Radha Kunda

Glories of Radha Kunda     Appearance of Radha Kunda in the Material World
Lord Chaitanya Rediscovers Radha and Syama Kundas
Raghunatha dasa Goswami Excavates Radha and Syama Kundas
Bathing at the Kundas     Goswami Temples at Radha Kunda
Ma Janava's Sitting Place     Raghunatha dasa Goswami's Samadhi
Krishna dasa Kaviraja's Bhajan Kutira     Panca Pandava Ghat
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur's Bhajan Kutira      The Sangam
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Sitting Place      Giriraja Maharaja Mandir and Caran Cinha

Bathing at Radha Kunda

We can therefore understand from these references the great spiritual fortune of one who offenselessly, and with full faith in the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna, bathes in the sacred waters of Radha-kunda. Nevertheless, Srila Prabhupada gave adequate warning about committing offenses at Radha-kunda. Once in 1975, when some devotees were reported to have been swimming and sporting frivolously in Radha-kunda, Srila Prabhupada became very grave and informed all the devotees gathered for the Gaura-Purnima festival that from now on, no one should take bath in Radha-kunda. Rather the devotees should simply sprinkle three drops of water on their heads, as this would have the same benefit as taking a full bath, but at the same time help avoid offenses to Radha-kunda.

Srila Prabhupada further said, “There is no difference between Radha-kunda and Radharani. So how can you jump over Radharani? How can you enjoy Radha-kunda by swimming? You cannot touch with your feet even to Radha-kunda. You can take a little water on your head. This is respectful to Radha-kunda.”

Here we can see the special benediction of the bona-fide spiritual master. That simply by sprinkling three drops of water on one’s head, the same effect will be achieved without any offense to Radha-kunda. There is no doubt whatsoever that Srimati Radharani will fulfill such a benediction given by Her pure devotee.

In 1935 when Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati performed the Vraja-mandala parikrama with thousands of his followers, out of reverence for the extreme sanctity of Radha-kunda, they did not enter the waters, but instead sprinkled three drops on their heads out of respect. Committing offenses at Radha-kunda is certainly the fastest way of going to hell.

It can be easily understood, that even if one lives on the sacred banks of Radha-kunda  and takes bath regularly, if one commits offenses one can very easily glide down to hell. Srila Prabhupada once said, “Don’t go to Radha-kunda simply to become monkey in your next life. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati has also said that many Babajis come to Radha-kunda to live, but in actual fact, because of their grievous offences, they are not living at Radha-kunda at all, but at Naraka-kunda (hell).

Living on the banks of Radha-kunda and regularly bathing in Her sacred waters is meant for the most advanced devotees like Raghunatha dasa Gosvami who are beyond the bodily concept of life. It is not for the neophytes who are only practicing devotional service (vaidhi-bhakti), and who are still struggling to control their mind and senses.

To be able to reside on the banks of Radha-kunda and bathe in the sacred waters of Radharani’s own personal bathing place are not ordinary activities, Even Narada, Sanaka Rsi, Lord Brahma, Sukadeva Gosvami, and Lord Siva, do not get this chance. This is because they are in the consciousness of being male devotees. In order to actually enter into Radha-kunda, one must be above the bodily concept and completely free from all offences. Many of the local Vaisnavas show great caution when bathing in the sacred kundas, they can be seen standing on the side of the ghatas, dipping their kamandalus into the water and pouring water over their heads, not daring to touch their feet to Radha-kunda. While visiting Radha-kunda, devotees should carefully take shelter of the bona-fide spiritual master’s instructions, strictly avoid committing offenses and remember that “fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”

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