By Deena Bandhu dasa
Yesterday we got a call from Radha Kunda that Kankan Kunda has finally been revealed. The cleaning of Radha Kunda had recently been started as Shyama Kunda cleaning is complete. Everyone was anticipating when we would get darshan of the original Kunda excavated by Srimati Radharani and Her sakhis with their golden bangles, kankans. However the pumps that were pumping out the water were getting clogged with mud and each time they got close, they would break down. The poor contractor was at loss what to do as his pumps are made for pumping water not sludge.
I assume on ekadshi night, they finally got success as on dvadasi morning we got the long awaited call. We jumped in Vrinda Devi’s car with several devotees and headed on over to Radha Kunda. I was fortunate in 1987 to come with a whole bus load of devotees and, by chance, we got darshan of Kankan Kunda. By the next day, when the devotees came, it had already been covered with water again. So again I was able to take darshan of this most sacred and secret kunda that is very rarely viewed.
In 1987, we all immediately went down the stairs and circumambulated the kunda in calf deep mud. One devotee Ram Roy just whipped on his gamcha and jumped in! This time also I attempted parikrama. On the way down to the kunda, as you can see in the picture, I stepped into a hole up to the end of my thigh! I had no idea how I was going to get out as I’m not so young any more and this was a very difficult position to try and extricate oneself from. There’s nothing to grab onto, and no where to put your hands to push up as it is all calf deep mud. And whenever I tried to pull my leg, the mud sucked it back. Slowly wiggling and wiggling, by Radharani’s mercy, I got free. Then I continued down to the kund and made my parikrama.
As I was leaving I looked back and saw a couple of fellows were even doing dandavat parikrama! So I’m including a few pictures so that you can relish this event. If you look closely you can see the streams of water coming from the ground and running back into the kunda. They don’t seem to be flowing so intensely like in 1987, maybe because now it is hot season, so darshan my remain available for a couple more days.
Sri Radha Kunda – Shyama Kunda ki jaya! Srimati Radharani ki jaya! Revealer of the Holy Kunds, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki jaya! Most dear devotee of Srimati Radharani, Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
In service of Srimati Vrinda Devi, Deena Bandhu dasa
Thank you Deena Bandhu Prabhu:
Sri Radha-Kundastakam by Srimad Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
“After the killig of Aristasura, Srimati Radhika and Her sakhis exchanged many joking words with Sri Krsna concerning the necessary atonement for one who has committed the offence of killing a bull. As a result, the Queen of Vrndavana, Srimati Radhika, and Her sakhis joyfully excavated and filled Sri Radha-kunda with their own hands. May that immensely fragrant Radha-kunda be my shelter.
“In the land of the hearts of those who bathe in Radha-kunda, a desire tree of the superlative prema, which is not attainable even for Krsna’s principal queens in Dvaraka, will arise. May that supremely charming Radha-kunda be my shelter.
“For the pleasure of Srimati Radhika, even Sri Krsna Himself, yearning to attain Her merciful sidelong glance, regularly bathes in Radha-kunda, carefully observing all the appropriate rituals. May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda be my shelter.
“May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda, which the moon of Vraja, Sri Krsna, loves as much as He loves the crown-jewel amongst the sweet girls of Vraja, Srimati Radhika, and which He has made known by the name of Radhika Herself, be my shelter.
“The mercy obtained by serving Radha-kunda makes the desire-creeper of prema for the prince of Vraja sprout and is celebrated for bearing the flower of service to my svamini Srimati Radhika. May that supremely charming Radha-kunda be my shelter.
“Gloriously manifest on the banks of Radha-kunda are eight kunjas named after Radhika’s principal sakhis. Acting as stimuli for the amorous pastimes of the Divine Couple, these kunjas are filled with the sweet humming of bumblebees and are desired by everyone. May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda be the shelter of my life.
“Situated on an exquisite dais on the bank of Radha-kunda and accompanied by Her beloved sakhis, our svamini Srimati Radhika charmingly engages in sweet, joking words with Sri Krsna, the moon of Vraja. These playful verbal exchanges are enhanced by the suggestion of so many innuendoes. May that Radha-kunda be the shelter of my life.
May that very charming and especially fragrant Radha-kunda, where intoxicated with love the Divine Couple and the sakhis daily sport with great joy in the water so fragrant with exquisite lotus flowers, be the sole shelter of my life.
And the blessing for eading these prayers are given from the lotus lips of Srila Raghunatha das Goswami :
“To that devotee who, in a resolute mood of aspiring to serve Srimati Radhika, reads this charming prayer describing Sri Radha-kunda, even in their present body Sri Krsna will quickly grant them darsana of not only His beloved Radhika, but also of Their many variegated amorous pastimes. Witnessing these pastimes and envisioning himself serving Yugala-kisora in various ways, such a devotee will feel immense jubilation. This astaka is recited in the poetic meter known as ‘Malini’.”
from Vriti Cintamani by Srila Visvanath Chakravati:
28 The Supreme Personality of Godhead eternally enjoys pastimes on Govardhana Hill. He personally lifted Govardhana Hill with His own hand to protect His cowherd associates. Who is able to describe the glories of Govardhana Hill, the best of Lord Hari’s servants?
