Bahulastami - Radha kunda Snan dan:
Radha-kunda prakata
Pictures of Shaligrams and Govardhan
Silas at Radha kund
Sri Krishna Kunda astakam
(Shyama kunda)
Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir - Iskcon Sri Vrindavan Dham
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 rasalila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrndavana is Goverdhana 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 Goverdhana Hill?
Srila Rupa Goswami's Nectar of Instruction (Upadeshamritam)
The Origin of Radha-kund
After killing a bull-demon named Aristasura, Krishna
approached Radharani to engage in loving affairs. However, She rebuked
Him, stating He was impure because of committing the sin of killing a bull,
the symbol of religion. She suggested that to counteract this sin He should
bathe in all the sacred rivers.
Krishna, being eager to engage in loving affairs with
Srimati Radharani, immediately shoved His lotus foot into the ground, making
a large hole, and called all the sacred rivers to enter into it. They appeared
before Him and formed Syama-kunda (the bathing place of Syama--one who
is the color of a dark rain cloud).
After bathing, Krishna stated that He had become pure
by bathing in Syama-kunda, but that the gopis had become impure, having
sided with a demon, even though he appeared in the form of a bull. Radharani,
along with some of Her gopi friends, broke their bangles and dug a hole
with the broken pieces. But there was no water - so Krishna laughed. The
gopis then formed a line to the Manasi Ganga and started to fill the hole
with water that was passed from one gopi to another. At that time, all
the sacred rivers again arrived in person and requested permission to enter
into Radharani's kunda, which they did after receiving Radharani's blessing.
Sri Radha-Kundastakam
by Srimad Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
"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'."
Sri Krishna Kunda astakam
(Shyama kunda)
Braj Mandal Parikrama:
http://mathuravrindavan.com/mathura1/brajamandala.htm
Among all the beautiful gopis Srimati Radharani is the best. Radharani is the queen of Vrndavana. She has many famous friends, headed by Lalita and Visakha.
Sri Krsna, the cowherd prince whose charming sweetness has no equal or superior, is very dear to Srimati Radharani. She considers Him millions and millions of times more dear than Her own life's breath.
Now the beauty of Srimati Radharani's trancendental form will be described. Srimati Radharani is expert in all the fine arts and Her transcendental form is like an ocean of nectar. Her splendid bodily luster is like the yellow pigment gorocana, molten gold, or stationary lightning. She wears wonderfully beautiful blue garments and She is decorated with various pearls and flowers.
She is very beautiful and She has long nicely braided hair. She is decorated with a garland of flowers and a beautiful pearl necklace. Her splendid forehead is decorated with the red pigment sindura and with beautiful locks of curling hair.
Decorated with blue bangles, Her arms have defeated Cupid's staff with their beauty. Decorated with black mascara and reaching back almost to Her ears, Srimati Radharani's lotus eyes are the most beautiful in all the three planetary systems. Her nose is as beautiful as a sesame flower and it is nicely decorated with a pearl. She is anointed with various perfumes. She is splendidly beautiful.
Her ears are decorated with wonderful earrings and Her nectarean lips defeat the red lotus flowers. Her teeth are like a row of pearls and Her tongue is very beautiful. Decorated with a nectarean smile of pure love for Krsna, Her beautiful face is a splendid as millions of moons.
The beauty of Her chin has defeated and bewildered the demigod Cupid. Decorated with a drop of musk, Her chin appears like a golden lotus flower with a bumblebee. Bearing all the marks of wonderful beauty, Her neck is decorated with a string of pearls. Her neck, back and sides are enchantingly beautiful.
Her beautiful breasts are like two splendid waterpots covered with a bodice and decorated with a necklace of pearls. Her beautiful enchanting arms are decorated with jeweled armlets. Her arms are also decorated with jeweled bracelets and other kinds of jeweled ornaments. Her hands are like two red lotus flowers illuminated by the series of moons that are Her fingernails
Srimati Radharani's hands are decorated with many auspicious markings such as the signs of the bumblebee, lotus, crescent moon, earring, parasol, sacrificial post, conchshell, tree, flower, camara and svastika. These auspicious marks are manifest in various ways on Srimati Radharani's lotus hands. Her splendidly beautiful fingers are also decorated with jeweled rings.
