The Story of the Mithila Women

Before reading my below article I would like to request my viewers to read my another article first “The Story of the Personified Vedas” – material relationships are based on lust desire only which cannot be compared with Lord Krishna’s pastimes. Lord Krishna is free from material defects of possessiveness, false-ego and free of the modes of material nature. Lord Krishna serve his devotees in reciprocation according to their desires.   

In the Garga Samhita, Sri Narada Muni explains to Sri Bahulashva, the story of the Mithila women that become gopis, which is a story that brings the result of visiting sacred Dashashvamedha-tirtha, a story that increases one’s love for Lord Krishna.

Because of Lord Ramachandra’s benediction, they took birth in the homes of the nine Nandas. When they saw handsome Krishna, they became bewildered with love for Him.

During the auspicious month of Margashirsha (November-December) they observed a vow to worship goddess Katyayani. They made a clay deity of the goddess and worshiped her with sixteen offerings.

Singing Lord Krishna’s glories as they went, every morning they would bathe in the Yamuna’s waters.

Once, placing their garments on the riverbank, the girls of Vraja, played in the Yamuna’s waters, splashing each other with both hands.

Coming there that morning, Lord Krishna silently stole their garments and climbed a Kadamba tree.

Not seeing their clothes, the gopis were surprised. When they saw Krishna on the tree they shyly smiled.

From the tree, Krishna said: “All who wish their garments, come here and take them. If you do not come, I will not give them.”

Bowing their heads as they stood in the cold water, the smiling girls spoke.

The gopis said: “O handsome son of Nanda, O jewel of the gopas, O young swan in the gopa dynasty, O destroyer of sufferings, O handsome dark one, how can we follow Your order? We are Your maidservants, but we have no clothes. You are a thief of butter and thief of gopis’ garments. You are a fearless rake in the village of Vraja. Give us our garments. If You don’t we will tell King Kamsa, the ruler of Mathura, the evil You have done here.”

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “O sweetly-smiling girls, if you actually are My maidservants, and if you actually want your garments, then come to the roots of this Kadamba tree. If you do not come, I will bring all these garments to your homes. Because I will do that you should follow My orders without delay.”

Shivering with the cold, bowing their heads, and covering their pubic areas with both hands, all the gopis emerged from the water.

Taking their garments from Krishna, all the girls of Vraja dressed themselves. Bewildered with love, they shyly gazed at Lord Krishna.

Aware of the great love in their hearts, Krishna gently smiled. Placing His eyes on all of them, He spoke.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “To attain Me, during the month of Margashirsha you followed a vow to worship goddess Katyayani. Your vow will bear its fruit. The day after tomorrow, on the Yamuna’s beautiful shore, I will enjoy with You a rasa dance that will fulfill all your desires.”

After speaking these words, Lord Krishna, the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, left. Then all the gopis, gently smiling and their hearts filled with bliss went to their homes.

All scriptures teach only one thing, the ultimate goal of life should be Lord Krishna. We come to this material world due to our desire to enjoy, we marry to enjoy our senses, but the senses are never satisfied, and we suffer life after life. If the same desires if we have for Lord Krishna our life will be successful and Lord Krishna will never disappoint us.  

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The Story of the Gopis who were Sages in their previous life time

All the sages in the Dandakaranya forest were worshipers of Lord Gopala. To attain the rasa dance they always meditated on Lord Krishna. I have explained this pastime in “Groups of Gopis”.

In the Garga Samhita, Sri Narada Muni explains the story of the gopis that had been sages, a sacred story that removes all sins and increases one’s love for Lord Krishna.

In East Bengal, there lived a noble-hearted, learned, and wealthy gopa named Mangala. He was the master of nine-hundred-thousand cows.

He had five thousand wives. One day all his wealth was destroyed by fate.

Some of his cows were stolen by thieves and the rest were forcibly taken by the king. Now a pauper, Mangala was filled with sorrow.

The sages of Dandakaranya, who by Lord Ramachandra’s blessing were destined to become gopis, became the daughters of Mangala.

When he saw his many daughters, Mangala-gopa became filled with sorrow. Miserable in his poverty and tormented by headaches and diseases, Mangala spoke.

Sri Mangala said: “What shall I do? Where shall I go? Who will take away my sufferings? Now I have no wealth, no opulence, no dynasty, and no strength. How will my daughters marry if I have no wealth? If even the next meal is uncertain, where is the hope to gain wealth? Now that I am suddenly poor, how will I make my daughters happy by marrying them to wealthy and powerful kings?”

As Mangala was thinking in this way, a gopa from Mathura district came to his home.

From an elderly pilgrim named Jaya, who was the wisest of the wise, Mangala had heard of the fabulous wealth of King Nanda.

After some thought, the pauper Mangala sent his beautiful-eyed daughters to King Nanda’s circle.

In King Nanda’s home the girls, now decorated with jewels, milked the cows in the barns.

Gazing at handsome Sri Krishna, and remembering their previous birth, the girls daily worshiped the Yamuna to attain Krishna.

One day the large-eyed and dark-complexioned goddess Yamuna appeared before them and offered to give them a benediction.

They said, “May Sri Krishna, the son of Vraja’s king, become our husband.” Yamuna replied, “So be it,” and suddenly disappeared.

Later, in the month of Kartika, in the rasa-dance circle, Lord Krishna enjoyed with them as King Indra enjoys with many heavenly girls.

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The Story of the Personified Vedas

The Personified Vedas asked for the benediction that they would like to become gopis and would like to worship Lord Krishna as their lover, I have explained this pastime in “Groups of Gopis”.

