29 October 2002, Vraja-mandal Srila Gurudev narrated the appearance pastime of Radhakund. He narrated the shloka of Rupa Goswami in which he proclaims that Radhakund is the highest amongst all the pastime places. He then explains the reason behind Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur not taking bath in Radhakund.
Our most revered Param Gurudev narrated this. This is mentioned in our Vraja-mandal Parikrama book. There he says that three miles Northeast from Govardhana is the location of Shyamkunda and Radhakunda. That place is known as Aritha-gram.
Once, a demon in the form of a bull entered into Vraja-mandal and was frightening all the Vraja-vasis, Gopa Gopis and other cowherds. By seeing that formidable bull, and his activities all Vraja-vasis were frightened. On seeing this Krishna challenged him to fight and after exhibiting pastimes of tremendous fighting He killed that bull. All the Vaja-vasis became very glad. Demigods were also glad. After that, when Krishna met Srimati Radharani and tried to touch Her sacred body She said, “No, I will not allow You to touch Me.”
“Why?”
“Though Aristasura was a demon, but he had taken the form of a Vrishabh (bull). Vrishabh is the species of cow (Go-jati). So You have killed a bull and You have become unholy, impure. You have to take bath in all the holy springs, rivers.”
Krishna smiled on hearing this and told, “All right. I am bringing all the holy springs here.”
Krishna struck the earth with His holy lotus feet and a Kunda (big hollow place) appeared there. It is full of water and all the holy springs also appeared there. Krishna ordered all the holy springs to express their identity. They all expressed their identity; “I am this Tirtha, that Tirtha,” so that Gopis can know that actual Tirtha has come. Krishna then took bath in that water. By doing so Krishna expressed the self-esteem that whatever He wants He can do. By this Gopis and Radharani felt offended. They thought, “Oh. We can also excavate such Kunda.” They made a Kunda by the side of Shyamkunda. Krishna was astonished to see the Kunda. Such a big Kunda! But there is no water. All the Gopis became perplexed, confounded as to what to do. Krishna asked them, “What are you thinking?” You can take water from our Kunda. On hearing this Radharani and Gopis again felt offended. They thought, “That water is not good because it has been touched by the sin of killing of a great demon. We shall not take that water. We shall bring water from Manasi Ganga and fill the Kunda.”
Krishna then ordered the presiding deities of all the holy rivers that you should go and take shelter of Lotus feet of Radharani and sing hymns, prayers to Her so that She can allow you to enter. They went there and made obeisance, performed prayers, hymns and satisfied Radharani. Radharani then allowed them to enter in their Kunda. Immediately the banks of Shyamkunda broke and water gushed out of Shyamkunda towards Radhakunda and filled it. In this way Radhakunda appeared. This incident occurred on today’s Tithi at midnight. So, all devotees go to Shyamkunda and Radhakunda at midnight to take bath. But we have to think about this. Can any conditioned soul have the darshan of Radhakunda, Shyamkunda, Vraja Dham or Barsana Dham by these material eyes? No. It is impossible. You cannot see. Srila Rupa Goswami says
vaikuṇṭhāj janito varā madhu-purī tatrāpi rāsotsavād
vṛndāraṇyam udāra-pāṇi-ramaṇāt tatrāpi govardhanaḥ
rādhā-kuṇḍam ihāpi gokula-pateḥ premāmṛtāplāvanāt
kuryād asya virājato giri-taṭe sevāṁ vivekī na kaḥ
(Upadeshamrita verse 9)
Mathura is superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental abode of Narayana. Narayana has got no parents. He has no pastimes of being born. But Supreme Lord played the pastimes of being born in Mathura. So Mathura is superior to Vaikuntha. Vrindavana is superior to Mathura because Sri Krishna plays Rasa-lila there with Gopis and Radharani. Govardhan is further superior to Vrindavan as there is so much esoteric lila in the caves of Govardhan that you will not find in Vrindavan. Those are most secret pastimes. Radhakunda is the highest where there is inundation of Prema. That Radhakunda is one with Radharani. Can you see Radhakunda as Radharani? It is also said in Upadeshamrita,
kṛṣṇasyoccaiḥ praṇaya-vasatiḥ preyasībhyo ’pi rādhā
kuṇḍaṁ cāsyā munibhir abhitas tādṛg eva vyadhāyi
yat preṣṭhair apy alam asulabhaṁ kiṁ punar bhakti-bhājāṁ
tat premedaṁ sakṛd api saraḥ snātur āviṣkaroti
(Upadeshamrita verse 11)
Rupa Goswami has written that Lalita-sakhi is the prominent sakhi of Radharani. Subservient to her is Rupa Goswami and our Guruvarga are subservient to Rupa Goswami. They are personal associates of the Lord. Sri Rupa Goswami has written that Radharani is the dearest of Krishna. Amongst all the Gopis there is no equal to Her. Radharani is more than all Gopis collectively also. All the Munis, especially they who have got one pointed devotion, say that Radhakunda is one with Radharani. Radharani has appeared as Radhakunda. Narad Goswami has one pointed devotion to Krishna, It is not possible for him to enter into this lila. What to speak of the aspirant who have started, novices, neophytes, how they can enter into it when Narad Goswami could not enter. It is impossible to comprehend this. How ordinary Sadhaka with so much drawbacks, defects in their mind, how can they understand?
If one can have a dip once in Radhakunda, he will get that highest realm. He has got this right to get the highest abode but in spite of that our Param Guruji did not take bath there. Rupa Goswami has written that when you take bath in it, you will get that highest realm. You will serve Krishna by remaining in Radhakunda. But why our Param Gurudev did not have a dip in Radhakunda? Because he was seeing Radhakunda as Radharani. He is not an ordinary person. He is personal associate of Rupa Goswami. He is seeing that Radhakunda as Radharani. How he can push his feet in the holy water identical with the holy body of Radharani. It is impossible. We are seeing just water but he was seeing like that. So he made obeisance and touched the water. By this material body you cannot see this. How you can have a dip in that water, it is transcendental, finest spiritual realm. Radhakunda had disappeared. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revived that place. This was known as Kali-gori. Kali (black) means Krishna and Gori (white) means Radharani. It used to be a farmer’s land for growing crops. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said this is Radhakunda and Shyamkunda and revived that place and took a dip in that.