Charming, full of sweet nectar and decorated with a deep navel, Srimati Radharani's beautiful waist enchants the three worlds. Her sloping hips lead to Her charmingly beautiful slender waist, which is bound by a creeper of three beautiful folds of skin and decorated with a sash of tinkling bells.
As beautiful as two exquisite plantain trees, Her thighs enchant the mind of Cupid. Her beautiful knees are like two reservoirs filled with the nectar of various transcendental pastimes. Her beautiful lotus feet are decorated with jeweled ankle-bells and Her toes with toe rings as beautiful as the treasure of Varuna. The auspicious markings on Srimati Radharani's lotus feet include the signs of the conchshell, moon, elephant, barleycorn, rod for controlling elephants, chariot flag, small drum, svastika and fish.
Srimati Radharani is fifteen years old and full of the luster of youth.
Yasoda-devi, the queen of the cowherds, is more affectionate to Radharani than millions of mothers can be. Radharani's father is King Vrsabhanu, who is as splendid as the sun.
Srimati Radharani's mother is Kirtida-devi, who is also known in this world as Ratnagarbha-devi. Radharani's paternal grandfather is Mahibhanu and Her maternal grandfather is Indu.
Her maternal grandmother is Mukhara-devi and Her paternal grandmother is Sukhada-devi. Her father's brothers (Her uncles) are Ratnabhanu, Subhanu and Bhanu.
Bhadrakirti, Mahakirti and Kirticandra are Radharani's materal uncles. Menaka-devi, Sasthi-devi, Gauri-devi, Dhatri-devi and Dhataki-devi are Radharani's materal aunts.
Radharani's mother's sister is Kirtimati-devi, whose husband is Kasa. Radharani's father's sister is Bhanumudra-devi, whose husband is Kusa.
Radharani's elder brother is Sridama and Her younger sister is Ananga-manjari. Radharani's father-in-law is Vrkagopa and Her brother-in-law is Durmada.
Jatila-devi is Radharani's mother-in-law and Abhimanyu is Radharani's so-called husband. Kutila-devi, who is always eager to find fault, is Radharani's sister-in-law.
Lalita, Visakha, Sucitra, Campakalata, Ranga-devi, Sudevi, Tungavidya and Indulekha are the eight dearest friends of Srimati Radharani. These gopis are considered the leaders of all the others.
Kurangaksi, Mandali, Mankiundala, Matali, Candralalita, Madhavi, Madanalasa, Manjumedha, Sasikala, Sumadhya, Madhureksana, Kamala, Kamalatika, Gunacuda, Varangada, Madhuri, Candrika, Prema-manjari, Tanumadhyama, Kandarpa-sundari and Manjukesi are among the millions of dear friends (priya-sakhi) of Srimati Radharani.
Lasika, Kelikandali, Kadambari, Sasimukhi, Candrarekha, Priyamvada, Madonmada, Madhumati, Vasanti, Kalabhasini, Ratnavali, Manimati and Karpuralatika are among those friends (jivita-sakhi) for whom Srimati Radharani is as dear as life.
Kasturi, Manojna, Manimanjari, Sindura, Candanavati, Kaumudi and Madira are among Sriamti Radharani's eternal friends (nitya-sakhi).
Ananga-manjari, Rupa-manjari, Rati-manjari, Lavanga-manjari, Raga-manjari, Rasa-manjari, Vilasa-manjari, Prema- manjari, Mani-manjari, Suvarna-manjari, Kama-manjari, Ratna-manjari, Kasturi-manjari, Gandha-manjari, Netra- manjari, Sripadma-manjari, Lila-manjari and Hema-manjari are among Srimati Radharani's manjari friends. Prema-manjari and Rati-manjari are both also known by the name Bhanumati-devi.
