Bilvavana
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This is the tenth forest of Vraja. One day Sri Krsna came to this forest with His friends and the friends told Him: “O friend! You surely must give us Belfruits to eat today!” Saying this they seated Sri Krsna under a Kadamba tree and began to think of Belfruits. Meanwhile Sri Krsna arranged for many ripe Belfruits to come, simply by playing His flute. The Sakhas began to eat in great bliss and fed the sweetest fruits to Sri Krsna with contaminated hands. Because of this pastime this place is known as Belavana. Every year in the month of Pausa (December), on Thursdays, the residents of Sri Vrndavana, along with the priests of Sri Vrndavana’s temples, arrange for huge picknick-festivals at this place.
This forest of Bilvavana is also known as Lakshmivana as well as Shrivana, because the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi Devi, who is also known as Shri Devi, came here to perform austerities in order to achieve the position of a gopi in Krishna’s pastimes. Even today Sri Lakshmidevi is engaged in worshipping Sri Krsna.
One day, while serving Her husband Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha, she heard from Shrila Narada Muni about Her husband’s extraordinary pastimes when He appears on earth in His original form as Lord Shri Krishna in the transcendental land of Vrajabhumi in order to enjoy the most intimate loving pastimes with the gopis. Goddess Lakshmi Devi became so attracted by hearing the descriptions of the rasa-lila that she decided to go to Vrindavana and take part in those wonderful pastimes.
On arrival at the rasa-mandala, Lakshmi Devi was stopped from entering by some of the gopis, who told Her that She was not qualified or in the proper serving mood (bhava) to take part in the rasa-dance. Greatly disappointed to find that she was refused entry to the rasa-mandala, She became very sad and dejected. At that moment Krishna came there and after greeting the Goddess of Fortune with pleasing words, explained that she was stopped by the gopis because, as the wife of Lord Narayana, she was situated in the mood of aishvarya-bhava, being always surrounded with the great opulence of Vaikuntha. Krishna also informed Lakshmiji that even Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Sukadeva Goswami, or the four Kumaras, besides many other great liberated souls, are not able to take part in the rasa-lila pastimes.
Feeling heartbroken at being rejected, Lakshmi Devi immediately returned to Vaikuntha to find out from Narada Muni why She could not take part in the rasa-lila. Shrila Narada Muni informed Lakshmiji, that in order to enter the rasa-mandala, one has to be free from any attachment to opulence, prestige, or personal satisfaction, and should desire only the absolute satisfaction of Krishna. Narada further said that the rasa-lila was the highest expression of unalloyed devotional service, and only the gopis, who had absolutely no interest in personal benefit, or even a pinch of selfish desire, who lived only to satisfy Krishna’s desires, were properly qualified. Narada also explained that the gopis of Vrindavana abandoned everything for Krishna’s pleasure, even their own husbands, their families, along with their chastity and honor, which is so dear to ladies, and were even ready to sacrifice their very own lives, just to make Krishna happy. They never asked Krishna for anything, except to remain as eternal servants at His lotus feet.
Shrimati Lakshmi Devi had some attachment to the great opulence of Vaikuntha, as well as to Her position as the Goddess of Fortune and being the consort of Lord Narayana. She therefore asked Narada what She had to do to achieve the position of a gopi. Narada advised Her to perform austerities in the forests of Vrindavana in order to free Herself of all traces of attachment. Lakshmi Devi decided to stay in the forest of Bilvanana, because it lies on the northern bank of the Yamuna exactly opposite from Seva Kunja in Vrindavana, where the rasa-lila took place. Lakshmi Devi is still engaged in penance at Bilvavana even today.