Table of Contents
1. We need Bhava to see Radha Kunda
2. Lalitananda Kunja next to Radha Kunda
3. Bathing in Radha Kunda
Çréla Rupa Gosvämé, Nectar of Instruction 11
Çréla Raghunatha Das Goswami, Sri Radha kundastaka, Verse
no 2
4. Midnight Bathing in Radha Kunda
Çréla Sanatana Goswami,Sri Hari Bhakti Vilas, Verse no 207-
210
5. Serving Radha Kunda
6. How Raghunatha Das Goswami Served Radha Kunda
1. We need Bhava to see Radha Kund
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura tells is that Çré Rädhä-kuëòa is
always invisible to mortal eyes.
Çréla Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé in his Çré Govinda-lélamåta Ch. 7 tells us
that
Only those on the threshold of bhäva and who have the appropriate bhava
can see Rädhä-kuëòa As It Is, others see it as an ordinary place.
So let’s do a private Reality Check to ascertain how close we are to being “on
the threshold of bhäva” and hence able to factually see Çré Rädhä-kuëòa.
Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé describes (Nectar of Devotion – Chapter 18) the
characteristics of a person who has actually developed his bhava
(ecstatic love) for Kåñëa. The characteristics are as follows:
1. He is always anxious to utilize his time in the devotional service of the Lord.
He does not like to be idle. He wants service always, twenty-four hours a day,
without deviation
2. He is always reserved and perseverant.
3. He is always detached from all material attraction.
4. He does not long for any material respect in return for his activities.
5. He is always certain that Kåñëa will bestow His mercy upon him.
6. He is always very eager to serve the Lord faithfully.
7. He is very much attached to the chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord.
8. He is always eager to describe the transcendental qualities of the Lord.
9. He is very pleased to live in a place where the Lord’s pastimes are performed,
e.g. Mathurä, Våndävana or Dvärakä.
NOD, Ch. 18
2. Lalitananda Kunja next to Radha Kunda
Çréla Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé
Çré Govinda-lélämåta, Chapter 7
Description of Lalitänanda Kuïja
The huge, lightning colored kuïja of Lalitä-sakhé, located on the
north side of Rädhä- kuëòa, had eight sub kuïjas resembling an eight-
petaled lotus flower. An astonishing courtyard named Anaìga-
raìgämbuja (the lotus of loving pastimes) was situated in the middle
of all the kuïjas. The courtyard was shaped like a thousand-petaled
lotus whose lovely whorl was a glittering golden platform, which
could expand or contract depending on the pastime. The pleasing
opulence of all six seasons was always present here to increase the
happiness of Rädhä-Mädhava.
Kalävaté, Lalitä’s disciple, carefully cleaned and maintained the area,
the abode of sweet pastimes. Lalitänanda-da Kuïja (the kuïja which
gives bliss to Lalitä) was like a splendid royal pavilion for Rädhä-
Mädhava, and Their beloved sakhés. From the air, Lalitänanda-da
Kuïja appeared like a huge lotus with a nucleus of pure gold from
which expanded filaments made of jewels. Each petal seemed to be
made of different colored gemstones. Surrounding the nucleus, the
petals were uniform in size and shape. But the number and size of the
petals increased with each successive circle.
A golden lotus temple, which could satisfy the senses with its cooling
radiance, sat in the center of the nucleus. Outside there were five
successive circles of wonderful platforms. The first circle of
platforms was made of gold, the second ⎯ cat’s eye gems, the third ⎯
blue sapphires, the fourth ⎯ crystals and the fifth ⎯ rubies. The domes
above the platforms contained jeweled pictures of mating deer, birds,
humans and demigods to arouse amorous love.
Desire trees with green, yellow, white, red and blue leaves and
flowers surrounded the golden lotus temple. The branches of the trees
met overhead to form natural canopies. The inside dome of the
temple was carved in the shape of a thousand-petaled lotus. The
jeweled platform under the dome was two feet high.
In the northeast sector of Lalitänanda-da Kuïja was a sub kuïja named
Vasanta- sukhadä-kuïja (gives the joy of spring). The beautiful bower
had eight sections resembling an eight-petaled lotus flower. Açoka
trees having intertwining branches full of beautiful white, green,
blue, yellow and crimson flowers covered the entire area. Buzzing
bees and cooing cuckoos surcharged the atmosphere.