In the Garga Samhita, Sri Bahulashva asked Shri Narada: “O sage, how did Sri Krishnacandra fulfill the desires of the personified Vedas that were blessed to take birth as gopis? Please tell this sacred and wonderful pastime of Lord Krishna.”

Sri Narada said: “O king of Videha, because of a benediction given by Lord Sheshashayi Vishnu, some personified Vedas took birth as gopis in the saintly gopa families of Vraja.”

In Vrindavana forest seeing handsome Krishna, and yearning to attain Him, they approached Shri Vrinda-devi, the ruler of Vrindavana.

Pleased with Vrinda’s benediction, Lord Krishna, who is always kind to His devotees, every day entered the gopis homes to enjoy the rasa dance.

Once, when six hours of the night had already passed, Lord Krishna came, very late, to their homes. The anxious gopis worshiped Him and with sweet words asked a question.

The gopis said: “O savior from troubles, why did You not come sooner? As cakora birds yearn to see the moon, we gopis always yearn to see You.”

The Supreme Lord said: “O My beloveds, a person who lives in someone’s heart is never far away. Gazing at the sun in the sky, a lotus on the earth is inspired to blossom wide. O My beloveds, today My spiritual master, Lord Durvasa Muni, came to Bhandiravana forest, and I went to serve him.”

“The spiritual master is like Lord Brahma. The spiritual master is like Lord Vishnu. The spiritual master is like Lord Siva. The spiritual master is like the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I offer my respectful obeisances to my glorious spiritual master.”

“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and My spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer My respectful obeisances to him.”

“One should know the spiritual master as Me and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.”

“O My beloveds, I worshiped him and offered respects to his lotus feet. That is why I was late in coming to your homes.”

Filled with wonder to hear these words, with bowed heads and folded hands the gopis spoke to Lord Krishna.

The gopis said: “You are the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead. Durvasa Muni is Your spiritual master! O Lord, our hearts yearn to see him. O Supreme Lord, how can we see him now that six hours of the night have passed? The great Yamuna river is a great obstacle. O Lord, how can we cross it without a boat?”

The Supreme Lord said: “O My beloveds, you must go to see him. When you come to the Yamuna, speak these words: O Yamuna, O best of rivers, if Krishna is a perfect and faultless Brahmachari, then please give us a path to cross you.”

When you speak these words, the Yamuna will give you a path. O girls of Vraja, then you may easily cross.

Hearing these words, the girls of Vraja filled fifty-six great pots with many kinds of foods.

They went to the Yamuna and with bowed heads repeated Krishna’s words. The Yamuna at once gave a path to the gopis.

Filled with wonder, the gopis went to Bhandiravana forest. where they saw Durvasa Muni, bowed down before him, circumambulated him, and, each of them saying, “O sage, the food I have brought should be tasted first,” placed many foods before him.

Understanding the pure devotion of the quarreling gopis, Durvasa, the tiger of sages, spoke sweetly to them.

The sage said: “O gopis, I am a Paramahamsa. I have attained the highest goal in life. I never do any material action. For this reason, each of you should with her own hand place in my mouth the food she has brought.

The jubilant gopis then placed in his wide-open mouth all the fifty-six kinds of food they had brought.

As the gopis fed him and watched what he did, Durvasa, the king of sages, ate thousands of bharas of food as if he were tormented with hunger.

When all the pots were emptied the gopis looked at each other with astonishment.

The astonished gopis. their desires now fulfilled, bowed down before the peaceful sage, who was always kind to the devotees, and spoke.

The gopis said: “O sage when we came here to see you, we were able to cross the river by repeating some words Krishna told us. How will we return? Now we are filled with doubt. We offer our respects to you. Please give us a way to cross the Yamuna.”

The sage said: “I will give you something to say that will give you easy passage across the Yamuna: “O Yamuna, O best of rivers, if Durvasa Muni carefully follows his vow of living only by drinking durva grass juice and never eats or drinks anything else, then please give us a path to cross you.” When you speak these words, the Yamuna will give you a path to cross her.”

Hearing these words, the gopis bowed down before the great sage, went to the Yamuna, repeated the sage’s words, and easily crossed the river.

Astonished, the saintly gopis approached Lord Krishna.

Then a doubt rose in the gopis’ hearts. During the rasa dance, in a secluded place, when their desires were all fulfilled, the gopis asked a question to Sri Krishna.

The gopis said: “We saw Durvasa Muni, but now a doubt about what You and he told us has risen in our hearts. As the spiritual master acts, so the disciple follows. If the spiritual master speaks lies, then the disciple will also speak lies. O Lord, You are a fake. You are the gopis’ lover. Since childhood, you have enjoyed nectar pastimes with the gopis. How are You a Brahmachari? O savior from troubles, please tell us. How is Durvasa a sage that lives only by drinking durva-grass juice? We personally saw him eat an enormous feast. O master of Vraja, this is our doubt.”

The Supreme Lord said: “I am the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am all-pervading, faultless, and equal to all. I am free of the material defects of possessiveness and false-ego. I am free of the modes of material nature.”

“As My devotees serve Me, I also serve them in reciprocation. As I reciprocate in this way, so a wise and faultless devotee also reciprocates.”

“Let not the wise disrupt the minds of the ignorant who are attached to fruitive action. They should not be encouraged to refrain from work, but to engage in work in the spirit of devotion.”

“One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every act is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker whose fruitive action is burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge. Such a man of understanding acts with mind and intelligence perfectly controlled gives up all sense of proprietorship over his possessions and acts only for the bare necessities of life. Thus working, he is not affected by sinful reactions.”

“In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has achieved this enjoys the self within himself in due course of time.”

“One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme God, is not affected by the sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.”

