Category Archives: Vraj Mandal

Lohjanghvan / Lohvan

Snap35

This place lies just across the Yamuna from Mathura, approximately two miles north-east of the Mathura Gokul highway. Bhakti-Ratnakar describes Lohvan as follows:

Lohavane krsneraadbhuta-gocharana
nanapuspasugandhevyapitaramyasthana
ethalohajanghasurebadhebhagvan
Lohjanghvannamahayataihara

“The forest of Lohvan is decorated with all varieties of trees and flowers and is one of the places where Krishna pastures His cows. It is called Lohvan because Shri Krishna killed Lohjanghasur while grazing the cows”.

Snap36

At Yamuna ghat, Krishna enjoyed boating pastimes in the company of the gopis. These pastimes have been beautifully described in Bhakti-Ratnakar:

yamuna-nikateyai Shrinivase kaya
eighate Krishna nauka-kridaarambhaya
se atikautuka rat sakhirasahite
dugdhadilaiyaaisena Para haite
dekhi, se apurvasobha Krishna mugdhahaiya
ekabhiterahilenajirnanaukalaiya
Shri-Radhikasakhisahakahe bare-bare
Para karanavika-yaibasighra pare

“Lohvan is a charming and delightful place adorned with attractive flowers of all kinds. Nearby, in the virtuous Yamuna, Shri Krishna performs boating pastimes with the gopis. Disguised as a boatman, He seats the beautiful young cowherd girls in His boat and takes them out into the middle of the Yamuna’s flowing waters. Then He says, `My old dilapidated boat is leaking, and water is rushing in. Throw all your pots of milk and yoghurt overboard; otherwise, it will surely sink.’ The gopis beg and beseech this boatman to quickly take them to the other side of the river”.

Snap37

At Lohavana, Jarasandha was defeated eighteen times. There is Radha Gopinatha temple on the bank of Krishna kunda. It is said that Krishna would row the gopis across this pond (kunda) in a boat. Lohavana has a circumference of 5 km. Krishna used to tend cows in this forest.There is a cave where the demon Lohasura (Lohajangha) lived. Krishna killed this demon. This cave is underground, inside a building, about 50 feet from both Krishna kunda and the RadhaGopinatha temple. Krishna kunda is basically in the middle of nowhere, next to the small village of Lohavan (Lohvan). Not many people visit this place.

Snap38

Ayore Gram
This village lies near Lohvan. During the Mughal rule, this village was named Alipur, and is still known by this name today. When Krishna had killed Dantavakra, He crossed the Yamuna and started for Gokul to meet with the Brajvasis – His mother, father, sakhas, gopas and gopis. They met Him at this place, crying out with great love, “Ayore, Ayore and Kanhaiya! – He is coming, Kanhaiya is coming!” Nand Baba’s and Yashoda’s meeting with Krishna brimmed with intense affection. This village therefore became known as Ayore. Bhakti-Ratnakar describes this poignant scene:

Krishna dekhidhayagopaanandevihvala
`ayoreayore’ balikarekolahala
miliyasabare Krishna, Krishna sabelaiya nijalayeailayamunaparahaiya
hailaparamanandabrajeghare-ghare
purvamatasaba-sahaShriKrishnavihare
`ayore’ baliyagopayekhanemilila
ayorenametegramathatayahaila

Kumudvan

Kumudvan is two miles west of Talvan, which is presently called by the name Kudaravan. The kund here is called by different names as Kumudini kund, Padma kunda or Vihar kund. While herding the cows, Shri Krishna, Shri Balram and the cowherd boys wandered throughout this delightful place. Shri Krishna Himself sported in this kund with the cowherd boys and with sweet words He would summon the cows to the bank of the pond by exclaiming, “Tiri tiri!” and then with “Chun-Chun!” He would tell them to drink water. The boys decorated each other with garlands made of kumudini flowers. Sometimes Krishna hid from His sakhas, unseen by them, He sported in the water here with Radhika, Lalita, Vishakha and other Gopis. There is currently a deity of Shri Kapiladev on the bank of this kund. Lord Kapila worshipped Shri Krishna at this place.

