Tag Archive for: GloriesOfRadhaKunda

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Wonderful Radha Kunda part two

Mahanidhi Swami

 

Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami: I take shelter of the Sangama at Radha-kunda,

 

which is Radha-Madhava’s dear most charming playground that is surrounded by trees of excellent Ashoka, Bakula, Kadamba, Mango and Naga-Keshara, and vines of Campaka, Lavanga and Madhavi.

 

népaiç campaka-pälibhir nava-varäçokai rasälotkaraiù

punnägair bakulair lavaìga-latikä väsantikäbhir våtaiù

hådyaà tat-priya-kuëòayos taöa-milan-madhya-pradeçaà paraà

Radha-mädhavayoù priya-sthalam idaà kelyäs tad eväçraye.

 

What to speak of other places, even the delightful forest of Våndävana, the most beautiful Govardhana Hill, and the rapture-filled Rasa Sthali are not equal to even a single particle of one of the atoms of Sri Radha-kunda. I take shelter of Radha-kunda, which is dearer to Mukunda than His dearly beloved Radhika.

 

Sri-våndä-vipinaà suramyam api tac chrémän sa govardhanaù

sä rasa-sthalikäpy alaà rasamayé kià tävad anya-sthalam

yasyäpy aàça-lavena närhati manäk sämyaà mukundasya tat

präëebhyo’py adhika-priyeva dayitaà tat-kuëòam eväçraye. (Vraja Vilasa Stava 52-53)

 

I always eagerly worship Ariñöakuëòa (Shyama-kunda), who automatically appeared from Krishna’s lotus feet just as honey automatically trickles from a blooming flower when Krishna killed the wicked Ariñöa-demon. Shyama-kunda, who lovingly embraces Sri Radha-kunda, was beautified with staircases by Sri Radha due to Her great love [for Shyama-kunda].

 

duñöäriñöa-vadhe svayaà samudabhüt kåñëäìghri-padmäd idaà

sphétaà yan makaranda-viståtir iväriñöäkhyam iñöaà saraù

sopänaiù pariraïjitaà priyatayä Sri-rädhayä käritaiù

premëäliìgad iva priyä sara idaà tan nétya-nityaà bhaje. (Vraja Vilasa Stava 58)

 

Some great souls, who in their previous lives worshiped the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Gändharvä and Acyuta with the ever-fresh sweetness of ecstatic spiritual love, are able to live on the bank of Sväminé’s dear most lake Sri Radha-kunda. These great devotees are my life and soul!

 

purä premodrekaiù pratipada-navänanda-madhuraiù

kåta-Sri-gändharväcyuta-caraëa-varyärcana-balät

nikämaà sväminyaù priyatara-saras-téra-bhuvane

vasanti sphéta ye ta iha mama jévätava ime (Vraja Vilasa Stava 101)

 

In summer evenings, Sri Radha eagerly plays in the water of Radha-kunda with Her sakhis. When will I serve Radha at that time by filling a syringe with water from Her beloved lake Radha-kunda so She can sprinkle Govinda who is expert in jala-keli.

 

ULLÄSAIR JALAKELI LOLUPA MANAÙ PÜRE NIDÄGHODGAME

KÑVELÉ LAMPAÖA MÄNASÄBHIR ABHITAÙ SÄYAÀ SAKHÉBHIR VÅTÄM

GOVINDAÀ SARASI PRIYE’TRA SALILA KRÉÒÄ VIDAGDHAÀ KAËAIÙ

SIÏCANTÉÀ JALA-YANTRAKEËA PAYASÄÀ RADHAÀ KADÄHAÀ BHAJE

(Utkantha Dasakam 8)

 

O sakhi (Rüpa Maïjari)! If the Youthful Couple, who enliven the whole world by distributing the nectar of Their mercy and who anoint everyone with the fragrance of Their flower-like attributes, do not give me Their mercy, then please arrange that I can always stay at Sri Radha-kunda (and that I may leave my body there)!

 

UDAÏCAT KÄRUËYÄMÅTA VITARAËAIR JÉVITA JAGAD

YUVADVANDVAÀ GANDHAIR GUËA SUMANASÄÀ VÄSITA JANAM

KÅPÄÀ CEN MAYYEVAM KIRATI NA TADÄ TVAÀ KURU TATHÄ

YATHÄ ME SRI KUËÒE SAKHI SAKALAM AÌGAÀ NIVASATI

(Sri Prarthanashraya Chaturdasakam v. 3)

 

Eating only the yogurt and fruits of Vraja, I will always reside in a lovely grove on the bank of Våndävaneçvaré’s lake Sri Radha-kunda, at the base of Giriräja Govardhana. I will continually glorify Sri Radhika and Krishna, love Them and remember Their enchanting lotus feet.