Srimati Radharani's worshipable deity is the sun-god, who enlivens the lotus flowers and acts as an eye for the entire world. Srimati Radharani's maha-mantra is the name of Lord Krsna. Srimati Radharani's benefactor, who brings Her all good fortune, is Bhagavati Paurnamasi.
In Radharani's garden is a vine of golden jasmine flowers that She has named Tadidvalli ("the vine of lightning"). Her private lake bears Her own name (Radha-kunda) and on the shore of that lake is a kadamba tree that is the site of very confidential talks between Her and Lord Krsna.
Her favorite ragas are mallara and dhanasri and Her favorite dances are chalikya and rudravallaki.
Srimati Radharani's glorious birth occured on the eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra. Although generally not full on that day, the moon appeared full to celebrate Radharani's appearance in this world. (SSRKGD)
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is therefore said, sri-krsna-caitanya, radha- krsna nahe anya: "Two personalities--Srimati Radharani and Sri Krsna--are combined in the incarnation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu." (CC Madhya 5.142-143p)
......More Pages on Srimati Radharani (many many)
.....another page on the glories of Srimati Radharani:
Upadeshamrta, The Nectar of Instruction
Verse translations by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Copyright © BBTI, Inc.
Text 1: "A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world."
Text 2: "One's devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) overendeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna conscionsness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements."
Text 3: "There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam -- hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service."
Text 4: "Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one's mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering prasada are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another."
Text 5: "One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krsna, one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation [diksa] and is engaged in worshiping the Deity, and one should associate with and faithfully serve that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others."
Text 6: "Being situated in his original Krsna conscious position, a pure devotee does not identify with the body. Such a devotee should not be seen from a materialistic point of view. Indeed, one should overlook a devotee's having a body born in a low family, a body with a bad complexion, a deformed body, or a diseased or infirm body. According to ordinary vision, such imperfections may seem prominent in the body of a pure devotee, but despite such seeming defects, the body of a pure devotee cannot be polluted. It is exactly like the waters of the Ganges, which sometimes during the rainy season are full of bubbles, foam and mud. The Ganges waters do not become polluted. Those who are advanced in spiritual understanding will bathe in the Ganges without considering the condition of the water."
Text 7: "The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Krsna are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root."
Text 8: "The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one's full time -- twenty-four hours a day -- in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord's divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one's tongue and mind. In this way one should reside in Vraja [Goloka Vrndavana dhama] and serve Krsna under the guidance of devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord's beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service."
Text 9: "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?"
Text 10: "In the sastra it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, he who is advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge [jnanis], one who is practically liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to devotional service. He is superior to the others. However, one who has actually attained prema, pure love of Krsna, is superior to him. The gopis are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always totally dependent upon Sri Krsna, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to Krsna. Her kunda [lake] is as profoundly dear to Lord Krsna as this most beloved of the gopis. Who, then, will not reside at Radha-kunda and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings [aprakrtabhava], render loving service to the divine couple Sri Sri Radha- Govinda, who perform Their astakaliya-lila, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Radha Kunda are the most fortunate people in the universe."
Text 11: "Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vrajabhumi, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most treasured object of Krsna's love. And, in every respect, Her divine kunda is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Radha-kunda is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one's pure love of Krsna is fully aroused."
Radharani appears to Sri Sanatana Goswami
In Bhakti-Ratnakara, it is written that one day Sanatana Goswami went to Radha-Kunda to see Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. When they saw Sanatana approaching, they rose to offer him respect, and then offered him a seat. With this, the three of them began an ishta-gosthi, a discussion about Krishna. Sri Rupa Goswami had written a Stotram to Radharani called "Chatu-Pushpanjali" - an offering of four flowers. Sri Sanatana Goswami read the verses, and was struck by one in particular:
navagorochana gauri, pravarendi varamvaram,
manistavaka-vidyoti-veni-vyalangana-phanam
"O Vrindabaneshvari! I offer my respects unto you. Because your complexion is like newly molten gold, you are known as Gaurangi. Your dress is beautiful like that of a blue lotus. Your long braid of hair resembles a black serpent decorated with jewels."
