Barsana
Please note, this is one of my old videos. For complete information watch the video at the bottom of the page.
Barsana is the capital of King Vrishabhanu, the father of Radharani. This is where Srimati Radharani lived and had many pastimes with Krishna. Barsana is 42 km (25 miles) from Mathura and has a 7 km parikrama path around it.
Krishna is Hari—He steals away all our attachments and ultimately steals our heart when it becomes soft like the butter of the gopis, but Shrimati Radharani steals the heart of even Hari, so She is “Hare” and Barsana is the abode of Shri Radhika where She performed Her childhood pastimes in the courtyard of Vrishabhanu and Kirtida.
This village is settled on and around two hills which are adjacent to each other. The white colored hill is the longer one and is called Brahma Hill while the black colored one is called Vishnu Hill. Padma Purana states that Lord Brahma has taken the form of these hills in Barsana so as to get the dust of the lotus feet of Shri Shri Radha Krishna and Their devotees on his heads. There are four peaks of these hills- Bhangarh, Maangarh, Daangarh and Vilasgarh and each of these peaks is one of the heads of Lord Brahma. Vilasgarh lies on the Vishnu Hill while the rest three peaks lie on Brahma Hill.
Sankhari Khole / Sankar Khora (Sakara Gully)
Srimati Radharani, along with Her sakhis, used to go out on the pretext of selling milk in the market of Mathura, carring yogurt in clay pots on their heads. Sri Krsna and His friends would hide along the way, and when Radharani and the gopis approached, Krsna would block their path and speak to them with pleasant words. He would make them put down the pots from their heads and by force eat all the cream from the top of the yogurt. The sakhis were harassed like this almost every day.
One day they called a meeting and had a serious discussion. Lalita told Radharani, “O Sri Radhike! Every day this most naughty boy Krsna is obstructing our path and eating all the cream from the top of the yogurt. Thus we are unable to sell our yogurt because no one wants to buy it without cream on top. Today we should go to Mathura via a different path. Today we will go through Sankhari Khole, a path in between two mountains. That path is very isolated, and Krsna will never know: He will be waiting on the other road. We will go to Mathura safely and Krsna, being unsuccessful by not meeting with us, will go back to His house.”
All the gopis liked Lalita-sakhi’s proposal. Radharani and Her sakhis put the yogurt pots on their heads and started along the chosen path.
All-cognizant Lord Sri Krsna knew the plan of the gopis, and instead of waiting on the path usually taken by Radharani and Her sakhis, Krsna went to Sankhari Khole. Accompanied by His sakhas, Krsna climbed to the top of a tree and awaited the arrival of Radharani. Meanwhile all the gopis were proceeding through Sankhari Khole without any fear or apprehension.
From the top of the tree Krsna could see Radharani in the distance. He and His sakhas hid themselves inside the tree and waited there quietly. As soon as Radharani reached there, Krsna came down from the tree and blocked Her path. There was a big quarrel between the gopis and Krsna’s sakhas. Krsna was trying to reach the yogurt pot on the heat of Sri Radhika but She managed to fend off His advances.
Sri Radha told Him, “You have been eating the cream from our yogurt every day. As a result the yogurt has not been sold. O Lampata! Let us pass. It is getting too late. We have to go very far to sell our yogurt, all the way to Mathura. Don’t harass us like this every day.”
While speaking these works to Krsna, Sri Radha was trying to move around Him and proceed on Her way. When Krsna saw Radharani continue along the path without caring about Him. He became angry. Picking up a stone, He aimed it at the yogurt pot on the head of Srimati Radharani. The yogurt pot broke and it’s contents spilled over the body of Radharani and on the ground. Sri Krsna and His friends collected the yogurt from the ground and happily ate it, dancing in ecstasy. This pastime took place during the month of Caitra on Krsnastami-tithi. Till today devotees are celebrating this pastime of Sri Radha and Krsna in Barsana.