Snap33

Krishna and his friends would come and play in this forest. Kumud means “water-lilies”. During Krishna’s time, beautiful water lilies grew here. Kumud is a bright red flower that used to grow in abundance here and that is why this forest got the name Kumudvan. This is the smallest of the 12 forests. It has a parikrama of 1 km (1 mile).In the Kumudvan forest on the bank of Padma kunda, is a small temple dedicated to Lord Kapila. He performed austerities here during Treta-yuga. According to the Varaha Purana if one takes bath in Padma-Kunda he acquires all the knowledge of the Vedic literature. The Kapila temple is very small (8 feet by 8 feet) with a small Deity of Kapila about a foot high. This temple is about 10 feet from the kunda.

Snap34

Kokilavan

Kokilavan lies three miles north of Nandgaon and one mile west of Javat. Even today, the sweet sounds of many birds – such as peacocks, peahens, male parrots, female parrots, swans and cranes – can be heard in this protected and enchanting forest, and animals like deer and blue cows or nilgai, can be seen wandering about. The Brajvasis bring their vast herds of cows here for grazing. The sweet kuhu-kuhu of hundreds of cuckoo birds (kokilas) resound in this forest. Although most forests of Braj have been destroyed, this one, with a circumference of three and half miles, remains somewhat protected. According to Braj-bhakti-vilas, Ratnakar-Sarovar and a ras mandal are situated in Kokilavan.

Snap28

Story Once, the very playful Shri Krishna eagerly desired to meet Radhika, but because of the obstacles created by Her mother-in-law Jatila, sister-in-law Kutila and husband Abhimanyu, Radhika could not reach Their appointed meeting place. After waiting for a long time, Krishna climbed a tall tree and sweetly began to imitate the sound of a cuckoo. Hearing the loud and delightful call of this astonishing cuckoo bird, Radhika and the sakhis understood that it was a signal from Krishna and became eager and restless to meet with Him. At that time, Jatila addressed Vishakha, saying, “Vishakha, I have heard cuckoo birds make so many beautiful sounds, but I have never heard anything like the wonderful and lengthy melody this bird sings today.” Vishakha replied, “Dadiji, we also have never heard anything like it. This is certainly an amazing cuckoo bird. With your permission, we would like to go out and see it for ourselves.” The old woman gladly gave permission for the sakhis to go. They very happily entered the forest, and thus Krishna was able to meet with Radha. This is how this place became known as Kokilavan.

Ratnakar Sarovar:

Snap29

The sakhis brought milk from their homes to make this kund. Many varities of jewels (ratna) appeared from the pond that the sakhis used to decorate Radhika. This pond, which destroys all sins and bestows an abundance of wealth and affluence, can give devotees the greatest jewel of all – causeless devotion for the Divine Couple, Shri Radha-Krishna.

Ras Mandal: Shri Krishna performed rasalila with the gopis here, after which they played in the water of Ratnakar-sarovar.

Shani temple in Kokilavan:

As mentioned in Garga Samhita, When Lord Krishna appeared, all demigods visited Nanda Maharaj’s house in Gokul. Lord Shani dev was also one of them. Everyone was allowed to take darshan of Lord Krishna but not Shanidev. When Shani dev was going to take darshan of Krishna ,Yashoda stopped him at the door and said,” You can’t see my baby because your name is fearful. If my baby sees you, he will be frightened.”

Hearing this Word of Yashoda, Shani Dev felt disappointed and went to do penance to get mercy of Lord. After a short time, Lord Krishna appeared before him and asked him, “What is the problem. Why you are in forest?” Shani dev replied, “O God! Please tell me one thing, when I am doing my duty to punish people according to their work (karma). Then why people think about me that I am malignant and cruel. Why people think that Shani dev creates trouble only. Why do they avoid even my shadow? Today also when all could enjoy the bliss of your darshan, I was denied that right and benediction.

” Lord Krishna advised Shanidev to stay at this place in Vrajabhumi. He also granted him the boon that whoever came to his temple to pray would immediately be freed from all worries and afflictions. Thus Lord Krishna gave Shanideva his darshan and also made him famous. Though Kokilvan is the place where Krishna sang in cuckoos’ note to call Radharani, today Kokilavan is more famous as the temple of Shanideva.

The forest where Krishna appeared before Shanidev is called “Kokilavan”. Now it is famous for “Kokilavan Shanidham”. Especially on every Saturday thousands of devotees visit this place to take the blessings of Shani Dev.