When Sanatana saw the line, "Your braided hair resembles a black serpent..." he thought about this comparison and said, "Is this a logical or reasonable metaphor? To compare Radharani's hair to a serpent?"
That afternoon Sri Sanatana went to Radha Kunda to take his bath. After
offering different reverential prayers to the Radha Kunda, he took his
bath there. At that time, a little distance from the Kunda, he could see
some gopi boys and girls playing, at the foot of some trees. As he glanced
in their direction, he could just make out that right behind the head of
one of the girls was what might have been a long, black, dangling braid,
but looked to Sanatana Goswami much more like a deadly snake, swaying back
and forth as if ready to strike.
At that time he called out, "O young girl! Be careful: there is a snake
creeping up on your back!" The young girl, caught up in the joy of her
playing, took no notice. Apparently she couldn't hear him. Thereupon he
went running up to her and saw that the girl was none other than Sri Radha
Thakurani. When the gopas and gopis saw him, they burst out laughing. They
laughed and laughed for some time without stopping. Sri Sanatana Goswami
was struck dumb. After this, he could understand the logic of Sri Rupa
Goswami's metaphor.
Krishna brings milk
The Bhakti Ratnakara records how once Sri Sanatana Goswami was alone
in the forest on the banks of the Pavana Sarovara performing his bhajan
in a secluded place. He had been fasting from food and drink. As he is
the supersoul in all living beings, the Lord could understand everything.
He thought, "My devotee is starving. I cannot tolerate this."
In the dress of a gopa, Krishna entered the forest where Sanatana was
staying, carrying a pot of milk. He came before Sanatana and said, "Baba!
I have brought you some milk."
Sanatana said, "Why have you brought me milk?"
"You are not eating properly, that's why."
"How did you know that I am not eating anything?"
"Many gopas have come and gone by here. They told me you have not been
eating."
"Why didn't they come?"
"They have much work at home, so they sent me."
"You are such a little boy, why have you taken so much trouble for
me?"
"No, no, father. It is no trouble at all."
Taking the pot of milk, Sanatana said, "Sit down, little boy. I will
finish the milk and give you back your pot."
"No baba. I cannot sit with you. I have to milk the cows. I will come
and fetch the pot tomorrow."
Saying this, the boy vanished, and Sri Sanatana became speechless.
He could understand that all this was the work of Krishna. He began to
drown in the tears that poured from his eyes as he drank the milk. From
that day on he ate by practicing madhukari, or only accepting a tiny bit
from many different residents of Vrindavana. Gradually the residents of
Vrindavana built him a kutir so that he could stay there.
Accepting Service from Sri Radha
One day Sri Rupa Goswami wanted to prepare some sweet rice for Sanatana
Goswami, but didn't have the necessary provisions for making sweet rice
in his kutir. At that time, she who brings about the fulfillment of the
inner aspiration of devotees, Srimati Radha Thakurani, could understand
everything. And so, in the dress of a young gopi girl she brought milk,
rice, and sugar to Rupa Goswami, saying, "Swamiji! Swamiji! I have brought
you a gift of uncooked rice. Please accept it."
Hearing the words of the young girl, Sri Rupa Goswami opened the door
to his hut and looked out. There he saw a beautiful young gopi maiden with
some offerings of food. Rupa Goswami said, "Little girl! Whay have you
come here?"
"Swamiji! I have only brought you some simple uncooked food."
"Why have you taken such trouble for me?"
"Baba! What trouble? I have only come to render a humble service to
a saintly person."
Accepting the offering of milk, sugar and uncooked rice, Rupa Goswami
said, "Young girl please take your seat, while I put these things away."
The girl said, "I'm sorry, but I have some work to do."
Saying this, the girl disappeared. When Rupa Goswami turned around
and saw that she had gone, he was very bewildered by all this. At length,
he prepared the sweet rice and offered the bhoga to his deity, Govindadeva.