29 Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda are Govardhana’s two love-filled eyes. Because it nourishes the gopas, gopis, and surabhi cows with Lord Madhava’s sweetness, it shines with the name ‘go-vardhana’.
30 Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda are two great floods of the nectar of beauty. They are two great oceans of splendour. They are two beautiful roots from which sweet devotional service grows.
31 They are two jewel-mines of love. They are two seeds from which grow the jewel-vines of transcendental pastimes. How did they become two splendid and nectar-sweet lakes?
32 By seeing these two lakes, Radha and Krsna believe They are present in them. It is as if They directly see each other there. The wise say that by approaching these lakes one directly approaches Radha and Krsna.
33 Longing to meet, but forced to remain separate, Radha and Krsna assumed the forms of Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. In this way They becomes splashed with the nectar of meeting each other.
34 I think that when Radha saw Krsna She melted with ecstasy and thus assumed the liquid state of the waters of Radha-kunda, and in the same way when Krsna saw Radha He also melted in ecstasy and became the waters of Syama-kunda. In this way these two lakes bear the names and qualities of the divine couple.
35 Out of great kindness to the people, so they could directly taste Their sweetness, Radha and Krsna have become these two lakes. Shining with happiness, the devotees bathe in these two lakes.
36 I think these two lakes are the divine couple’s love. They who are fortunate bathe there. Because bathing there is like bathing in Their transcendental love, these two lakes bear the names of the divine couple
from Vraja riti Cintamani by Srila Visvanatha Chakravati Thakura:
28 The Supreme Personality of Godhead eternally enjoys pastimes on Govardhana Hill. He personally lifted Govardhana Hill with His own hand to protect His cowherd associates. Who is able to describe the glories of Govardhana Hill, the best of Lord Hari’s servants?
29 Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda are Govardhana’s two love-filled eyes. Because it nourishes the gopas, gopis, and surabhi cows with Lord Madhava’s sweetness, it shines with the name ‘go-vardhana’.
30 Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda are two great floods of the nectar of beauty. They are two great oceans of splendour. They are two beautiful roots from which sweet devotional service grows.
31 They are two jewel-mines of love. They are two seeds from which grow the jewel-vines of transcendental pastimes. How did they become two splendid and nectar-sweet lakes?
32 By seeing these two lakes, Radha and Krsna believe They are present in them. It is as if They directly see each other there. The wise say that by approaching these lakes one directly approaches Radha and Krsna.
33 Longing to meet, but forced to remain separate, Radha and Krsna assumed the forms of Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. In this way They becomes splashed with the nectar of meeting each other.
34 I think that when Radha saw Krsna She melted with ecstasy and thus assumed the liquid state of the waters of Radha-kunda, and in the same way when Krsna saw Radha He also melted in ecstasy and became the waters of Syama-kunda. In this way these two lakes bear the names and qualities of the divine couple.
35 Out of great kindness to the people, so they could directly taste Their sweetness, Radha and Krsna have become these two lakes. Shining with happiness, the devotees bathe in these two lakes.
36 I think these two lakes are the divine couple’s love. They who are fortunate bathe there. Because bathing there is like bathing in Their transcendental love, these two lakes bear the names of the divine couple
This is a nice astakam to glorify Shyama kunda :
”SRI KRSNA KUNDASTAKA”
Eight Prayers Glorifying Syama kunda by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur
tim tapas cakara tirtha laksam aksayam pura
suprasidati sma krsna eva sad varam yatah
yatra vasam apa sadhu tat samasta durlabhe
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
What austerities did the hundreds of thousands of eternal holyplaces perform to please Krsna and obtain from Him thebenediction to live at Krsna kunda, the rarest holy place? Let usglorify residence at Krsna kunda.
yady arista danavo pi danado maha nidher
asmad adi durmatibhya ity aho vasiyate
yo mrti cchalena yatra muktim adbhutam vyadhat
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
If even the Arista demon was able to enter Krsna kunda, thencrooked hearted persons such as us may also be able to livethere. Let us glorify residence at Krsna kunda which, on thepretext of death, grants a wonderful form of liberation.