“Durvasa Muni ate that great feast for your sake. He did not desire to eat it. He lives by drinking a little durva-grass juice.”

When they heard these words, the gopis that had been personified Vedas became filled with transcendental knowledge.

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Lotus Feet of Srimati Radharani & Lord Krishna and the principle qualities of Srimati Radharani

Srimati Radharani is glorified in all Vedic literatures. Srimati Radharani is Lord Krishna’s hladini-sakti (pleasure potency), the best of all His potencies. She is the form of ecstatic love for Lord Krishna. Srimati Radharani real feature expresses the highest ecstasy of love. The ecstasy of love experienced by the other gopis cannot be compared to that of Srimati Radharani.

Auspicious Marks on the Lotus feet of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani

Shri Krishna, the Lord of Radha, enjoyed a rasa dance with the gopis on the great peak of Nandishvara Hill. At that time the gopis became very proud, so Lord Krishna left them. He disappeared with Radha.

As gopis searched for Shri Krishna, the gopis found His footprints marked with a barleycorn, cakra, flag, parasol, svastika, elephant-goad, bindu, eight-pointed star, thunderbolt, lotus, conchshell, waterpot, fish, triangle, urdhva-rekha line, bow, cow’s hoofprint, and half-moon.

As the gopis followed the Supreme Lord’s footprints, and as they again and again took the dust from those footprints and placed it to their heads, the girls of Vraja saw another set of footprints marked with different signs, marked with a flag, lotus, parasol, barleycorn, urdhva-rekha line, cakra, half-moon, elephant-goad, many bindus, many clove vines, a club, fish, conchshell, mountain-king, many shakti-weapons, throne, chariot, and two bindus. Looking at these wonderful footprints, the gopis said, “The son of Nanda has come here in Shri Radha’s company.”

Srimati Radharani’s Principle Qualities

Srimati Radharani has unlimited transcendental qualities, of which twenty-five qualities are principal. Sri Krishna is controlled by these transcendental qualities of Srimati Radharani.

• She is very sweet.
• She is always freshly youthful.
• Her eyes are restless.
• She smiles brightly.
• She has beautiful, auspicious lines on her body.
• She makes Krishna happy with Her bodily aroma.
• She is very expert in singing.
• Her speech is charming.
• She is very expert in joking and speaking pleasantly.
• She is very humble and meek.
• She is always full of mercy.
• She is cunning.
• She is expert in executing Her duties.
• She is shy.
• She is always respectful.
• She is always calm.
• She is always grave.
• She is expert in enjoying life.
• She is situated at the topmost level of ecstatic love.
• She is the reservoir of loving affairs in Gokula.
• She is the most famous of submissive devotees.
• She is very affectionate to elderly people.
• She is very submissive to the love of Her friends.
• She is the chief gopi.
• She always keeps Krishna under Her control.

Sri Radha Thakurani is the embodiment of mahabhava. She is the repository of all good qualities and the crest jewel among all the lovely consorts of Lord Krishna. Her mind, senses and body are steeped in love for Krishna. She is Krishna’s own energy, and She helps Him in His pastimes.

Sri Radha and Sri Krishna are one and the same, but They have assumed two bodies. Thus They enjoy each other, tasting the mellows of love.

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The Test of Shri Krishna

After hearing King Vrishabhanu’s words, the surprised people of Vraja became peaceful and free of all doubts which I have explained in “The Dispute Among the Gopas”.

The gopas said: “O king, you speak the truth. Radha is Lord Hari’s beloved. His potencies have made you become opulent and glorious in this world. We see that you have thousands of intoxicated elephants, tens of millions of restless horses, tens of millions of chariots glorious as the demigods’ airplanes, tens of millions of beautiful palanquins, many millions and millions of cows beautiful with gold and jewels, many wonderful jewel palaces, and all possible pleasures. Even Kamsa himself is defeated when he sees your wonderful strength. You are as rich as Kuvera.”

“Even King Nanda’s home does not have wealth and opulence equal to yours. The farmer King Nanda, who is the master of many cows, is poor in comparison to you.”

“O master, if Nanda’s son is in truth the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then please put Him to a test that will reveal His divinity as we all watch.”

Hearing their words, King Vrishabhanu devised a test to determine the extent of King Nanda’s wealth.

As everyone watched, King Vrishabhanu took ten million necklaces of giant pearls, each pearl splendid as ten million glittering crowns, placed them in many jewel caskets, and had many handsome men take them to King Nanda with a proposal for his son’s marriage.

Entering King Nanda’s assembly, bowing down, and presenting the caskets of pearls, the handsome men bearing the marriage-proposal spoke to Nanda.

The men bearing a marriage-proposal said: “Aware that his daughter Radha, who is splendid as ten million moons and whose eyes are like new lotus flowers, is now old enough to be married, King Vrishabhanu has given some thought to who should be Her husband. He has decided on your son, who is charming as Kamadeva himself, and whose powerful arm lifted Govardhan Hill. O master, O king of the Vaishyas, seeing us, glorious King Vrishabhanu sent us with this message.”

“Please accept these pearls as a wedding gift. Please give a similar gift to this girl. She is very respectable and glorious.”

Gazing at the precious gift, Nanda became filled with wonder. Thinking to ask Yashoda if they had anything equal to that gift, he went to the palace’s inner rooms.

Thinking for a long time, King Nanda and glorious Yashoda came to the same conclusion: “In our home, there is nothing equal to these pearls.”

“If we do not give a proper gift we will be embarrassed before everyone. Everyone will laugh at us. What should we do? What can we give on the occasion of Shri Krishna’s wedding?”

Observing that Nanda and Yashoda thought they had nothing suitable to give in return, Lord Krishna, the savior from distress, took one hundred of the pearl necklaces and, with His own hand, planted the pearls one by one as if He were a farmer planting grains.

