Kundas

Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda

This is a very tranquil and peaceful place. It is considered by Gaudiya Vaishnavas to be the most holy place in the Braja area. It is a very important place to visit. There are two holy tanks here, right next to each other. The town here is also known as Aristavan. In this village, the demon Aristasura was killed by Krishna. Radha Kunda is 26 km (16 miles) west of Mathura.

For years Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda were lost and no one knew exactly where they were located. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavana in 1515, He rediscovered these two important kundas.

Part of the parikrama of Govardhana Hill is going around Radha and Syama Kunda. Radharani and Krishna have their midday pastimes at Radha Kunda.

When Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami first stayed at Radha Kunda, Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda were only 4m (12 ft) by 4m (12 ft) in size. At that time one rich man named Sampanna went to Badrinath to offer Lord Narayana a large donation. In a dream, Lord Krishna told him to go to Radha Kunda and give the money to Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami to renovate the kundas, which he did. Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami and Jiva Gosvami supervised the expansion of the kundas around 1554.

In the center of Radha Kunda is a small walled-in area called Kancana Kunda. This kunda is said to mark the location of the original kunda that Srimati Radharani and the gopis dug with their bangles. It is said that Vajranabha built a bathing tank at Syama Kunda to commemorate the place where Krishna killed Aristasura. When there is water in Syama Kunda this kunda cannot be seen. When Syama Kunda is empty, you can see a wall encircling a small deep kunda in the center of Syama Kunda. This kunda is called Vajranatha Kunda. Syama Kunda is also known as Arista Kunda or Krishna Kunda.

In the eight directions surrounding Radha Kunda are the kunjas (garden groves) of Sri Radha’s asta-sakhis (eight main gopis). They are the kunjas of Lalita Devi, Vishakha Devi, Citra Devi, Indulekha Devi, Campakalata Devi, Ranga Devi, Tungavidya Devi, and Sudevi. Sri Ananga Manjari’s kunja is in the center of Radha Kunda.

Radha Kunda appeared at 12 midnight on Bahulastami, the eighth day (astami) of the waning moon, in the month of Kartika (Oct-Nov). On that day, thousands of people come and bathe at 12 midnight in Radha Kunda. It is an ecstatic and exciting event

“Mathura is superior to Vaikuntha because Lord Krishna appeared there. Vrindavana is superior to Mathura because Krishna performed His rasa-lila there. Govardhana Hill is superior to Vrindavana because Krishna lifted it and enacted many blissful pastimes there. But the superexcellent Radha Kunda stands supreme above all for it is overflowing with the ambrosial nectarean prema of Radha and Krishna. (Sri Upadesamrita, verse 9)
“Great sages say that Radha Kunda is as dear to Krishna as Radha Herself. Indeed, Krishna’s love for Radha Kunda and Srimati Radharani is the same in all respects.” (Sri Upadesamrita verse 11 purport)

In the Adi Varaha Purana it is said that by bathing in Radha Kunda the sin of killing a cow, man or a brahmana is immediately removed. According to the Adi Varaha Purana, by bathing in Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda one attains the result of performing a rajasuya and asvamedha yajna.
“The bathing tank called Radha Kunda is as profoundly dear to Krishna as Radha Herself, who is the dearest gopi. Who then will not reside at Radha Kunda and, surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings, render loving service to the divine couple Sri Sri Radha Govinda. Those who execute devotional service on the banks of Radha Kunda are the most fortunate people in the universe.” (Upadesamrita, verse 10)

How To Get Here From Vrindavana you can get a motor rickshaw for Rs 350 or a taxi for Rs 550 round trip, which includes a two hours waiting time. It takes about forty-five minutes to get to Radha Kunda by taxi. From Vrindavana, the road to Radha Kunda is bumpy, and a motor rickshaw can be uncomfortable. So I would suggest taking a taxi. Radha Kunda is much too far to go by bike rickshaw.