The Padma-mandira, the lotus temple made of unlimited types of rare
gems, stood in the southwest corner of Lalitänanda-da Kuïja. It had
doors and windows on all four sides and jewel-studded paintings of
Kåñëa’s räsa-lélä, pürva-räga and nikuïja-keli pastimes on its inside
walls. Colorful painting of Kåñëa killing the demons from Pütanä to
Ariñöäsura lined the outside walls. Lalitä-sakhé painted and hung the
pictures.
The jeweled center of the lotus temple emanated brilliant effulgence.
Sixteen rooms shaped like lotus petals adjoined the center. These
rooms also had sixteen sub-chambers. The second floor design was
the same. The third floor was a wall-less room topped by a great-
jeweled dome supported by coral pillars on crystal bases. Jugs, flags
and cakras ornamented the dome. Rädhä-Çyäma enjoyed the
spectacular panorama of Rädhä-kuëòa from this high open-air room.
The ground floor contained many enchanting pictures finely crafted
from precious jewels. Gem-studded staircases connected the rooms
and sub rooms. Trees full of fruits and flowers flanked the stairways.
Rädhä-Mädhava relished many intimate loving pastimes in this lotus
temple.
3. Bathing in Radha Kunda
Çréla Rupa Gosvämé
Nectar of Instruction 11
Only by Çré Rädhä’s mercy can one reside eternally on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa,
the superlative place in the entire creation. Therefore, in his ultimate instruction Çré
Rüpa Goswami mentions bathing in Rädhä-kuëòa: Upadeçämåta 11
kåñëasyoccaiù praëaya-vasatiù preyasébhyo ‘pi rädhä
kuëòaà cäsyä munibhir abhitas tädåg eva vyadhäyi
yat preñöhair apy alam asulabhaà kià punar bhakti-bhäjäà
tat premedaà sakåd api saraù snätur äviñkaroti
Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of
Vrajabhümi, Çrématé Rädhäräëé is certainly the most treasured object of Kåñëa’s
love. And, in everyrespect, Her divine kuëòa is described by great sages as
similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Rädhä-kuëòa is very rarely attained even by
the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain.
If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one’s pure love of Kåñëa is
fully aroused.
Çréla Raghunatha Das Goswami
Sri Radha kundastaka
Verse no 2
Therefore, Çréla [Raghunätha] däsa Gosvämé wrote in his Çré Rädhä-
kuëòäñöaka (2):
vraja-bhuvi mura-çatroù preyasénäà nikämair asulabham api
türëaà prema-kalpa-drumaà tam janayati hådi bhümau snätur
uccaiù priyaà yat tad ati-surabhi rädhä-kuëòam eväçrayo me
May very dear and fragrant Rädhä-kuëòa, which for one who bathes
therein immediately creates in the land of the heart a desire tree of pure
love rarely found even among the gopé beloveds of Lord Kåñëa in Vraja,
be my shelter.
4. Midnight Bathing in Radha Kunda
Srila Sanatana Goswami
Sri Hari Bhakti Vilas
Chapter 16, Verse 207 to 210
Quoted in Padma Purana as well
This is not mentioned in Gauòéya Vaiñëava çästra.
govardhana-girau ramye rädhä-kuëòaà priyaà hareù kärttike
bahuläñöamyäà tatra snätvä hareù priyaù naro bhakto bhaved
vipräs tad dhi tasya pratoñaëam
Çré Rädhä-kuëòa, which is very dear to Lord Hari, is situated at the foot of Govardhana
Hill, which is a most enchanting place and a foremost devotee of Lord Hari. Rädhä-
kuëòa manifested at midnight on the eight day of the waning moon in the month of
Kärttika. By bathing in Rädhä-kuëòa, one becomes a dear devotee of Lord Hari. O
brähmaëas, bathing at Rädhä-kuëòa is very pleasing to Lord Hari.
tat-kuëòe kärttikäñöamyäà snätvä püjyo janärdanaù
subodhanyäà yathä prétis tathä prétis tato bhavet
It is the duty of everyone to bathe at Rädhä-kuëòa on Bahuläñöamé and worship Lord
Kåñëa. As Kåñëa becomes pleased by the observance of Uthana-ekädaçé, He is
very pleased with a person who bathes at Rädhä-kuëòa on Bahuläñöamé.