When he again counted the pearl necklaces and found they were one hundred necklaces less, Nanda became filled with doubt.

Shri Nanda said: “There are fewer necklaces than before. Alas, this is the fault of my own relatives! Now I am unhappy at heart. I will ask whether Krishna or Balarama took the necklaces for their playing.”

Thinking in this way, Nanda asked Krishna. Lord Krishna, the lifter of Govardhan Hill, smiled and respectfully spoke to King Nanda.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “We gopas are farmers. We plant all kinds of seeds. I planted some pearls in the fields.”

Hearing his son’s words, and rebuking Him, Nanda, the king of Vraja, went with Him to the fields to retrieve the pearls. In that place, millions upon millions of bunches of pearls shone like many stars in the sky.

Then the delighted Nanda could understand that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These glittering pearls were bigger even than the first ones.

Placing many millions of bharas of these pearls on many wagons, Nanda, the king of Vraja, gave them to the men carrying the marriage-proposal.

They took the gift and gave it all to King Vrishabhanu. Everyone who saw this pastime praised the great wealth of King Nanda.

Filled with wonder, free of doubt, and now convinced that Nanda’s son really was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all the people of Vraja bowed down before King Vrishabhanu.

From that day on everyone in Vraja understood that Radha was Krishna’s beloved and Krishna was Radha’s beloved.

The place where Nanda’s son planted pearls became the lake Mukta-Sarovara or Mukta Kunda, the king of holy places. A person who at that place gives in charity a single pearl attains the result of giving a hundred thousand pearls. I have explained briefly about Mukta-Kunda in Nandagrama – Part II.

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The Dispute Among the Gopas

Having seen Krishna’s wonderful and surprising pastimes, the gopas and gopis said to Nanda and Yashoda: “O king of the gopas, no one in your family could lift a hill. O Yashoda, you could not hold even a single rock for seven days. What is the strength of a seven-year-old boy? How strong must one be to lift Govardhan Hill, the king of mountains? We have begun to doubt the identity of your unnaturally strong boy.”

“With one hand He playfully held up the greatest of mountains as an elephant holds up a lotus flower or a child holds up a mushroom. O Yashoda, your complexion is fair. O Nanda, your complexion is also fair. This boy is very dark. He is different from the rest of the family.

This boy is like a Kshatriya. For Balarama, a kshatriya’s nature is not unexpected. He was born in a Kshatriya family descended from the moon-god.”

“If you don’t tell us the truth, we will leave the community. Was this boy really born into a family of gopas? If you don’t tell us, there will be a great quarrel.”

As she heard the gopas’ words, Yashoda became gripped with fear. Then King Nanda spoke to the angry gopas.

Shri Nanda said: “O gopas, I will carefully tell you what Garga Muni said. O gopas, by his words you will be quickly free of your anxiety.”

“Garga Muni said to me: In the word “Krishna” the letter “K” means “the lover of the goddess of fortune”, “ri” means  Lord Ramachandra”, “sh” means “the Lord of six opulences” or “the Lord who resides in Shvetadvipa”, “n” means “Lord Narasimha”, “a” means “the eternal one” or “the Lord who enjoys what is offered in the sacrificial fire”, and “h” means “the Nara-Narayana Rishis”. These six letters combine to form the name of the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is perfect and complete. That is why this boy is named Krishna.”

“In the other yugas He is white, red, or yellow, but at the end of Dvapara-Yuga and the beginning of Kali-yuga, this boy becomes dark-complexioned (Krishna). That is why Nanda’s son has the name, Krishna. Because He is the Lord (deva) that rules over the eight vasus (the heart, mind, intelligence, and the five senses), He is also called Vasudeva.”

“Because He is the husband (pati) of King Vrishabhanu’s daughter Radha, who was born in the palace of Kirti-devi, He is also called Radha-pati.”

“Shri Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is perfect and complete. He is the master of countless universes. In the transcendental abode of Goloka, He shines with transcendental glory.”

“In order to relieve the earth of its burden, kill the demons headed by Kamsa, and protect the devotees, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead has now become your son. O descendant of Bharata, His names are endless. His names are hidden even from the Vedas. His transcendental pastimes will show what His names are. Do not be surprised by them.”

When I heard Garga Muni say this about my son, I did not doubt his words. The words of the Vedas and the words of a brahmana are the final proof of what is true in this world.

The gopas said: “If the great sage Garga Muni actually came to your home and performed the name-giving ceremony, why did you not call your relatives to come and witness it?  You kept the name-giving ceremony a secret even when it was performed in your own home!”

Their bodies filled with anger as they spoke these words, the gopas left Nanda’s palace and went to King Vrishabhanu.

Filled with anger for their kinsman Nanda, all the gopas spoke to Nanda’s friend, King Vrishabhanu.

The gopas said: “O King Vrishabhanu, you have a noble heart. You are the best person in our community. O king, O leader of the gopas, you should sever your ties of friendship with King Nanda.”

Shri Vrishabhanu said: “What wrong has King Nanda done that I should sever my ties of friendship with him? King Nanda is worshiped by the gopas. He is the crown that gloriously decorates our community. He is my dear friend.”

The gopas said: “O king if you do not sever your ties of friendship with him, we, the people of Vraja, will sever our ties of friendship with you. O thoughtful one, in your home you have a grown-up daughter of marriageable age. If you, the first person in our community, who have now become maddened with your wealth and opulences, find yourself unable to give Her in marriage to a suitable bridegroom, the fault will be yours alone.”

“If you do not for a long time sever your ties of friendship with King Nanda, we will ostracize you from our community. O noble-hearted one, reject, reject King Nanda.”

