Radha Kund Appearance and Bahulastami 11th oct 2009 [1 Attachment]

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[Attachment(s) from Sumithra Krishna (das) JPS (TP Chennai - IN) included below]

 

On the eighth day of the waning phase of the damodara month the appearance

day of Radha Kunda is celebrated by the residents. Bathing in Radha Kunda is

especially benefical on this day. By this one gains the favor of Radha, by

which one gains the favor of Krsna. Radha Kunda appeared at midnight. People

go to Radha Kunda and offer prasadam, garlands and pumkins (gords) into the

water, then at midnight take bath in Radha Kunda and then bathe in Syama

Kunda. Many people like to bathe at a ghat where Lord Nityananda's sakti,

Jahnava Mata used to bathe. But wherever you go you better get there early

as thousands of people/devotees will be there. And bring some warm clothing

for afterwards, as it is sooooo " cooling " .

 

The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha,

the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to

Mathura puri is the transcendental forest of Vrndavana because of Krsna's

rasalila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrndavana is Goverdhana

Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krsna and was the site of

his various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha

Kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean

prema of the Lord of gokula, Sri Krsna. Where, then, is that intelligent

person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha Kunda, which is situated

at the foot of Goverdhana Hill?

 

Srila Rupa Goswami's Nectar of Instruction

(Upadeshamritam)

 

The Origin of Radha-kund

 

After killing a bull-demon named Aristasura, Krishna approached Radharani to

engage in loving affairs. However, She rebuked Him, stating He was impure

because of committing the sin of killing a bull, the symbol of religion. She

suggested that to counteract this sin He should bathe in all the sacred

rivers.

 

Krishna, being eager to engage in loving affairs with Srimati Radharani,

immediately shoved His lotus foot into the ground, making a large hole, and

called all the sacred rivers to enter into it. They appeared before Him and

formed Syama-kunda (the bathing place of Syama--one who is the color of a

dark rain cloud).

 

After bathing, Krishna stated that He had become pure by bathing in

Syama-kunda, but that the gopis had become impure, having sided with a

demon, even though he appeared in the form of a bull. Radharani, along with

some of Her gopi friends, broke their bangles and dug a hole with the broken

pieces. But there was no water - so Krishna laughed. The gopis then formed a

line to the Manasi Ganga and started to fill the hole with water that was

passed from one gopi to another. At that time, all the sacred rivers again

arrived in person and requested permission to enter into Radharani's kunda,

which they did after receiving Radharani's blessing.

 

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.

 

" 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'. "

 

 

-- At the present moment our minds are polluted with the dirt accumulated over millions and millions of lifetimes of sense gratification. Even though our original pure nature is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, due to our mental contamination we are presently suffering in the realm of temporality, ignorance, and misery. By the purificatory process of chanting the holy names of God we can revive our original, pure nature and thus relish the sweetest happiness at every minute.

Chant:Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare