Kotvan

Khami-Gaon (Khambahar)

Khami-gaon is situated on the border of Braj. To establish the boundary of Braj, Shri Vajranabh Maharaja constructed a stone pillar (khamba) here. The village of Vanchari is nearby. These two villages are situated on the north-west border of Braj, four miles north-east of Hodal. Here, are temples of Lakshmi-Narayan and Mahadev.

Khayero (Kharero)

This place lies four miles south, and a little east, of Sheshashai. When Baldev came here from Dvarkapuri, He asked the sakhas for good news, or khaira. This place is also a pasturing-ground for the cows.

Banchhauli

This village lies two-and-a-half miles east of Kharero and four miles north-west of Paya-gaon. Krishna performed ras-lila here.

Ujani

This place is situated four miles north-east of Paya-gaon and is near the main road between Chhata and Shergarh. The word ujani means "opposite flow". The Yamuna started flowing upstream here upon hearing the very sweet sound of Shri Krishna's flute. This is seen even today.

Khelanvan (Shergarh)

Khelanvan lies two miles south-east of Ujani. Shri Krishna and Shri Balram played many kinds of games with the sakhas when they came here for cow herding. Radhika also played here with Her sakhis. This place is called Khelanvan because they used to play (khelna) here.

Story

Nand Baba resided here for some time with the gopis, gopas and cows. Vrishabhanu Baba also stayed here with his whole family and herd of cows. Jatila and Kutila thought themselves to be the only chaste women in Braj, and they considered Radhika to be not even slightly chaste. They always spoke ill of Radhika and made propaganda against Her. Krishna was aware of all this. One day, He pretended to be ill to the point of death. Yashodaji called expert doctors and brahmanas skilled in mantras, but no one was able to help. Finally, Yogmaya Purnima arrived on the scene. She said, "If any chaste lady brings water from the Yamuna in this earthen water-pot, which has hundreds of holes, and if I then bathe Krishna with mantras and with that water, then Kanhaiya can become healthy. Otherwise, it will be impossible to save Him." Yashoda called Jatila and Kutila and requested them to bring water from the Yamuna in that special pot. They went separately to the Yamuna to fill the pot, but were unable to retain even a drop of water in it. They left the pot on the Yamuna's shore and returned home by another path so as not to meet anyone. Yogmaya Purnima then advised Yashoda-maiya to request Radhika to bring water in that hundred-holed pot. Upon being repeatedly requested, Radhika finally agreed to go to the Yamuna. She successfully brought back water in that pot without spilling even one drop. Purnamasi sprinkled Krishna with that water, and He immediately regained His health. All the Brajvasis were amazed to see this wonderful incident, and Radhika's chastity was praised everywhere. Places of darsan here are Balram-kund, Gopi ghat, Shri Radha-Govind, Shri Radha-Gopinatha and Shri Radha-Madan-mohan.