Braja Mandala
The
area of Braja Mandala goes from Agra in the south to Banchari in the
north, and is about 150 km (84 miles) across. This Braja area, even
though appearing to be part of India, is not destroyed when the universe
is destroyed.
Ganeshra
(Gandeswara)
It is said that at this village Krishna covered His body with yellow
clay. It is also said that Krishna and his friends put perfume (gandha)
on here. Located here is Gandharva Kunda.
Khechari
It is said that the demoness Putana was from this village.
Chatikara
Lord Krishna lived in Gokula for three years and four months. Because
there were so many attempts on Krishna’s life from various demons,
Nanda Maharaja decided to move to another location. On the way to
Vrindavana they came to this place.
How To Get Here This is the area where
the turn off to Vrindavana is located on the Delhi-Agra Road. If you
turn right after leaving the ISKCON temple and follow the road until
it reaches the road to Delhi, this place is Chatikara.
Ral
This place is halfway between Chatikara and Radha Kunda. Sometimes
the cows would be brought to eat here because there was nice grass
here. It is also said that this was one of the first places that Srimati
Radharani and Krishna met and that they would meet here frequently.
When Nanda Maharaja stayed at Chatikara and King Vrishabhanu stayed
at Vasanti, Radha and Krishna would meet at this place.
When the camp of Nanda Maharaja was at Chatikara, the
camp extended to Ral and Sasthighara. King Vrishabhanu stayed about
7km away in the village of Vasanti at the same time.
How To Get Here You pass this village
on the way to Radha Kunda from Vrindavana. It is about 6km from Radha
Kunda.
Tosh
This place is named after a cowherd boy friend of Krishna called Tosha.
Located here is Toshan Kunda, and there are temples here dedicated
to Radha-Raman and Gopala. This place is located a few km off the
road that goes between Vrindavana and Radha Kunda.
Viharavana
At this place there is supposed to be Krishna’s footprint. Close
by in Basti, King Vrishabhanu is said to have lived here for a while,
when he moved between Raval and Varsana.
Daksina-grama
At Daksina-grama the mood of daksina nayika is prominent. The mood
of daksina nayika is described in Ujjvala-nilamani: A gopi who cannot
tolerate womanly anger, who speaks suitable words and who is satisfied
by His sweet words is called daksina. She is a right-wing gopi.
Dig
(Deeg)
This fairly big town is driven through while going from Govardhana
to Badrinath. This town is about 40km west of Vrindavana. In the 18th
century Dig was the capital of the Jat Kingdom. There is a Dauji Temple
and Rupa Sagara here.
There is a large ancient Fort here, on top of the hill overlooking
the town, built in the mid-18th century by Suraj Mal. This fort has
12 bastions and a wide shallow moat. There is an old palace inside
the fort. The walls of the fort rise to about 20m (60 ft) above the
moat. There are some old cannons on the bastions of the fort.
There is also the Deeg Palace (Monsoon
Pleasure Palaces) here, west of the fort. There are two reservoirs
west and east of the palaces. The main palace, Gopal Bhavan, is impressive.
It is one of the most beautiful buildings in India. There are about
500 fountains here, which are turned on once a year during the Monsoon
festival in August. It is open from 8 am to 12 pm and 1 to 7 pm.
Pramadra
(Pramodana)
This town is also called Pramodana, because according to Narahari,
Radha and Krishna experience joy at this place. It is believed to
be the village of Sridama, one of the cowherd boy friends of Krishna.
There is a Radha Krishna temple here next to Krishna Kunda, located
on the north side of the village. On the east side of the village
is Charan Kunda.
Places
in the Varsana and Nandagram Area
There are several places that can be visited while visiting Nandagram
and Varsana. These places are within five km of either Varsana or
Nandagram. Nandagram is about 8km north of Varsana.
Uchagrama—the village of Lalita sakhi (1½
km northwest of Varsana).
Prema Sarovara—which was formed by the tears
of Radha and Krishna (1½ km northeast of Varsana on the way
to Nandagram).
Sanket (Saket)—where Krishna and the gopis
would have night pastimes (3½ km northeast of Varsana on the
way to Nandagram).
Uddhava Kyari—where Uddhava delivered the message,
that was given to him by Krishna, to the gopis (¾ km from Nandagram).
Javat (Jawat)—the village of Abhimanyu, the
husband of Radharani (3 km east of Nandagram, on the way to Kosi).
Karala
Chandravali stayed with her husband Govardhana Malla here. Her father
is Chandrabhanu, the brother of King Vrishabhanu and her mother is
Indumati. Chandravali’s elder cousin is Srimati Radharani. Sometimes
Chandravali stays at Karala and sometimes at Sakhi Sthali near Govardhana
Hill.
Sahara
This is where the elder brother of Nanda Maharaja, Upananda lived.
Upananda has a white beard and a dark complexion. He is expert at
giving council. He is always present at council meetings with the
King of Braja, Nanda Maharaja. He considers his nephew Krishna millions
of times dearer to him than his own life.
His son is Subhadra, the cousin of Krishna, who is learned and affectionate
to Krishna. Subhadra’s wife is Kundalata, who is one of Radharani’s
associates. Subhadra is dark complexioned, youthful, handsome, intelligent
and the best of astrologers.
Parson
(Parsau)
At this place, when Akrura was taking Krishna and Balarama to Mathura
the gopis came crying and blocked the road, forcing Akrura’s
chariot to stop. In Hindi parasu means “day after tomorrow.”
This village got its name because Krishna made a promise here to the
gopis, that He would return the day after tomorrow.
“In spite of Krishna’s asking them not to
obstruct their way, all the gopis surrounded the chariot and stood
up to see Krishna with pitiable eyes. Krishna was very much affected
upon seeing the plight of the gopis, but His duty was to start for
Mathura, for this was foretold by Narada. Krishna, therefore, consoled
the gopis. He told them that they should not be aggrieved; He was
coming back very soon after finishing His business.” (Krishna
Book,38)
How To Get Here This place is between
Varsana and Govardhana.
Chatravana
It is said that at this place Krishna proclaimed that he was king
of Vrindavana. The sakhas (cowherd boys) headed by Madhumangala went
from one forest to the next and called for the support of Krishna
as king of Braja. This place is close to Umaraa.
How To Get Here Chatravana is a sub-forest
a couple km south of the town of Chata. It is about 25 km northwest
of Vrindavana.
Umaraa
(Umaraya, Umeraa)
Umaraa means “monarch” and here Srimati Radharani became
the monarch over Krishna. At this place, the gopis proclaimed Radha
to be the queen of Vrindavana and that she had not yet chosen a king.
Therefore anyone proclaiming that they were the king should be caught
and chastised. Many thousands of gopis got together and captured Krishna
and his friends. They forced Krishna to bow down to Srimati Radharani.
On the bank of Kishori Kunda in the village of Umaraa Lokanatha Gosvami
discovered the Deity of Radha-Vinod.
How To Get Here This place is about
five km southwest of Chata and 10km southeast of Nandagram. To get
here you first go to Chata, which is about 25km northwest of Vrindavana
on the Delhi-Agra road. You then take another road about five km southwest
and then another dirt road a couple km to here.
Kishori
Kunda
This place is dear to Kishori, the daughter of Vrishabhanu. Lokanatha
Gosvami did his bhajana here. During the rainy season Lokanatha Gosvami
would stay under a tree here with just an old quilt and old clothing.
When it would rain Lokanatha Gosvami would put his Deity of Krishna,
Sri Radha-Vinod, in the hollow of a tree and he would stay outside
in the rain.
Narisemari
(previously known as Syamari Kinnari)
Not seeing a way to break Radharani angry mood, Krishna, took the
form of a sakhi, called Syamasakhi at this place. Krishna in the form
of Syamasakhi, came before Radharani playing a vina. Radharani said
“In every way she seems to be a Kinnari.” She then put
Her jewel necklace on Syamasakhi. Syamasakhi then said , “Give
me the jewel of your anger and accept me as your own.” Radharani
then gave up her anger.
