Karela
I got the opportunity to visit Karela village, trip was organised by ISKCON Vrindavan.
There are eight dear sakhis of Radharani, who are like expansions of Her body. Their names are Lalita, Visakha, Citra, Iindulekha, Campakalata, Rangadevi, Tungavidya, and Sudevi.
Karela village is home of two sakhis Campakalata and Visakha.
Visakha Devi: Her mother’s name is Sudaksina and her father’s name is Pavan Gopa. Her bodily complexion is like lightning, and her cloth is decorated with stars. Her kunja is the color of clouds. Her bhava is svadhina-bhartrks. She is an expert mrdanga player, and her seva to Radha-Krishna is offering beautifully scented items like candana, camphor, augur, etc.
Campakalata Devi: Her mother is Batika, and her father’s name is Arama. Her body is the color of a blossoming yellow campaka flower, and her cloth is like the shiny wing of a bluejay. Her kunja is the color of molten gold. Her bhava is vasaka sajja, her seva is to offer the camara to Radha-Krishna, and she is the leader of the gopis who protect the tree, bushes, and creepers of Vrindavana.
Vajranabha, the great grandson of Lord Krishna
Vajranabha left his body in this village, His samadhi mandir is in this village. Accidently photo and video of samadhi mandir got deleted.
After the disappearance of Lord Krishna, Yudhisthir Maharaj along with his brothers retired to the Himalayas and coronated Pariksit Maharaj as the king of Hastinapur. Vajranabha, the great grandson of Lord Krishna, was made the king of Vrajadham.
Vajranabha understood that after Krishna’s disappearance many of His pastime places had disappeared. He sat on the banks of the Yamuna under a kalpavriksha tree and prayed to Lord Krishna to reveal His eternal abode. Krishna revealed the transcendental places of His pastimes in Vrndavan. Vajranabha excavated many of those places and called for Vishvakarma to carve Deities to be installed in those places. The first Deity that was carved was Madana-Mohana, followed by Radha Govinda and Radha Gopinath. Uttara, who had personally seen Krishna, confirmed the special features of these deities. While Madana-Mohana revealed Krishna’s body below His waist, Radha Govindaji revealed His beautiful smiling face and Radha Gopinathji revealed His flute playing hands.
Karela Goshala
Avinash Govinda Prabhuji started English speaking course in different villages of Vraja, he came to this village to take darshan of Sri Campakalata sakhi in the temple, then local pujari said the cows in this village are struggling if you are able to do something for cows. When he noticed that every two days one cow use to die, he asked his students from this village if you are all willing to help we can start Goshala, Avinash Govinda Prabhuji use his 90% of income to maintain Goshala. All the students agreed to help and they started Goshala, first 15 days all were tired only burying the dead cows in the ground. Now the Goshala is in a stable condition but still lot of struggle, he organised this kirtan festival in Goshala so that devotees should come to Goshala and bless with Kirtan so that all evil spirit should go away. All students prepared nice feast for all of us, the sweet rice was nectar prepared from Goshala cows milk.
Sri Sri Rasabihari and Campakalata Sakhi Temple
In the temple you can see deities of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani and Campakalata Sakhi. Campakalata Sakhi service was to pass love message to Lord Krishna of Srimati Radharani.
On the alter there is a photo of a devotee his name is Ghamand Dev Ji, he did lot of tapasya at this place, Lord Krishna pleased with his service appeared before him and said “you take small childrens form the village teach them Krishna lila and present them before people as a drama”, Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani given mukut to the devotee and said “put this mukut on children and remember the children’s are not different from us”. And Lord Krishna instructed other people that a sadhu will come and ask your children, don’t say no give your children’s to him.
Ghamand Dev baba went and asked children’s, he bring two of the children dress them nicely as soon as he put the mukut on both the children’s, they disappeared. Ghamand Dev baba became worried how he will return the children’s to the parents ? He started doing bhajan Lord Krishna appeared, Ghamand Dev baba said, “I did as you said, as soon as I put the mukut on children’s head they disappeared, how do I return children’s to there parents?”. In the photo you can see Lord Krishna returned both the children’s to Ghamand Dev baba.
Then rasa lila happened at the place of the temple.
Ghamand Dev baba made group of children’s trained them with Lord Krishna’s pastimes and started preaching in different places.
Once he taken the group to preach in Rajasthan, the King said, “I want to see Kaliya pastime in real, if you are not able to show than I will put you in jail”. Brahmin was worried, small children came to him and asked why you are worried, the Brahmin replied, King want to see real Kaliya pastime, small children said “go and tell King we will do real Kaliya pastime”.
Brahmin went and said to the King, we will do Kaliya pastime.
The King organized real big ajgar snake to put in the lake. Rasa Lila started Sri Rasabihari while playing the pastime jumped into the lake, for 3 hours Sri Rasabihari did not come out, local people started crying, Brahmin was worried, King also feeling repented, he made a big mistake it is nothing but killing of brahmin child.
After 3 hours as Lord Krishna appeared on Kaliya snake, Sri Rasabihari also appeared on ajgar snake.
Now the king was defeated, and he happily gifted 5 Kg gold mukut to Sri Rasabihari. The mukut is still there in Mathura locker, once in a year on Campakalata Sakhi birthday the mukut is brought here and a big festival is organized during that time, than taken back to Mathura locker.
Kangan Kund
Behind the temple is kangan kund, after marriage there is procedure for fun, they put Kangan (bangle) in the water and newly wed couple have to find the bangle, it’s the competition who will find the Kangan first. This pastime of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani took place in Kangan Kund.
Dwarkadhish Temple
At this place Lalita Sakhi celebrated swing festival for Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.