Snap30

  Snap31

Snap32

Khadiravana Forest

Snap23

Krishna killed Bakasura in the Khadiravana forest. This forest is 40 km (24 miles) northwest of Vrindavan and has a parikrama of 7 km. The name is taken from the word khaira. Khaira means “to chase or pursue.” There is a Radha Krishna temple. On the bank of Madhuri-Kunda (Sangama-Kunda) are the bhajana kutirs of Lokanath Gosvami and Bhugarbha Gosvami. They would occasionally stay here. Sangama means “union,” and at this place, Krishna and the gopis would meet together. At Sangam Kunda, Krishna and the Gopis would perform rasa leela and many other extraordinary pastimes. At this place Krishna and His friends played many games while they took care of the cows. The Deity of Radha-Vinod manifested Himself to Lokanatha Gosvami in the town of Umarao, which is 5 km (3 miles) from here.

Khadiravan is one of the forests where Krishna would often bring His cows for herding. Krishna, Balaramji along with all the other gopas have performed many playful pastimes in the forest of Khadiravan.

How to reach here: This forest is about 10 km northeast of Varsana. Khadiravana is a few km off the road that goes between Chata and Varsana.

Killing of Bakasura in Khadiravan:

Snap23

Once while herding the cows, Krishna,Balaram and the Gopas came over to large reservoir water in Khadiravan. They had their cows drink water first and then as they were quenching their thirst with the cool refreshing waters, they saw something very astonishing. It seemed that a huge mountain in front of them was shaking and moving. The huge creature was actually the duck demon, Bakasura sent by Kamsa. Before anyone could understand what was happening, the wicked demon leaped upon them and swallowed Krishna with his sword like huge pointed beak. Balaramji and the gopas in anguish fell to the ground unconscious, practically breathless, out of their intense affection for Krishna.

Bakasura was trying to gulp Krishna down his throat but his throat was getting burnt by the intense heat radiated by Krishna’s effulgence. It was getting unbearable for Bakasura just as for a person suffering from jaundice, even the best sweet candy seems to be bitter. There is nothing sweeter than Krishna’s beautiful form and His beautiful face. His smile is the very source of all sweetness in the entire creation, material and spiritual. But because of the disease of envy and violence, Bakasura was finding sweet Krishna as unbearable.

Ultimately Bakasura could do nothing but vomit Krishna out of his mouth. Then Krishna was there on the ground and Bakasura unrelentingly tried to stab Krishna and pierce Krishna with his massive deadly beak. But Krishna very gracefully just dodged all of the attempts in a dancing way. Finally with one hand, Krishna grabbed the bottom of Bakasura’s beak and with the other hand he took the top part of the beak and then he tore them apart with such force that he literally ripped apart Bakasura’s face into two halves. He bifurcated the demon just like a small child effortlessly bifurcates a piece of grass. Bakasura fell dead and the demigods started rejoicing and showering flowers upon Krishna, playing conch shells and offering prayers. Then cowherd boys headed by Balarama regained their lives and they all approached Krishna one by one and embraced him with loving feelings. Thus, another glorious demon killing pastime was performed by Krishna.

Bakasura represents the demoniac anartha of deceptive behavior, duplicity and hypocrisy. It is a great demon that kills our propensity of loving service to Krishna. A devotee should be very honest, truthful and very simple at heart. Without simplicity and truthfulness, love and trust cannot develop within any society. So we must take shelter of Krishna and His Holy names to kill this tendency of deceptiveness, duplicity and hypocrisy within our hearts.

Lokanath Goswami in Khadiravan:

Snap24

Shrila Lokanath Goswami was first amongst the Goswamis to be sent to Vrindavan from Bengal by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for fulfilling His mission of excavating the lost pastime places of Vrindavan and to establish the temples of worship in Vrindavan. Lokanath Goswami would stay in a secluded place on the banks of Kishori Kunda in Khadiravan and perform his bhajans constantly.

One day Krishna personally appeared in the form of a Brahman in the secluded forest of Khadiravan and approached Lokanath Goswami. He put beautiful Deities in the hands of Lokanath Goswami and then disappeared. These were the Deities of Shri Shri Radha Vinoda. Then the deity Shri Shri Radha Vinoda spoke to Lokanath Goswami, “I have been living in this forest for a very very long time waiting for you. I know the desire of your heart is to worship Me in My deity form. Therefore I have personally come to you. So, now I am very hungry. Please bring me some food.” When Lokanath Goswami heard this his heart just flooded in ecstasy and he wept tears uncontrollably.