Shri Vrishabhanu said: “O gopas, I will repeat for you Garga Muni’s words. Those words will make you free of all these anxieties.”

“Garga Muni said: The boy that was born in Nanda’s home is the master of countless universes. He is the master of Goloka. He is greater than the greatest. No one is greater than Him. On the demigod Brahma’s request, Krishna came to this universe to remove the earth’s burden and kill the demons headed by Kamsa.”

“Shri Radha, who in the realm of Goloka is Shri Krishna’s first queen, has taken birth in your home. You do not know how exalted She is. I will not arrange the marriage of Radha and Krishna. They will be married in Bhandiravana forest by the Yamuna’s shore. In a beautiful secluded place near Vrindavana forest, the demigod Brahma will perform their wedding.”

“O best of the gopas, please understand that, in the palace of Goloka, Radha is the first queen of Shri Krishna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the crest jewel of the worlds. From Goloka, all you gopas have come to the earth. The gopis and cows have also come, by Radha’s wish from Goloka.”

After speaking these words, the great sage Garga Muni left. From that day I have not doubted Radha’s exalted position.

The words of the Vedas and the words of a brahmana are the final proof of what is true in this world. O gopas, now I have explained all this to you.

After hearing King Vrishabhanu’s words, the surprised people of Vraja became peaceful and free of all doubts.

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The Story of Goloka’s birth and the birth of Shri Giriraja

Shri Bahulashva asked Shri Narada: “Govardhan Hill is dear to Lord Hari. It is the king of the mountains. No holy place in the earthly or heavenly planets is equal to it. When was Govardhan Hill born from Lord Krishna’s chest? O wise and intelligent one, please tell me that. You know what is in Lord Krishna’s heart.”

Shri Narada said: “O noble-hearted king, please hear the story of Goloka’s birth, a story that brings to human beings the four goals of life, a story filled with transcendental pastimes.”

“Shri Krishna is the Supreme Lord. He is a person. He has no beginning. He is perfect and complete. He is the master of all opulence. He is beyond the modes of nature. He is above the realm of matter. Time has no existence in the transcendental abode where the self-effulgent Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoys pastimes eternally.”

O king, illusion has no power in that realm. Neither do the mahat-tattva, nor the material modes of nature have any power there. How can they? O king, the material heart, mind, intelligence, and false-ego cannot enter there.

In His own abode the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose form is spiritual, desired to expand, and so He manifested the form of Lord Shesha, who has gigantic white coils.

The Lord’s realm, Goloka, is worshiped by all the worlds. A devotee who goes there never returns to the world of birth and death.

The Ganga, which travels through the three material worlds, was born from the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, who is the master of countless material universes and the ruler of the spiritual realm of Goloka.

The Yamuna, the best of rivers, who wore a turban and many flower ornaments, was manifested from Lord Krishna’s left shoulder.

The splendid rasa-dance circle, made of gold and jewels, and decorated with many ornaments, was manifested from Lord Krishna’s ankles.

Filled with assembly-houses, courtyards, pathways, pavilions, peacocks, bees, and cooing cuckoos, flooded with the sweetness of spring, and decorated with many lakes, a forest grove was manifested from Lord Krishna’s legs.

Vrindavana, the best of all forests, was manifested from Lord Krishna’s knees, and Lila-Sarovara lake was manifested from His thighs.

A golden place splendid with gold and jewels was manifested from His hips. Many flowering Madhavi vines were manifested from the line of hairs on His abdomen.

These vines were filled with many different birds and decorated with buzzing bees. Burdened with many flowers and fruits, they bowed down as if they were many saintly girls.

From the Lord’s lotus navel many thousands of lotus flowers were manifested. They shone very splendidly in the many lakes of Lord Krishna’s transcendental abode.

From the three folds of skin at the Lord’s waist was manifested a gentle and cooling breeze. From His collar were manifested the cities of Mathura and Dvaraka.

From Lord Krishna’s arms were manifested His eight friends headed by Sridama. From the Lord’s wrists Nanda was manifested, and from the Lord’s hands, Upananda was manifested.

From Shri Krishna’s shoulder-blades all the Vrishabhanus were manifested. From the hairs of Shri Krishna’s body, all the gopas were manifested.

From Shri Krishna’s mind were manifested the cows and bulls, the upholders of religion. From Shri Krishna’s intelligence were manifested the grass, plants, and shrubs.

From the Lord’s left shoulder was manifested a golden splendor that was His beloveds: Lila, Shri, Bhu, and Viraja.

The wise know His dearest beloved is Radha. From Radha’s arms are manifested Her friends Lalita and Vishakha.

Her gopi-assistants were manifested from the hairs of Radha’s body. In this way, Lord Krishna manifested the world of Goloka.

After thus manifesting His own abode, Lord Krishna, the perfect and complete Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of countless universes, shone with great glory in Shri Radha’s company there.

One day, in the beautiful rasa-dance circle, which was filled with the tinkling of anklets and with courtyards splendid with pearls and parasols, awnings of flowering Malati vines fragrant with nectar honey, sounds of flute and mridangam, and beautiful singing from beautiful throats, and which was beautiful with many beautiful girls, Radha cast a sidelong glance at Lord Krishna, who is more charming than many millions of Kamadevas, and who generously gives the sweetest nectar. She spoke to Him in the following words.

Shri Radha said: “O Lord of the worlds, if You are pleased with My love in this rasa-dance, then there is a desire in My heart I would like to place before You.”

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “O girl with the beautiful thighs, You may ask for whatever Your heart desires. O beloved, if I have not already given it, I will lovingly give whatever You wish.”