After some time, he gave the prasada to Sanatana Goswami, who had just
arrived. While honoring prasada, Sanatana Goswami experienced an unusual
and enchanting kind of joy.
He asked Sri Rupa, "Where did you get this milk and rice from?"
Rupa Goswami said, "A young gopi girl came by and gave it to me."
Sanatana said, "A young girl just came by all of a sudden and gave
you this milk and rice?"
Rupa Goswami replied, "Yes, she just came by all of a sudden. The strange
thing is, I was just thinking, ³How can I make some sweet rice for
Sanatana² and she just appeared, as if by magic, with this milk and
rice and some sugar."
Hearing this, tears of prema began falling from the eyes of Sanatana
Goswami. He said, "Can't you recognize something when it is right before
your eyes? It was Sri Radha Thakurani Herself who has brought you milk
and rice. By accepting service from Her we are ruined. Now we shall never
attain our desired goal." And in this way, Sanatana Goswami continually
condemned himself again and again for having accepted service from that
person whom he most aspired to serve: Sri Radha Thakurani. This pastime
of Sri Sanatana Goswami is recorded in the Bhakti Ratnakara.
The Bhakti-Ratnakara also records how, every day, Sri Sanatana Goswami
would make the four mile pilgrimage around Govardhan hill, but because
of his old age this was very troublesome. Still, he did not want to break
his religious principles by not circumambulating Govardhan hill. And so
he would suffer great physical hardship while circumambulating Govardhan.
The Lord knows everything and thus could understand the pain his devotee
Sanatana was experiencing. He decided to do something about this. One day,
a little gopa boy came to Sanatana and said, "Baba! You are old. Don't
go to such trouble to walk around Govardhan hill."
Sanatana said, "This is one of the regular principles of my bhajan
- I must maintain it."
The boy said, "Since you are old, you may give now up this rule."
Sanatana said, "I will never give up my religious principles."
Krishna then told him, "Baba! Won't you honor my words?"
Sanatana said, "If it is honorable, then I shall honor it."
At that time Krishna presented Sanatana Goswami with a shila, a stone,
bearing the meark of his own lotus feet, and said: "This is Govardhan-shila,
a piece of stone from Govardhan itself."
Sanatana said, "What shall I do with it?"
Sri Krishna said, "If you circumambulate this Govardhan-shila, your
vow of walking all the way around Govardhan hill every day will remain
intact, for by circumambuting this, you cirucmumbulate Govardhan Hill.
You will thereby get the same result, keep your vow intact, and not compromise
your religious principles."
Sri Sanatana Goswami was silenced. He could understand that Giriraja
himself had given him this shila. From that day forward, he used to circumambulate
the Govardhan-shila marked with the divine marks of the lotus feet of Sri
Krishna.
Following the orders of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana Goswami did not climb Govardhana hill because they considered it nondifferent from Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. On some pretext, the Gopal deity granted Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu an audience beneath the hill, and Gopala similarly favored Srila Rupa and Sanatana Goswami. During his ripe old age, when Rupa Goswami could not go to Govardhan Hill because of invalidity, Gopala kindly went to Mathura and remained at the temple of Vithaleshavara for one month. It was then that Srila Rupa Goswami could see Gopala's beauty to his heart's content.
The activities of Srila Rupa and Sanatana Goswami while they resided in Vrindavana are described by Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami in the Caitanya Caritamrita (CC ML 19.128 - 132) as follows: "The brothers actually have no fixed residence. They reside beneath trees - one night under one tree and the next night under another. Srila Rupa and Sanatana Goswami beg a little food from the houses of brahmanas. Giving up all kinds o material enjoyment, they only take some dry bread and fried chick-peas. They carry only waterpots, and they wear torn quilts. They always chant the holy names of Krishna and discuss his pastimes. In great jubliation, they also dance. They engage almost twenty-four hours daily in rendering service to the Lord. They usually sleep only an hour and ahalf, and some days, when they continuously chant the Lord's holy name, they do not sleep at all. Sometimes they write transcendental literatures about devotional service, and sometimes they hear about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and spend their time thinking about the Lord. When the personal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would hear of the activities of Rupa and Santana Goswami, they would say, ³What is wonderful for a person who has been granted the Lord's mercy?²"
Eight Prayers Glorifying Syama kunda by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur
tim tapas cakara tirtha laksam aksayam pura
suprasidati sma krsna eva sad varam yatah
yatra vasam apa sadhu tat samasta durlabhe
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
What austerities did the hundreds of thousands of eternal holyplaces perform to please Krsna and obtain from Him thebenediction to live at Krsna kunda, the rarest holy place? Let usglorify residence at Krsna kunda.
