Raval
Please note, this is one of my old videos. For complete information watch the video at the bottom of the page.
This is a very beautiful place on the bank of Sri Yamuna, which is situated 7 km from Mathura and 1,250m from the main road. In the temple one can see a wonderful deity of Srimati Radharani. At this place Srimati Vrsabhanunandini appeared in this world, hence there is a great festival here on Srimati Radharani’s appearance day.
In the Bhakti-ratnakara it says. “Ahe Srinivasa! Look at this Ravala Grama; here is the peerless abode of Vrsabhanu Maharaja! Here Sri Radhika advented Herself, thus pervading the whole world with bliss!”
Radharani appeared on a Monday which was the eighth day of the bright lunar fortnight in the month of Bhadra, as the daughter of Vrishabhanu Maharaja and Kirtida Devi, at that time it is said that the demigods showered flowers that they had collected from the Nandakanana celestial gardens near Meru Parvata. Because She was born the year after Krishna’s birth, during the constellation of Anuradha, She was called Radhika.
At first Sri Vrsabhanu Maharaja lived here. When Sri Nanda Maharaja left Gokula to go to Sri Nandagrama in order to protect Sri Krsna Sri Vrsabhanu Maharaja also left Ravala to go to Sri Barsana.
Sri Radha’s Appearance on Earth
Raval is the birthplace of Srimati Radharani. She is Shri Krishna’s svarupa-Shakti, or internal energy.
There are varying descriptions in scripture about the appearance of Srimati Radharani on the earth; one reason for this is that the appearances took place in different kalpas.
In his Sri Lalita Madhava, Srila Rupa Gosvami relates the appearance of Srimati Radharani as explained by Purnamasi Devi to Gargi, the daughter of Garga Muni. The details of this appearance were known to Purnamasi Devi, as she arranges all the pastimes of the Lord, and she shared this information only with Mother Yasoda and Rohini Devi.
Vindhya-parvata (parvata means “mountain”) was envious of the great Himalaya Mountains, because Himalaya, having Parvati as his daughter, had the opportunity to get Lord Mahadeva as his son in law. Vindhya-parvata desired, to have a fortunate daughter whose husband could defeat Mahadeva in fighting, and who would thus attain the position of Rajendra (Emperor). To fulfil this desire, Vindhya-parvata performed severe austerities in order to please Lord Brahma. After some time Lord Brahma appeared before him and asked him what kind of boon he sought. Vindhya replied that he wanted to have a daughter who carried the blessing that whoever she married could defeat Mahadeva in battle. Because Brahma was very pleased with him, immediately he said, “Tathastu: so be it.”
Vindhya was very happy to receive the boon from Lord Brahma. But after offering the boon Lord Brahma was thinking, “Who is that person who can defeat Mahadeva in battle? It is not possible….” He was worried now about the boon he had granted. Then he realized that Lord Krsna’s pastime was going to take place on the earth: only He can defeat Mahadeva in battle. Brahma thought, “Lord Krsna’s eternal consort is Srimati Radharani. If Vindhya-parvata can get Radharani as his daughter, only then can my boon be justified. But how can this happen? Srimati Kirtida is the eternal mother of Radharani. How can Vindhya then get Her as his daughter?”
Worrying about how his boon would come to fruition, Lord Brahma underwent severe austerities to please Srimati Radharani. When She was pleased with him, he requested Her to please appear as the daughter of Vindhya-parvata. Radharani agreed, and Yogamaya Devi arranged for two girls – Radharani and Candravali, who were were already in the wombs of the wives of Vrsabhanu and Candrabhanu – and put them in the womb of the wife of Vindhya-parvata.
As a result, the wife of Vindhya begot two daughters who were very beautiful.
In the meantime Lord Krsna had appeared in Mathura. By the order of the Lord, Vasudeva took Krsna to Gokula and left Him with Yasoda, who had given birth to a daughter. Vasudeva exchanged Krsna with the daughter of Yasoda, and took her to the prison cell where he and Devaki were being held by Kamsa.
Hearing that Devaki’s eighth child had taken birth, immediately Kamsa came to the spot and snatched the girl from the lap of Devaki. When Kamsa was ready to throw the girl on the stone and thus smash her, the girl escaped from his hand and appeared in her form as Yogamaya Devi.
She declared loudly, “Kamsa! You were the demon Kalanemi in your previous birth. That Lord who had killed you with His disc in the battle, who is known by the learned personalities as the most worshipable of the demigods, and who is cause of the whole cosmic manifestation, today He has appeared on the earth to give pleasure to all the living entities.
Kamsa! You should know one more thing: by tomorrow, eight maha-sakti – greater and more attractive than me – will also take birth on the earth. Their names are Radha, Candravali, Lalita, Visakha, Padma, Saibya, Syamala and Bhadra. Among these eight maha-sakti, two will be most famous for their great qualities. Whoever marries these two girls will be most fortunate: he will be Rajendra, and will be so powerful that he will defeat even Mahadeva in the battle.”
After saying this, Devi disappeared from there and left for Vindhya Mountain.
When Kamsa heard this from Devi he ordered Putana to kill all newborn males and abduct all newborn females. According to the order of King Kamsa, When Putana was searching for such children she found two most beautiful baby girls.
After Vindhya-parvata’s wife gave birth to two daughters, Vindhya arranged a samsakara ceremony for these two girls. A brahmana was performed the yajna with the two daughters persent. When Putana saw these two most beautiful girls, immediately she picked them up and started to fly away in the sky. King Vindhya became very worried and ordered the brahmanas to chant mantras to kill the demon who was stealing his daughters. By the order of Vindhya, the brahmanas chanted the mantra, which caused Putana to gradually become weaker and weaker. She was not able to hold both the baby girls, and threw one of them into a river below, which flowed in the kingdom known as Vidarbha. Bhismaka, the king of Vidarbha, found this girl and kept her with him until the age of five.
At that time Jambavan was residing in both Vindhya and Govardhana Mountains. By the order of Vindhya, Jambavan went to Vidarbha and took this girl back. She was known as Candravali.
While Putana was still flying with the other girl in her arms, her weakness increased, and upon reaching Vraja she fell to the ground. At that time Purnamasi Devi recovered that girl from Putana and gave her to Mukhara, telling her, “She is the daughter of your son-in-law, Vrsabhanu, so you should take care of Her.”
Thus from that day She became known as Radha, the daughter of King Vrsabhanu. Purnamasi had recovered five more girls from Putana. They were Lalita, Padma, Bhadra, Saibya and Syama.
Thus Srimati Radharani and Candravali appeared along with their sakhis. This information was given by Narada Muni to Purnamasi Devi.