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HOME > Braja Mandala Main Page > Govardhana > 40 km Govardhana Parikrama | |||||||||||||||||||
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Twenty-four Mile (40 km) Govardhana Parikrama There are several important places in the vicinity of Govardhana Hill, which are not visited on the normal parikrama. Many of these places are close to Govardhana Hill (within 5 km) and can be visited by taxi. The 40km (24 mile) parikrama visits many places that are not visited on the normal Govardhana parikrama. The parikrama starts by taking bath in Manasi Ganga.
One then takes darshan of Harideva, Manasi Devi and Brahma Kunda.
After leaving Manasi Ganga, you make a right and walk until the road
ends. When you come to the T intersection (the road ends), on the
left side of the road is Rinamochana Kunda. Rinamochana Kunda is near
the Govardhana power station. Usually only after it rains will there
be any water in this kunda. If one bathes in this kunda they are freed
from all vices. You then return to the road to Mathura and then go in the direction of Mathura, passing the government bus stand on the right. You then come to a small hill on the right hand side. Next to this hill is a small pond known as Indra-dhwaja Tila. This is where the cowherd men would normally worship Indra. You then go about another kilometre, and there is a turn off to the right going to the village of Jamanta. It is a good idea to ask the local residence where this turn off is located. Parasauli
(Muhammed Pura) Chandra Sarovara is on the other side of the main road, which runs by Parasauli. This is where the Moon-god (Chandra) ceased all external consciousness (movements) while watching the rasa dance. This pastime is described in Caitanya Caritamrita and Ujjvala Nilamani, Nayika Prakara. Krishna rested here with the gopis after the spring rasa dance. It is said that Radha and Krishna would come to this kunda daily. The Candra-bihari Temple is next to Chandra Sarovara, close to the road. In this temple are Deities of Krishna and Balarama. The entrance to this temple is next to the road, through a wooden door. The samadhi and bhajana kutir of Sura Dasa, the great Vaishnava poet, is located next to Candra Sarovara. To get to his samadhi, if you are coming from the road, you go to the far left hand corner of Chandra Sarovara. His samadhi is about 60m from the bank of Chandra Sarovara, past a courtyard. Also here are the sitting places of Vallabha, Vittahalnath and Gokulanath. Located here are the drums of Indra, which are two stones in the shape of drums that produce the sound of drums when struck. Gandharava Kunda is said to be where the Gandharvas became overwhelmed by Krishna’s singing. In Parasauli, there is the Rasa Mandala, Indra Dundubhi and Duvela Kunda. Mohavana and Moha Kunda are close by. How To Get Here This place is about 1½ km from the town of Govardhana, on the road that goes from Govardhana to Sonk. Chandra Sarovara is on the right side of the road and it is a big kunda, so it is hard to miss. This place can also be reached from the town of Aniyora (Anaur) by going east, down a dirt road, for two kilometres. Petha
(Pitha) Narayana Sarovara is next to the Caturbhuja Narayana temple. Laksmi Kup is on its eastern bank. It is said that once there was a kadamba tree here that Krishna sat under. It is also said that Krishna entered into a cave here, to get under Govardhana Hill, in order to lift it. There are also the Radha-Raman Mandir and the Mahadeva Mandir here. How To Get Here Petha is about 5 km (ten minutes drive) from the town of Govardhana, on the road from Govardhana to Sonk. This place is about 4km east of Govinda Kunda. Unless you are walking, the best way to get here is from the town of Govardhana. The Caturbhuja Narayana Temple and Narayana Sarovara are on the outskirts of the village. They are on the right side of the road, about half a km from the road. Krishna
Assuming His Narayana Form “Krishna assumed His four-armed Narayana form and sat there. When all the gopis came, seeing Him they spoke as follows. ‘He is not Krishna! He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana.’ After saying this, they offered obeisances and the following respectful prayers. ‘O Lord Narayana, we offer our respectful obeisances unto You. Kindly be merciful to us. Give us the association of Krishna and thus vanquish our lamentation.’ After saying this and offering obeisances, all the gopis dispersed. “Then Srimati Radharani came and appeared before Krishna. When Lord Krishna saw Radharani, He wanted to maintain the four-armed form to joke with Her. In front of Srimati Radharani, Sri Krishna tried His best to keep four arms, but He was completely unable to do so. The influence of Radharani’s pure ecstasy is so inconceivably great that it forced Krishna to come to His original two-armed form.” (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 17. 282-292) Aniyora
to Punchari Syama
Dhak Gantholi
