SB 10.36.11–16 – Sri Radha-kunda’s Appearance

Giriraj Swami: He wrote a small book called Pradesh Amṛta or Nectarean Instructions and in eleven verses, he describes the whole process of spiritual advancement; from the beginning stages up to the most advanced. And in the last three verses, he mentions Radha-kunda. He explains that of all places, Mathura is the best because Sri Krishna appeared there. But even better than Mathura, although within Mathura but even better than Mathura, is Vrindavan. Because in Vrindavan, Krishna enjoyed His glorious pastimes of the rāsa-līlā which we discussed on the first day of Kartik. And even better than Vrindavan is Govardhana a Hill. But again, Govardhana Hill is within Vrindavan because Sri Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill with His own lotus hand. And even better than Govardhana a Hill is Radha-kunda although again, Radha-kunda is at Govardhana Hill, because there Krishna enjoyed His most intimate pastimes with His dear most devotees. And he goes on to recommend residing on the banks of Radha-kunda and taking bath in Radha-kunda. And there are verses in the scriptures that describe that just as Srimati Radharani is dear to Krishna, so Her kuṇḍa or Her pond where She would bathe is as dear to Krishna.

So the history of how Radha-kunda was created goes back to the time of Krishna’s manifest pastimes on earth. Almost at the end of Krishna’s stay in Vrindavan before He went to Mathura, ultimately to kill the tyrant Kamsa. Kamsa was sending demons in different disguises. These demons, because this is a previous age Dvapara-yuga. In Dvapara-yuga people were more powerful than we are in the present age called Kali-yuga. So these demons had mystic powers and they could assume different forms. So one of the last demons that Kamsa sent to Vrindavan was the arista demon or the bull demon. And he was huge, a terrible demon, it is described that when he put down his hoofs pounding the ground the earth trembled. It was a very fearful situation for the residents of Vrindavan and in the end Krishna killed the demon, which gave rise to a very wonderful pastime that resulted in the creation of Radha-kunda.

So we read from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto Ten Chapter Thirty-six, “The Slaying of Ariṣṭā, the Bull Demon.” So there is a description and then Text Eleven.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa seized Ariṣṭāsura by the horns and threw him back eighteen steps, just as an elephant might do when fighting a rival elephant.

Thus repulsed by the Supreme Lord, the bull demon got up and, breathing hard and sweating all over his body, again charged Kṛṣṇa in a mindless rage.

As Ariṣṭa attacked, Lord Kṛṣṇa seized him by the horns and knocked him to the ground with His foot. The Lord then thrashed him as if he were a wet cloth, and finally He yanked out one of the demon’s horns and struck him with it until he lay prostrate.

Vomiting blood and profusely excreting stool and urine, kicking his legs and rolling his eyes about, Ariṣṭāsura thus went painfully to the abode of Death. The demigods honored Lord Kṛṣṇa by scattering flowers upon Him.

COMMENT

Now we are in a special situation here because we are discussing the Tenth Canto of, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam which describes the pastimes of Krishna in Vrindavan and the rule is one should begin with the First Canto and progress gradually to the Tenth, so that one actually understands the philosophical framework of Krishna consciousness. Otherwise just reading as I just did, one could think these are some mythological stories that are not real. But because it is a special occasion, we are discussing them but there is the danger that someone who is not sufficiently educated in the subject or sufficiently purified in heart, will misunderstand and think that these are the creation of some poets or writer’s imagination.

TEXT 15

Having thus killed the bull demon Ariṣṭa, He who is a festival for the gopīs’ eyes entered the cowherd village with Balarāma.

After Ariṣṭāsura had been killed by Kṛṣṇa, who acts wonderfully, Nārada Muni went to speak to King Kaṁsa. That powerful sage of godly vision addressed the King as follows.

PURPORT

The term deva-darśana can be understood in many ways, all of which are consistent with the context and purport of this narration.

From the Purāṇas, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has quoted twenty verses describing a joking conversation between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa that took place after Kṛṣṇa had killed the demon Ariṣṭa. This conversation, so kindly quoted by the ācārya, describes the origin of Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śyāma-kuṇḍa.

COMMENT

How many of you in this room have been to India?

Devotee: I was born there.

Giriraj Swami: Have you been back?

Devotee: Yes, two years ago.

Giriraj Swami: How many have been to Vrindavan? How many have been to Govardhana? How many have been to Radha-kunda? Do we have a Nectar of Instruction? Oh what a coincidence, this is a photograph of Radha-kunda; it is beautiful. Radha-kunda is considered to be non-different from Radharani; She would bathe there. But it is a very sacred place; devotees do immerse themselves in the water to purify themselves and obtain Radharani’s mercy. And there is another kuṇḍa just sort of script in between and then there is another kuṇḍa called Shyama-kunda where Krishna would. . . but that is all described in the origin of these two kuṇḍas. They are very beautiful.