It is very clear that Çré Kåñëa is pleased by devotees bathing in Rädhä-kuëòa on
Bahuläñöamé, but to our knowledge no particular time is specified in Gauòéya
Vaiñëava çästra.
5. Serving Radha Kunda
Çréla Prabhupäda tells us at the end of his text NOI Text 11p that “By serving
Rädhä- kuëòa, one can get an opportunity to become an assistant of Çrématé
Rädhäräëé under the eternal guidance of the gopés.”
Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé gives some insight into this statement in
Text 5 of his Çré Rädhä-kuëòäñöaka,
“The mercy obtained by serving Rädhä-kuëòa makes the celestial vine of
pure love for the prince of Vraja sprout. Such love is famous for bearing the
flower of service to my Queen. May that very fragrant Rädhä-kuëòa be my
shelter.”
6. How Raghunatha Das Goswami Served Radha Kunda
Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé
Without a doubt, the most renowned of Çré Rädhä-kuëòa’s servants was Çréla
Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé. He not only excavated both Rädhä-kuëòa
and Çyäma Kuëòa to make Them more accessible to we fallen souls, he also
gave the most perfect example of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé’s teachings in Çré
Upadesämåta — especially Texts 8- 11.
How did Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé spend his time?
Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila , Chapter 10 , Verse 99 to Verse 102
As a daily duty, he regularly offered one thousand obeisances to the Lord,
chanted at least one hundred thousand holy names and offered obeisances to
two thousand Vaiñëavas. Day and night he rendered service within his mind to
Rädhä-Kåñëa, and for three hours a day he discoursed about the character of
Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Çré Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé took three baths
daily in the Rädhä-kuëòa lake. As soon as he found a Vaiñëava residing in
Våndävana, he would embrace him and give him all respect. He engaged
himself in devotional service for more than twenty-two and a half hours a day,
and for less than two hours he slept, although on some days that also was not
possible.
What was his mood?
o From Çré Viläpa-kusumäïjali and Çré Utkaëöhä-daçaka
o Çré Prärthanäçraya-caturdaçaka, Texts 10-11
Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé’s mood was one of intense separation ⎯ not
only from Çrématé Rädhäräëé and Her service, but also from his dear mentors
and associates who left this material world before him.
devi duùkha-kula-sägarodare düyamänam ati-durgataà janam
tvaà kåpä-prabala-naukayädbhutaà präpaya sva-pada-
paìkajälayam
Translation
O Queen, please rescue this unfortunate person drowning in an ocean of pain.
Place him on the strong boat of Your mercy and carry him to the wonderful
realm of Your lotus feet.
Çré Viläpa-kusumäïjali
tvad-alokana-kälähi- daàçair eva måtaà janam tvat-padäbja-
milal-lakña- bheñajair devi jévaya
Translation
O Queen, with the medicine of the red lac from Your lotus feet, please bring
back to life this person now dead from the bite of the black snake called
separation from You. When will I serve Çré Rädhä, who is dearer to Lord
Kåñëa than His own life, who considers the dust of Lord Kåñëa’s feet millions
of times more dear than Her own life, who is supremely fortunate, whose fame
shines in the three worlds, and who is the jewel crown of Lord Kåñëa’s gopé
beloveds? Oh, when will I serve Çré Rädhä?!
Çré Prärthanäçraya-caturdaçaka, Texts 10
apürva-premäbdheù parimala-payaù-phena-nivahaiù sadä yo
jévätur yam iha kåpayäsiïcad atulam idänéà durdaivät
pratipada-vipad-däva-valito
nirälambaù so ‘yaà kam iha tam åte yätu çaraëam
Translation
He was my life and soul. Again and again he kindly splashed me with the
fragrant waters of shoreless ocean of limitless love. Now misfortune forces me
to become swallowed by the forest fires of material calamities. I have no shelter.
Except for him, of whom can I take shelter?
Çré Prärthanäçraya-caturdaçaka, Texts 10
çünyäyate mahä-goñöhaà giréndro ‘jagaräyate vyäghra-
tuëòäyate kuëòaà jévätu-rahitasya me
Translation
Now that I no longer have the sustainer of my life, the land of Vraja has become
empty and desolate, Govardhana Hill has become like a great python, and
Rädhä-kuëòa has become like the gaping mouth of a ferocious tiger.*
* In both verses he is speaking of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé
