httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD2bL32ZwMU
video: RADHA KUNDA Snana
By Yashodanandan Das
The spot where we now find Sri Radha-kunda was an agricultural field during the time of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. A small reservoir of water was there, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed in that water and pointed out that originally Radha-kunda existed in that location. Following His directions, Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami renovated Radha-kunda.
This is one of the brilliant examples of how the Gosvamis excavated lost places of pilgrimage. Similarly, it is through the endeavor of the Gosvamis that all the important temples at Vrindavana were established.
Originally there were seven important Gaudiya Vaishnava temples established in Vrindavana, namely, the Madana-mohana temple, Govinda temple, Gopinatha temple, Sri Radharamana temple, Radha-Syamasundara temple, Radha-Damodara temple and Gokulananda temple. Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.90
Distinguishing between pure devotees and internal or confidential devotees, Sri Rupa Gosvami, in his book Upadesamrta, traces the following gradual process of development. Out of many thousands of karmis, one is better when he is situated in perfect Vedic knowledge.
Out of many such learned scholars and philosophers, one who is actually liberated from material bondage is better, and out of many such persons who are actually liberated, one who is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is considered to be the best. Among the many such transcendental lovers of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the gopis are the best, and among the gopis Srimati Radhika is the best.
Srimati Radhika is very dear to Lord Krishna, and similarly Her ponds, namely, Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda, are also very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.18-19
Arit-grama is also called Arista-grama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood that in that village, Aristasura was killed by Sri Krishna. While there, He inquired about Radha-kunda, but no one could tell Him where it was. The brahmana accompanying Him could also not ascertain its whereabouts.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could then understand that the holy places known as Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda were at that time lost to everyone’s vision. He therefore discovered Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda, which were two reservoirs of water in two paddy fields.
Although there was very little water, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was omniscient and could understand that formerly these two ponds were called Sri Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. In this way Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda were discovered.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Sri Vrindavana : Madhya 18.3 : PURPORT
“Of all the gopis, Radharani is the dearmost. Similarly, the lake known as Radha-kunda is very dear to the Lord because it is very dear to Srimati Radharani.”
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Sri Vrindavana : Madhya 18.7 : TRANSLATION :
“The attraction of Radha-kunda is as sweet as that of Srimati Radharani. Similarly, the glories of the kunda [lake] are as glorious as Srimati Radharani.”
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Sri Vrindavana : Madhya 18.11 : TRANSLATION :
“Because of its wonderful transcendental qualities, Radha-kunda is as dear to Krishna as Srimati Radharani. It was in that lake that the all-opulent Lord Sri Krishna performed His pastimes with Srimati Radharani with great pleasure and transcendental bliss. Whoever bathes just once in Radha-kunda attains Srimati Radharani’s loving attraction for Sri Krishna.
Who within this world can describe the glories and sweetness of Sri Radha-kunda?” Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Sri Vrindavana : Madhya 18.12 : TRANSLATION
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then marked His body with tilaka made from the mud of Radha-kunda, and with the help of Balabhadra Bhattacarya, He collected some of the mud and took it with Him.”
ooks : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Sri Vrindavana : Madhya 18.14 : TRANSLATION
Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.1: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.9 — Auckland, February 20, 1973 : 730220sb.auc :
Prabhupada: Yes. The acarya or gosvami, their business is… Just like our acaryas, sad-gosvami, they left their service, big service, ministership, and by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu they went to Vrindavana. But what for, going to Vrindavana and sleeping and eating? No, no, not for that purpose.
They, rather at home they had time to sleep more, but when they went to Vrindavana they were sleeping only one half-hour to two hours only. At the present moment when a man becomes old, he requires more rest. But according to Vedic civilization, no more rest, more work, more work. But these gosvamis, they were deputed by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu…
At that time this Vrindavana, which you have seen, now it is nice city, but during the time of Caitanya Mahaprabhu it was a big field only, that’s all, nothing was there. Everything, all Krishna’s lila were vanished. Not vanished, it was not visible. Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw one small hole, little water, and He indicated, “This is Radha-kunda.” Then Radha-kunda was discovered. So these Gosvamis were working very hard.
And special business was there, nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau. They were very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the Vedic literatures. Nana-sastra, sastra, not ordinary knowledge. They were also reading(?). Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau. Just like Rupa Gosvami has quoted so many verses, so many incidences from different sastras, how the biography is stated there in compiling Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, which we’ve translated, Nectar of Devotion.
So this Nectar of Devotion, because formerly whatever is given under Vedic evidence it will be accepted always correct. Therefore nana-sastra-vicaranaika. They used to collect all the Vedic references and put into Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu to establish that bhagavad-bhakti, devotional service to the Lord, is the ultimate goal of life.
Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Sad-dharma. Not asad-dharma
Asad-dharma means referring to the body, karma-kandiya. Karmis they are engaged in asad-dharma not sad-dharma. Because the body is asat. antavanta ime deha nityasyoktah saririnah [Bg. 2.18].
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