Snap25

Sri Sri Radha Vinod of Lokanath Goswami:

He went to the nearby village and got some grains, fruits and roots by begging and cooked a big feast for the Deities. Then he collected flowers and prepared a bed of flowers on the ground for the Deities and put Them to rest by massaging Their lotus feet, with eyes filled with tears of love. He would prepare fans made of leaves or feathers and fan the Lord of his life. In this he used to perform loving service to Shri Shri Radha Vinoda in Khadiravan saturated with his pure devotion. He sewed a cloth bag which served as the mobile temple for Shri Shri Radha Vinoda. He would carry Shri Shri Radha Vinoda with him wherever he would go. Later when Rupa and Sanatan Goswami came to Vrindavan, Lokanath Goswami on their request moved from Khadiravan to Vrindavan with Shri Shri Radha Vinoda.

Lokanath Goswami is a manjari from the spiritual world, one of the principal manjaris of Shri Vrindavan Dham . But he performed his leela of being such a humble sincere and dedicated Vaishnava. On hearing his past times, our hearts should cry. Lokanath Goswami could have lived for years and years with Mahaprabhu in Puri and Bengal as an intimate associate. But Mahaprabhu ordered him to go and stay in Vrindavan. So he went and stayed there. It was an austerity for him to stay away from Mahaprabhu. But he took the order of his Guru and Krishna as his life and soul. Not his heart’s desire. That is Lokanath Goswami.

A practicing devotee should just try to follow in the footsteps of Lokanath Goswami and then one can understand what it means to following the footsteps of residents of Vrindavan. And gradually when we really please Lokanath Goswami, Rupa Goswami, Srila Prabhupad and all the acharyas by following their instructions, then they will reveal to us the eternal leela of Vraja. Let this be our prayer in the Holy forest of Khadiravan.

A pranam mantra for Lokanatha Dasa Goswami has been written by Narottama Dasa Thakura. It reads:

srimad-radha-vinodaika- seva-sampat-samanvitam
padmanabhatmajam srimal- lokanatha prabhum bhaje

“I worship the lotus feet of Srila Lokanatha Prabhu, the son of Sri Padmanabha. He is a storehouse of singleminded service to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Vinoda.

” Srila Lokanatha Goswami gave mantra diksha to Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura. There is no mention in the shastras that he accepted any other disciples. Narottama Thakura served him in secret by going in the dead of night to the place where Lokanatha would pass stool and urine and cleansing the area very carefully. Seeing Narottama’s humility, Lokanatha accepted him.

Srila Lokanatha Goswami, in his ripe old age, while performing his bhajan in Khadiravan in Khayara gram, passed away and entered into the eternal unmanifest pastimes of the Lord. At that place is a kunda called Sri Yugala kunda. On the banks of that kunda, Srila Lokanatha Goswami entered into samadhi.

It is said that when Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami went to Lokanatha Goswami and asked his blessings to compile the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Lokanatha Goswami gave his blessings, but prohibited Kaviraja Goswami from mentioning his name in the Caitanya Caritamrita. For fear of violating the order of Lokanatha, Kaviraj Goswami has only briefly mentioned him in the Caitanya Caritamrita. On the day of Krishnastami in the month of Shravana, he entered into the eternal pastimes of the Lord.

Snap27

Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura Mahashaya prays as follows at the lotus feet of his gurudeva:

ha ha prabhu lokanatha, rakha padadvandve
kripadrishthye chaha yadi haiya anande
manovancha siddhi habe hang purna trishna
hethaya chaitanya mile setha radhakrishna
tumi na karile daya ke kairbe ara
manera vasana purna kara eibara
ei tini samsare mora ara keho nai
kripa kari nija padatale deha thai
radhakrishna lilaguna gao ratri dine
narottama vancha purna nahe tuwa vine

“O Lokanatha, O gurudeva! If you are pleased with me, please keep me in the shelter of your lotus feet, and cast your merciful glance upon me. By your mercy I can find the perfection of inner fulfillment. And by your mercy I can someday meet Sri Caitanya and Radha-Krishna. If you are not merciful to me, then what shall I do? Please, just once, fulfill my heart’s desire. In the three worlds of birth and death no one is more in need of your mercy. Please give me your mercy and give me a place at your lotus feet. Day and night, I sing the qualities and pastimes of Radha and Krishna. Still, the inner aspirations of Narottama for the service of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda and Caitanya Mahaprabhu can only be realized through your grace, o Lokanatha Goswami Prabhu.”