Bahulashtami And Significance Sri Sri Radha Kunda
Image 1: Radha Kunda
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The appearance of this sacred Kunda dates back to the midnight of eighth day of Krishna paksha of holy Kartik month, Bahulashtami (Bahula= the waning moon, and Ashtami=The eighth day)the day of the deliverance of an asura named Arishtasura. Arishtasura was a demon sent by Krishna's uncle Kamsa for killing Krishna. Arishtasura was disguised as a calf. When Krishna killed Arishtasura and met Radha afterwards she along with her friends jokingly said that Krishna has become impure by killing an animal that belonged to the sacred family of cows and needed to do atonement by bathing in all sacred rivers before he touches anyone. At this Krishna made a huge pit on the ground by his foot and asked all sacred rivers to appear. At his orders, all sacred rivers Ganga Yamuna, Saraswati, Bhagirathi, Godavari, Kaveri etc, appeared before them and entered the lake created by Lord. Krishna called this lake Krishna Kunda.
Image 2: Radha Kunda and Shyam Kunda separated by a wide Ramp.
Then Krishna said to Radha that now she too needed to be atoned for siding with a demon. At this Radha along with her friends dug a pit on the nearby ground with the help of their broken bangles and stones and tries to fill it with waters from Manasi Ganga but couldn't fill it well. When they gave up, all sacred rivers appeared once again and entered the lake dug by Radha and her friends. This lake was named Radha Kunda.
Image 3: Radha Kunda
In this way, Sri Krishna and Radhaji with her friends created these divine lakes of love 5, 000 years ago at midnight on Caitra Purnima. To Lord Krishna, Radha Kund was dearest of the two, as he bathed in it. It is confirmed by Vedic scholars that the divine couple comes here and enjoy their past time. Bathing in Radha Kund is said to be very fruitful if one is trying to progress in spiritual life as suggested by various Vedic scholars in various places.
Image 4: A devotee preparing to take a bath in Radha Kunda.
This holy lake was lost with time but then, Srila Rupa Gosvami on the instructions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came here in the 16th century (1514) and re-established it for making it known to devotees so that everyone could be benefited by getting the mercy of Radhaji by bathing in it and worshipping her here. Devotees also circumambulate it on the parikrama marga.
These kundas are surrounded by kunjas and one can also see mini replicas of all Goswami temples and their samadhis and bhajan kutirs.
References from Scriptures
1. References in Updeshamrit (By Srila Rupa Goswami)
वैकुण्ठाज्जनितो वरा मधुपुरी तत्रापि रासोत्सवाद्वृन्दारण्यमुदारपाणिरामणात्तत्रापि गोवर्धनः ।
राधाकुण्डमिहापि गोकुलपतेः प्रेमामृताप्लावनात्कुर्यादस्य विराजतो गिरितटे सेवां विवेकी न कः ॥ ९ ॥
vaikuṇṭhāj janito varā madhu-purī tatrāpi rāsotsavād
vṛndāraṇyam udāra-pāṇi-ramaṇāt tatrāpi govardhanaḥ
rādhā-kuṇḍam ihāpi gokula-pateḥ premāmṛtāplāvanāt
kuryād asya virājato giri-taṭe sevāṁ vivekī na kaḥ
Meaning:-The holy place known as Mathura is said to be superior to Vaikuṇṭha ( the transcendental world) in a spiritual context because the Lord himself appeared there in humans like form. Superior to Mathura-puri are the transcendental forests of Vṛndāvana because Sri Krishna did his Raasaleela there. And superior to the forest of Vṛndāvana is the transcendental Govardhana Hill, as Sri Krishna raised it on his divine hand and did various loving pastimes. And, above all these, stands the most supreme Sri Radha-Kunda, as it is overflowing with the ambrosial love of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna. Where, is then, that wise person who is not willing to serve this divine Radha Kunda which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?
