Kotvan

Ram-Ghat

This place lies on the bank of Yamuna, two miles east of Shergarh. Its present name is Obe. Baldev performed ras-lila here. Shri Krishna and Balram had been living in Dvarka for a long time. The Brajvasis' distress, caused by their separation from Them, was so great that Shri Krishna sent Shri Baldev to Braj to console them. At that time, Nand-Gokul, where they resided, was here. Baldev spent the two months of Chaitra and Vaishakh in Nand-Braj, and tried His utmost to console His parents, the sakhas and the gopis.[2] In the end, to alleviate the agony of the gopis' separation, Baldev performed rasa here, complete with dancing and singing. At that time, Varundev induced divinely fragrant Varuni, a sweet nectar found in trees, to start flowing. Baldev and His beloveds drank this Varuni and, becoming intoxicated, enjoyed the rasa. To sport in the water and to quench the thirst of gopis, He called Yamuna, who was flowing some distance away. When she did not come, however, He dragged her over to them with His plough. He and the gopis then sported in the Yamuna's water. Even today, the Yamuna leaves her natural course and flows by Ram-ghat. A doubt may arise as to how Baldev could perform rasa with Shri Krishna's beloved gopis. This would be wholly improper from the perspective of Rasa. It also seems improper for Baldev to have dragged the Yamuna with His plough, since she is a manifestation of Vishakha, and therefore a beloved of Krishna. Such doubts, however, arise only in the minds of those who lack knowledge of the Absolute Truth. Ordinary people cannot understand the real nature of transcendental rasa. Shri Krishna's and Balram's rasa does not contain even the slightest trace of material licentiousness or desire for lusty enjoyment. Furthermore, Baldev performed rasa only with His own group of beloved gopis. [3]

Yamuna is Vishakha herself. She is a beloved of Krishna and one of the main girlfriends of Radhika. The Yamuna that flows into the sea is a manifestation of this Yamuna. It was this manifestation, not Yamuna herself, the beloved of Shri Krishna, who Baldev dragged with the nose of His plough. In this way, one's doubt on this subject can be dispelled. Shri Nityanand Prabhu came here during His tour of Brajmandal. When He took darshan of this place, He became absorbed in transcendental ecstasy. Near the temple of Balram is an asvattha tree, which is known to be a sakha of Balram. It was here that Balram's ras-lila took place.

Brahma-Ghat

Near Ram-ghat lies the extremely enchanting Brahma-ghat, where Brahma worshipped Shri Krishna to beg forgiveness for stealing the calves.

Kachchhavan

Kachchhavan is near Ram-Ghat. Here, Krishna and the sakhas played as if they were tortoises (kachhua).

Bhushanvan

This place is situated near Kachchhavan. While they grazed their cows, the sakhas decorated (bhushit kiya) Krishna here with many kinds of flowers. This place is therefore called Bhushanvan.

Gunjavan

Nearby Bhushanvan is Gunjavan where the gopis decorated Krishna in a wonderful way with a necklace of gunja berries, and where Krishna decorated Radhika in the same way.

References

  1. ↑ yasya Shrimad-charan-kamale komale komalapi
    Shri-radhoccair nija-sukha-krte sannayanti kucagre
    bhita py aradatha na hi dadhatay asya karkashaya-dosata
    sa Shri-gosthe prathayatu sada sheshashayi sthitim nah ---Braj-Vilas-Stav (verse 91)
  2. ↑ dvau masau tatra cavatsin madhum madhavam eva ca
    ramah ksapasu bhagvan gopinam ratim avahan ---Shrimad-Bhagavata (10.65.17)
  3. ↑ tatasca pasyatra vasantavesau, Shri-rama-Krishnau vraja-sundaribhih
    vikridatuh sva sva yuthesvaribhih, samam rasajnau kala dhauta manditau
    nrtyanatau gopibhih sardha gayantau rasabhavitau, gayantibhisca ramabhir nrtyantibhisca sobhitau
    ---Shri Murari Gupta's Shri Krishna Chaitanya-charita