Sri Krishna and Vrindavana Forest Rasa Leela Nidhivan Nidhivan Krishna and Kaliya Keshi Ghat (River Yamuna) Kaliya Ghat (River Yamuna) Chir Ghat (River Yamuna) Devi Uma (Vrindavana Shakti Peetha) Devi Mahavidya Lord Shiva Sage Garga Nimbarkacharya Surdas Vallabhacharya Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Meerabai
• Krishna: Sri Krishna freed river Yamuna from the poisonous serpent Kaliya in Vrindavana.
- Sri Krishna stole the garments of the Gopis in Vrindavana.
- Sri Krishna performed the famous Rasa Leela with the Gopis in Vrindavana.
- Sri Krishna killed many demons like Arishta and Keshi in Vrindavana.
- Nidhi Van
- Seva Kunj
- Kaliya Ghat
- Chir Ghat
- Keshi Ghat
- Kalidaha Temple
- Sri Radha Madan Mohan Temple
- Sri Radha Raman Temple
- Banke Bihari Temple
- Radha Vallabh Temple
- Sri Krishna Pranami Paramdham
- Prem Mandir
- Iskcon Mandir
• Devi: Devi abides in Vrindavana as Vrindavana Shakti Peetha (identified with Devi Uma or Katyayani). Devi also abides in Vrindavana outskirts as Devi Mahavidhya (or Ambika). She was worshipped by the people of Vraja.
- Devi Uma or Katyayani
- Mahavidya Temple
- Vaishno Devi Dham
• Shiva: Lord Shiva abides in Vrindavana as Gopeshwar Mahadev (the Mahadev who came to see the Rasa Leela of the Gopis).
- Gopeshwar Mahadev Temple
○ Garga: Sage Garga performed the naming ceremony of Sri Krishna in Gokula secretly within a cowshed. Sage Garga also performed the Upanayana ceremony of Sri Krishna in Mathura before he departed to Sandipani Ashrama of Avanti.
○ Nimbarkacharya (? - 1162 CE): Sri Nimbarkacharya is said to have lived in Vraja and preached devotion of Sri Krishna (Dvaitaadvaita).
○ Surdas (1478 - 1573 CE): Sri Surdas lived in Vraja and composed devotional songs in praise of Sri Krishna (Sur Sagar).
○ Vallabhacharya (1479 - 1531 CE): Sri Vallabhacharya lived in Vraja for sometime and preached devotion of Sri Krishna (Pushtimarga). The Image of Srinathji emerged from Govardhana. Sri Vallabhacharya built the first temple of Srinathji in Govardhana and performed the seva of the Lord.
○ Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 - 1534 CE): Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vraja during his pilgrimage and spread devotion of Sri Krishna through his Sankirtans (Gaudiya Vaishnavism).
○ Sanatana Goswami (1488–1558 CE): Sri Sanatana Goswami came to Vraja, being instructed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to discover the sites associated with Sri Krishna.
○ Rupa Goswami (1489–1564 CE): Sri Rupa Goswami came to Vraja, being instructed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to discover the sites associated with Sri Krishna.
○ Meerabai (1497 - 1557 CE): Sri Meerabai visited Vraja and worshipped Sri Krishna (Meera Bhajans).
○ Swami Haridas (16th Century): Swami Haridas lived in Nidhivan and practised devotion of Sri Krishna. The Banke Bihari idol was found by Haridas Thakur in Nidhivan.
सुन्दरगोपालम् उरवनमालं नयनविशालं दुःखहरम् । वृन्दावनचन्द्रमानन्दकन्दं परमानन्दं धरणिधरम् ॥
- Nandakumar Ashtakam - verse 1a (Sri Krishna abides in Vrindavana as the joy of the Gopis)
एवं वृन्दावनं श्रीमत्कृष्णः प्रीतमनाः पशून् रेमे सञ्चारयन्नद्रेः सरिद्रोधःसु सानुगः ॥
- Sri Krishna and Vrindavana Forest - verse 1 (Sri Krishna delighted in the beauty of the Vrindavana Forest with the cowherd boys)
वृन्दावने केशजालमुमा नाम्नी च देवता । भूतेशो भैरवस्तत्र सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायकः ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 38 (Vrindavana has the Vrindavana Shakti Peetha where the Keshajaala of Devi had fallen)
मुरारिकायकालिमाललामवारिधारिणी तृणीकृतत्रिविष्टपा त्रिलोकशोकहारिणी । मनोऽनुकूलकूलकुञ्जपुञ्जधूतदुर्मदा धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥
- Yamunashtakam - verse 1 (River Yamuna flows through Vrindavana)
It is said that later Sri Krishna moved to Nandgaon when the attacks by the demons of Kamsa did not stop at Vrindavana. Nanda Maharaj decided to move further away from Mathura and therefore shifted to Nandgaon. Nandgaon is around 40 km from Vrindavan and 55 km from Mathura. Nandgaon is said to be part of ancient Vrindavana, the farthest end of it.
