He loves the crown-jewel amongst the sweet girls of Vraja, Srimati Radhika, and which He has made known by the name of Radhika Herself, be my shelter.

"The mercy obtained by serving Radha-kunda makes the desire-creeper of prema for the prince of Vraja sprout and is celebrated for bearing the flower of service to my svamini Srimati Radhika. May that supremely charming Radha-kunda be my shelter.

"Gloriously manifest on the banks of Radha-kunda are eight kunjas named after Radhika's principal sakhis. Acting as stimuli for the amorous pastimes of the Divine Couple, these kunjas are filled with the sweet humming of bumblebees and are desired by everyone. May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda be the shelter of my life.

"Situated on an exquisite dais on the bank of Radha-kunda and accompanied by Her beloved sakhis, our svamini Srimati Radhika charmingly engages in sweet, joking words with Sri Krsna, the moon of Vraja. These playful verbal exchanges are enhanced by the suggestion of so many innuendoes. May that Radha-kunda be the shelter of my life.

"May that very charming and especially fragrant Radha-kunda, where intoxicated with love the Divine Couple and the sakhis daily sport with great joy in the water so fragrant with exquisite lotus flowers, be the sole shelter of my life.

"To that devotee who, in a resolute mood of aspiring to serve Srimati Radhika, reads this charming prayer describing Sri Radha-kunda, even in their present body Sri Krsna will quickly grant them darsana of not only His beloved Radhika, but also of Their many variegated amorous pastimes. Witnessing these pastimes and envisioning himself serving Yugala-kisora in various ways, such a devotee will feel immense jubilation. This astaka is recited in the poetic meter known as 'Malini'."

Courtesy of Salagram.net

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.