Go vadhassya niskrtis triloka tirtha kotibhi
radhayety avadi tena ta harih samahvayat
yatra parsni ghata je mamaj ja ca svayam muda
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
When Radha said, “To atone for killing a cow (Aristasura) Youmust visit millions of holy places in the three worlds,” Krsnacalled all the holy places and then happily bathed in the lakethat sprang from His heel. Let us glorify residence at Krsnaªkunda.
kvapi papa nasa eva karma bandha bandhanad
brahma saukhyam eva visnuloka vasita kvacit
prema ratnam atyayatnam eva yatra labhyate
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
At some holy places one becomes free from all sins, at othersone becomes free from the bondage of karma, at others one attainsBrahman happiness, and at others one attains residence inVisnuloka. Let us glorify residence at Krsna kunda, where withoutany effort one attains the jewel of pure love for Krsna.
Phulla madhavi rasala nipa kunja mandale
Bhrnga koka kokiladi kakali yad ancati
Asta yamikavitarka koti bheda saurabham
tatra krsna kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
Krsna kunda is surrounded by groves of mango, kadamba and othertrees with many madhavis and other vines. There is the music ofcakravakas, cuckoos, and bees. At night there are millions ofinconceivable sweet fragrances. Let us glorify residence atKrsna kunda.
dola-keli-citra-rasa-nrtya-giti-vadanair
nihnava-prasuna-yuddha-sidhu-pana-kautukaih
yatra khelatah kisora-sekharau sahalibhis
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
With gopi friends the two crowns of youth enjoyed many pastimes there. They rode on a swing, danced wonderful rasa-dances, sang, played instrumental music, and talked. In a secluded place They eagerly drank the nectar of a flower-battle. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.
divya-ratna-nirmitavatara-sara-sausthavais
chatrika viraji caru kuttima-prabha-bharaih
sarva-loka-locanati-dhanyata yato bhavet
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
With the beauty of its glistening jewel shores and the splendor of its canopies and mosaic pavements it brings auspiciousness to all eyes. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.
mathuram vikunthato pi janma-dhama durlabham
vasakananam tato pi panina dhrto girih
sri-hares tato pi yat param saro ti-pavanam
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah
The district of Mathura, Krsna’s birthplace, is more sacred and difficult to attain than Vaikuntha. The forest where He lived is more sacred still, and the hill lifted by His hand is more sacred than that. More sacred than that is Lord Hari’s very purifying lake nearby. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.
krsna-kunda-tira-vasa-sadhakam pathed idam
yo stakam dhiyam nimajya keli-kunja-rajitoh
radhika-girindradharinoh padambu jesu sa
prema-dasyam eva sighram apnuyad anamayam
May he who reads these eight verses, which convince one to reside at the shore of Krsna-kunda, and who also plunges his mind in the lotus flowers of Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari’s feet, quickly attain sincere love for Them.
It is said in Vraja if you bathe in Shyama kunda you get the mercy of Radha and if you bathe in Radha kunda you get the mercy of Radha.The fact is to perform any devotional serivce at the banks of Radha kunda and Shyma kunda is very auspiscious.Please see Srila Prabhupadas purports to the last verses of Nectar of instruction.
In the Vraja Vilasa stava ,Srila Raghuantha das Gowami writes:
101
Because of having previously worshipped the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Sri Gandharva-Acyuta (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna) with the eternally fresh sweetness of pure transcendental love, some great souls are able to reside on the shore of Queen Radha’s favourite lake (Radha-kunda). These great devotees are my life and soul.
There is some controvery among ISKCON devotees wether to bath in Radha Kunda or not.
When devotees came to India some started to jumb from roofs and make themselves into “bombs”
etc.This was not approved of by Srila Prabhupada and told devotees if they could not respectfully take bathe in Radha Kunda and Shyma kunda they should not di it at all but just springle some water on their heads.
However Srila Prabhuapda has encouraged devotees to take bath there when ever possible in a respectful fashion ( I have posted soem astakas by the Acaryas that devotees can chant before entering Radha Kunda and Shyama kunda).Our dear Srila Prabhuapda writes in the purport of Nectar of intruction verse 11:
“Why is Rādhā-kuṇḍa so exalted? The lake is so exalted because it belongs to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, who is the most beloved object of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Among all the gopīs, She is the most beloved. Similarly, Her lake, Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa, is also described by great sages as the lake that is as dear to Kṛṣṇa as Rādhā Herself. Indeed, Kṛṣṇa’s love for Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the same in all respects. Rādhā-kuṇḍa is very rarely attained, even by great personalities fully engaged in devotional service, not to speak of ordinary devotees who are only engaged in the practice of vaidhī bhakti.
It is stated that a devotee will at once develop pure love of Kṛṣṇa in the wake of the gopīs if he once takes a bath in Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī recommends that even if one cannot live permanently on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa, he should at least take a bath in the lake as many times as possible. This is a most important item in the execution of devotional service”.
Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Prabhuapda has both recommended bathing in Radha Kunda and Shyma Kunda.
My small recommandation is to not drink the Radha Kunda and Shyma kunda water, I did that in 1982, the water is also not fit for drinking and wil lmake you very sick.The same is true for Yamuna water or any kunda in Vrindavan.