Sri Radha Sarovar
On the north-western part of Ciksauli village is Sri Radha Sarovar. This pond is also called Gahvara-kund. Canopied by creepers on all sides and covered by thick trees, this pond is the very beauty of Gahvaravan. Nearby are beautiful groves. Vaisnavas perform parikrama of these groves with deep faith and roll in the dust here. This pond holds many memories of Radha and Krishna’s various amorous exchanges.
Mayur Kuti / Mor Kuti
Mayur Kuti is situated on the top of Brahmachal-parvat. Here, one can have darshan of the ras-mandal where Radhika and Krishna danced in the form of a peacock (mayur) and peahen. Once, Radha and Krishna came to this place together with the sakhis. Upon seeing them, the peacocks became overjoyed with ecstasy and began to dance. Clouds gathered in the sky, and a light shower of rain fell. Nature had decorated herself fully, as if she was a beautiful and charming young woman. Radha and Krishna could not check Their feelings. Taking the form of a peacock and peahen, They danced in an astonishing way along with the circle of peacocks and peahens. All the sakhis were astounded to see Their skilful dancing. They began to sing different kinds of ragas, like malhara, which increased Radha and Krishna’s pleasure.
One another day, while staying in Varsana, Srimati Radharani was unable to go to the house of Nanda Maharaja to cook for Krsna. Sri Krsna felt very sad that He would not see Sri Radha and so He went to Varsana, hoping that He might get a glimpse of Her.
He climbed to the top of a hill and from there looked upon the house of King Vrsabhanu, expecting to have darsana of Radharani. But She was nowhere to be seen. Then Krsna started to make a sound like a peacock, calling out to Srimati Radharani. When Radharani heard this sound from inside the place, She could understand that this was not the sound of real peacock but the voice of her beloved Krsna. She thought to Herself, “Krsna is calling out to Me, but My mother may come to know it is Krsna and not a real peacock…” And so, without informing Mother Kirtida, Radha left the palace and went searching for Krsna, following the sound of His peacock-call.
After some time Radha and Krsna met at the top of the hill. Both of Them were in ecstasy to meet with each other. They entered into a cave in very solitary place. Radharani sat down and Sri Krsna lay on the ground, resting His head on the lap of Radharani. Radharani was caressing Krsna’s body very affectionately while speaking different loving subjects with Him.
Meanwhile, Mother Kirtida realized she had not seen her daughter for a long time. She became worried and searched for Radharani all over the palace, but She was nowhere to be found.
In great anxiety for her daughter’s safety, Mother Kirtida went in search of Radharani. Seeing Her footprints outside the palace, Kirtida followed them to the top of the hill, reaching the entrance to the cave where Radha and Krsna were exchanging loving talks.
At the movement Kirtida arrived at the mouth of the cave, Sri Krsna was lying on the ground with his head resting on the thigh of Radharani, facing the entrance of cave. Radharani was gazing upon the beautiful face of Sri Krsna and talking with Him while affectionately caressing His body.
Kirtida entered the cave but count not see Radha and Krsna in the darkness. Krsna, however, could see Kirtida. He knew the cave had only one entrance, and that there was no place inside the cave to hide.
When He realized that there was no way to escape, Krsna accepted the form of a peacock; thus, to Kirtida, it appeared a peacock was lying on the ground with its head resting on the thigh of Srimati Radharani, who was stroking the peacock affectionately and talking to it in a sweet and loving way.
Kirtida said, “Radha! What are You doing alone in here? I did not see you in the house for a long time, and I was very worried. I came here searching for You, following Your footsteps.”
Radharani said, “I was feeling bored sitting all the time inside the house. I came here and saw this peacock, and so I am just sitting here stroking him.”
Mother Kirtida said, “It is already noon time. Let us go back home. You must eat Your lunch now.”
Radharani lifted the peacock from Her thigh and gently placed him on the ground. With great sadness She returned to the palace along with Her mother. There She took bath, ate Her lunch, and rested.
Krsna transformed from His peacock form to His own Syamasundara form and returned to His House for lunch.