Devotee: Are they springs, natural water?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. Every so many years, the kuṇḍas are emptied of water and devotees gather and clean out the bottom. And it turns out that yes, within that large area there is a smaller area that goes very deep and water comes up from there. So, again

PURPORT (continued)

This conversation, so kindly quoted by the ācārya, describes the origin of Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śyāma-kuṇḍa, Rādhā’s and Kṛṣṇa’s bathing ponds. The verses are as follows:

COMMENT

I will just read the translations.

PURPORT (continued)

“The innocent young gopīs said, ‘Ah, Kṛṣṇa, don’t touch us now, O killer of a bull! Alas, even though Ariṣṭa was a terrible demon, still he was a male cow, so You will have to undergo atonement, just as Lord Indra did after killing Vṛtrāsura.

COMMENT

Vṛtrāsura was actually the devotee who circumstantially took on the form of a demon. But he was a devotee and so Indra who killed him underwent atonement afterwards.

PURPORT (continued)

But how can You purify Yourself without going to the trouble of visiting every single holy place in the three worlds?’”

“[Kṛṣṇa replied,] ‘Why should I have to wander throughout the entire universe? I will at once bring all the countless pilgrimage places here and take My bath in them. Just watch!’ With this, Lord Mukunda struck His heel on the ground.”

“[Then He said,] ‘This is the water of the Bhogavatī River, coming from the Pātāla region. And now, O holy places, all of you please come here!’ When the Supreme Lord had spoken these words, all the holy places went there and appeared before Him. Kṛṣṇa then addressed the gopīs as follows.”

“‘See all the holy places!’

“But the gopīs replied, ‘We don’t see them as You describe.’

“Then those best of holy places, joining their palms in supplication, spoke up:

“‘I am the salt ocean.’

“‘I am the Ocean of Milk.’

“‘I am the Amara-dīrghikā.’”

 “‘I am the river Śoṇa.’

“‘I am the Sindhu.’

“‘I am the Tāmraparṇī.’

“‘I am the holy place Puṣkara.’

“‘I am the river Sarasvatī.’

“‘And we are the Godāvarī, Yamunā and Revā rivers and the confluence of rivers at Prayāga. Just see our waters!’”

COMMENT

Now this also requires a little explanation because when we think of a holy place like Pushkar, or a river like the Yamuna, we think of a tract of land or a body of water. But ultimately everything is personal and therefore the personification of Pushkar or the Yamuna river personified, they appeared to Krishna and Krishna had them introduce themselves to the gopīs. And Srila Prabhupada compares it to something like the Ford Motor Company. The Ford Motor company, it is a complex of buildings with manufacturer, and offices, and administration, and assembly, but there is also the person, Henry Ford. But if you don’t know that Henry Ford the Fourth or whatever we have now, but if you don’t know that, and if someone said Mr. Ford. What do you mean Mr. Ford; Ford is a manufacturing company. But there is a person and that manufacturing company is a manifestation of his desire, you could say or the impersonal aspect of the person.

PURPORT (continued)

“After purifying Himself by bathing, Lord Hari became quite arrogant and said, ‘I have produced a pond containing all the various holy places, whereas you gopīs must never have executed any religious duties on this earth for the pleasure of Lord Brahmā.’ Then Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī addressed Her girlfriends as follows.”

“‘I must create an even more beautiful pond. So go to work!’ Having heard these words, the gopīs saw that Ariṣṭāsura’s hooves had dug a shallow ditch just west of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pond.”

“At that nearby spot, all the gopīs began digging up lumps of soft mud with their hands, and in this way a divine pond manifested in the short span of an hour. Kṛṣṇa was astonished to see the lake they produced.”

“He said, ‘Go ahead, lotus-eyed one. You and Your companions should fill this pond with water from Mine.’

“But Rādhā replied, ‘No, no, no, no! This is impossible, since the water of Your pond is contaminated by Your terrible sin of killing a cow.’”

“‘I will have My countless gopī companions bring the pure water of the Mānasa-gaṅgā here in billions of pots. In this way I will fill this lake with My own water and thus make its renown unequaled in the entire world.’”

“Lord Kṛṣṇa then gestured to a heavenly personality who was an intimate associate of all the holy places. Suddenly that person rose up out of Kṛṣṇa’s pond and bowed down to the daughter of Śrī Vṛṣabhānu [Rādhārāṇī]. Then, with palms joined and tears pouring from his eyes, he began praying to Her in devotion.”