Shri Radha said: “In splendid Vrindavana forest, in a beautiful and secluded place by the Yamuna’s shore, please make an arena for a nectar rasa-dance. O Lord of lords, this is My desire.”

Shri Narada said: Saying, “So be it”, the Lord meditated. With His lotus eyes, he looked inside His heart.

As the gopis watched, Krishna’s love, in a form of fire and water, came from His heart as a sprout comes up from the ground.

Falling onto the ground of the rasa-dance circle, that love grew into a great mountain filled with many caves and swiftly-moving streams, beautiful with Kadamba, Bakula, and Ashoka trees and a great network of flowering vines, opulent with Mandara and Kunda flowers, and filled with graceful birds. In a single moment that mountain became eight hundred thousand miles wide and eight billion miles long. It was like another Ananta Shesha.

It was like a great palace with many golden domes.

Some called this mountain Govardhan and others called it Shatashringa (a hundred peaks). The mountain expanded as much as its heart wished.

As the mountain expanded, Goloka became filled with fear and there was a great uproar. Lord Krishna at once stood up and slapped the mountain with His hand

He said, “Why do You expand so much? You have covered the entire realm! Why do you not stop at once?” In this way, Krishna stopped the mountain from growing any further.

Gazing at this best of mountains, Lord Krishna’s beloved Radha was very pleased. O king, She enjoyed pastimes with Krishna in a secluded place on that mountain.

In this way, Govardhan Hill, which is the best of mountains, which is dear to the Lord, which is dark as a monsoon cloud, and which contains within itself all holy places, was manifested by Lord Krishna.

In Shalmali-dvipa, to the west of Bharata-Varsha, Govardhan Hill was born from the wife of Mount Drona. Pulastya Muni brought Govardhan to Bharata-Varsha. I have explained this pastime in another post Giriraja Govardhan.

Because Govardhan Hill had been so eager to expand unlimitedly, Lord Krishna arranged that the sage Pulastya curse it to decrease day by day.

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Srimati Vrinda Devi (Tulasi Devi)

I have explained about Srimati Vrinda Devi or Srimati Tulasi Devi as explained by my spiritual master His Holiness Bir Krishna Goswami Maharaja.

Once upon a time, there were two Vaishnavas namely Dharmadhvaja and Kusadhvaja, they were worshiping Goddess Lakshmi and for many years they performed great austerities. King Dharmadhvaja was married to Madhavi. After some time, she became pregnant with a partial incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. However, the infant remained in Madhavi’s womb for one hundred celestial years. Then, on an auspicious day, in the month of Kartika, she gave birth. Partial expansion of Goddess Lakshmi appeared as Srimati Tulasi Devi. There were marks of the lotus flower on the infant’s feet. Her face looked like the beautiful moon, her eyes were like lotuses and lips were like Bimba fruit. Her palms and the soles of her feet were red. Her complexion was white, like a Champaka flower, and her hair looked beautiful. Because her beauty was incomparable, the sages called her Tulasi.

Tulasi was previously an associate of Srimati Radharani.

Tulasi went to Badrikashram to perform austerities to get Lord Krishna as her husband. She performed austerities for 100,000 years. For 20,000 years, she ate fruits and water, for 30,000 years she ate dry leaves, after that for 40,000 years she was just breathing, and for 10,000 years she ate nothing and did not breath at all and just stood on one leg.

Finally, Lord Brahma came and said, “O Tulasi, ask me for a boon.”

Tulasi said, “Previously I was a Gopi, I was an associate of Srimati Radharani, I am a partial expansion of Srimati Radharani and was her favorite companion. One day Lord Krishna became very intimate with me and I fainted from excessive joy. Srimati Radharani became upset and cursed me to take birth in Bharatvarsha.”

Lord Krishna said, “You will take birth in Bharatvarsha and marry Lord Narayana”

Lord Brahma said, “O Tulasi, Sridama was a partial expansion of Krishna and was one of Krishna’s cowherd boyfriends in Goloka. As a result of a curse by Srimati Radharani, he is presently living on earth among the demons. His name is Sankhacuda. While living in Goloka, he was very attracted to you and wanted to marry you. But because he feared Radharani, he did not say anything.” (I have explained this pastime in detail in my another post “Srimati Radharani cursed by Sridama”)

Lord Brahma continued, “Just as you are a Jatismara–that is, one who knows her previous births–Sankhacuda also is. Remembering his past desire to be close to you, he has performed severe austerities to obtain you as his wife. I now wish to grant his desire. Therefore, O beautiful one, please agree to wed him. However, later on, by the special arrangement of Providence, you will get the beautiful Narayana as your husband. But after that, You will curse Him and you will be transformed into the world-purifying Tulasi plant (holy basil). You will be the best of flowers and dearer to Narayana than His own life. No one’s worship will be complete without your leaves. You will remain as a tree in Vrindavana and will be widely known as Vrindavani. The cowherd men and women will worship Lord Hari with your leaves. As the presiding deity of the Tulasi plant, you will always enjoy the company of Krsna, the best of cowherd boys.”

Tulasi Devi said, “O Lord, please grant me the following boon: that I lose my fear of Srimati Radharani.”

Lord Brahma replied, “O child, I shall now give you the sixteen-lettered Radha mantra. By this boon you will be as dear to Radharani as Her life, and She will approve of Your intimate dealings with Krsna.”

Lord Brahma initiated Tulasi Devi into to the sixteen-lettered Radha mantra, the hymn, and the mode of worship of Sri Radha. Then, blessing her, he disappeared.

As directed, Tulasi Devi engaged herself in worshiping Srimati Radharani and, after twelve years, attained success.

Tulasi was in the prime of her youth and she longed for the company of Sri Krsna.