कर्मिभ्यः परितो हरेः प्रियतया व्यक्तिं ययुर्ज्ञानिनस्तेभ्यो ज्ञानविमुक्तभक्तिपरमाः प्रेमैकनिष्ठास्ततः ।
तेभ्यस्ताः पशुपालपङ्कजदृशस्ताभ्योऽपि सा राधिका प्रेष्ठा तद्वदियं तदीयसरसी तां नाश्रयेत्कः कृती ॥ १० ॥
karmibhyaḥ parito hareḥ priyatayā vyaktiṁ yayur jñāninas
tebhyo jñāna-vimukta-bhakti-paramāḥ premaika-niṣṭhās tataḥ
tebhyas tāḥ paśu-pāla-paṅkaja-dṛśas tābhyo ’pi sā rādhikā
preṣṭhā tadvad iyaṁ tadīya-sarasī tāṁ nāśrayet kaḥ kṛtī
Meaning:-It is said in scriptures that Supreme Lord Hari favours those people of all who work for the fruits of karmas, and have a higher intellect in higher values of life. Out of many such people who are intellectuals, 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 the Prema level of Bhakti, i.e, pure love for Krishna, is superior to him. The cowherd girls(gopis) are elevated above all the advanced devotees because they are always reliant upon Sri Krishna, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopis, Sri Radhaji is the dearest to Krishna, her Kunda (lake) is as precious to Lord Krishna 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(aprakrata-bhava) render loving service to the divine couple Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, who perform their asta-kaliya past time, their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Certainly, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Radha-Kunda are the most fortunate people in this universe.
कृष्णस्योच्चैः प्रणयवसतिः प्रेयसीभ्योऽपि राधा कुण्डं चास्या मुनिभिरभितस्तादृगेव व्यधायि ।
यत्प्रेष्ठैरप्यलमसुलभं किं पुनर्भक्तिभाजां तत्प्रेमेदं सकृदपि सरः स्नातुराविष्करोति ॥ ११ ॥
kṛṣṇasyoccaiḥ praṇaya-vasatiḥ preyasībhyo ’pi rādhā
kuṇḍaṁ cāsyā munibhir abhitas tādṛg eva vyadhāyi
yat preṣṭhair apy alam asulabhaṁ kiṁ punar bhakti-bhājāṁ
tat premedaṁ sakṛd api saraḥ snātur āviṣkaroti
Meaning:-Of the many objects of favoured delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vraja-Bhumi, Radhaji is certainly the most treasured object of Krishna’s love. And, in every respect, her divine Kunda is described by great sages as equally dear to him. Undoubtedly Radha Kunda is rarely attained even by the great devotees, therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once in its holy water, one’s pure love of Krishna is fully awakened.
2. References in Padma Purāṇa(By Sri Devarishi Narada )
यथा राधा प्रिया विषोसतस्यां कुण्डं प्रियं तथा।
सर्व गोपीशु सैवैका विष्णोरत्यंतवल्लभा।।
The way Radhaji is dearest to Vishnu, her lake Radha-Kunda is also dearest to him. Amongst all the beloved cowherd girls (gopis), no one is as dear as Radhaji.
3. References in Vaishnava Songs
“Radha Kunda Tata Kunja Kutir” by Bhaktivinod Thakur
(1)
radha-kunda-tata-kunja-kutir
govardhana-parvata, jamuna-tir
(2)
kusuma-sarovara, manasa-ganga
kalinda-nandini vipula-taranga
(3)
vamsi-vata, shashanka gokula, dhira-samir
brindabana-taru-latika-banir
(4)
khaga-mrga-kula, malaya-batas
mayura, bhramara, murali-vilas
(5)
venu, srnga, pada-cihna, megha-mala
vasanta, sasanka, sankha, karatala
(6)
yugala-vilase anukula jani
lila-vilase-uddipaka mani
(7)
e saba chodato kanhi nahi jau
e saba chodato parana harau
(8)
bhakativinoda kohe, suno kan!
tuwa uddipaka hamara paran
5. References in verses' meaning and purport of Chaitanya Charitamrita.
Chaitanya CharitamritaAdi-leela
Verse 10.90
śāstra-dṛṣṭye kaila lupta-tīrthera uddhāra
vṛndāvane kaila śrīmūrti-sevāra pracāra
Meaning:- In accordance with the directions of the revealed scriptures, both Gosvāmīs excavated the lost places of pilgrimage and inaugurated the worship of Deities in Vṛndāvana.
Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya-leela
Verse 18.3 :-
ei-mata mahāprabhu nācite nācite
‘āriṭ’-grāme āsi’ ‘bāhya’ haila ācambite
Meaning:- Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu danced in ecstasy, but when he arrived at Aarit-grama, his sense perception was awakened.
Verse 18. 4
āriṭe rādhā-kuṇḍa-vārtā puche loka-sthāne
keha nāhi kahe, saṅgera brāhmaṇa nā jāne
Meaning:- Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the local residents, “Where is Radha-Kunda?” No one could inform Him, and the brāhmaṇa who accompanied him did not know either.
