| Formerly standing here on the banks of Syama-kunda were five trees
inhabited by the five Pandavas, who had taken the bodies of trees in order to
meditate here on the bank of this sacred kunda.
When Raghunatha dasa was excavating Syama-kunda in order to make it the same
shape as Radha-kunda, these trees were to be cut down. In a dream, the five
Pandavas headed by Yudhisthira, came before Raghunatha dasa and asked him not to
cut down the trees because they were residing there so they could perform bhajana
on the sacred banks of Syama-kunda. On awaking the next morning Raghunatha dasa
ordered that no trees should be cut down and only the vacant area should be used
for digging the kunda. This accounts
for the unusual shape of Syama-kunda.
Unfortunately today, only one tree remains alive which is believed by
local sadhus to be the Pandava Arjuna.
This tree can be seen just a few meters down from Pandva's-ghata, jutting out
from the ghata steps. The locals say
this ancient Kalpavriksa tree has not
changed in many decades and always appears the same. Another tree believed to
have been the Pandava Bhima, stands infront of the bhajana kutira of Visvanatha Cakravarti. This tree died about ten
years ago and now only the trunk remains. |
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