But while she slept, Kamadeva, the god of love affected her and She started seeing Sankhacuda in her dreams.

I will explain in brief birth and austerity of Sankhacuda.

The Birth and Austerity of Sankhacuda

Dambha’s chaste wife gave birth to a radiant-looking son, Dambha invited the sages to his place and had the post-natal rites performed. There was great jubilation and, on a favorable day, the father named him Sankhacuda.

To obtain a boon from Lord Brahma, Sankhacuda performed great austerity in Puskara for a long time.

Lord Brahma went to Sankhacuda to grant him a blessing. Lord Brahma asked, “Tell me what boon you want.”

Sankhacuda said, “Please make me invincible to the demigods, and also enable me to marry Tulasi.”

Lord Brahma replied, “So be it”, Then he gave Sankhacuda the Divine amulet of Lord Sri Krsna. This amulet, called Sarvamangalamaya (Conqueror of the World), was considered the most auspicious of all auspicious things in the world, for it guaranteed victory everywhere.

Brahma continued, “Now you should go to Badarikasrama. Tulasi Devi is performing penance there by her own will. You should marry her there. She is the daughter of King Dharmadhvaja.” Lord Brahma then disappeared.

Meeting of Tulasi Devi and King Sankhacuda

Tulasi Devi saw Sankhacuda approaching her in his jeweled airplane.

Sankhacuda sat down and said to her, “O beautiful girl, whose daughter, are you? And how have you come to this forest?

Tulasi Devi wanted to test Sankhacuda first and said, “I am the daughter of King Dharmadhvaja and have been practicing asceticism here. But who are you? And why are you talking to me? If a nobleman sees a virtuous woman alone, he does not talk to her. Do you understand the nature of women they are not trustworthy, I am not going to be faithful to you.”

Sankhacuda smiled and said, “Women who are in the mode of goodness are virtuous and pure. The sages declare them to be excellent. But those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance are not so praiseworthy. I have come to you by Lord Brahma’s command–to marry you according to the Gandharva rite.”

Tulasi Devi was very pleased, Lord Brahma appeared and performed the Gandharva rites. Sankhacuda then married Tulasi by the Gandharva rite.

They went to different mountains, flower gardens, caves, beaches, riversides, and forests. Wherever they went, they enjoyed each other’s company with great satisfaction, never tiring of one another. Sankhacuda then brought Tulasi to his own kingdom and there they continued to delight in each other’s company.

Sankhacuda enjoyed his kingdom for one Manvantara (4,320,000 years) and, during that period, gained control over all the Devas, Danavas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and Raksasas.

Demigods went to Lord Brahma, Lord Brahma took them to Lord Siva, Lord Siva then took them all to Vaikuntha and complained to Lord Narayana.

Lord Narayana explained the history of Sankhacuda, and gave trident to Lord Shiva to kill Sankhacuda and explained that Lord Siva won’t be able to kill him until his amulet is taken away and Tulasi’s chastity is violated.

Lord Narayana said, “I will go to him disguised as a Brahman and beg the amulet from him and later I will go to Tulasi as Sankhacuda and violate her chastity. Then he will surely die. Later, when his wife leaves her body, she will become my dearest wife.” Narayana then gave Lord Siva his trident.

The War Begins

Lord Siva gets ready to attack Sankhacuda, Sankhacuda accepts the challenge. Lord Siva, Kartika, Nandi, Mahakala, Bana, Manibhadra, the eight Bhairavas, the eleven Rudras, the eight Vasus, the twelve Adityas, Indra, Agni, Chandra, Visvakarma, the two Asvini-kumaras, Kuvera, Yama, Jayanta, Nala-Kuvara, Vayu, Varuna, Budha, Mangala, Dharma, Sani, Kama, Ugra-Chanda, Kottari, the hundred-armed Bhadrakali, as well as many other personages gets ready to attack Sankhacuda. Then Kartikkeya arrived and he bowed down to his father Lord Siva, who asked him to sit on his left side and help him. The army remained there in battle array.

Sankhacuda tells Tulasi about the imminent war and tells her not to worry even if he dies, we will be back with Radha and Krishna in the spiritual world. And they prepare for war and there are 300,000 forces on the side of Sankhacuda.

Lord Siva at that time was staying on the banks of the Puspabhadra River at Siddhasrama. This holy place was known to enable sadhus to easily attain perfection in yoga. The Puspabhadra River was forty miles wide and four thousand miles long. This auspicious river offered great spiritual merit and was always full of transparent, sparkling water.

Sankhacuda is very respectful to Lord Siva, upon seeing Lord Siva, Sankhacuda got down from his chariot and, with his entire army, bowed low to him. He also saluted Bhadrakali, who was on Lord Siva’s left side, and Kartikkeya, who was in the front. In response, they bestowed blessings on him.

Sankhacuda quickly got up, bowed down to Lord Siva, and ascended his chariot with his ministers. Lord Siva ordered his army to be ready immediately, and Sankhacuda did the same.

Then a great battle ensued. Many mystical and supernatural weapons were hurled, and numerous demigods and demons were killed.

The fight continued for a long time and all the demigods and demons stood watching it.

Kali was now infuriated. Just as she readied herself to throw the Pasupata weapon, a heavenly voice from the sky cried out, “O Goddess! Do not throw this missile at Sankhacuda. So long as Lord Hari’s amulet remains on his neck and his wife’s chastity is not violated, the king cannot be killed–even by the never-failing Pasupata weapon. Lord Brahma gave him this boon.”

As the battle between Lord Siva and the demon king continued, the heavens, earth, mountains, oceans and rivers shook and trembled.