Verse 18.5
tīrtha ‘lupta’ jāni’ prabhu sarvajña bhagavān
dui dhānya-kṣetre alpa-jale kailā snāna
Meaning:- The Lord then understood that the holy place called Radha-Kunda was no longer visible. However, being the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, He discovered Radha-Kunda and Shyama-Kunda in two paddy fields. There was only a little water, but He took His bath there.
Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.18.7
taiche –radha –kunda -priya -priyara -sarasi
ताइचे-राधा-कुंडा-प्रिया-प्रियारा-सरसी
Radha-Kunda is very dear to Sri Krishna because it is very dear to Radha,
Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.18.9
yei –kunde -nitya –Krishna –radhikara –sange, jale –jala –keli –kare, tire –rasa –range.
येई-कुंडे-नित्य-कृष्ण-राधिका-संगे, जले-जला-केली-करे, टायर-रस-रनगे।
In Radha-Kunda, Krishna eternally associates with Radhika enjoying water sports and other rapturous pastimes on Her banks,
Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.18.10
sei –kunde –eka –bara –yei –kore –snana, tare –radha –sama –prema –krishna –kore –dana.
सेई-कुंडे-एका-बारा-येई-कोरे-स्नाना, तारे-राधा-समा-प्रेमा-कृष्णा-कोर-दाना।
Sri Krishna gives ecstatic love exactly like that of Radha to whoever takes bath even once in a lifetime in Radha-kunda,
Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.18.11
kundera –madhuri –yena –radhara –madhurima,
kundera –mahima –yena –radhara -mahima.
कुंडरा-माधुरी-येना-राधारा-मधुरिमा,
कुंडरा-महिमा-येना-राधार-महिमा।
The glorious sweetness Radha-Kunda resembles Radha’s sweet glories,
6. Glorification in movies
A song from the movie Subhash Chandra (1966)
Lyrics
jai radheshya..aa..aam
ra..aa.aadheshya..aa..aam
jai radheshya..aa..aam
yahaan radha kund hai
Shyam Kund hai
aur hai Govardhan
Madhur
Madhur Bansi baaje
Yahi to Vrindavan
o babu yahi to vrindavan
bansi baar baar boley
Radha Radha Radha
Radha..aa..aa
Radha..aa..aa..aa..aa
bansi baar baar boley
Radha Radha Radha
radha naam bansi ne suron mein hai bandha
tabhi to kanhaiya baney
Radhika raman
madhur madhur Bansi baaje
Yahi to Vrindavan
o babu yahi to vrindavan
jagat ke dukh ki kaanha suney baani
usi baani ko sun ke bani radha rani
huye radhika ke prem se. . .
pooran. . . Mohan
Madhur Madhur Bansi baaje
Yahi to Vrindavan
o babu yahi to vrindavan
yahan radha kund hai
shyam kund hai
aur hai goverdhan
jai radheshya..aa..aam. . .
ra..aa.aadheshya..aa..aam
jai radheshya..aa..aam. . .
Hindi
जय राधे श्या॰॰आम
रा॰॰आ॰॰आधे श्या॰॰आ॰॰आम
जय राधे श्या॰॰आम
यहाँ राधा कुंड है
श्याम कुंड है
और है गोवेर्धन
मधुर
मधुर बंसी बाजे
यही तो वृन्दावन
ओ बाबू यही तो वृन्दावन
बंसी बार बार बोले
राधा राधा राधा
राधा॰॰आ॰॰आ
राधा॰॰आ॰॰आ॰॰आ॰॰आ
बंसी बार बार बोले
राधा राधा राधा
राधा नाम बंसी ने सुरों में है बांधा
तभी तो कन्हैया बने
राधिका रमण
मधुर मधुर बंसी बाजे
यही तो वृन्दावन
ओ बाबू यही तो वृन्दावन
जगत के दुख की सुने कान्हा बानी
उसी बानी को सुन के बनी राधा रानी
हुये राधिका के प्रेम से॰॰॰
पूरन॰॰॰ मोहन
मधुर मधुर बंसी बाजे
यही तो वृन्दावन
ओ बाबू यही तो वृन्दावन
यहाँ राधा कुंड है
श्याम कुंड है
और है गोवेर्धन
जय राधे श्या॰॰आम
रा॰॰आ॰॰आधे श्या॰॰आ॰॰आम
जय राधे श्या॰॰आम
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