From Vrindavana the cheapest way to Radha Kunda is to take a tempo (many) to the end of Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg (Chatikara Road). From there you get another tempo to Radha Kunda. Some motor tempos go directly to Radha Kunda from the ISKCON temple. There are several direct buses to Radha Kunda that can be boarded in front of the ISKCON temple. One leaves around 6.10 am for about Rs 8.

Kunjas of Eight Sakhis

Radha Kunda is surrounded by the kunjas (garden groves) of the eight main sakhis.

1. Sri Lalita Sakhi’s Kunja (north) is the largest kunja. There are platforms made of gold, sapphires, crystal and lapis lazuli. In the center of a courtyard is a golden temple called Ananga Rangambuja, which is in the shape of a 1,000-petal lotus.

2. Sri Visakha Devi’s Kunja (northeast).

3. Sri Citra Devi’s Kunja (east, multi-colored) has a wonderful variety of forms and colors. Citra means “variegated or wonderful.”

4. Sri Indulekha’s Devi’s Kunja (southeast, white). Everything is completely white in color, including the trees, thrones, cottages, etc.

5. Sri Campakalata Devi’s Kunja (south, gold).

6. Sri Ranga Devi’s Kunja (southwest, syama-blue) is Srimati Radharani’s favorite, because the dark blue color of everything reminds Her of Krishna.

7. Sri Tungavidya Devi’s Kunja (west, crimson). Everything is a crimson color in this kunja and the entire grove is inlaid with rubies.

8. Sri Sudevi Devi’s Kunja (northwest, green). Everything is green. It has emerald covered thrones.

9. Sri Ananga Manjari’s Kunja is in the center of Radha Kunda. It is connected to the north bank of Radha Kunda by a crystal bridge. The north bank is where Jahnava Devi’s sitting place is located. In the center of this kunja is a jeweled temple.

Kunjas of the Eight Sakhas

Syama Kunda is surrounded by the kunjas of the eight main sakhas (cowherd boyfriends), called priya-narma sakhas. These boys are Krishna’s most intimate cowherd boy friends and they understand and are submissive to Krishna’s dealings with the gopis. The cowherd boys gave their kunjas to different sakhis to manage.

1. Subala Kunja (northwest) is on the side of Syama Kunda where Manasa-pavana Ghata is located. It is managed by Radharani. Radharani and the rest of the sakhis bathe daily at 12 noon at Manasa-pavana Ghata.

2. Madhumangala’s Kunja (north) is managed by Lalita Devi.

3. Ujjvala’s Kunja (northwest) is managed by Visakha Devi.

4. Arjuna’s Kunja (east) is managed by Citra Devi.

5. Gandharva’s Kunja (southeast) is managed by Indulekha.

6. Vidagdha’s Kunja (south) is managed by Campakalata.

7. Kokeela’s Kunja (southwest) is managed by Ranga Devi.

8. Sanandananda’s Kunja (west) is managed by Tungavidya Devi.

People Approaching You

There are many people who will try to guide you around the area and give you things. If you take anything from them or talk to them, expect to pay something. The problem I experienced sometimes was no matter how much you give them, it will not be enough. Do not get angry, it will not help. 
Some of the guides at Radha Kund are quite good and know most of the places there. They can quickly bring you to places and can be helpful. If possible you should try to work out a price in advance, but most likely it will be up to you to give a donation at the end.

If you give some charity to the children here, you may attract an immediate crowd of twenty or thirty kids, who will not leave you alone. A good idea here is to not talk to anyone and to not even acknowledge their existence, if possible. People that walk up to you will usually quickly go away if you politely ignore them. Any donations given at temples will be politely accepted. If you would like to give a donation to anyone else, it is advised to give as you are leaving.

Usually people will only walk up to you when you are around Radha Kunda. When you are around Syama Kunda, especially the far end, usually no one will come up to you. Usually a good place to spend some time is at Sri Caitanya’s sitting place