Dressed as an aged brahmana, Lord Visnu, approached Sankhacuda and requested, “O King of the Danavas, please grant my request. You give away in charity all kinds of wealth and riches, so please grant me what I desire. I would like your amulet.”

Sankhacuda thus handed over to the disguised Lord Visnu his divine amulet.

Then Lord Visnu assumed the form of Sankhacuda and went to Tulasi Devi’s palace. When He approached the entrance, He created the appearance of a victory homecoming, causing others to beat their drums and to shout “Victory”.

Lord Visnu in the form of Sankhacuda tells Tulasi that he won the battle, He defeated Lord Siva and Bhadrakali. And Tulasi has a relationship with Sankhacuda which is actually Lord Vishnu, so her chastity is violated.

Lord Siva than fires the trident, the trident was 14,000 cubits long and 100 cubits wide. Sankhacuda seeing its coming, dropped his bow and arrows, sat down in a yoga posture, and meditated on the lotus feet of Lord Krishna and he is killed.

Lord Siva tossed the demon’s bones into the sea and these bones became transformed into all the conches in the world. They are always considered very holy and favorable in the worship of the demigods. The water in the conch is also considered very sacred and satisfying to the demigods–as sacred as the water in any holy river. It can be offered to all the demigods but not to Lord Siva. Wherever the conch is blown, Laksmi dwells there with great delight. If one bathes with the conch water, this is equivalent to bathing in all the holy rivers. Wherever the conch is placed, Lord Hari and Goddess Laksmi live there, and all inauspicious things disappear from that place. However, if a low class or people who do not follow regulative principles blow the conch, Goddess Laksmi becomes annoyed and, out of fear, travels to other places.

Lord Siva favored Sankhacuda by releasing him from his curse, and thus he regained his original form as the cowherd boy Sridama.

Radha and Krishna were very happy to see Sridama back and Sridama was also very happy, but Tulasi was not happy. She felt cheated, as she realized that the person she is having a relationship is not like Sankhacuda.

Tulasi said, “Who are you?”

Lord Vishnu assumed his original form, and Tulasi said, “I am going to curse you, you are like a stone because your heart is like a stone. You are merciless, you violated my chastity and you have killed my husband. Your devotee committed no offense but for sake of others you killed him, Why?”

Seeing her so upset, Narayana, who is an ocean of mercy, tried to console her according to dharmic rules. He said, “O exalted one, you performed austerities for a long time to get Me as your husband. And Sankhacuda also performed austerities for a long time to get you as his wife. By that austerity, he fulfilled his wish. It was then necessary for Me to fulfill your wish. For this reason, I did what I did. Now leave your earthly body and assume a spiritual body–and be married to Me. Be like Laksmi. Your body will become a famous river known as Gandaki, a virtuous, pure and transparent river in this holy land of India (which is now in Nepal). Your hairs will be transformed into holy trees; and since the trees will be born of you, they will be known as Tulasi trees. All the residents of the three worlds will perform worship with the leaves and flowers of this tree. Thus, you, Tulasi, will reign as the best among trees and flowers. As for Me, by your curse, I will become a stone and remain close to the bank of the Gandaki River. Millions of Vajrakita worms, with their sharp teeth, will make convolutions or rings in the stones there, representing Me. These will be known as Saligram Silas or sacred stones.”

In the picture you can see seedling of Tulasi plant and the mala around it is Saligram Sila mala that I got when I visited Devprayag.

Benedictions Lord Narayana gave to Tulasi

Below I mentioned some of the benedictions Lord Narayana gave to Tulasi, in detail this pastime is mentioned in Padma Purana.

“Lord Hari will not be as pleased with the gift of a thousand jars of honey as with one Tulasi leaf.

“Offering one such leaf as a gift will bring the same reward obtained by offering millions of cows.

“If one offers Tulasi leaves during the month of Kartika, he gets the same rewards as those just mentioned.

“If at the time of death, one drinks or gets the Tulasi-leaf water, one will be freed of all his sins and proceed to Vaikuntha.

“Whoever drinks the Tulasi-leaf water daily will be redeemed in his lifetime and receive the benefit of a dip in the Ganges.

“Whoever plucks a Tulasi leaf, keeps it on his person, and then leaves his body in a holy place, will go to Visnuloka.

“Anyone who worships Me with this leaf daily will reap the blessings of a hundred thousand horse sacrifices.

“Anyone who leaves his body holding a Tulasi leaf in his hands will be saved from all sins.

“Anyone who wears a necklace composed of Tulasi wood, will surely, at every step, get the reward of a horse sacrifice.

In Padma Purana is mentioned in detail of different shapes of Saligrama Silas.

“Wherever there are Saligrama stones, Lord Hari Himself exists. And wherever Lord Hari is, Goddess Laksmi and all the holy places also exist.

“By worshiping the Saligrama sila (stone), one destroys the sin of having killed a brahmana and any other type of sin.

“If one worships the Saligrama sila, one acquires the merits of bathing in all the tirthas (holy rivers) and being initiated into all the Vedic sacrifices.

Tulasi Devi Returns to the Spiritual World

When Lord Hari stopped speaking, Tulasi left her physical body, assumed a celestial form and went to Vaikuntha. There she remained in the heart of Sri Hari, as did Goddess Laksmi. Lord Hari also went with her to Vaikuntha.

As soon as Tulasi Devi quit her physical body, this body became the Gandaki River; and Lord Hari manifested Himself as the mountain on the bank of that river, giving spiritual merit to the people. The worms on that mountain cut and fashion, i.e. construct various kinds of stones. Those that fall into the river and assume the color of clouds, without a doubt, yield results; but those that drop onto the dry land become brown by the sun’s rays and unfit for worship.

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