Kosi
Kosi is taken from the Sanskrit word kosai, which means “who
are you.” This is the answer Srimati Radharani gave to Krishna,
when he came once to see Her. Kosi is on the main road to Delhi, about
35km from Vrindavana. It is a fairly big town.
Paigram
It is said that Nanda Maharaja and Krishna would milk the cows here.
Pai means “to milk”.
Kharot
(Kharaut)
Balarama is said to have asked His younger brother, Krishna, if He
was all right at this place. Kharaut means “are you well.”
This village is about 10 km northeast of Kosi on the way to Sesasayi.
Khelanvana
Forest (Khela-tirtha)
It is said in the Bhakti-ratnakara that Krishna and Balarama would
play with the cowherd boys at Khela Tirtha. Krishna and Balarama played
continually here, even forgetting to eat, until Their mothers came
to get Them. You walk through this forest during Braja Mandala Parikrama.
How To Get Here This forest is between Sesasayi and the town of Shergarh.
It is a few km northwest of Shergarh.
Akshaya
Vata
There is a large ancient banyan tree here, which is said to be 5,000
years old. It is said that at Akshaya Vat, Krishna and his friends
would hang their lunch bags on the tree here. There is a temple here
with Deities of Laksman, Sita and Rama. Nearby is a Krishna Temple.
How To Get Here This place is between
the town of Shergarh (Ram Ghata) and Chira Ghata. This place is about
a km from Tapovana. To get here you first go to the town of Shergarh
and then drive south toward Chira Ghata for about 4km. This place
is just off the left side of the road, near a very small village.
Until you are a few km from this place, most people do not know about
this place. The road to this place is very rough.
Tapovan
(Tapavan)
This is where the gopis worshiped the goddess Katyayani Devi
and prayed that Krishna would become their husband. Because
they performed so much tapasya (austerities) here, this place is known
as Tapovan. There is a temple here with Radha Krishna Deities called
Radha Gunja-bihari.
How To Get Here This place is two km north of Chira Ghata, about 16km
north of Vrindavana, on the bank of the Yamuna. This place is about
a km from Akshaya Vata, near a very small village. To get here you
first go to the town of Shergarh. You then drive south toward Chira
Ghata about 4km. This place is on your left, about half a km off the
road, close to the Yamuna River.
Vamshivat
There is a temple here dedicated to Sridhama, who was one of the main
cowherd boy friends of Krishna and the older brother of Radharani.
When Krishna left to go to Mathura He told Sridhama that he would
come back at the latest the day after tomorrow. Sridama is still waiting
here for Krishna to return. Lord Caitanya, Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita
Acarya all came here. There is a very tall banyan tree here.
How To Get Here This place is on the
other side of the Yamuna River, east of Vrindavana, about 2km from
Bhandiravana.
Raman
Reti
This place is located between Mahavana and Gokula. It is said that
Krishna played in the sand here. There is the Raman-bihari Temple
here and an interesting peaceful ashrama. It is said that Durvasa
Muni came to see Krishna here.
Runkata
About ten km from Agra on the way to Delhi is Runkata. This town is
named after Renuka, the wife of Jamadagni. The ashram
of Jamadagni, the father of Parasurama, is said to
have been here. Maharaja Sahasrabahu (Kartaviryarjuna) came here while
hunting in the forest. After he and his men were sumptuously fed,
the king asked the sage how he was able to feed them so well. Jamadagni
told the king that this was possible because he had a Kamadhenu cow,
which could fulfill all desires. The king then stole the cow. When
Parasurama, the son of Jamadagni, found out about this, he fought
with the king and his men. He killed the king and got back the Kamadhenu
cow. For killing all these men, Jamadagni requested his son to go
off and do penance.
There is a temple here on a hill near the Yamuna River
with deities of Jamadagni and Renuka. At the bottom
of the hill are temples of Laksmi Narayana and Parasurama.
Lord Caitanya came here before going to Gokula.