Kaliya Ghat is identified with the place where Sri Krishna subdued serpent Kaliya and danced on its hoods. The river Yamuna has drifted over the centuries and does not flow near this ghat any more.
Chir Ghat is identified with the place where Sri Krishna stole the clothes of the Gopis. There is an ancient tree in Chir Ghat which people believe to be the same tree which Krishna climbed and hid the clothes of the Gopis.
► Vrindavan - Sevakunj and Nidhivan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)
Sevakunj and Nidhivan groves are identified with the places where Sri Krishna enjoyed His pastimes with the Gopis and performed Rasa Leela. Previously both are likely to have been part of a single forest. It is believed that every night Sri Krishna and Radharani still come here to enjoy their divine pastimes. Both places have a Rang Mahal which serves as a resting place after the divine leela. Sevakunj has a Lalitha Kund created by Sri Krishna to quench the thirst of Lalitha, a companion of Sri Radha. Nidhivan similarly has Vishakha Kund. Nidhivan has the samadhi of saint Haridas who composed and sung many songs on Sri Krishna.
Ambika Forest is identified with Devi Mahavidya or Devi Ambika Temple. It is located on the outskirts of the Mathura town and is situated on a hillock. On the bottom of this hillock is a Saraswati stream and Saraswati Kund.
After Sri Krishna killed demon Arishta, Radhanrani said that although Arishta was a demon, he was in the form of a bull. Therefore, by killing a bull at Vraja, Sri Krishna had incurred a sin. As an act of repentence, Sri Krishna should build a kund and bathe in it. Sri Krishna therefore created the Shyam Kund. Sri Krishna then told Radharani that since she is the queen of Vraja, she also had incurred the sin of his subject. Therefore she should also build a kund. Radharani thus created the Radha Kund by her divine powers. The water of this kund was filled from Mansi Ganga by a chain of Gopis.
Keshi Ghat is identified with the place where Sri Krishna killed demon Keshi.
• Temples and Places of Devi in Vrindavana:
• Vrindavana Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Vrindavana Shakti Peetha where the Keshajaala (the tresses of Hair) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Uma and the Bhairava is called Bhutesha. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 38)
► Vrindavan - Vrindavan Katyayani or Uma Temple (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)
Vrindavan Devi Katyayani or Uma Temple is identified with Vrindavana Shakti Peetha.
Ambika Forest is identified with Devi Mahavidya or Devi Ambika Temple. It is located on the outskirts of the Mathura town and is situated on a hillock. On the bottom of this hillock is a Saraswati stream and Saraswati Kund.
• Festivals:
- Krishna Janmashtami: Celebrates the incarnation of Sri Krishna in Mathura
- Radha Ashtami: Celebrates the incarnation of Sri Radharani in Raval / Barsana
- Vraj Holi: Celebrates the Holi of Vraj which includes the Phool Holi
- Shravan Jhulan Utsav: Idols of Radha-Krishna are placed on decorated swings
- Yamuna Chhath (Yamuna Jayanti): Celebrates the descent of river Yamuna on Earth
- Kartik Poornima: Holy Bathing in Sacred River (Yamuna)
Preserve Nature and Nature will Preserve Us,
Simplify Life and help Nature Thrive,
Plant Trees and make the Planet Green,
Connect with Earth, Connect with Dharma, Connect with Being.
► Nandgaon - Nand Bhavan
► Vrindavan - Sevakunj and Nidhivan
► Govardhan - Radha Kund and Shyam Kund
► Vrindavan - Vrindavan Katyayani or Uma Temple