Govardhana Hill has a parikrama of about fourteen miles (23 kilometres) and can take five to six hours to complete if one walks at a brisk pace. Most ISKCON devotees start parikrama of Govardhana from Radha-kunda village, where the Vrndavana road meets the parikrama path, because it is convenient for returning to Vrindavana when the parikrama is over.
Shri Radha Kunda & Shri Syama Kunda
I have explained in detail about Shri Radha Kunda and Shri Syama Kunda in “Shri Radha Kunda & Shri Syama Kunda Parikarama Part 1 & Part 2”. Please note, this is one of my old videos. For complete information watch the video. Webpage has very little information.
Sri Kusuma Sarovara
Sri Kusuma Sarovara is situated one and a half mile south of Sri Radhakunda, somewhat to the west. In the south-eastern corner is the Sri Uddhavaji Mandira, in the south-western corner is the Sri Bana Bihari Mandira and on the western bank is the tomb of king Suraja Mala, the king of Bharatpura. At this Sarovara Srimati Radharani eternally picks flowers with Her girlfriends. Sri Narada attained a gopi svarupa by bathing in this Sarovara. After Sri Krsna disappeared from this world the Queens of Dvaraka, feeling great separation from Him, came to Sri Vrindavana and heard Srimad Bhagavatam from the mouth of Sri Uddhavaji for one month on the bank of this Sarovara, thus attaining Sri Krsna’s vicinity.
Sri Uddhava Mandira / Sri Uddhava Baithaka
In the south-eastern corner of Sri Kusuma Sarovara is Sri Uddhava Mandira. Uddhava, Krsna’s very dear friend and cousin, whose bodily features resembled Krsna’s almost exactly. The Deity was installed here five thousand years ago by Vajranabha, Lord Krsna’s great grandson.
When Sri Uddhava came to Vrindavana as a messenger of Sri Krsna, he was so moved by the pure unalloyed devotion of the gopis that he wanted to smear the dust of their feet on his head. But he knew they would never allow him to do that. Not wishing to disturb the mood of the gopis, Uddhava desired to become just an insignificant clump of grass in the land of Vrindavana. In this way, as the gopis passed by, the dust from their feet would automatically touch his head and bless him without their knowledge.
Sri Narada Kunda
Sri Narada Kunda is situated on the east of Sri Kusuma Sarovara. On the western bank of this kunda is a temple of Sri Naradaji. The desires of anyone who bathes here on the Somavati Amavasya are all fulfilled, hence one can find many people gathered here on that day.
Sri Narada Muni had approached Lord Siva for the purpose of obtaining a boon whereby he could have darsana of Radha and Krsna’s pastimes of conjugal love. After receiving a mantra from Lord Siva, Narada came here to meditate on it and perform tapasya. Vrnda Devi happened to come there with her assistance and upon seeing her, Narada offered his obeisances and asked if he could witness the conjugal pastimes of Radha and Krsna.
Vrnda Devi informed Narada that it would not be possible in his present male form. She then took him to Kusuma-sarovara. After bathing there he obtained the form of a gopi. Vrnda Devi then took Narada to Radha-kunda, where he was able to have darsana of Radha and Krsna’s asta-kaliya pastimes.
Sri Gowala Pokhara
Gowala Pokhara is situated half a kilometre south of Kusuma Sarovara. Here the cowherdboys looted the Surya prasada from Sri Madhumangala. Sri Gowala Pokhara forms the ears of Sri Giriraja. North of this kunda is the beautiful Sri Syama Kuti; there is also a kunda called Sri Ratna Kunda here.
Sri Syama Kutira
Situated in the forest of Syama Vana (black forest) is a very beautiful place known as Syama Kutira. This area is also known as Ratna-simhasana because there used to be a fabulous throne here, made entirely from precious gemstones like diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Srimati Radharani, the queen of Vraja, used to sit on this Ratna-simhasana, surrounded by thousands of Her girlfriends.
Syama Kutira also marks the spot where Goverdhana Hill first starts to appear above the ground. There is also a small kunda known as Ratna-kunda, and a circular platform which commemorates the rasa dance that took place here.
