Nandagram – Part II
Please note, this is one of my old videos. For complete information watch the video at the bottom of the page.
Nanda Baithak means “the place where Nanda Maharaja would call for an assembly.” Baithak means “a conference or sitting place.” This place is on the same road as Yasoda-Kunda, about a quarter km away.
The leaders of the community would come here to discuss any danger or difficulties. Before Krishna was born, they discussed the fact that Nanda and Yasoda did not have a child and how they could have a child. Whenever there was a problem concerning Krishna, Nanda Maharaja, Upananda and the other senior brajabasis would meet here to solve the difficulties. Because the cowherd men would sit here, the place is known as Baithana. This place is in the same enclosure as Nanda-Kunda. Nanda-Kunda is where Nanda Maharaja would take bath There is a temple here. Sanatana Gosvami stayed here for a few days at the request of the local villagers.
Narasimha and Varaha Temple
At the bottom of the hill, on the opposite side from Pavana Sarovara, is a Narasimha deva temple. Nanda Maharaja worshiped the Narasimha and Varaha Deities that are seen in this temple. Nanda Maharaja was advised by Garga Muni to worship Lord Narasimha because so many demons were disturbing the residents of Vrindavana. Lord Narasimha is the Deity in the center of the altar. To the left of Lord Narasimha is a Deity of Sad Bhuja, the six armed form of Lord Caitanya. The Sad Bhuja form of the Lord has two arms holding a bow and arrow (Lord Rama), two arms playing a flute (Lord Krishna) and two arms holding a danda and water pot (Lord Caitanya). On the far left side of the altar is Maharaja Nanda’s Deity of Lord Varaha. On the right side of the altar are the Deities of Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda. Nanda Maharaja’s Lord Narayana Deity is also here, but this Deity is not on the altar or worshiped because it is disfigured. This Deity is located to the left of the altar.
Uddhava Kyari (Vishakha Kunja)
Uddhav-kyari, which is also known as Kadamb-kyari, is situated a short distance from Lalita-kund to the south-east. Actually, this is the kunja of Vishakha, and Vishakha-kund lies nearby. In this secluded and beautiful place surrounded by kadamb trees, Vishakha used to arrange meetings between Radha and Krishna. Sometimes, Krishna also used to perform the rasa dance here with Radhaji and Her friends. There is a platform here reminding us of that pastime. Radha and Krishna also enjoyed many kinds of water-sports in the clear and fragrant water of Vishakha-kund. After Shri Krishna’s departure to Mathura, all of Braj drowned in an ocean of separation from Him. What to speak of the gopas and gopis, even the birds and animals gave up eating and drinking, feeling distressed in separation from Krishna. Krishna’s beloved gopis followed Akrur’s chariot to this point and then fell to the ground unconscious. They never returned home again. Grievously afflicted by separation from Krishna, Radhaji stayed in this dense forest in seclusion. In the hope of Krishna’s return, She counted each passing day, remaining on the verge of death. At that time, Krishna’s messenger Uddhav came here to console the gopis but, upon seeing Radhika’s state of separation, he paid his respects to Her from afar, unable to say anything. Acutely afflicted by separation, Radhika saw a bumblebee and thought it to be Krishna’s messenger. In the state of Maha-bhava, sometimes She chastised the bee, and sometimes She complained to it. Sometimes She gave the bee instructions, sometimes respects and sometimes She inquired from it about the well-being of Her beloved. Uddhav was amazed to see and hear all this. He had come as a teacher to give instructions, but instead he became a student. To console the gopis, he relayed some of Krishna’s messages to them, but this only intensified their pain of separation. They said, “Udho man na bhayo das bis, ek huto so gayo syam sanga, ko aradhe isa – Uddhav, we do not each have ten or twenty hearts. We had only one, which has now gone away along with Syama. With which heart shall we now worship God?” They also said,
“Udho joga kahan rakhen yahan rom rom shyam hai – Uddhav, how can we perform yoga when Syama already pervades every particle in our bodies?”
In the end, Uddhav desired to take birth in Braj in the form of a small shrub, creeper or blade of grass so that he could be blessed with the dust of the gopis’ feet. He worshipped their foot-dust as follows.
“If I become a shrub, creeper or medicinal herb here in Vrindavan, it will be my great fortune. I shall then be able to serve the dust of these gopis’ feet, and will be blessed by bathing in that foot-dust. These gopis are the most fortunate of all. They have given up those things that are extremely difficult to renounce – their relatives, religious principles prescribed in the Vedas, and acceptable social conduct. Having become so completely absorbed in Krishna, they have obtained His supreme prem and become as worshipful as He is.”
“I bow down to the dust of the feet of the gopis residing in Nand Baba’s Braj. Oh, whatever these gopis have sung about Krishna’s pastimes is purifying the whole world and will continue to do so.”
This pastime place is filled with the ras of topmost meeting and at the same time, it is filled with the rasa of the highest degree of separation. The life of a sadhaka becomes successful by taking darshan of and touching this place.
Charan Pahari
There is the impression of Krishna’s feet here. Charan Pahari is on the southwest side of Nandagram, close to the road that goes to Kamyavana. This place is about a km from Pavana Sarovara.
These footprints of Lord Krishna are on Nandisvara Hill, Nandisvar is Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva said to Lord Krishna “Prabhu I have everything and I am chanting your name
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
whole day and night, but I don’t have your footprints.
One day Lord Krishna came to this site with his sakhas for grazing cows who wandered away for grass. He came up with an idea. Going to Charan Pahari the Lord stood in the tribhang mudra (angular posture, Krishna is depicted playing the flute with bent legs, hips and neck) and played the Barbari Raga on his flute. All of the nature were enchanted by this mellifluous sound. So much so that even the mount melted. The cowherds and cows were drawn towards him and that very moment he stopped the melody. The footprints imprinted on the mountain. As soon as Lord Krishna removed his feet Lord Shiva appeared and request these footprints should always remain here.