“‘O goddess, even Lord Brahmā himself, the knower of all scriptures, cannot understand Your glories, nor can Lord Śiva or Lakṣmī. Only Kṛṣṇa, the supreme goal of all human endeavor, can understand them, and thus He feels obliged to personally make sure that You can wash away Your perspiration when You are fatigued.’”

“‘He is always anointing Your lotus feet with nectarean cāru and yāvaka and decorating them with ankle bells, and He rejoices and feels most fortunate simply by satisfying the tips of the toes of Your lotus feet. On His order we have immediately come here to live in this most excellent pond, which He created by one stroke of His heel. But only if You now feel satisfied with us and bestow upon us Your merciful glance will the tree of our desire bear fruit.’”

“Hearing this prayer spoken by the representative of the full assembly of holy places, Śrī Rādhā was pleased and said, ‘So, kindly tell Me your desire.’

“They then told Her plainly, ‘Our lives would be successful if we could come to Your pond. That is the benediction we desire.’”

“Glancing at Her beloved from the corners of Her eyes, the daughter of Vṛṣabhānu replied with a smile, ‘Please come.’ Her gopī companions all agreed with Her decision and became immersed in the ocean of happiness. Indeed, the beauty of all creatures, both mobile and stationary, was enhanced.”

“Thus gaining the grace of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the holy rivers and lakes in Śrī Kṛṣṇa-kuṇḍa forcibly broke through its boundary walls and swiftly filled Rādhā-kuṇḍa with their waters.”

“Lord Hari then said, ‘My dear Rādhā, may this pond of Yours become even more world-renowned than Mine. I will always come here to bathe and to enjoy My water pastimes. Indeed, this lake is as dear to Me as You are.’”

“Rādhā replied, ‘I will come to bathe in Your pond as well, even though You may kill hundreds of Ariṣṭa demons here. In the future, anyone who has intense devotion for this lake, which is on the spot where You chastised Ariṣṭāsura, and who bathes or resides here is sure to become very dear to Me.’”

“That night Lord Kṛṣṇa initiated a rāsa dance at Rādhā-kuṇḍa, generating a torrent of the greatest mood of splendorous pleasure. Śrī Kṛṣṇa resembled a cloud, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī a brilliant flash of lightning filling the sky with abundant beauty. In this way Their divine glories permeated the expanses of the three worlds.”

COMMENT

So this is the history and many of the great devotees following Lord Chaitanya established places of residence, places of residence mean small huts, on the banks of Radha-kunda and they perform their devotional service there. And so when one goes to Radha-kunda today, he or she sees not only Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda, but also these sacred places where previous acharyas performed their devotional service. Radhanath dasa Gosvami, Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami who wrote Caitanya-caritāmṛta by the banks of Radha-kunda, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura whose commentary we just read, they and many others had their places at Radha-kunda. And more recently, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, they also have their house there.

There was a temple there. There are many temples, the whole Radha-kunda is surrounded by small temples. There is one that was built by the King of Manipur, it was a Vaishnava state in the east of India, and he constructed it in such a way that when the sun would first come up in the morning it would shine on the deities of Radha and Krishna in the temple, and he donated that temple, or his descendants donated that temple to one of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. And it was also there, just a little distance, that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura established a temple and his spiritual master, Gaura Kishore dasa Babaji Maharaja would get his bhajana-kuṭira that his little place of worship in that area. And it was there that our Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master one year during the Kartik parikramā. And it was there that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta instructed him that “If you ever get money you should print books.” That was a very significant and profound instruction, coming from his spiritual master at the most sacred place of Radha-kunda and the most sacred month of Kartik, Damodara.

And these books, of course we are at a very beginning stage we have a long way to go, but these books are meant ultimately to lead us step by step, so we end up at the divine Radha-kunda, not as a tourist, not even as a pilgrim in the conditioned state, but as an associate of Radha and Krishna in the liberated state.

Hare Krishna.

Questions, comments?

Devotee: (Unintelligible 00:32:30)

Giriraj Swami: I mentioned that every number of years they take the water out of the kuṇḍa, and then within the larger kuṇḍa there is a smaller kuṇḍa, it goes deep down. So this water is from there; it is Radha-kunda water but from that Kankan-kunda; Kankan is a derivation from the word kāñcana which means golden; describes the complexion of Radharani, tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi. That is Kankan.

Devotee: I was thinking it would be more auspicious if everybody received it from your hands.

Giriraj Swami: Okay