 

GIRI-VARA TAÖA KUÏJE MAÏJU VÅNDÄVANEÇÄ

SARASI CA RACAYAN SRI RADHIKA KRISHNA KÉRTIM

DHÅTA RATI RAMAËÉYAÀ SAÀSMARAÀ TAT PADÄBJAÀ

VRAJA DADHI PHALAM AÇNAN SARVA KÄLAÀ VASÄMI

(Sri Prarthanashraya Chaturdasakam v.13)

 

On summer evenings, Sri Radhika blissfully plays with Bakari Krishna and Her girlfriends in Her own lake, which is filled with breezes cooled by rows of spotless lotus flowers. O, when will Radhika bathe me in Her service?

 

AMALA KAMALA RÄJI SPARÇI BÄTA PRAÇÉTE,

NIJA SARASI NIDÄGHE SÄYAM ULLÄSINÉYAM

PARIJANA GAËA YUKTA KRÉÒAYANTÉ BAKÄRÉÀ

SNAPAYATI NIJA DÄSYE RADHIKA MÄÀ KADÄ NU

(Sri Radhikastakam 8)

 

O blooming lotus-eyed girl (Rädhe)! When my eyes directly saw

Your pond (Radha-kunda), which is filled with sweet water and lotus flowers surrounded by blissfully humming bees, then I really got the desire to taste the nectar of Your service!

 

YADÄ TAVA SAROVARAÀ SARASA BHÅÌGA SAÌGHOLLASAT,

SARORUHA KULOJJVALAÀ MADHURA VÄRI SAMPURITAM,

SPHUÖAT SARASIJÄKÑI HE NAYANA-YUGMA SÄKÑÄD VABHAU,

TADAIVA MAMA LÄLASÄJANI TAVAIVA DÄSYE RASE (Vilapa Kusumanjali 15)

 

O Loläkñi (restless eyed girl)! You and Your beloved always stay at Radha-kunda. Here only I will live and here alone I will stay!

 

SVA KUËÒAÀ TAVA LOLÄKÑI, SAPRIYÄYÄÙ SADÄSPADAM,

ATRAIVA MAMA SAÀVÄSA, IHAIVA MAMA SAÀSTHITIÙ (Vilapa Kusumanjali 97)

 

“By the grace of beautiful Radha-kunda, which is my only shelter, the desire-vine of love for Krishna that bears the flowers of service to my Ishvari Radhika instantly sprouts in the heart of anyone who performs devotional service there.

 

API JANA IHA KAÇCID,  YASYA SEVÄ PRASÄDAIÙ

PRAËAYA SURALATÄ SYÄT,  TASYA GOÑÖHENDRA SÜNOÙ

SAPADI KILA MAD ÉÇÄ,  DÄSYA PUÑPA PRAÇASYÄS

TAD ATI SURABHI RÄDHÄ, KUËÒAM EVÄÇRAYO ME   (Radha-kunda Astakam 5)

 

O beautiful lake (Radha-kunda)! My Ishvari Radha always plays erotic games in you with Her beloved Krishna. If you are dearer to Them than the dearest, then please show me my Ishvari, who is my very life!

 

HE SRI SAROVARA SADÄ TVAYI SÄ MAD ÉÇÄ

PREÑÖHENA SÄRDHAM IHA KHELATI KÄMA RAÌGAIÙ

TVAÀ CET PRIYÄT PRIYAM ATÉVA TAYOR ITÉMÄÀ

HA DARÇAYÄDYA KÅPAYÄ MAMA JÉVITAÀ TÄM (Vilapa Kusumanjali 98)

 

My only shelter is that very fragrant, dear and beautiful Radha-kunda, which instantly makes a desire-tree of Krishna prema sprout in the land of the heart of anyone who bathes there, even though this is rarely attained by Krishna’s beloveds in Vrajabhumi.

 

VRAJABHUVI MURAÇATROÙ,  PREYASÉNÄÀ NIKÄMAIR

ASULABHAM API TÜRËAÀ,   PREMA KALPA DRUMAÀ TVAM

JANAYATI HÅDI BHÜMAU,  SNÄTUR UCCAIÙ PRIYAÀ YAT

TAD ATI SURABHI RÄDHÄ, KUËÒAM EVÄÇRAYO ME (Radha-kunda Astakam 2)

Kundavasi Dasa Goswami ki jai! Radha-kunda ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Wonderful Radha Kunda part one

Mahanidhi Swami

 

Sriman Mahaprabhu unveiled Radha-kunda and bathed there about 500 years ago.

