There are many places of pilgrimage for Krishna devotees, especially in India. Devotees visit them to become inspired in their spiritual lives.

This month, devotees of Krishna observe Bahulashtami, or the appearance of Radha Kunda.

Radha Kunda is a reservoir of water located in Vrindavan, India, where Krishna and Srimati Radharani had Their pastimes. It is mentioned in Sri Isopanishad and other Vedic texts as the most sacred place in the universe. Why?

Radha Kunda

Srila Prabhupada, in his translation and commentaries on Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, mentions Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s re-discovery of Radha Kunda—more than four thousand years after its creation, during the earthly pastimes of Sri Krishna in Vrindavan—and discusses the spiritual significance of Radha Kunda in some detail:

“Arit-grama is also called Arishta-grama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood that in that village Arishtasura had been killed by Sri Krishna. While there, He inquired about Radha-kunda, but no one could tell Him where it was. The brahmana accompanying Him could also not ascertain its whereabouts.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could then understand that the holy places known as Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda were at that time lost to everyone’s vision. He therefore discovered Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda, which were two reservoirs of water in two paddy fields. Although there was very little water, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was omniscient and could understand that formerly these two ponds were called Sri Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. In this way Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda were discovered.”

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the local people, “Where is Radha-kunda?” No one could inform Him, and the brahmana accompanying Him did not know either.

The Lord then understood that the holy place called Radha-kunda was no longer visible. However, being the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, He discovered Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda in two paddy fields. There was only a little water, but He took His bath there.

When the people of the village saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taking His bath in those two ponds in the middle of the paddy fields, they were very much astonished. The Lord then offered His prayers to Sri Radha-kunda.

“Of all the gopis, Radharani is the dearmost. Similarly, the lake known as Radha-kunda is very dear to the Lord because it is very dear to Srimati Radharani.

“‘Just as Srimati Radharani is most dear to Lord Krishna, so Her lake, known as Radha-kunda, is also very dear to Him. Of all the gopis, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most beloved.’(quote from Padma Purana)

This is an excerpt from Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya-lila, Chapter 18. Click on the link to read more. For more info about Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, visit our Store.

Interestingly enough, earlier this year, residents of Radha Kunda assembled in great numbers to completely clean Radha Kunda. You can watch some video of that event here.