yady arista danavo pi danado maha nidher
asmad adi durmatibhya ity aho vasiyate
yo mrti cchalena yatra muktim adbhutam vyadhat
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
If even the Arista demon was able to enter Krsna kunda, thencrooked hearted persons such as us may also be able to livethere. Let us glorify residence at Krsna kunda which, on thepretext of death, grants a wonderful form of liberation.
Go vadhassya niskrtis triloka tirtha kotibhi
radhayety avadi tena ta harih samahvayat
yatra parsni ghata je mamaj ja ca svayam muda
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
When Radha said, "To atone for killing a cow (Aristasura) Youmust visit millions of holy places in the three worlds," Krsnacalled all the holy places and then happily bathed in the lakethat sprang from His heel. Let us glorify residence at Krsnaªkunda.
kvapi papa nasa eva karma bandha bandhanad
brahma saukhyam eva visnuloka vasita kvacit
prema ratnam atyayatnam eva yatra labhyate
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
At some holy places one becomes free from all sins, at othersone becomes free from the bondage of karma, at others one attainsBrahman happiness, and at others one attains residence inVisnuloka. Let us glorify residence at Krsna kunda, where withoutany effort one attains the jewel of pure love for Krsna.
Phulla madhavi rasala nipa kunja mandale
Bhrnga koka kokiladi kakali yad ancati
Asta yamikavitarka koti bheda saurabham
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
Krsna kunda is surrounded by groves of mango, kadamba and othertrees with many madhavis and other vines. There is the music ofcakravakas, cuckoos, and bees. At night there are millions ofinconceivable sweet fragrances. Let us glorify residence atKrsna kunda.
Dola keli citra rasa nrtya giti vadanair
Nihnava prasuna yuddha sidhu pana kautukaih
yatra khelatah kisora sekharau sahalibhis
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
With gopi friends the two crowns of youth enjoyed many pastimesthere. They rode on a swing, danced wonderful rasa dances, sang,played instrumental music, and talked. In a secluded place Theyeagerly drank the nectar of a flower battle. Let us glorifyresidence at Krsna kunda.
Divya ratnna nirmitavatara sara sausthavais
chatrika viraji caru kuttima prabha bharaih
sarva loka locanati dhanyata yato bhavet
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
With the beauty of its glistening jewel shores and the splendorof its canopies and mosaic pavements it brings auspiciousness toall eyes. Let us glorify residence at Krsna kunda.
mathuram vikunthato pi janma dhama durlabham
vasakananam tato pi panina dhrto girih
sri hares tato pi yat param saro ti pavanam
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
The district of Mathura, Krsna's birthplace, is more sacred anddificult to attain than Vaikuntha. The forest where He lived ismore sacred still, and the hill lifted by His hand is more sacredthan that. More sacred than that is Lord Hari's very purifyinglake nearby. Let us glorify residence at Krsna kunda.
Krsna kunda tira vasa sadhakam pathed idam
yo stakam dhiyam nimajya keli kunja rajitoh
radhika girindradharinoh padambu jesu sa
prema dasyam eva sighram apnuyad anamayam
May he who reads these eight verses, which convince one to resideat the shore of Krsna kunda, and who also plunges his mind in thelotus flowers of Sri Sri Radha Giridhari's feet, quickly attainsincere love for Them.