 

After offering the following prayers, Mahaprabhu became overwhelmed in prema, and danced in bliss on the banks of Radha-kunda while meditating upon Radha-Madhava’s pastimes there, premäviñöa haïä tére nåtya kare kuëòa-lélä saìariyä. (Cc. 2.18.13)

 

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:

  1. Radha-kunda is very dear to Sri Krishna because it is very dear to Radha, taiche rädhä-kuëòa priya ‘priyära sarasé’ (Cc. 2.18.7)
  2. In Radha-kunda, Krishna eternally associates with Radhika enjoying water sports and other rapturous pastimes on Her banks, yei kuëòe nitya kåñëa rädhikära saìge, jale jala-keli kare, tére räsa-raìge. (Cc. 2.18.9)
  3. Sri Krishna gives ecstatic love like that of Radha to whoever BATHES EVEN ONCE in Radha-kunda, sei kuëòe eka bära yei kore snäna, täre rädhä sama prema kåñëa kore däna!” (Cc. 2.18.10)
  4. The glorious sweetness Radha-kunda resembles Radha’s sweet glories, kuëòera ‘mädhuré’ yena rädhära ‘madhurimä’, kuëòera ‘mahimä’ yena rädhära ‘mahimä’. (Cc. 2.18.11)

 

Glorification of Sri Radha-kunda by Gaudiya Vaisnava Acharyas:

 

Sri Rupa Gosvami:

  1. Radha-kunda is the topmost holy place in Vrindavana because it immerses one in the nectar of Gokulapati Krishna prema. What discriminating person would not wish to serve this magnificent lake beside Giri-Govardhana, rädhä-kuëòam ihäpi gokula-pateù premämåtä plävanät, kuryäd asya viräjato giri-taöe seväà viveké na kaù. (Upadeshamrita 9)

 

Srila Prabhupada Purport:

Rädhä-kuëòa is superior to all because here love of Kåñëa overflows. Advanced devotees prefer to reside at Rädhä-kuëòa because this place is the site of many memories of the eternal loving affairs between Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé (rati-viläsa). Who, then, would give up Rädhä-kuëòa and try to reside elsewhere? No person with transcendental intelligence would do so.

 

  1. Radha-kunda is as profoundly dear to Sri Krishna as Radharani, the most beloved of the gopés. Who, then, will not reside at Rädhä-kuëòa and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings [apräkåta-bhäva], render loving service to the divine couple Çré Çré Rädhä-Govinda, who perform Their añöakäléya-lélä, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa are the most fortunate people in the universe. (Upad. 10)

 

Srila Prabhupada Purport:

Srimati Radharani the most exalted devotee of Kåñëa and Her Çré Rädhä-kuëòa is the most exalted place. Therefore everyone interested in Kåñëa consciousness should ultimately take shelter of Rädhä-kuëòa and execute devotional service there throughout one’s life.

 

  1. Upon one who bathes just once in Her waters, Radha-kunda bestows gopi-prema which is very difficult for Krishna’s dear devotees to attain what to speak of ordinary sadhakas, yat preñöhair apy alam asulabhaà kià punar bhakti-bhäjäà, tat premedaà sakåd api saraù snätur äviñkaroti. (Upad. 11)

 

Srila Prabhupada Purport:

It is stated that a devotee will at once develop pure love of Kåñëa in the wake of the gopés if he once takes a bath in Rädhä-kuëòa. Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé recommends that even if one cannot live permanently on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa, 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.

 

Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura writes in this connection that Çré Rädhä-kuëòa is the most select place for those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends (sakhés) and confidential serving maids (maïjarés) of Çrématé Rädhäräëé.

 

Living entities who are eager to return home to the transcendental kingdom of God, Goloka Våndävana, by means of attaining their spiritual bodies (siddha-deha) should live at Rädhä-kuëòa, take shelter of the confidential serving maids of Çré Rädhä and under their direction engage constantly in Her service.

 

If, by great fortune, one gets an opportunity to come to Rädhä-kuëòa and bathe even once, he can develop his transcendental love for Kåñëa, exactly as the gopés did.

 

It is also recommended that one should live on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa and should be absorbed in the loving service of the Lord. One should bathe there regularly and give up all material conceptions, taking shelter of Çré Rädhä and Her assistant gopés.

 

If one is thus constantly engaged during his lifetime, after giving up the body he will return back to Godhead to serve Çré Rädhä in the same way as he contemplated during his life on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa.

 

THE CONCLUSION is that to live on the banks of the Rädhä-kuëòa and to bathe there daily constitute the highest perfection of devotional service. Thus there is no limit to the glory of Çré Rädhä-kuëòa.

 

By serving Rädhä-kuëòa, one can get an opportunity to become an assistant of Çrématé Rädhäräëé under the eternal guidance of the gopés. (All quotes above from Srila Prabhupada Upadeshamrita 11 pur.)

Radha-kunda snana ki jai! Radha-kunda vasa ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!