Syama Kutira is also the site where the fearful Sankhacuda demon carried off the gopis while they were enjoying pastimes with Krsna and Balarama.
Lord Krsna’s Foot Print
To the right of the gate before one enters syama-kutira is said to be the impression of Lord Krsna’s foot-print and that of a calf on a rock from Goverdhana Hill.
Sri Killola Kunda
Sri Killola Kunda is situated on the north-eastern corner of the village of Govardhana. On the west bank of this Kunda is the temple of Sri Killola Bihari. At this beautiful Killola Kunda Sri Krsna would enjoy water sports and other pastimes with Radharani and the gopis. This kunda is situated a short distance from the main parikrama path. It is one of the places on the twenty-four-mile parikrama route that was followed by Sanatana Gosvami.
Sri Manasi Ganga
Sri Manasi Ganga is situated in the middle of the village of Govardhana.
The Appearance of Manasi-Ganga:
Once upon a time Sri Nanada Maharaja and the cowherders along with Srimati Yasoda and the cowherdesses were going on pilgrimage to bathe in the Bhagirathi Ganga. On the way they spent the night at Sri Govardhana. At that time Sri Krsna thought to Himself: “All the holy waters are present here, being attracted to the great glories of Sri Vraja-bhumi, but the Vrajavasis are not aware of that, so let Me make this clear to them!” As soon as the Lord had thought like that Sri Ganga devi suddenly appeared there before everyone, riding on her Makara-vehicle. The Vrajavasis were highly amazed to see Sri Ganga-devi suddenly appearing there, and they began to speculate and argue with each other, until Sri Krsna told them: “All the holy waters of the three worlds are present here in Vrajabhumi, simply to serve it! Knowing that you were planning to leave Vraja to take a bath in the Ganga Patita Pavani (the purifier of the fallen) Mother Ganga has come before you today, therefore quickly accomplish your work now by bathing in her sacred water. From now on this sacred water will be known throughout as Sri Manasi Ganga. On the new moon night in the month of Kartika (October-November) Sri Manasi Ganga appeared from the mind of Sri Krsna. On the eastern bank of Sri Manasi Ganga is Sri Mukharavinda (Sri Giriraja Mandira) and Sri Laksmi Narayana Mandira, on the southern bank is Sri Harideva Mandira and Brahmakunda, on the northern bank is Siddha Sri Krsna dasa Baba’s asrama, Sri Cakratirtha (Cakalesvara Mandira), Sri Sanatana Gosvami’s bhajan kutira and many other temples.
Boat Pastime at Manasi Ganga
During the time of Krsna, Manasi Ganga was very big in size. Once Srimati Radharani and Her sakhis come to the bank of Manasi Ganga to cross the water in a boat. They were carrying their yogurt pots and other milk preparations to sell in Mathura. The boatman agreed to take them across the water, and so they settled on a price of some sweets and butter.
The boatman rowed the boat for some time and then stopped. Srimati Radharani and the gopis asked him why he had stopped. He told them that he was tired and hungry and could not go any further if they did not feed him, and so the sakhis offered the boatman their milk products. He ate everything, then told them that he would take a nap and they should massage his arms and legs. The gopis told him that if he did not keep rowing the boat they would throw him overboard, and so the boatman continued rowing.
After some time, however, he again stopped the boat, and the gopis again asked him why. He told them. “My boat is old and the water is coming in due to the weight it is carrying. You will have to throw some things overboard, otherwise we will sink!” So the gopis threw their yogurt pots overboard. But still there was too much weight, and the boatman said, “It is not enough. The water is still entering. You will have to surrender more to the waters of Manasi Ganga.” So the gopis threw their heavy jewelry overboard.
Then a storm came. The wind began to blow and the waves upset the boat. At the same time, the boatman also started rocking the boat. Radharani became frightened and put Her arms around the boatman. At that time She realized that the boatman was Krsna. Radharani then pulled Krsna’s flute from under His clothing and then all the gopis could understand that the boatman was Krsna Himself.
To be continued in Govardhana Parikrama Part 3, Vraja Mandal, UP, India