(Ganthuli) Lord Caitanya had the darshan of Gopala (Sri Nathaji) in the town of Gantholi. Located in the area is Shai Temple, where Krishna is said to have rested. How To Get Here This town is about 3km west of the town of Govardhana, on the road going to Dig. Gantholi is 1½ km northwest of Jatipura. The road going between Jatipura and Gantholi is not very good. Gulala Kunda is about a quarter of a km from Gantholi, on the road that goes to Jatipura. It is a large kunda, but you cannot see it from the road because there are some buildings in front of it. It is about a 100m from the road. Lord
Caitanya’s Pastimes at Gantholi This is the way of Lord Gopala’s kind behavior to His devotees. Seeing this, the devotees were overwhelmed by ecstatic love. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very eager to see Gopala, but He did not want to climb Govardhana Hill. Therefore by some trick the Gopala Deity personally descended. In this way, giving some excuse, Gopala sometimes remains in the bushes of the forest, and sometimes He stays in a village. One who is a devotee comes to see the Deity. (Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya 18.36-44) Mainhadi
Kunda and Saunkhrai Nimgram
(Nimgaon) How To Get Here This village is about 2½ km northwest of the town of Govardhana, on the road to Varsana. Patalgram
and Navagram You then go east 2 km to Navagram. It is also known as Kunjara, because it marks the border of the kunjas (groves of Radha Kunda). Nanda Maharaja is said to have stayed here when he was on his way to Nandagram. There is a Balarama temple and a small kunda here, called Nava-grama Kunda. At this place, it is said that Radha and Krishna rode on an elephant, that was made up of the gopis, making themselves into the form of an elephant. There is a picture here of that pastime. This place is named after Kunjara Raja, the king of the elephants. You then go east a few km to Surya Kunda. Surya
Kunda The samadhi of Madhusudana Dasa Babaji, the guru of Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji, is here. Jagannatha Dasa Babaji did bhajana here for some time. The samadhi of Sri Bhagavat dasa Babaji, the sannyasa guru of Gaura Kishor Dasa Babaji, is also here. Radha and Krishna would come here to enjoy their Surya-puja pastimes around 3 pm. This was one of the few places that Krishna and Srimati Radharani could meet safely. On Sunday, Radharani would come to this place and worship the sun god, Surya. This was the only place her mother-in-law would allow her to go. The pujaris in this temple were two respectable looking brahmacaris. One was the guru and the other was his disciple. Krishna was acting as the guru and Madhumangala was acting as His disciple. There is a full description of this story in Govinda-lilamrita and Krishna-bhavanamrita. It is also said that Krishna would pick flowers here and make them into a garland for Radharani. How To Get Here Surya Kunda is near the village of Vasanti. It is on the 24 miles parikrama of Govardhana Hill. This place can be visited when going between Vrindavana and Radha Kunda. It is about 7km off the road between Radha Kunda and Chatikara. To get here from Radha Kunda you drive east on the road back to the town of Vrindavana, until just before the village of Ral. This is the first busy intersection on your left. You turn left at the asphalt road just before Ral. You then go about 7 km. The road winds through many fields. You may have to ask the local people directions to make sure you are going the right way. After driving about 5km, you come to the village of Konai. You go around this village and the village of Surya Kunda is on your right, after 1½ km. Konai
to Magavera You next come to Bhadayai (now called Badhal). This is the village of Bhadra Sakhi. There is the very old Bhadra Devi temple here. From here you proceed to Magahera. This place is now known as Maghera. At this place are Krishna Kunda and Gval Kunda. How To Get Here If you are driving from the road that goes between Chatikara and Radha Kunda to Surya Kunda, you pass the village of Konai on the way. Konai is about 5km from the road that goes between Radha Kunda and Chatikara. Vasanti
(Vasati) How To Get Here This place is 2km from Radha Kunda, on the road between Radha Kunda and Chatikara. You pass this village while you are going from Vrindavana to Radha Kunda. Mukharai How To Get Here This place is about 3km southeast of Radha Kunda. To get here from Radha Kunda you get on the road that goes to Vrindavana and you then go about 2km. You then turn right at the road, which is just after a small bridge. You go about a km and the road come to an end in the village of Mukharai. When the road ends, you turn left and the Mukhara temple and Krishna Kunda are on your left, after about 50m. Pailgram Kilol
Kunda (Kelanvan) and End of Parikrama How To Get Here This forest is close to the main road that goes from Radha Kunda to Govardhana town. Kilol Kunda is about 300 metres from Manasi Ganga. If you know of information that is not listed here, or if you would like to help update our listings, please e-mail us at: |
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